- 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
Concept outgrows the shoot
Too many locations or setups can make a short shoot impractical. Match the storyboard to available hours and include a simpler version of complex scenes before committing the production budget.
- R2
Performance coverage is thin
Missing angles or uneven lip sync can limit the edit. Rehearse to the final track, build a coverage checklist and reserve shooting time for clean full-song performance takes at each key setup.
- R3
Effects take too long
A visual idea may require more compositing than expected. Test one representative effects shot in pre-production and cap the number of complex shots before setting the post-production milestone.
Example milestone plan
An example plan for a music video dream with a goal of $8,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
$1,600 · 20%
Approve treatment and storyboard
Post the visual treatment, storyboard frames and shot schedule showing how the planned scenes follow the track.
Milestone 2
$3,600 · 45%
Film performance and scenes
Share dated set photographs, a completed shot log and brief playback clips demonstrating the main shoot is finished.
Milestone 3
$2,000 · 25%
Edit and finish visuals
Post an edit excerpt, colour comparison frames and an effects checklist showing the planned visual finish is complete.
Milestone 4
$800 · 10%
Deliver final video files
Share the final preview, export details and thumbnail artwork showing the completed video and its delivery formats.
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 music video dream wherever you live, shown in USD. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
$8,000
- Crew and direction$2,400 · 30%
- Locations and equipment$2,800 · 35%
- Editing and visual effects$2,000 · 25%
- Styling and delivery$800 · 10%
What you receive
- Backers give
- $8,000
- Platform fee (15%)
- −$1,200
- You receive
- $6,800
Questions and answers
Does the song need to be finished before I fund the video?
A final recording makes timings, lip sync and edit decisions much easier to plan. If the audio is still changing, resolve it before the shoot milestone and show Backers a treatment built around the version you intend to use.
Can I make a strong plan with only one filming location?
Yes. Use the treatment to show how lighting, framing, performance and simple set changes create variety. A single-location plan should still account for setup time, equipment needs and enough coverage for the full track.
What makes a music video 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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