Diary of a Kickstarter Campaign: Gaining Momentum

By most accounts, the middle of a Kickstarter campaign is where you hit a lull and backers drop off drastically. I think by holding off putting up my project video until the middle of my campaign, I avoided that. Six days ago, when I added the video, my project was 33% funded. Today, I'm 72% funded with 11 days to go. I felt a huge rush of relief when I reached 50% funding! One 'bad' thing happened this week with my Kickstarter project. There was a suggestion to have a vanity URL, which you get by simply checking a link in settings. Supposedly that makes your project easier to find. Sadly, it also deleted all 300+ 'Likes' that my project had. Since popularity on Kickstarter is based not only on backers & dollars but also on "Likes', this sent my project into Kickstarter oblivion. Even with the increase in numbers, it's no longer listed on the popular page. So I would suggest if you want to use a Vanity URL, you add it at the launch of your campaign. Right now I'm feeling cautiously optimistic. I love when my family and friends get excited and call when they see that I have a new backer. Another great thing happened this week, when five of my previous backers increase their pledge amounts. I'm so excited about knitting up the rewards and having people out for ranch visits. One supporter is even having me knit her ring bearers' pillow for her upcoming wedding. What an honor. I can't tell you how much your support is appreciated. Look at the amazing illustrations that Sean McHugh did for me.

Diary of a Kickstarter Campaign: The Project Video

By all accounts, the project video is the single most important component to a successful Kickstarter campaign. Only 30% of projects without a video end up being fully funded. Kickstarter strongly recommends that you post your video at launch. I didn't do that. I'm trying to keep the momentum going with my campaign, similar to the 'But wait, there's more!' pitch used in direct response. My Erin Murphy Knits Alpaca Project was up on Kickstarter for a full fourteen days before I added a video today. I think the thought of making a video can be pretty daunting. It doesn't have to be. My video was completely made by my twelve year old son, Dylan, during a two hour Apple Film Camp.

He produced it, directed it, filmed it and scored it. He wrote the music on Garage Band and used I-Movie. We shot it in one take. Some of the project videos on Kickstarter are pretty fantastic, with hired production teams and big budgets. Our video is decidedly low-tech with no budget. We included the basics that every crowdfunding video needs. First, you need to tell the audience who you are. It's definitely nice to put a "face" with the project. I also think it's a good idea to tell a little bit about what Kickstarter is. Crowdfunding is still a fairly new concept. Then you need to talk about what your project is and what you're trying to raise money for. Then, talk about your rewards. Kickstarter is a win/ win type situation. Backers support up and coming creative projects and in return they get something cool from the project. Tell the viewers all the different ways that they can help support your project. In addition to backing you, they can also spread the word via Twitter, Facebook and blogs. Finally, thank them! Crowdfunding is a team effort! My project is currently 33% funded with 16 days left in the campaign. Click on the link to see our new video and a huge thank you to all my supporters! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/201192974/erin-murphy-knits-alpaca-project?ref=live

