Out crowdfunding date is approaching fast and we’re making preparations. Don’t miss out!
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We'll be going live with our crowdfunding campaign after all of our licensing agreements are signed and I am working to make that happen as soon as possible.
We're aiming to crowdfund in May 2025.
For now, the best way you can help us out is to please join our mailing list at the following link:
Crowdfunding with BackerKit Pre-Launch Mailing List
BackerKit was the only crowdfunding platform to put their support and their enthusiasm behind out project during a time when other crowdfunding platforms were turning us away because of our relation to sexual wellness.
Please join our mailing list at the link below to ensure that you get notified about the crowdfunding campaign that will help fund the first edition of Vibrating Tarot.
This diary of events was kept to track my efforts in finding a crowdfunding platform and payment processor that would work for the Vibrating Tarot project after initially being declined by Kickstarter.
With our announcement to move forward with the Crowdfunding by Backerkit platform, and their approval of the project, as well as the approval of Stripe, their payment processor, this journal timeline is considered closed.
I will let it remain here so that people can read about what happened to our project and learn from it when considering the details of their own projects.
Summery: Kickstarter declined to host Vibrating Tarot on their crowdfunding platform. Referencing their Prohibited Items list, they consider it to be Pornographic Material, they also point to their payment processor, Stripe, as having the same set of rules.
Stripe, payment processor for Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and BackerKit, has since come out in support of Vibrating Tarot after taking a close look at the project.
BackerKit has also come out in support of Vibrating Tarot. Being aware of our history with Kickstarter, they have offered to host our project on their Crowdfunding by BackerKit platform.
See the above links to join our mailing list to be notified about when we go live in May 2025.
Crowdfunding with BackerKit Pre-Launch Mailing List
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We'd all like to see Vibrating Tarot made into a commercial project, with availability online as well as in adult retail stores, but the project is not funded or commissioned.
The only way to make it a reality is to initially crowdfund it, in May 2025.
Many popular decks of cards have been funded in this manner, and as an independent artist who has never taken this route before, I'm currently studying up on this method so that I'll be able to run the most successful campaign I possibly can.
Until then, please join my mailing list to ensure that you’ll be notified when our crowdfunding campaign goes live.
Crowdfunding with BackerKit Pre-Launch Mailing List
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June 7, 2023: Kickstarter has officially declined the Vibrating Tarot project citing its connection to sexual imagery.
After over a year of interacting with the Kickstarter platform and building the Vibrating Tarot project from their back end, this comes a a big surprise.
This is in direct contrast to some of their recently approved projects. I though that Vibrating Tarot would be welcome on their platform because of the former projects that have successfully funded, but I have just lost my only appeal to their decision.
A simple search of the term "sex toy" on their platform will reveal two dozen sexually related projects, some of which are the very products that appear in Vibrating Tarot's artwork.
I have provided a link to Kickstarter's Prohibited Items list:
https://www.kickstarter.com/rules/prohibited?ref=rules
The only thing that Kickstarter can point to in their listing of Prohibited Items is Pornographic Material.
Therefore Kickstarter considers Vibrating Tarot to be pornographic material. In other words, the sex toys that have been funded through Kickstarter are themselves are not pornographic material, but my depictions of them on my Tarot cards are somehow considered to be pornographic.
A definition of the word Pornography in the Oxford Dictionary brings up the following definition:
Pornography: printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings.
A definition of the word Pornography in the Marriam-Webster Dictionary brings up the following definition:
Pornography: the depiction of acts in a sensational manner so as to arouse a quick intense emotional reaction
A definition of the word Pornography in Dictionary.com brings up the following definition:
Pornography: sexually explicit videos, photographs, writings, or the like, whose purpose is to elicit sexual arousal.
Perhaps the most scathing definition comes from the Cambridge Dictionary, which states:
Pornography: books, magazines, films, etc. with no artistic value that describe or show sexual acts or naked people in a way that is intended to be sexually exciting.
The bottom line is that Vibrating tarot does not depict any of the above.
Shame on Kickstarter for deeming our project pornography and for declining our only appeal when we explained otherwise. They didn’t bother to take the time to see Vibrating Tarot for what it's truly worth.
Granted, they told me that the other half of their reason is the guidelines set forth by their payment processor, Stripe. I will have to do some further investigation here to see what Stripe has to say about this.
I may never understand this discrepancy. I feel that I should go back to them and insist on revaluing their decision but I know enough to know when I'm not wanted.
I want to crowdfund Vibrating Tarot on a platform that will embrace out project with enthusiasm, not one that will fight against our very existence.
There are other options, and I will uncover them.
In the interest of full disclosure, I will copy and paste Kickstarter's email here:
Hi Frank,
Thanks for sharing your project with us. We’ve given it a careful review, and unfortunately, we’re unable to approve it to launch.
