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With the rise of Patreon and the long-time staples Indiegogo, PledgeMusic, and Kickstarter, crowdsourcing is becoming one of the ways many artists count on money coming in to create new music, tour, even pay for band photos and equipment. Now, more than ever, musicians are forced to think like entrepreneurs.

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Crowdfunding can be a great way to make some extra money for your upcoming musical endeavor, and while we have all heard the fairy tales about those campaigns that collected millions, you should keep your wits about you and your head on straight as you venture into this relatively new territory.

As you write out your page and think through every step of the process, consider if you’re being realistic. Are you asking too much, or not giving yourself enough time? These are tough questions, but they must be asked, and they certainly need to be answered honestly. If you’re going to kid yourself in the beginning, you’re going to screw yourself in the end.

This... this is a mistake. (Image via Shutterstock)

Some say that crowdfunding is the way of the future, while others see it as nothing more than a trend. It’s not clear which one of these is true (if it’s not both of them), but what can be seen is that if you need some cash for a tour, a new album, or anything else related to your career, you might want to look into starting up a campaign, as it can be a useful way to get together the few bucks you’re missing.

If you’re going to jump into the world of crowdfunding, you need to spend some time (and perhaps some cash, as counterintuitive as that may sound) to do it right. If you don’t expend the effort and you flub this, people will remember, and you won’t get the funds you're looking for.

Throughout your upcoming crowdfunding campaign, there are certain places where many artists seem to make some mistakes that cost them dearly. Read on to learn from their missteps!

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So many bands rely on crowdfunding campaigns these days. It really does attest to the diehard, dedicated nature of a fanbase when people donate money in order to help a band create new music. While you might wonder why a band would have the audacity to ask fans to help fund a release, fans already do that when they purchase the finished product, buy tickets to a show, or purchase merch; this method is just more direct.

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Crowdfunding has become one of the best ways for independent musicians (and even those with record deals) to get the money they need to make their living. Creating an album or going on tour can be expensive, and it's tough enough to sell music, so many acts have turned to asking their biggest fans for a little extra help, and more often than not, they heed the call.

As the crowdfunding industry grows, more and more options for fundraising are popping up, and it's tough to choose the best site for you and your band. So, which one is right for you? Do you want to take your chances with the masses on Kickstarter, or perhaps one of these three options is your best bet? Where are you based? Where are you touring? What genre do you play? All of these are important factors, especially on some of the more niche fundraising sites. If you don't think you want to be a part of the bigger platforms, here are a few smaller options that might be a better fit.