Diary of a Kickstarter Campaign: The First Week

The first week of my Kickstarter project, Erin Murphy Knits Alpaca Project, has been invigorating, embarassing, exhausting and FUN! Not all projects sent in to Kickstarter are approved. My initial project was sent back because it was for 'general business expenses' and Kickstarter only allows projects with a finite goal. I also have a charitable aspect to Erin Murphy Knits and Kickstarter doesn't support charitable campaigns. I rewrote my pitch in five minutes and sent it back for approval. They contacted me 24 hours later to tell me it had been accepted. I think what most people expect when they launch a project on a public funding platform is that the 'public' will be able to see their project. With over 4,000 projects on Kickstarter right now, only a precious few are featured on their front page. You need to reach out to your friends to spread the word. In the first 24 hours of my launch, I wrote about my campaign on Facebook and Twitter. On the second day, I wrote about it in my blog and on my favorite Bewitched website message board: www.harpiesbizarre.com. For most Kickstarter campaigns, including mine, there's an initial burst of traffic and backers at the launch, then there's a 'trough' in the middle with occasional backers and a sudden burst at the end as the project is featured on Kickstarter's Ending Soon page, where it's visible to all the Kickstarter viewers. In my first three days I had fifteen backers and was 12% funded. The part that's been most difficult for me is asking friends for support and asking everyone to share the link via Twitter and Facebook. Asking for help is a crucial component of crowdfunding. You have to be able to reach outside your group. As a "pitchperson' by trade, I love to sell things. I love to point out the benefits of a product and tell people honestly how that product is a solution to a problem. Also I'm involved with many charities and have no problem reaching out and asking for help for someone else. With my Kickstarter project I'm definitely out of my comfort zone reaching out and asking for help for myself! I'm trying to keep my campaign interesting and adding rewards as I go. I'm hopeful that will keep the project fresh and allow me to share updates that aren't completely repetitive. Some Kickstarter employees Tweeted about my project and commented that they "Wish I had a video for my project". I'll be adding one this week. I shot one on Friday, but when I went to put it up the video and audio wouldn't sync. I'm not using my TV production connections to film my video. I'll be shooting it in one take on my 12 year old son's camera. I'm sharing lessons I learn with my launch in hopes to help others make their projects successful. The goal of my campaign and most Kickstarter campaigns is to raise funds to complete a creative project and I don't think you need to spend money or be high tech to do that. Yesterday my project was featured on a website called Kicktraq.com. They had me listed as #2 on their Hot List; but also had me trending as only getting 63% of my funding goal. Fingers crossed that they're wrong! I think timing the project you launch is crucial. I may be fighting an uphill battle promoting handknit alpaca accessories in the midst of a summer heatwave. But there really is a method to my madness. The goal of my project is to launch a Winter 2012-2013 Erin Murphy Knits Alpaca Collection. With a summer Kickstarter launch, everyone will get their rewards well in advance of Winter and holiday gift-giving. Please click on the link below to check out my Kickstarter campaign. While you're there click on the "Like" tab right under the photo. If you're feeling particularly generous you can also click on the "Tweet" tab to share with your friends and be sure to check out the rewards!

Rest in Peace William Asher, My Uncle Bill!

Yesterday morning I received a call from my dear friend Rebecca Asher. I was expecting her call, since I'd just contacted her about getting her dad the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Television Academy this year. Over the last 10 days, I'd had conversations with two of my friends at the Academy about honoring Bill & I was eternally optimistic that he'd somehow be able to attend. Sadly Rebecca's call was to tell me that her dad, my beloved Uncle Bill, had just passed away. The news wasn't entirely unexpected, he was 90 years old and had been extremely ill for well over a year. My emotions were raw and overwhelming. It's nearly impossible to put into words the loss I feel for a man who changed my life so completely, a man I met when I was a baby and respected and loved like a parent. I think sometimes actors lose contact with coworkers and move on to the next show with simply a glance over their shoulder. That wasn't the case with my relationship with Bill Asher. In the eighties and nineties, I went to pool parties and barbecues at his Malibu beach house. We had talks about him creating a remake television series of the film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, with his wife Joyce Bulifant playing my mom. We also met several times at hs office with photographers and illustrators since he wanted to create an animated/ live action Bewitched series with me. I thought the idea was silly, but I gladly would have done it for him. Over one lunch, I mentioned that I'd just gone to Magic Mountain with his sons Billy & John. His face lit up, 'Are you and Billy an item? I'd love that!' no offense to Billy, whom I adore, but my response was , 'NO! EWWWW! He's like my brother!'. He gave me a hug and told me that I was already part of his family. Over the last ten years, Uncle Bill and I had the pleasure of seeing each other dozens of times, at events like the TVLand Awards and when Lizzie got her Star on the Walk of fame.