Right now, sexual wellness products are a new area for Kickstarter. We’re still sorting out what kind of products are right for Kickstarter, as well as within the guidelines set by our payments processors. As such, we’re not able to approve your sexual wellness product at this time.
Going forward, pornographic material is not permitted on Kickstarter. Here’s a comprehensive list of items prohibited by Kickstarter, so you can better understand the things to avoid:
• https://www.kickstarter.com/rules/prohibited
All projects on our site must fit into one of our 15 categories and abide by our rules, which we encourage you to reread:
• https://www.kickstarter.com/learn
• https://www.kickstarter.com/rules
We appreciate your understanding,
Kickstarter Trust & Safety
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June 9, 2023: I've reached out to the team at Indiegogo to ask if Vibrating Tarot will be accepted on their platform and have been told that based on the information I gave, the project would likely be declined.
When I insisted they take a closer look, I was told that the project requires the ticket to be sent up the line to a different department. It seems as though Indiegogo is also having serious reservations about hosting Vibrating Tarot.
Similarly to Kickstarter, a search for the term "sex toy" on their website brings up several different projects that are sexual in nature, many of which are much more explicit than Vibrating Tarot, yet the platform cannot confirm that Vibrating Tarot will be welcome to crowdfund with them at this time.
I will keep everyone updated here, and on Twitter, but I should say that their initial response has not filled me with confidence. I'll say it again, I want to crowdfund Vibrating Tarot on a platform that will embrace out project with enthusiasm, not one that will fight against our very existence.
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June 11, 2023: BackerKit has been growing in popularity and I really hope that Vibrating Tarot can find a home on their platform. I just filled out their online application form.
Crowdfunding Vibrating Tarot may be the only way to bring this deck of cards to fruition and we need to find a platform that will support the project with enthusiasm just as we all have over the course of the past three years.
There is so much potential at our fingertips as the project has a built in consumer base and people as well as retail outlets are literally waiting for the deck of cards to be available so that they can place orders. I will have the full cooperation of every company involved as I will not crowdfund the project without having all of my licensing agreements signed. These companies, big and small, share out project on their social networks regularly and we will also request of each of them that an email advertising the crowdfunding effort goes through their email lists -- that's a reach of tens of thousands of people through email.
I also have access to the pleasure product industry via various social networks and I do believe that this will be of paramount importance to our success as they are excited to spread the word through their personal and professional channels as well. I'm sitting on tremendous potential but I need a platform that will help me bring it all together.
BackerKit seems to be building an amazing platform for forward thinking creative and artistic individuals. I really hope they see Vibrating Tarot for what it can be and help us bring it to life.
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June 14, 2023: Indiegogo got back to me saying that they have reversed their decision and that Vibrating Tarot is welcome to use their platform but they cannot guarantee anything because their initial hesitation was related to their payment processor, Stripe.
Stripe can choose to process our payments or choose to decline them. Even if the crowdfunding was a huge success, they could turn their backs on us if they deem it necessary to do so. This is out of any crowdfunding platform's hands. This is one of the reasons Kickstarter rejected us initially.
The problem with this is that BackerKit also uses Stripe as a payment processor. It seems as if they all use Stripe.
BackerKit has assured me that payment processors like Stripe do allow for the sale of pleasure / sexual purchases all the time, however, Stripe can make any decision they want and there is nothing the crowdfunding platform can do. BackerKit has told me that they are at the mercy of Stripe, just like the others.
I am in the process of contacting Stripe to open a dialogue with them but am confident that they will allow the project to move forward with them.
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June 15, 2023: BackerKit is an up-and-coming crowdfunding platform so there is a lot of exciting energy surrounding them. They have been helping me out so far and I believe in their ability to take it all the way. On top of that, their community is filled with a younger crowd of artists in who operate within creative fields as opposed to the tech based audiences of other platforms. BackerKit provides an alternative to traditional crowdfunding platforms for a lot of projects, and I like that about them.
After what happened with Kickstarter, then Indiegogo, I really do feel that I need to lean into some alternative options.
Indiegogo, although a bigger platform with a more recognizable name, may not really be there for me if I need them. They haven't done too much to instill confidence in me so far. What good is a bigger name if they won't feature my project prominently or be proud of the fact that I have signed up with them.
That's one of the problems that I found with Indiegogo. Browsing around their website felt like looking through a graveyard filled with projects that were cancelled or not funded. I don't feel that Indiegogo or Kickstarter needs to care if you succeed or fail.
BackerKit, on the other hand, has already passed me though a screening process and approved of the Vibrating Tarot project. BackerKit wants me to succeed, and they believe I will. They need me to succeed because they don't want to start off their track record with a bunch of projects that weren't successful.
I feel that I am in capable hands with BackerKit. I feel that they are happy to host us and willing to work with me to ensure our success.
P.S., they called our project "cool".
