Bicycle Filthy Guy - KS

[CBJ]

Came across this on KS













Jay

[rjtomlinson1977]

This started out as a deck called Fools & Jokers but it evolved into Filthy Guy. Recently I've been wanting to branch into producing other products. One of those products is homemade soap. I bought the domain for Filthy Guy and decided to make a deck of cards based on the company branding and theme.
I was hoping to do it with Bicycle branding but appears Kickstarter isn't as active as it once was... so it probably won't get funded.

[bdawg923]

I was hoping to do it with Bicycle branding but appears Kickstarter isn't as active as it once was... so it probably won't get funded.

Some recent Kickstarters that smashed their funding goals:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mo ... rds-winter
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/th ... ing-cards/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/th ... ying-cards
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ch ... ing-cards/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rs ... collection

No offense but Kickstarter ain't the problem. These cards are just boring

[rjtomlinson1977]

I was hoping to do it with Bicycle branding but appears Kickstarter isn't as active as it once was... so it probably won't get funded.

Some recent Kickstarters that smashed their funding goals:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mo ... rds-winter
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/th ... ing-cards/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/th ... ying-cards
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ch ... ing-cards/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rs ... collection

No offense but Kickstarter ain't the problem. These cards are just boring

No offense taken. But you just proved my point. You listed a bunch of projects that don't need Kickstarter to get funded. Most of my playing cards aren't funded on Kickstarter because I don't need to fund them on Kickstarter. Most of my playing cards are educational based and not design driven. The projects you listed are more design driven. While I do appreciate my own design, I know it doesn't level up to the ones you listed. Several years ago, any creative (whether it be me or Jared Hansen) could easily get funded on Kickstarter... but now we can't.
If I was doing a educational deck, I would've funded it out of my own pocket because those are the types of decks I make. I don't typically do design driven decks, so I tested the waters on Kickstarter rather than spend $5,000 out of my own pocket to find out the design was "boring". Thank God I did because I would be out of money.
So, yes, it's true that my design is "boring" but it's something I enjoyed producing. I wouldn't have put effort into it if I didn't enjoy it. But I said it before and I'll say it again... Kickstarter isn't as active as it once was. Not as many decks are being produced and what decks are being produced are being produced by a smaller group of artists. I'll even go a step further by saying that all the decks you listed didn't need to fund on Kickstarter. It didn't take long for me to raise enough fluid cash with my educational decks to cut away from Kickstarter. Too many people use Kickstarter as a crutch for easy money. I use it as a testing ground to ensure I don't waste my money.

[Harvonsgard]

Shouldn't the ladies be as happy as the guys after they took a shower?

[montenzi]

Several years ago, any creative (whether it be me or Jared Hansen) could easily get funded on Kickstarter... but now we can't.
...

I'll even go a step further by saying that all the decks you listed didn't need to fund on Kickstarter. It didn't take long for me to raise enough fluid cash with my educational decks to cut away from Kickstarter. Too many people use Kickstarter as a crutch for easy money.

My brain is about to explode trying to understand your comments.

Easy money! Oh man!

[Strag]

The design doesn't match what the brand is. I would have expected court cards surrounded by bubbles, holding bars of soap etc. The design effort is weak compared to other projects that are out there. That is why it isn't funding.

[KingfisherZero]

I've only been in the hobby for a few years, but was there EVER a time that a deck with this light of design work was a gimme for $8000 in funding? Not to pile on, but I can trace back to your own KS history and see decks with better design than this that didn't reach that goal 5+ years ago. Doesn't seem fair at all to blame "the market" for this deck not taking off. I feel confident in saying that more money is being spent on cards - Kickstarter and otherwise - than ever before right now.

[rjtomlinson1977]

Since English isn't my primary language, perhaps I'm having trouble saying what I'm trying to say. I personally don't feel the design is weak for what I'm trying to accomplish. It's clearly not to the level of great artists but it's the best I can do.
While, yes, there's probably more money being spent on cards in general... it's being focused on more grade-A projects. Which I fully understand and agree with.
My comment on easy money refers to the fact that these high end artists don't need to be going to Kickstarter. Just like I don't need to go to Kickstarter for projects that I can fund myself. That's just my personal opinion. Don't get angry at me because I feel differently than you.
All of those projects (listed) you knew right away were going to go way past their funding goal. So, why not pay for the cards to be produced and sell them without paying Kickstarter 10%? That's what I do with most of the cards I produce.

[montenzi]

All of those projects (listed) you knew right away were going to go way past their funding goal. So, why not pay for the cards to be produced and sell them without paying Kickstarter 10%? That's what I do with most of the cards I produce.

Robert, Kickstarter is about community involvement! It's not a shop for maybe 95% of the creators. The funding goal is usually a minimal cost of production (zero profit). If you want to offer attractive prices for backers, you have to print more decks. Let's say it's 200% of the funding goal (still no profit). If you produce one or two big projects per year, you should raise way more money to be in this "business" instead of working full-time. Also, some projects are very expensive! I cannot afford to spend $25k on printing a deck and then spend years selling it. One of Kickstarter's advantages - you save your time on marketing and logistics instead of working as a postman sending decks to individual buyers.

Your project: I like the box. It does not matter what's inside! If you offer your decks to collectors, they never open such decks as there is nothing new. Two options: make it 100% standard OR make it semi-custom. There are some good examples of adding small details to standard courts. It will work in this case. But if I need a standard deck, I'll buy a standard Rider Back I am not alone, so such projects are less popular if you are not a hype brand.

[Bikefanatic]

I like how the deck looks. If the backs were custom with the man's face, probably would look better.

[Eric Lee]

I would like to add that Dec isn't the time to be launching decks, unless you've got a strong following or have been teasing this before on IG.

Personally, with what OPC is doing with their semi-custom courts and colors, I expected something like that at the least. Especially with a designer name who has pulled off decks like the Titanic Tarot, Unrest series and the history education decks. So yeah, call it raised expectations, RJ due to your designer cred.

Personally, it would be nice to see more elements of what the Filthy Guy brand is about incorporated into the courts and Aces

[vasta41]

RJ, like you I'm not sure why some people/companies use Kickstarter. I assume it's to reach a larger audience but regardless, I wouldn't get hung up on that. You're a very talented artist but this just isn't a good representation of your work. Sure, 10 years ago this may have funded but things have changed. Much like every consumable thing, as time passes there is more innovation.
As a USPCC advocate I have hundreds of Bicycle-branded decks in my collection. So I ask myself now, "why do I need this deck?" And I'm sorry to say there's not enough that stands out- the courts are cute and the logo's okay but I don't know the brand and I already have tons of other orange and black decks.
Don't be discouraged! Like you said, one of the best things about KS for designers is to test the waters and you did just that. I implore you to keep at it and design something really great. I know you have the capabilities and I look forward to seeing what you can do next.