Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
From Kickstarter:
Years ago, Robert Lebovic, an Alaskan fisherman of 20+ years, decided to make his dream of gifting the Burning Man community what he knows best…The purse seiner FV Gypsy Queen. With countless of dollars of his own money and the help of his crazy friends his dream became a reality and the Gypsy Queen is making her third voyage out to the playa to make thousands of folks happy!
But…The Gypsy Queen is getting older and making the trip to Nevada and back with such a heavy load is taking its toll. She is in need of some expensive repairs, and we are also looking to store her out near the playa to prolong her life so people can enjoy her for years to come. Robby has always been so generous to our community, and we want to return the favor by raising some of the money for storage and repairs necessary for her travel across and operation during Burning Man!
More:
Hello!
I’m trying to get the word out on our fundraising campaign for the F.V. Gypsy Queen. As you might know, she was built here in Asheville over a two year period, and has made two trips out to Burning Man in Nevada and back and is gearing up to make her third. The long journey back and forth, the elements in the desert when we run her during the festival and where she is wintered has been taking a toll on the old girl and she’s in need of some repairs…..Not to mention the outrageous costs it takes to get her back and forth. The crew is trying to raise a little bit of that to help supplement some of the costs and we are running a Kickstarter campaign and would like to get the word out.
Anything helps, you can even donate ONE dollar!
Donating helps, obviously, but if you are unable to donate please help spread the word. Please tell your friends, neighbors, book clubs, post on your Facebook, Myspace, the more exposure the better!
Thanks so much!
~Tesla
Hello. And Bye.
Its raising money for someone Elses fun, its begging for money for someone elses dream. This is whats wrong in American, someone can't make it on their own so they have to beg for moneyy from others to live out said dream.
Its just a smug way to BEG or Panhandle so they dont feel like they are begging for money.
Now if they working on a cure for a disease or helping someone pay the rent, or even feeding children it would be way different. This is about folks BEGGING for money to take a road trip to California for Burning Man . . . . .Yeah thats just wonderfully selfish.
What ever happened to standing in the parking lot with a "I need a miracle" sign? Seriously? A Kickstarter campaign so you and your friends can go to Burning Man on a tricked out fishing boat? Good luck. I, for one, am burned out on Kickstarter panhandling. I'm not trying to be a Gypsy Queen hater, this is more about having Kickstarter fatigue. In recent months I've been hit up multiple times by Asheville Kickstarter campaigns for local bands, filmmakers and even a food truck. And all of them conclude with a flurry of emails and Facebook pleas that border on emotional blackmail: "If I don't get a certain amount of money by my deadline, I won't get anything." The Kickstarter model is played out.
Avl Dweller .. It was saved for and built with his own dreams.. A dream shared & contributed to by a loving group of friends. This is a little fundraiser among friends that anyone can join or not join. It ain't beggin, it's an invitation to support extending an already successful art project IF YOU WANT TO. No one is twisting your arm.
The point of this post is that it's an incredible art car that is actually too big to operate & perform around here. Enjoy the video clip for a sampling of what it is & what it does… It's a wonderfully surreal thing that has no other purpose than "FUN."
Beg for that money, what ever happened to people saving their OWN money for Their OWN dreams . . . .