We both attended the Bewitched feature film premiere in New York and were on hand for the unveiling of TVLand's Bewitched statue in Salem. Darren and I drove out to the desert when he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

I was also there (pictured here with Rebecca and Billy Asher) when the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honored him with his contribution to 50 years of television. In turn, he and his wife Meredith completely surprised me at an event where I was modelling the famous Joan Collins Playboy gown. One of the last conversations we had, Uncle Bill looked in my eyes and told me that he "knew I'd grow up to be a beauty and that I looked so much like 'his' Lizzie". As I drove home, I cried. Hollywod has lost a true Legend who will forever be remembered for his contributions to the entertainment world, including Bewitched, I Love Lucy, Gidget, The Patty Duke Show, etc. etc. I in turn feel like a sad little girl who lost my Uncle Bill; but feel very lucky to be part of his family.

I Just Launched a Kickstarter Campaign!

At an event recently, I was talking to an executive about my new company, Erin Murphy Knits, and some of the things that I'd like to accomplish this year. She told me it sounded like a perfect fit for Kickstarter. So my journey into the fascinating world of "crowdfunding" began. Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects. People set a specific fundraising goal for a project and offer rewards to their supporters. My project, Erin Murphy Knits Alpaca Project, has several goals: to increase awareness of alpacas and the benefits of their amazing fiber, to support the local economy, and to develop and expand the Erin Murphy Knits brand by creating a winter/ holiday 2012-2013 collection. One of the main goals of my Kickstarter campaign, is to raise enough to get a portable alpaca corral, so I can bring the alpacas to special ed, school, hospital and boutique visits. I tried to come up with fun rewards that would appeal to everyone from the casual Bewitched fan, to those interested in owning luxury fiber products. Our family first got involved with alpacas as a form of pet therapy for our little boy with autism. As parents of a child with special needs, we were also thinking of a long term career option for our son, since animals are his greatest love. Alpacas are truly magical creatures. They are extremely eco-friendly and easy on the environment. They're clean and quiet animals, who use one communal poop pile for an entire herd, so they're easy to clean up after. Their poop is also amazing fertilizer. Alpacas are consdered exotic animals or livestock and are primarily used for their fiber. Once a year, the alpacas are sheared. Then we process the fleece and I handknit items with the yarn. Alpaca yarn is soft like cashmere, lighter weight but warmer than wool. Alpaca fiber is hollow and naturally water-resistant and fire-resistant. There's also no lanolin in alpaca, so people who are allergic to wool, or don't like the itchiness of wool, love alpaca knits! I guess now it's time to ask for your help. Please spread the word! Tell your friends about the Erin Murphy Knits Alpaca Project on Kickstarter. Even the smallest donation can make a huge difference. I know the economy is tough right now for everyone. I wouldn't be asking for help if I didn't need it. I'm hoping that people who've enjoyed watching Bewitched all these years, would consider making a $2.00 donation to the project & know that you're helping with something worthwhile! Amazon won't charge you until August 10th and won't charge you at all if I don't reach my goal. While you're on the Kickstarter website, look around at some of the other projects. It's really cool!

In Honor of Comic Con..

It's that time of year again...time for ComicCon! Every year I get a bunch of e-mails asking if I'm going to be there. Surprising fact, I've NEVER been! Another surprising fact, there were Bewitched comic books & I was featured on the cover of a bunch of them. I may make the drive down & sign at Comic con next year. the party invitations are certainly tempting.

My Webseries Debut!

Hey Friends! I've spent my entire life on television, but here is my debut on the portable screen. Watch me as Vanity in the webseries Karma's a Bitch! The episode is titled "Meet The Beings".

Behind the Scenes at Art Project Los Angeles

Life Out Loud!

We went to the Lifeworks Life Out Loud event on the Paramount lot on Saturday. I'm proud to support the LA Gay & Lesbian Center's programs which recently provided scholarships totaling $44,000 to 24 LGBT youth who otherwise would be unable to afford tuition, books and other expenses. Many youth turn to the center for food, shelter and support. the shelter is also a place to escape bullying. www.lagaycenter.org This year my friend, actor & activist Mike C Manning, presented the Courage Award to Lee Hirsch, the director of Bully. It's an important film that I'd highly recommend. While the subject matter is disturbing, I think it's important that younger people watch it. Awareness is the first step in stopping the cycle of violence. I watched it with my twelve year old.

