City Vanguard Triumphs: A Crowdfunding Success Story

CHICAGO - July 24, 2013 - PRLog -- City Vanguard is a live music television series that documents underground musicians in Chicago. Founder and producer, David Weathersby, began his FunderHut campaign (http://www.funderhut.com/projects/view/city-vanguard-live-music-television-series) in January of 2013 and successfully raised enough to help him launch pilot episodes for their next season. In celebration, FunderHut sits down with David to capture his story and uncover the secrets of being a success.

As told by Eleanor Diaz

I grew up with the sounds of music frequently wafting through my house. They ranged from a soft melodic jazz to the solid beats of rock and roll. My love of music moved with me to Chicago where I began my career as a videographer. The bright, ever-changing and culturally infused city beaconed to me with promises of “new beginnings.” Here, anything could happen.

But this wonderful city was missing something. Although the hustle and bustle of the crowded streets provided a perfect atmosphere for inspiring artists, local musicians were sometimes overlooked or overshadowed by more mainstream labels.That’s why I started City Vanguard: to offer a spotlight and a voice for the underground musical community. I began filming local and independent musicians and was utterly amazed at their talent and ambition. Their music was an extension of their own art, a combination of their story, battle, emotion and soul. By documenting their travels, I believe I bring a new level of understanding to their stories.


For my dream to become a success, I needed help. A friend who also owned a company that focused on the art community recommended FunderHut to me. FunderHut was the only crowdfunding site that took a serious and personal approach to projects. It was refreshing to interact with founders Dan and Alan. As a small company supporter, I appreciated that FunderHut catered towards communities and the power of local businesses.


I made my project a success by directly contacting artists and sharing my story. I consistently updated my social media platforms as well as posted “proof of concept” updates on my FunderHut (http://www.funderhut.com) profile. You can’t just create a crowdfunding project and expect it to magically produce funds. You have to use all of your resources in attempt to build a strong connection with your followers.

The money raised went directly towards purchasing updated equipment, which helped City Vanguard focus on quality production. Local musicians are sometimes judged by how they are presented. By receiving a higher grade of visual and audio quality, the artist gains a more level playing field when compared with “funded” artists. Music shouldn’t be judged on poor representation, but rather on its pure soul.

The future looks bright for City Vanguard. We hope to expand the content of episodes, add interviews and extend performance footage. Thanks to FunderHut, these goals are soon becoming a reality.

City Vanguard is a platform for independent artists who push the boundaries of their genre. My advice for future campaigners would be to push the boundaries that were set for you. Strive for your goals because nothing is out of reach.