Elliot's Bicycle Service & Piano Bar

[maryanimal]

I agree with Ratty! I'm not familiar with how Indigogo or Kickstarter work. I'm familiar with Go Fund Me. It's a good idea Elliot!

[lucky420]

CONGRATULATIONS!

ON YOUR SUPER COOL PLACEMENT!

[Elliot]

Well, it isn't final for at least a month yet.

[Ratty]

I went to the East Bay Burner event last night and 'placement' was there explaining how the process goes. It's ever changing from now till they print the map. They want everyone to update them if the size of your group changes.

[southern crone]

Congratulations! You could do bike seat covers, flashing bike lights, bike locks, large spinning pinwheels for bikes, t-shirts, free bike use on the playa, special rides, drinks, etc. Best wishes.

[Elliot]

I perfectly understand that the map is not finished until it "goes to the printer" -- and it even keeps changing right up until all the tents are set up (and one or two moved once or twice). That's the nature of the beast. The Placers work like the dickens all setup week, making adjustments.

But as I understand it, camps often ask for the "best" placement, such as in Plazas; yet Placement went out of their way to ask us, after I practically begged to get our old out-of-the-way spot. So I figure we better be prepared for the Plaza.

On that note, a professional Bicycle Technician who is coming to BM for the first time just applied to join us. If he is not on the International No Fly list, I reckon we will put him to work.

[Elliot]

It just dawned on me that we will also need more funds for beverages. Yikes!
And maybe a rolling bar cart for serving the folks waiting in line. They are the ones who need refreshments the most.

So... Indigogo? I'm thinking that potential donors may be put off if there is no swag at all. Maybe "campaign" buttons? Two or three inches in diameter, with camp logo and "BRC 2015"? What might it cost to have 100 of those made up?

[Jovankat]

What wonderful news! I hope we get our requested 4:30ish placement so we're nearby!

[Elliot]

Still thinking Indiegogo. If we meet our (realistic) goal, the commission is 4%, which seems acceptable. I'm thinking $2,000. Swag would be minimal -- a button or decal, regardless of donated amount. Suggested amounts of $25, 50 and 100. Maybe 500 also, in case some bicycle enthusiast just won the lottery.

I don't even have any Indiegogo-worthy photos from past years, much less a video, but I can refer people to the website for more info.

Thoughts?

[southern crone]

Elliot, I would be glad to donate some small art pieces or crafty stuff.

[Pollylop83]

Hello Elliot!

Your bar/camp sounds brilliant. I love bikes, booze and boobs. 5 of us are heading over from London. We all cycle and can fix a flat so I wanted to offer our services. We can also play piano, teach swing dance and make bloody good cocktails. Would love to help out.

Let me know where you guys are. See you out there.. LXX

[Elliot]

Sherrie, this is much appreciated. I'm sending you a PM shortly.

Pollylop, this is fabulous! Looks like we will be on the 4:30 Plaza, which is at the intersection of G Street. We can also make more detailed arrangements by PM, if that seems called for.

Now...







Our Indiegogo campaign is coming up soon. The “Blue Light Special” of swag will be offered with a $36.- donation: This is a set of three goodies – a medallion, a flashlight and a button, as shown in the three pictures. Mind you, the photos show only samples. We have more.
There is also a camp logo button in the works.

Looks like the “ladder” of swag will be this:
$20 = Button with camp logo.
$36 = The three items shown above. This will be our “Blue Light Special”.
$50 = The four above items.
$100 = The four above items and a 3” medallion made of bicycle parts by yours truly.

And we are working on a possible delivery of chilled Champagne to a camp on Playa for something like $250.
Or what other service might somebody want at the $250 level?

Thoughts? Suggestions? Opinions?

[maryanimal]

Nice shwag Elliot! One of the buttons has my tattoo on it!

[maryanimal]

Btw, I got my ticket conformation email today!

[Elliot]

Yay, Mary!

Now I'm thinking baseball caps. Might be a good idea to have Technicians and Hosts in recognizable uniform. Looks like I can get a low quality cap with lettering for around $350,- when buying 100 of them.

Thoughts?

[Ratty]

That would be nice. I would do cheap hats and make some stencils for spray painting them. That way they could also do their clothes at the burn.

[delle]

That would be nice. I would do cheap hats and make some stencils for spray painting them. That way they could also do their clothes at the burn.

And with stencils, you wouldn't be stuck with just one model of hat...

...or of design...

[Elliot]

I have worked with stencils before. But I have used cardboard, which soon warps. Maybe somebody with a fancy machine could carve a stencil of aluminum. Then there is the matter of holding the stencil tightly to the object while spraying. Now that I think about it, I bet there exists a gadget for this. Or I could even make one out of some random object of suitable shape, like a small cooking pot. But this outfit www.4imprints.com seems to offer practically free lettering (in a standard font) on cheap hats, so that might work. I just wonder if the quality might be too low even for us?

There is an other outfit that has blank hats for around $4.50 with a minimum order of 36. That and a homemade stencil would cost even less. We would want around 25 for the camp and a few as swag.

[Elliot]

Why didn't I think of this earlier.... Adhesive decals! Stickers! 250 round ones in b/w for $52. I think that's almost a done deal.

[Jovankat]

That would be nice. I would do cheap hats and make some stencils for spray painting them. That way they could also do their clothes at the burn.

This is Elliot's camp though, they might not be wearing clothes!

[Elliot]

Ball caps or eye shades, maybe. I don't like wearing those either, but we might want to make ourselves identifiable to our customers, avoiding the old "Do you work here?"

Come to think of it... we could use body paint. (I think we will close one or two of our minor attractions on Friday and replace them with body painting for Critical Tits anyway.)

[Ratty]

You would look dashing in an outline of a vest and a name patch. (painted on).

[southern crone]

You could buy a few yards of material and cut into strips to use as arm band ties or neck bandanas. You probably could find a print shop, newspaper office that will make a rubber stamp for you. The one here does.

[maryanimal]

Yay, Mary!

Now I'm thinking baseball caps. Might be a good idea to have Technicians and Hosts in recognizable uniform. Looks like I can get a low quality cap with lettering for around $350,- when buying 100 of them.

Thoughts?

Great idea!

[maryanimal]

Will we have some sort of shower set up? I have one in mind! Everyone should bring water to donate to the cause! Then we can wash the dust of ourselves if we wish! Any other ideas?

[Elliot]

Many ideas, and we will take this up in the next camp-member bulletin.

[Elliot]

Ready or not, the Indiegogo campaign must launch in a day or two.

Among the Perks:

* Lodging for the Event in Millicent The Bus.

* Use for the Event of Beast playa bike with 4" wide tires, upgraded with cushy saddle and tall handlebar.

*Use for the Event of "regular" bikes with cushy saddle and tall handlebar. The Loaner list is full -- these are in addition.

*One-on-one seminars, covering bicycle feed & care, choosing the right bike for you, how to shift gears correctly and minimize trouble, useful modifications, and whatnot. Refreshments served. To be held on Playa during a pleasant morning.

[Elliot]

.
Rock-n-roll!

http://igg.me/at/elliotsbicycleservice/x/11087604
.

[Patsh]

YAY, Elliot!

Best of luck!

[Meat Hunter]

Elliot,

The $500 donation for the lodging gift is a real steal...

If I were not all ready with my trailer & reserved space at the airport, I would snap-up this kind offer in a second. This offer is going to save somebody several tons of money.

Bed, shower & toilet -- Other than a few cans of SPAM and a sleeping bag, what more does one need.