LA Talk Radio Interview

Yesterday I did an interview with Wendi Cooper at LA Talk Radio that's now archived online for you to hear. We talk about everything from acting (including my part on the new webseries Karma's a Bitch), being a pitchperson, to alpaca ranching and supporting the local economy, to the tools needed to start your own business. Let me know what you think! While you're at it, check out my Erin Murphy Knits 100% alpaca hand knit hats for sale:

Sizes

Adult$50.00 USD Child$40.00 USD Baby$30.00 USD

Colors

Aspen- Off White Malibu- Tan Morocco- Brown London- Grey Tahiti- Black Custom- Hand Dyed- write desired color in message

www.latalkradio.com/Cspot.php

Polo Anyone?

I'm a huge supporter of children's charities & I'm a lifelong fan of polo. So an event that combines the two is clearly a winning combination! We attended a lovely event at the Polo Grounds at Will Rogers. It benefitted Safety Harbor Kids, a wonderful nonprofit that enriches the lives of orphans, foster and homeless children through education. www.safetyharborkids.org .There's something so civilized about getting all dressed up to go to a park. If you haven't been to a polo match at Will Rogers, it's a perfect inexpensive date or group activity. Polo is a fast paced sport & kids love the horses. The polo is free, so the only cost is for parking. Pack a decadent picnic, put on your favorite hat & head out for a day of fun in the sun! www.willrogerspolo.org photos courtesy of Roger Neal & Harrison Held

Happy Father's Day!

When I was a little girl, I used to hate it when my birthday fell on Father's Day. Something about making someone else breakfast in bed on my special day didn't feel quite right. I lost him twenty years ago & I'd give anything in the world to share today with my Daddy. I love & miss you!

Save Bob Baker Marionettes!

How many of you remember the Punch & Judy episode of Bewitched? That was Bob Baker behind the curtain. Due to declining ticket sales & a drop in donations, the legendary Bob Baker Marionette Theater is up for sale. In June 2009, the theater was declared a historic cultural landmark. The building contains over 3,000 hand-made marionettes & has hosted shows followed by ice cream for almost 50 years. It's a wonderful place for a birthday party & I've had mine there! They have a Celebration & Preservation Extravaganza scheduled for July 29, 2012. Visit their website to purchase tickets, make a tax deductible donation or plan a visit: www.academyofpuppetry.org

RIP Henry Hill.

I've led an interesting life. I've hung out with Academy Award winners, Rockstars, Athletes, Presidents & a few Mobsters. One of those was, Henry Hill, whose life became the basis for the Martin Scorcese film, Goodfellas. Ray Liotta played him in the film. Henry gave me several of his original paintings & was the nicest "rat" I've ever met! I think we'll be watching Goodfellas tonight. It's a classic.

Bewitched Memories: Dr. Bombay & Tabitha Visit Howard Stern!

People always ask who I stayed in touch with after Bewitched ended. One of the relationships that I've really enjoyed is with Bernard Fox (Dr. Bombay). We've had the pleasure of attending many, many events together over the years, traveling & sharing meals. We also share the same wicked sense of humor, which can be seen in our visit with Howard Stern. How many "Dick" jokes can you count in our 10 minute interview? For those interested in what Howard Stern is "really like", I've done his show three times & he is extremely smart, charming & a total gentleman! Photo credit: ABC Archives.

Bewitched Meets Mad Men!

