With the oversaturation of NFTs we're asking ourselves now more than ever what makes good project with strong community engagement
Gather round, it's time for a story about the little NFT project that could
It's time for a story about birds, who are thugs @thugbirdz 🦅🦅🦅🧵👇
Gather round, it's time for a story about the little NFT project that could
It's time for a story about birds, who are thugs @thugbirdz 🦅🦅🦅🧵👇
Thugbirdz is a collection of 3,333 uniquely generated, tough and collectible birds, that are also thugs.
Each have unique traits like shades, face tattoo, head accessories, bling and the most importantly: favourite rapper (jay-z, tupac, biggie, outkast, wu-tang)
Each have unique traits like shades, face tattoo, head accessories, bling and the most importantly: favourite rapper (jay-z, tupac, biggie, outkast, wu-tang)
They were created by @0x_thug, a one man show inspired by @DegenApeAcademy & @SolanaMBS NFTs. He bootstrapped the entire project himself and designed the art. (Devs & community managers came later).
With such limited resources it was bound to be a rocky start...
With such limited resources it was bound to be a rocky start...
The first mint happened on 24th August. The initial tests had gone well but they did not plan for huge volumes with 1,000s of people jamming the website to mint.
The website was taken down but a few people were able to mint a large number of birds - most of which were refunded.
The website was taken down but a few people were able to mint a large number of birds - most of which were refunded.
The final mint happened a few days later. Some sneaky thugz accessed the contract and minted early.
Thankfully, there were enough hustlers doing this that bird distribution was relatively widespread with still some left over for us normies to mint.
Still, not ideal.
Thankfully, there were enough hustlers doing this that bird distribution was relatively widespread with still some left over for us normies to mint.
Still, not ideal.
As you can imagine there was plenty of anger and fud in the discord. People accusing mods of being scammers and being involved in the screw ups.
As an OG thug and observer from day 1, what I saw next impressed me deeply and IMO set the stage for its success as a project:
As an OG thug and observer from day 1, what I saw next impressed me deeply and IMO set the stage for its success as a project:
HUMILITY: Under immense pressure, @0x_thug admitted to the errors of the launch. He sent some free bird NFTs to the OGs supporters and to some who were issued refunds in the first mint.
He worked to make whole those who felt wronged by the situation.
He worked to make whole those who felt wronged by the situation.
PRINCIPLES: He then donated 10% of proceeds to @WildlifeSOS.
Remember that the mint was only 3,333 birds at a cost of 1-3 SOL so it was small by NFT standards (~$760k), yet the team was donating 10% immediately.
Birds-Thugs-N-Conservationists. Respect.
Remember that the mint was only 3,333 birds at a cost of 1-3 SOL so it was small by NFT standards (~$760k), yet the team was donating 10% immediately.
Birds-Thugs-N-Conservationists. Respect.
https://twitter.com/thugbirdz/status/1432982414196887552?s=20
TRANSPARENCY: he communicated their issues in discord & twitter through immense fud.
It didn't help that an infamous auction site suddenly pulled support for no good reason (more in another thread).
Yet the team grinded, got a @DigitalEyesNFT listing and were off and running.
It didn't help that an infamous auction site suddenly pulled support for no good reason (more in another thread).
Yet the team grinded, got a @DigitalEyesNFT listing and were off and running.
What happened next was something to behold. The community blossomed with people becoming fans of the basic, but full-of-attitude pixel art.
People with thugbirdz pfps would greet, like and follow each other and slide into conversations with rabid positive energy.
People with thugbirdz pfps would greet, like and follow each other and slide into conversations with rabid positive energy.
Suddenly mild-mannered accountants, geeks and nerds from all over the world were bonding over twitter conversations, dropping yo's, g's and "wassup mah thug!"
It's fun, it's escapism and it's taken on a life of it's own.
As I like to say... Thugbirdz, it's a vibe, yo.
It's fun, it's escapism and it's taken on a life of it's own.
As I like to say... Thugbirdz, it's a vibe, yo.
Thugbirdz members have put together some really creative media out of sheer love of the community. Check out @newdumbmoney's song on @AudiusProject - video by @HeavyCryptoBag
Seriously listen to it.
Seriously listen to it.
https://twitter.com/HeavyCryptoBag/status/1434393818766319618?s=20
There's also been some incredible fan made art & commissions. CC: @OrtonDagan, @admschnder, @wagmi_cafe
Community members are developing content for each other.
@0x1dad & @Vladtoni created the Thugbirdz Sale Notification Bots.
@PimpMyThug420 is working on dropping accessories to other birdz.
@0x1dad & @Vladtoni created the Thugbirdz Sale Notification Bots.
@PimpMyThug420 is working on dropping accessories to other birdz.
https://twitter.com/r0b0sapiens/status/1439621130441138180?s=20
And there's even a dedicated podcast now. Worth a listen ;) @GattisTV @XicoSR
https://twitter.com/ThugBirdz_/status/1439674022271270917?s=20
A a result of this strong community engagement over the last few weeks @thugbirdz has seen its floor price rise, value appreciate strongly and tokens listed plummet.
Rising up the charts, Number 8 now with a motherf'in bullet!
Rising up the charts, Number 8 now with a motherf'in bullet!
And just yesterday, American rapper (and clearly an all round G) @WakaFlocka acquired a @thugbirdz, with the community engagement impressing him.
Welcome Waka. You never really own a @thugbirdz, you merely look after it for the next gang-war.
Welcome Waka. You never really own a @thugbirdz, you merely look after it for the next gang-war.
https://twitter.com/WakaFlocka/status/1439756323768475649?s=20
So what next?
Out of this close knit community, a new DAO has formed: ThugDAO.
An organization still in its infancy but dedicated to furthering the support of artists and people within the thugbirdz pfp community.
This guys, is how you build a successful NFT community.
Out of this close knit community, a new DAO has formed: ThugDAO.
An organization still in its infancy but dedicated to furthering the support of artists and people within the thugbirdz pfp community.
This guys, is how you build a successful NFT community.
P.S. I own several thugbirdz. I hold them because I like the community and am sharing my views on the things they did right to make a good NFT project (not to encourage you to become a thug).
NFT projects are risky, speculative investments and roadmap execution is not a given.
NFT projects are risky, speculative investments and roadmap execution is not a given.
@thugbirdz @0x1dad @vladtoni @designape @solboyz @ThugBirdz_ @GattisTV @Newdumbmoney @oraclecryptodog @CryptoBoho @dizzanxietytho @camtuff @eighch37
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