amanda palmer's open poem to jonathan chait (and other crimes)

Done.

We need $50,000 to put out our first 7". In return, I will personally stamp each sleeve, and include a Polaroid of my cat.

I also need money for a Polaroid camera, unless someone wants to, um, volunteer one.

Q: do you need a cat?

if so, you can use mine while you're in town. she will not require payment, but might appreciate some lap time.

I need $10,000 just for all the polaroid cameras and cats and stuff I need just to get this kickstarter going!

btw remember when the dude from animal collective actually literally scammed people through kickstarter and basically just bought drugs or idk what with the funds and there were like 1/100 as many posts about it?

the dude from animal collective also wasn't getting feted on npr etc

and yes, he is an asshole too

So, wait, that was real? I figured it was someone posing as him.

btw remember when the dude from animal collective actually literally scammed people through kickstarter and basically just bought drugs or idk what with the funds and there were like 1/100 as many posts about it?

― look at this quarterstaff (Hurting 2), Friday, September 14, 2012 12:47 AM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I just saw this last week - seems dodgy as hell, have they ever actually addressed this anywhere?

xpost,I should stress, just to get it out there and make sure that there is no confusion, that I will charge your cat for laptime. $50. However, I will post your (and anyone's) cat's name to my tumblr as an "executive produce" of U Dildo's proposed 7".

I also need a lathe.

And a turntable, come to think of it. Also, a new Macbook to edit my video about the making of the 7". Will also offer "executive producer" status for that, too. Name will be in the credits.

Can I buy a degree from this University of Dildo? How much would that cost?

You're thinking of Dildo U., in Boston. My band is U Dildos. We didn't go to college, because it's a bourgeois pursuit.

But for a $50,000 a year sponsorship, we will go to college.

so that's how milo aukerman afforded grad school

"kickstart my balls" is a great contribution to the lexicon, btw

btw remember when the dude from animal collective actually literally scammed people through kickstarter and basically just bought drugs or idk what with the funds and there were like 1/100 as many posts about it?

― look at this quarterstaff (Hurting 2), Thursday, September 13, 2012 6:47 PM (30 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i never heard about this!

I'm trying to find it but I can't remember the AC guy's name because it's something really stupid!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/legupmgmt/deacon-animal-collective-at-the-festival-in-the/comments

the comment thread on that is one of my favorite internet things ever

Dan Rollman on August 21
Hi Josh.

We are now approaching three years since your project was funded. Three years! You relied on the belief of strangers, who gave you over $25,000 so you could have a fun adventure in Africa.

It's truly disappointing. You've hurt my ability to have faith and belief in the honesty and commitment of others. I still hope you'll follow through and deliver what you promised, but with each passing month, my skepticism grows.

Bummed,

Dan Rollman

Animal Collective dude is a much, much worse person than Amanda Palmer; there's nothing really to discuss re: that situation aside from "lol why did you give dude from Animal Collective money, you dimwits"

I dunno, if that is actually him (as I say, I only heard about this last week, never seen anyone talk about it or confirm it), then it should be spoken about - it is a TERRIBLE thing to do.

He has given it to a charity! Maybe. Or something else! Maybe.

it's also not 100% clear that he didn't give the money to this supposed charity, but it looks like he was (1) very vague about it the whole time (2) changed his story (3) never delivered the extras he promised and (4) never followed up to explain wth happened

hmm

I only heard about the AC scam on the Centipede Hz thread last week; I did have visions of starting a "hi I'm Nelly; contribute to my Kickstarter" scam but then I remembered I have morals

There have been several updates posted for the benefit of backers only. I hope that they're something along the lines of "I went, it was great, accompanying album is taking longer than I thought"

I will make a kickstarter for my puerto rico resort vacation. For a contribution of $500, I will send you an autographed photo of me, by the pool at my puerto rico resort, in swim trunks, lighting a cigar with a $100 bill.

He spent it on Dario G white labels

Yeah, there's not much to discuss about the AC dude thing yet. Its fucking awful if true, but otoh, I also think the internet would be all about exposing him if it was true... so I don't think we've heard the entire story yet. It is definitely shady as hell though.