Bewitched fans LOVE Mad Men! The similarities to even a casual viewer are obvious: 60's, advertising, smoking, drinking, pretty blonde wife, the fact that Don & Roger look like sexier versions of Darren Stephens & Larry Tate. I've been watching since the first episode of the first season & knew that there would be Bewitched references. The talented writing team didn't disappoint. I loved when there was mention that Don Draper should have lunch with Bill Asher at the Brown Derby 'He'll probably cast you'. Darren & I went to the Mad Men Finale Event at the Television Academy last night & had the chance to chat with the shows creator, Matt Weiner, the stars & the writers. They're all Bewitched fans! Little known fact, my dear friend Rebecca Asher (Elizabeth Montgomery & Bill Asher's daughter) was script supervisor on some early episodes. She's directing Raising Hope now (& I feel like a proud big sister). Adorable Kiernan Shipka, is so poised & articulate. I think she's amazing as Sally Draper & clearly has the most fully developed, interesting character ever written for a young actor on television. I've always said I'd love to work on another series when my kids were older. I've been so particular about what should be my return project to the small screen. I really didn't think MegaOctopus Piranha Boy was the right choice..Don't you think Tabitha Stephens Sterling has a nice ring to it? Heck, I'd be happy to play 3rd secretary down the hall & say "Good Morning Mr. Draper!'.

Johnny Grant: The 'Mayor' of Hollywood & Me!

Something special came out of my visit to the Marilyn Monroe Event at the Hollywood Museum! Part of the permanent exhibit at the museum is a free-standing wall of photographs of celebrities receiving their Stars on the Walk of Fame. Most of those ceremonies were presided over by the Honorary Mayor of Hollywood, Johnny Grant. Elizabeth Montgomery's posthumous award was the very last ceremony that Johnny attended. He sadly passed away just five days later. I had the pleasure of spending quite a bit of time talking with him & posted a blog about him back in 2008: 'It is with great sadness that I discuss the death of the Honorary Mayor of Hollywood, Johnny Grant. I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Mr. Grant many times over the years & I'm delighted that I was able to have a long conversation with him last Friday as he unveiled his last star on Hollywood Blvd: Elizabeth Montgomery's. I'd like to share a story he told me about his first trip to Hollywood. Johnny came to California from North Carolina in the 1940's to serve in the Army in World War II. He was in Santa Monica & asked one of the guys how he could get to Hollywood. They told him to walk outside & stick out his thumb. The first car that drove by picked him up & the driver asked "Where you going Sarge?". He said "Take me to Hollywood!". The car dropped him off at Schwab's Drugstore, where he was greeted by Charlie Chaplin. He told me that the number one thing that got him through the war, was the thought of getting back to the place where he wanted to spend the rest of his life: Hollywood. He was a class act, who was sharp as a tack to the very end. He will be fondly remembered & greatly missed.' At the Hollywood Museum, I bumped into Johnny Grant's long time photographer, Robert Freeman. A couple days after the event, I received two photographs & this note from him: 'Hi Erin, I am so glad I could get these to you. I feel I have done something good here in Johnny's memory. You are the last celebrity I took photos of with him and I was his photographer for 20 years. My very best to you and yours, Bob'. Thank you, Bob! I'll treasure them. I'll always remember my time spent with Johnny & the twinkle in his eyes! Here is a video of the arrivals at the Star Ceremony: Here is Johnny's last star dedication: Videos from Mark Simpson, The Bewitched Collector.

The Hollywood Museum: Marilyn Monroe Exhibit

We went to the opening party for the Marilyn Monroe Exhibit this week at the Hollywood Museum. The museum is in the iconic Max Factor building, where Marilyn became a blonde & Lucy became a redhead! The exhibit is to honor not only Marilyn's birthday, but also the 50th anniversary of her passing. If you've never been to the Hollywood Museum (which I'm embarrassed to admit I hadn't) RUN, don't walk! The museum is positively enormous, full of costumes, props, photographs & memorabilia. The Marilyn Exhibit will be there from June 1- September 2nd. Photographer George Barris was at the party with some of his never before seen pictures of Marilyn on display.

The exhibit has everything from Marilyn's costumes, to her actual refrigerator.

