Subscription-based websites have had an historically tough time in the relatively young web market. And for good reason. The sheer quantity of free material available is staggering both in its depth and quality. A simple search on Google will yield dozens of worthy answers available for the clicking. If one site has a registration block, it's a trivial matter to hit "Back" on the browser and try another. Eventually, however, somebody's got to pay the bandwidth bill and there's always that pesky problem of staying sheltered and fed.

I'm certainly not naive enough to think I could make much money by limiting access to this site. On the contrary, I need it to be as open and freely available as possible. Requiring payment to view posts or to comment may garner some interest if the content was good, but would most likely leave my nuggets of goodness locked away as virtual tumbleweed drifted by.

But here's the deal: I need money. Not in the normal, "yeah, don't we all" type of way either. I'm going to be evicted if I don't come up with rent tomorrow. That's not the end of my financial woes, but it is my most pressing concern. If I can take care of that, I'm confident that other freelance work will be able to guide me out of my current fiscal tangle. The problem is that unless I can sell some stuff quick or get an advance on a job, I doubt it can be done. None of my friends are in a position to make a short-term loan. Indeed many of them are nearly as bad off as me, some maybe worse. Using a credit card is also out of the question, on the account of my balance spilling over the bounds of my limit.

Which brings me to subscriptions. Let's just look at the mathematics of the situation. If I can get 50 people to purchase a lifetime subscription for ten bucks, that's 500 dollars. A hundred subscribers would net me a grand. That's breathing room. And it's an achievable goal. It may not be immediately apparent, but buying a subscription right now could possibly be the best money you ever spent. Why? Because I'm determined to make it worthwhile for you.

I know a lot about technology, particularly digital media technology. I have helped hundreds of people in the course of my work at GSU's media lab. From general questions about how to make a flyer, to obscure integrations of 3D and video, I have lent my expertise to make people's vision come true. When I don't know how to do something, I'm pretty good at finding a solution. This is partly because I have a broad understanding of the underlying problems, but mostly because I like to learn. The point is, I am an excellent resource and I will make a subscription worth it if you need have any type of technology or media question.

If you are interested in interactive media, video, audio production and graphic manipulation, you will probably want to add wavetheory.org to your bookmarks. If you like to share media and are excited by the future of online social networks, subscribing to this site will be worth your ten dollars. If you like to read about random topics in fields as diverse as archaeology, metaphysics, ecology, quantum psychology and aeronautics, I have some cool stuff to share. I wanted to have more finished articles when I launched the site but the critical financial situation I'm in compelled me to just go with what I have. If you are intrigued, your contribution (cash or paypal) would mean a lot to me and will ensure that I have enough time to help realize my vision.

In the business world, the earliest round of funding comes from folks known as angel investors. The term seems especially apt in this situation. I considered offering some type of stock to my initial backers in the event I decide to take my company public. My dad seemed to think there could be some type of SEC regulation against such an offer. He may be right. At any rate, I will say that the early subscribers will hold a special esteem in my eyes if this venture is a success.

The first 1000 people to subscribe will receive a lifetime membership. I hope my case is compelling enough to warrant a burst of support. Hell, if a guy can get a house for a paperclip through the wonders of internet marketing, surely my scheme has a shot. If I can raise 10,000 dollars fairly quickly, and I suspect I can, there are a few concrete actions I will take. Aside from settling up with my landlord, I will need to invest in more server power and storage space to ensure the next phase of this site will live up to my plans. Additionally, I would like to get a digital SLR so I can supplement my income with freelance photography. The rest of the money will help pay for improvements in the code and design, to be implemented by myself and my partners. I would also like to pay some of my musician friends to create sample packs for audio software.

I realize this may come across as a bit wordy for what amounts to a sales pitch. To that, I can only say that it is the result of much thought and planning. I hope my message will resonate amidst a marketing environment that seems to thrive primarily on hip misspellings and one syllable words. For those that can afford to, subscribe and I will make it worth your money. To bastardize Neil Armstrong's famous quote, it's one small purchase for you, one giant leap for my kind.

Even if you choose not to support my efforts financially by purchasing a subscription, please check back or subscribe to a (free) rss feed from the site. If you find stuff that is cool or useful, share it as much as possible by blogging it or posting to Digg and del.icio.us. Go forth to the four corners of the internet and spread the word. Just be sure not to fall off the edge . . .

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