- 01
Lead with the outcome
Your headline should name the result, not the struggle. Say what you will finish and when. A strong headline fits on one line and makes a stranger curious enough to open the story.
- 02
Tell it in three short parts
Who you are, what you are making and why now. A few plain sentences each. Never promise what you cannot prove later; Backers give to a person, so let your own voice come through.
- 03
Show, then ask
Add real photos of you and your work. Link each milestone to the proof you will post. End with a clear ask: what the first milestone needs and what Backers will see when it is done.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Weather disrupts setup
Rain or wind can change what the site can support. Include a weather decision point before build day and budget for practical shelter or a reduced programme where appropriate.
- R2
Performers withdraw
A cancellation can leave gaps after publicity is printed. Confirm booking terms early and keep a reserve programme option within the performer budget rather than promising a fixed lineup.
- R3
Facilities arrive late
Late toilets, barriers or access equipment can hold up opening. Make delivery confirmations part of production proof and leave setup time before the audience arrival window.
Example milestone plan
An example plan for a local festival dream with a goal of $14,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
$3,500 · 25%
Confirm site and bookings
Post venue confirmation, redacted booking records and a site plan showing the proposed performance and audience areas.
Milestone 2
$3,500 · 25%
Prepare technical production
Share sound and staging booking records, technical plans and supplier checklists with private contact details removed.
Milestone 3
$4,200 · 30%
Build festival facilities
Post setup photos, facility delivery records and a completed site checklist covering signage and audience service areas.
Milestone 4
$2,800 · 20%
Deliver and close event
Share event photos with appropriate permissions, supplier completion records and a cleanup checklist for the festival site.
How Backers are protected
14-day review per milestone
When proof is posted, each Backer has 14 days to release their share or ask for more. Money not released in time goes back to the Backer.
15% fee, deducted — never added
Backers pay exactly what they choose. The 15% fee comes out of each backing: $100 gives the Dreamer $85. The fee is kept if money is returned.
Gifts, not shares
Backings are gifts. No shares, equity, interest or repayment, and Dreamers keep full ownership. Nothing on cohero is an investment or a loan.
Budget example
A typical cost split for a local festival dream wherever you live, shown in USD. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
$14,000
- Sound staging and production$4,200 · 30%
- Performers and programme delivery$4,200 · 30%
- Site facilities and access$3,500 · 25%
- Event coordination and cleanup$2,100 · 15%
What you receive
- Backers give
- $14,000
- Platform fee (15%)
- −$2,100
- You receive
- $11,900
Questions and answers
Can Backers fund a free-entry festival?
State that entry is free and show how the goal covers production, programme delivery and site facilities. Keep any other expected support clearly separate so Backers understand which parts their gifts are intended to fund.
What if the festival must be postponed?
Explain the revised date, supplier status and which milestones remain unfinished. Money for each milestone is held until proof; Backers then release their share or ask for more info, so postponement alone is not completion proof.
What makes a local festival pitch convincing?
Specific numbers, real photos and a first milestone small enough to reach soon. Backers trust Dreamers who show where every amount goes and who have already started on their own.
Ready when you are
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