Latest Kickstarter For "Grilled Cheesus" Makes Us Question Kickstarter

Kickstarter is a really great idea, one that has helped many worthwhile projects get off the ground. However, lately it seems like everyone is asking for money, and the projects' quality is becoming questionable. Case in point: a Brooklyn couple wants $25,000 to fund their "Grilled Cheesus" sandwich maker. A grilled cheese maker that burns Jesus on to your bread—an idea that basically already exists in many forms.

Anyway, Rob Corso and Meg Sheehan want you to fund their very important electronic grilled cheese sandwich press. They have somehow (a miracle?) already raised over $5,000 towards their project, which essentially they need funded so they can make more money by selling the novelty machine.

It seemed like when it started, Kickstarter was a great place for creative projects to launch and worthwhile goals to be reached, but mass-producing a "Grilled Cheesus" sandwich press seems a little QVC to us. Should Kickstarter be more selective in choosing projects, or should we really be throwing money at a sandwich machine?:

[via Foodiggity]

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Food on November 1, 2011 6:41 PM

Comments [rss]

Ed David

Actually Gothamist this falls under product design which is an approved category on kickstarter. For instance curly cable fits into this category - http://www.kickstarter.com/pro... - and its a product that creates a longer iphone cable.

That's pretty much as commercial as the Cheesus. Whether or not you see it, the Cheesus seems to me to be a funny way to get kids and others thinking about Jesus in a highly creative way. You may not approve of its idea and its concept but I'm sure KS would have taken the project down long ago.

And why would you be against a product created by two industry outsiders that will spur the creation of perhaps thousands of these in the manufacturing plant in the USA. I believe they want to build the units in Rhode Island. Are you against US job creation?

Also this poses an interesting ethical question - in that all product design created in America that will be sold is commercial. Whether or not its for photography or for food creation. Where do you draw the line because you think you are above the Cheesus?

A.J.

j_12...BRILLIANT!

J_12

Kickstarter describes itself as a funding platform for creative projects, in which the creators retain 100% control and ownership. Essentially, this is micro-charity (without the tax deduction.) As such, it does seem a bit dubious to include commercial projects.

Maybe kickstarter should create a new section for projects with a commercial aim which act more like micro-investment. The creators could offer equity participation, and kickstarter could act as middle-man and provide boilerplate legal docs for a small cut.

Alex Trust

chesus crust this is cool

eflash

grilled cheese from a press always sucks because you can't use enough butter

esarby

I wonder how long it takes for a product like this to find its way into the back of an Urban Outfitters warehouse

Detex

RE;" already raised over $5,000 towards their project, which essentially they
need funded so they can make more money by selling the novelty machine."

Isn't that the point? It is a KICKSTART! You get the funding to realize your dream! You hope to build or make something that will be innovative and make you money down the road!

johnnieutah

I guess its because people are (in many cases) DONATING money to help create a commercial product. It seems odd because in the beginning most of the projects on kickstarter were art or science projects, not commercial products. I'm not opposed to commercial products on kickstarter, but I think it dilutes the original flavor of the thing, and makes me less interested in participating.

Dirk

So now you want to be an arbiter of what should be on Kickstarter? Who cares if you think an idea is stupid? Don't contribute to that project and move on. The whole point of Kickstarter is that worthwhile projects will get funding. The rest fail.

Besides, you may think this Grilled Cheesus is stupid, but this exactly the kind of thing that would sell well on a place like ThinkGeek.

Detex

You are so right! Everyone gets up in arms over shit like this. If you don't like it, move on! I have two friends who have funded documentary films through Kickstart that went on to be very well received after finishing them... Without the help of Kickstart they never would have made it out of the planning faze.

nicemarmot

That makes me want a grilled cheese.

birdtird

What would cheesus do?

johnnieutah

Kickstarter jumped the shark a long time ago. Viz: Jason Eppink's hilarious "kickbackstarter" campaign:
http://www.kickbackstarter.com...