There is a nervous energy that comes with running a Kickstarter unlike anything else.
When you launch any product, you are putting something you spent months, even years, into creating out on display. For appreciation, but also potential criticism and rejection.
It's an emotional time - gratitude for each positive response, for every backer who takes you closer to the goal. Even more when you see the same name crop up from a previous project. Valuable knowledge and insight from any comment, even the negative (but also a twinge).
It's a time of trust and surrender.
Knowing so many more things come into play than “just” the quality and validity of your project - the economic climate and whether your project is considered a luxury item. The time of year. The time of month. Whether there is a public holiday during your campaign. How long your campaign is. Any number of intangibles you cannot possibly fathom.
On your first Kickstarter, it’s everything.
But you have to trust the process, have to be confident, have to know what your project is worth, can't let nervousness turn negative.
I've run solo Kickstarters, and collaborations. I'm in one now, for a brand new product, so there was definitely a level of anticipation, wondering whether this project would resonate with others, especially as we decided to launch without weeks of prelaunch advertising etc.
But my nervous energy has been funnelled into creativity and chores, and as I was off doing all those, the project was awarded a "project we love", so I'm continuing to ride the momentum, and ordering the bits and pieces I need for the hand-made elements of the pledges.
And most importantly...seeing where it goes!