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June 16, 2023: Vibrating Tarot has sorted out some technical issues with BackerKit and are close to an announcement about using their platform to crowdfund our project.
The issue is whether or not their payment processor, Stripe, will process our crowdfunding payments based on the subject matter of the Vibrating Tarot project.
More on this upcoming, until then, check out the following link that will take you to our BackerKit pre-launch mailing list.
Crowdfunding with BackerKit Pre-Launch Mailing List
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June 18, 2023: Recap:
I have been told that I am welcome to crowdfund BackerKit, and with Indiegogo, but have no further appeals with Kickstarter's decision to decline the project.
In all cases, they point to their payment processor, Stripe, and remind me that Stripe has their own sets of rules regarding what kinds of businesses they will work with. Stripe has the right to refuse to process our payments after a successful crowdfunding campaign if they see fit to do so.
This is one of the reasons Kickstarter listed when explaining why they had to decline the project.
In all three cases, their payment processor is Stripe, so lets take a look at what Stripe has to say about restricted or prohibited businesses or subject matter.
When it comes to adult material, their guidelines are hardly different than the guidelines given by the crowdfunding platforms themselves.
I'll copy and paste the relevant section here, and will display my response to each section below.
An email to this effect has been sent to Stripe, and I await their response.
Stripe states that they prohibit Adult Content and Services.
The following is copied and pasted from the Stripe website:
Adult content and services
• Pornography and other mature audience content (including literature, imagery and other media) depicting nudity or explicit sexual acts
• Adult services including prostitution, escorts, pay-per view, sexual massages, and adult live chat features
• Adult video stores
• Gentleman's clubs, topless bars, and strip clubs
• Online dating services
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Vibrating Tarot's Response:
Vibrating Tarot does not feature any of the above content or services.
Vibrating Tarot does not depict pornography, which is defined in Oxford dictionary as: printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings.
Vibrating Tarot does not depict any sexual acts whatsoever.
Vibrating Tarot contains no nudity.
The word "sex" does not appear in any of my work. I do not refer to these items as "sex toys", I always refer to them as pleasure products.
We are not a service provider of any kind. We do not, nor will we ever, provide any services related to the above descriptions, including prostitution, escorts, pay-per view, sexual massages, or adult live chat features.
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June 22, 2023: After a dozen emails with a representative from Stripe (payment processor for BackerKit and Kickstarter), I have been reassured that Vibrating Tarot falls within their acceptable parameters as described on their list of Restricted Business.
I communicated with a very responsive representative, and asked this individual three times to reiterate and reassure that Vibrating Tarot would not be a problem with them.
After telling me I "should be good to go," I felt a stronger answer was needed.
After telling me that my "business of tarot cards would be categorized as psychic and fortune telling services" which falls within their acceptable parameters, I asked him to clarify his answer once more, reiterating the presence of pleasure products in the artwork.
Providing images of the project as well as the website and all relevant information was necessary because I wanted to make sure that we were on exactly the same page.
I owe a tremendous amount of responsibility to every company involved in this project. Finding a crowdfunding platform that will help us succeed, and one that uses a payment processor that understands and approves of our project are bedrock components.
The third answer I got from Stripe was the one I was looking for.
I'll copy and paste it here:
Hi Frank,
Thank you for providing further clarification and the image regarding your Vibrating Tarot cards featuring pleasure products. Your concerns are completely understandable, and I appreciate your diligence in seeking a definitive response.
I have carefully reviewed the image you provided and the unique nature of the Vibrating Tarot cards. Based on my understanding and consultation with the relevant teams, I can confirm that Stripe does support processing payments for your Vibrating Tarot cards, even with their depiction of pleasure products.
As always, it is essential for your business to comply with Stripe's terms of service and any applicable laws and regulations in the regions you operate in.
Please be assured that we understand the specifics of your project, and I reiterate that Stripe will support your Vibrating Tarot card business.
Best,
Stripe Growth Team
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June 24, 2023: With all of the tangled mess in finding a crowdfunding platform and a payment processor that will work for Vibrating Tarot, which you can read all about above, I will soon be announcing that Vibrating Tarot will be moving forward with crowdfunding on the Crowdfunding with BackerKit platform.
Please join our mailing list to be notified when we go live in May 2025.
Crowdfunding with BackerKit Pre-Launch Mailing List
We'll be going live with our crowdfunding campaign after all of our licensing agreements are signed and I am working to make that happen as soon as possible.
We're aiming to crowdfund in May 2025.
For now, the best way you can help us out is to please join our mailing list at the following link:
Crowdfunding with BackerKit Pre-Launch Mailing List
BackerKit was the only crowdfunding platform to put their support and their enthusiasm behind our project during a time when other crowdfunding platforms were turning us away because of our relation to sexual wellness.
Please join our mailing list at the link below to ensure that you get notified about the crowdfunding campaign that will help fund the first edition of Vibrating Tarot.