Like I feel like blogs would be blowing up all over the place if an AnCo guy really did pull this, y'know?

I think, as much as ppl love AC, an at-the-time ex-member ripping off $25K from fans isn't that big a story

Eh, there's been bigger stories made out of a lot less on the blog circuit lately.

Regardless, it is shady as hell and I do hope to one day hear the full story.

Seriously, I'd think it was a big story... like, bigger than this, if it's true. I mean, even if the money went to charity, that isn't what he promised his backers at all.

wow that's ill

listen i'm butthurt as the next guy that some crappy steampunk burlesque chick with horrible music who's married to a millionaire nerd author got a lot of money on kickstarter instead of some actual good music....but that animal collective thing is pretty foul if true....and at this point the fact he hasn't gone back to the site to comment seems pretty incriminating...and the fact that, as ppl there pointed out, the band has rolled on w/their career.

According to wikipedia AnCo dude funded a trip to Africa to play a festival, which he did end up playing, but then no autographed CDs or whatever were ever sent to people. I think he used at least some of the money to do what he said he was going to.

yeah but per the main page the proposal was changed because a label fronted the travel money:

For those of you who have been following this project already, the plan has evolved significantly and we feel for the better. The initial consideration for this project was that while the festival wanted Josh to perform, they could offer no fee for performing or assistance for travel. The travel expenses for Josh and the 2 people joining him has come to nearly $10,000. Kickstarter invited us to raise the money through this site. SInce then the record label Paw Tracks has decided to step in and cover the production costs of this project, including the travel expenses and the manufacturing and distribution of the book. This gave us an opportunity to expand this project in two ways. First we felt this gave us a really great opportunity to redirect the funds that come in through this site to an organization in Mali we feel would really benefit from having $25,000 to help people in REAL need. Secondly we will now have the means to get the book out to a wider audience. The way it is now arranged all of the money that has been, and will continue to be, donated to this site will not only make people aware of Josh’s creative endeavor through cross-cultural exchange, but it will directly impact Mali and the Tuareg people whose musicians are a principal part of the Festival Au Desert .

Josh is excited to explore the possibility of finding ways to link his music and making a difference in the world. The vision now is that while he participates in the festival we are able to bring $25,000 directly to TEMEDT, a Mali organization that is working to create a law that abolishes slavery of the black Tuareg people, set up legal support services for them, create economic development in black Tuareg communities, and give them educational possibilities. This project has been validated by a prestigious Ashoka Fellowship award. All Ashoka projects are cutting-edge social entrepreneurs, using innovative approaches to create systemic change. www.ashoka.org Africa is a continent ravaged by Aids, disease, civil war, genocide, poverty and hunger. This festival is an opportunity to celebrate and enhance the beauty and gifts of Africa, and to bring healing internally and with the world. And thanks to terrific partnering with Paw Tracks and Kickstarter every penny of this money will go directly to this vision. Anyone who pays at least $50 will receive one of the CD's from Josh's concert and trip.

Oh wow. Yeah that is sketchy, I wonder if that charity has seen a dime.

i've heard the "used kickstarter $ to pay for drugs" story before but never attached to a big band.

And here I was hating Animal Collective just based on their music.

That really is fucked up. Almost three years without receiving what you paid for? That thing is never coming...

What a massive massive cockend.

Amanda Palmer starting to look pretty good, huh? At least she delivers.

This is when that AC dude was on walkabout from the band while the group blew up, right? Maybe it was a Kickstarter to get him to rehab. How long until that happens?

Ah, well, a lot of assumptions being made. There are private donor-only updates as late as mid-2011. I don't know the story and I'm not so interested in playing Animal Rescue but if the guy has a drug problem he has my sympathies and I'd contribute to a rehab fund almost certainly

That's still a year ago, Owen. I dunno, maybe there is some mitigating circumstance, but I'm struggling to think of what it would be. I think it's pretty much fair enough that if a label decided to pay travel money they swap to those donations being to charity instead, but it's not fair enough to donate for a CD of music made over there and to receive nothing at all.

http://whatbettyknows.com/2012/09/13/why-i-volunteered-to-play-with-amanda-palmer/