Broadway Crowd-funding

Have you ever supported a project through Kickstarter? Ya know, the site that helped fund those NYU kids to create the Facebook killer, or get Meaghan O'Connell's awesome book published?

What about Donors Choose? You should. It's amazing. A simple 20$ can give a classroom a new set of coloring books or work towards a pack of soccer balls to keep kids active. Then when they hit their goal, you get a signed letter from the kids thanking you. Hello tears, bring out the tissues and pat yourself on the back for doing a good job.

I've participated in both, with two completely different feelings afterwards. Kickstarter was more of a "sure I have a few extra bucks, I'll throw them to you to help you out". With Donors Choose, I had the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing I was doing something. While I like Kickstarter, there's also a sense of it just turning into an easier (and less rude) way to ask your friends for money to do something. I've already seen it happen that way

Ken Davenport, Broadway producer extraordinare has brought a new spin to Broadway, yet again (I love everything he does. Had a chance to meet him briefly and he's just the real deal)

He's crowd-funding Godspell, coming back to Broadway in 2011. Taking on the rising popularity of this trend around funding projects through a large group or network Davenport has set out to community fund the musical from people like us.

The idea is simple and rewarding for theater fans who wish to have their name on that marquee near Times Square proudly announcing the backbone behind the musical making people sing along and smile. Those who donate will be featured on "People of Godspell" giving some ego boosting to these new producers.

The deal:

Traditionally, the price of one investing unit in a Broadway show has been as high as $10,000, $25,000 or even $100,000.

One unit in Godspell is only $100. (FYI, there is a minimum purchase of 10 units per investor)

In addition, every single investor, no matter how much he or she invests, will have his or her name listed on a poster outside of our Broadway theater.

And every single investor will also have their name listed on a new website created exclusively for this community, PeopleofGodspell.com, as well as his or her photo, hometown, a quote, and links to their Facebook and Twitter profiles.

While I'm kicking myself for not being able to do this right now financially, I'm hoping this trend continues. Heck, if they bring Rent back under this option, I'm on it.

Side note: I was in the musical Godspell back in 7th grade on Long Island during a theater summer camp. Yes, I did those. I have videos. I wore yellow polyester bellbottoms found at the local thrift store, a purple tie dye shirt and pigtails as recommended by the director to dress in 60s hippie style. Pictures somewhere in non digital form (thankfully)

New Site I Like: Earndit

Something like this has been a long time coming. Earndit offers real awards for working out. Not just the rewards of losing the muffin top, this time you actually GET stuff. And to make it easier? All foursquare, Nike+, Garmin and fitbit users can make an easy transition to doing this by simply connecting the services to this new one.

I synced up my foursquare account and Nike+ today and was already rewarded for the last time I checked into a gym with 15 points. (Side note: I need to figure out how to check in while going

for a running---that deserves workout points!)

Obviously need to see how this plays out in real rewards but there is definitely an opening for

gyms to jump in and offer some discounts to their return visitors.

What's great is that I don't have to do too much to earn rewards. It also keeps me motivated to go to the gym and do more once I finally get that damn Gym Rat badge :)

Check it out. What do you think?

I got to hang out with Ken for Fashion's Night Out

Here's the video of what happens on a Friday night when your client is Mattel. Ken's on Facebook and Twitter. Check him out.

Weight Watchers Teams Up for Social Media Good

A subscriber of Weight Watchers (the summer beers have gotten the best of me...and have you SEEN Jennifer Hudson?!) I was delighted to see an email cross my inbox this morning with an incentive to do good for the day with things I am already doing.

As it says on the site:

On September 14, 2010, you can! Lose-A-Palooza is a one-day social media event created to encourage participation in the Lose For Good® campaign** to benefit Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger.

For every accepted mention or acknowledgment of “Lose For Good” made on September 14th through blogs, Twitter, Facebook and check-ins via foursquare, Weight Watchers will donate $1 – up to $60,000* – to Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger.

Loseapalooza.com (nice job to whoever grabbed that one on GoDaddy) explains the rules of what you have to do including following accounts on Twitter: @WeightWatchers, @sharestrength, @acfusa. "Liking" the pages on Facebook: Weight Watchers, Share Our Strength, Action Against Hunger. There's even a foursquare element to it! Check-in at a Weight Watchers meeting, and they'll donate! (Hey so maybe my Weight Watchers/foursquare idea wasn't so off?)

I strongly encourage anyone reading this to check it out. Weight Watchers has made this super easy to participate and "Lose for Good" - in fact I think I've already donated around $10 just by writing this simple post.

The campaign is pretty amazing. It includes easy things for people to do. You don't have to ask too much of someone to feel like they participated. Bravo to Weight Watchers and all of the partners.