OK, the hosting + services bill for https://openbenches.org/ is coming due.
Looks like about £250 for the next year.
So, my options are:
👕 Sell OpenBenches branded T-Shirst & merch.
💷 Push the sponsorship more on the site (using GitHub / Patreon / OpenCollective).
🕴️ Take VC funding of a few million dollars and try to dominate the bench-spotting market.
🏛️ See if there are any open-culture grants to help keep it going.
Any other bright ideas?
OK, while I wait for GitHub sponsorship to be approved, and T-Shirt designs to be finalised - here are some mock-up buttons to go on https://openbenches.org/
I don't think I'm going to A/B test them. So any thoughts or suggestions gratefully received.
OK gang! You can now buy @openbenches merch with a 15% discount at:
https://openbenches.myspreadshop.co.uk/
Every t-shirt, mug, hat, and water-bottle sold goes to keeping the project afloat.
@jacattell
I used them for the GovGeeks shirts.
They're easy to use, quality is great, good customer service, and have a somewhat ethical stance.
They also do a 0% commission tier - so you can sell things with no markup and no profit. Which was handy for the "make things open" tees.
@Edent When you say ‘push sponsorships more’… I just had a look and I can’t see any mention of how to support OB on the site.
I’d be happy to chip-in a few quid. Preferably in a way that didn’t take a lot of fees or insist on adding VAT (side-eyes Patreon).
@Edent I missed that, but I see them now. What’s the best option for you for ease / cost etc?
Also, if I donate, can I add ‘OpenBenches Investor’ to my LinkedIn?
@bensmithuk I can endorse you for Open Benching on LinkedIn. And give you a speaking slot at BenchCon '24.
I think both GitHub Sponsors and Ko-Fi are fee-free. But I'm easy.
Not crypto. Obviously.
@Edent Hmm, seems similar to funding cemeteries or mausoleums.
Maybe a Niantic Labs A/R connection somehow?
@Edent One hundred true fans participating in an annual, autumnal bench-visit event for 5£. An accordionist (playing Saint James’ Infirmary), walking solemnly from bench to bench in the company of a costumed mourner. Between benches, montage of member-supplied videos of their visits to benches not on the performers’ route.
Sad Keanu.
@Edent that price tag suggests you're burning through a lot of bandwidth/storage - or you're overspecced on your hosting.
Plus, there's one traditional revenue source not on your list, but it *does* involve at least *renting* your soul to the devil.
@ahnlak We have ~300GB of photos and use a significant amount of bandwidth, even after CDN optimisation. There's also the costs for reverse-geocoding, OCR, and other services.
No - we won't be running adverts.
@Edent ahh yeah; that kind of storage requirements is going to end up costing a bit.
Merch is probably the most realistic on the list then, but from experience rarely worth the effort 😞
@ollybenson
Our lawyers are aware and have been instructed accordingly.
@neil please prepare the standard "pistols at dawn" pre-trial letter 😁
Terence Eden
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hugh
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david
Steven Feldman
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Ben Smith
signaleleven
T L Holaday
ahnlak
Liminal witch 🧙♀️ Sarah
Charles Roper
Simon Forman
Eddie Coldrick 💻
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Matt Round
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GayCookie 