Help Crowdfund The Last 10% Of A Pilot TV Show On Travel

Last spring I wrote about a new documentary under development about the frequent flyer hobby. There have been many stabs taken at this.

I kicked in a modest contribution on Kickstarter towards Frequent Flyer a decade ago, but the film never happened. I even helped try to get a Travel Channel series off the ground with the production company behind Extreme Couponing.

Now there’s a new twist on travel, not about earning miles and points but about taking regular people on incredible adventures. I reader has an IndieGogo campaign but this one looks like it could really happen,

I’d love to have the help of you and your readers in bringing travel to deserving people who may otherwise never get to experience it through a groundbreaking travel tv series I’m developing for a major network/streamer.

Imagine if Queer Eye or Extreme Home Makeover were travel shows; on each episode of The Adventure: Lifechanging Travel, I’ll surprise a person who’s been nominated by their friends/family where they’ll join me on an extraordinary travel adventure somewhere around the world.

Along with my Emmy Award winning crew, I’ve partnered with globally-recognized brands who have covered 90% of my production budget through products, services, and financial support. I’m in the middle of an Indiegogo campaign to raise the last 10% (and it’s nearly halfway funded with 13 days remaining).

Seems like a cool idea, something that would be watchable, and anyone interested in helping out can do so.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. Sounds like a cool show but really bad timing with COVID. This COVID mess (especially with all the different strains) I doubt is over any time soon. I hope they get off the ground.

  2. Any idea why they changed the topic for the show so much? Like you said, it went from being about the frequent flier hobby when they first raised money on Kickstarter neary ten years ago, to now taking deserved people on trips now that they’re raising money on IndieGoGo.

  3. @Carl WV – sorry these are *different shows* by different people, just lots of attempts over the years and hopefully this comes to fruition

  4. why not a pilot reality show like all of the Housewives of…….. the Pilots of Atlanta…. the Pilots of SLC or SFO or SEA

  5. Curt is such an awesome guy and this is great what he’s doing! I’ll check out his fund raising page

  6. With the team and personalities he has in place, does anyone know why Curt hasn’t just pitched this to a cable network? Chances are he could sell the pitch and the network would pay him to make the pilot, rather than having to crowdfund. Just curious.

  7. @Mike Saint I’ve been developing the show for three years; this past year, I’ve struggled with that same thought numerous times. But I’ve come to this conclusion: it’s the right show at the right time. We have detailed health-safety protocols for responsible travel & filming (written in coordination with epidemiologists/public health experts), and the excitement about the show from tourism boards has been incredible. Not only are we making a great show, but I believe we can be a part of the rebuilding of sustainable, socially-responsible travel over the coming years.

    @Steve That is very kind, thank you! I appreciate your support and will look forward to fulfilling your rewards with your contribution!

    @JoshB I’ve considered that, but every network will want a trusted production company at the helm (and that company becomes the highest earner on the show). I want to be the production company and maintain my role as not just Host, but Executive Produver/Showrunner. With the team I’ve put in place, the incredible sponsors/advertisers I’ve brought on…the only piece left to prove that we deserve to be the production company is to pitch with a broadcast-ready pilot. I’d sure appreciate your support to help make it happen!

  8. @Mike Saint I’ve been developing the show for three years; this past year, I’ve struggled with that same thought numerous times. But I’ve come to this conclusion: it’s the right show at the right time. We have detailed health-safety protocols for responsible travel & filming (written in coordination with epidemiologists/public health experts), and the excitement about the show from tourism boards has been incredible. Not only are we making a great show, but I believe we can be a part of the rebuilding of sustainable, socially-responsible travel over the coming years.

  9. @JoshB I’ve considered that, but every network will want a trusted production company at the helm (and that company becomes the highest earner on the show). I want to be the production company and maintain my role as not just Host, but Executive Produver/Showrunner. With the team I’ve put in place, the incredible sponsors/advertisers I’ve brought on…the only piece left to prove that we deserve to be the production company is to pitch with a broadcast-ready pilot. I’d sure appreciate your support to help make it happen!

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