Also on display are the Marilyn costumes from the hit series Smash. For those interested in party food details, they were top notch! Caviar, shrimp, a mashed potato bar, champagne & tequila bars & an entire floor for desserts!

They also had "themed" cocktails. I tried the 'Happy Birthday Mr. President': 2 oz Akvinta Vodka, 1/2 oz Campari, 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice.

To further illustrate the everlasting appeal of Marilyn the crowd was extremely diverse, including old Hollywood stars, Gloria Allred & Selena Gomez! Selena was on the red carpet next to me & when I tried to explain to my husband who she was, he replied "Is she I Carly?".

Actors Fund's Tony Award VIP Kick-Off Party!

I was happy to attend the Actors Fund Tony Award VIP Reception at Bloomingdales. It was the kick-off event to their Tony Awards Gala, June 10th at the Skirball Center. Scott Bakula will be hosting & Jason Alexander will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. Mitzi Gaynor (South Pacific!) hosted the Bloomingdales party & the department store generously donated 10% of their sales to the Actors Fund. Bewitched fans might know that Elizabeth Montgomery approached Agnes Moorehead at Bloomingdales to offer her the part of Endora! I was especially excited to see Donna Mills (my childhood beauty icon, still absolutely gorgeous!) & her boyfriend of over 30 years, Richard Holland (who was previously married to Chaka Khan). Photos of large groups can be very problematic. In the picture above, actress Nancy Dussault decided the best place to stand was directly in front of me. Really, I could taste her hair. If I knew her well, I would have assumed it was a joke. I politely moved to the side & she dropped her purse right on my foot (OUCH!). I'm sure she's a lovely person, but in this instance, she was a little "Too Close for Comfort"! For tickets to the Actor's Fund Viewing Party visit www.actorsfund.org. Pictured in the photo above, left to right: Ilene Graff, Warren Berlinger, Brenda Dickson, Donna Mills, James Karen, Channing Chase, Judy Norton, Kate Linder, Elliott Gould, Mitzi Gaynor, Nancy Dussault, George Chakiris, Erin Murphy (me), Barbara Van Orden, & Stanley Livingston. Photo credit: Scott Appel.

Bewitched Memories: My Thoughts on the Tabitha Series

With the huge success of Bewitched & the fact that the series ended without cancellation, it was inevitable that there would be a remake (or remakes). The first attempt was a pilot, Tabatha (with an A not an I), broadcast on ABC on April 24, 1976. The pilot starred Liberty Williams as a brown eyed, brunette Tabatha who worked for Trend Magazine in San Francisco. It was awful & wasn't picked up. The network completely reworked the concept & came up with Tabitha. The pilot aired on May 7, 1977 and the series debuted on September 10, 1977. in both series attempts, the concept was that my character was a grownup & alas, I was just 11 & 12. Lisa Hartman played the grownup me in the Tabitha series & the network made a great effort to cast someone that they thought looked like I would as an adult.

The network execs had me bring in bunches of photos, so the opening montage could have a mixture of my childhood photos & Lisa Hartman's. Adult Lisa looked like me, kid Lisa looked nothing like me. The opening voice over said something like, "Tabitha grew up like most kids, with braces & freckles..". I didn't have either, so they painted some on one of my photos as an option.

The Tabatha series wasn't great. It's been included in several lists of the worst series of all time! It did a nice job of launching Lisa Hartman's career. At the time, I was disappointed that they didn't wait a little & do the series with me, about Tabitha's adventures in high school. I did watch it at the time, but haven't seen it since. Here's my acting composite from that time:

Please visit my company, Erin Murphy Knits! www.ErinMurphyKnits.com I'm happy to offer 100% alpaca, hand knit hats for sale!

Sizes

Adult$50.00 USD Child$40.00 USD Baby$30.00 USD

Colors

Aspen- Off White Malibu- Tan Morocco- Brown London- Grey Tahiti- Black Custom- Hand Dyed- write desired color in message