Should I Have Kids? A Documentary
Donation protected
My Story & Your Rewards (which are listed at bottom)
: Hello there, good person! My name is Brett Siddell. I have been an on-air personality and producer at SiriusXM Satellite Radio for over 10 years, and a stand-up comedian for close to 20. I’m 30-something years old, and do not have any kids. This places me statistically smack-dab in the middle of a current world-changing trend. My generation is the first to either wait this long or fully decide not to have kids…ever. So what is going on? I would like to explore the elements of this life-altering and life-creating decision-making process in a documentary format.
This, of course, is no small task, and I am asking for your help.
In order to get the funds and support to make a feature length documentary or a docu-series, I need to first create a compelling trailer, episode, or "sizzle reel," of what that would look like. I need to show people what I’ve got. Please help me represent the best of what I can do, and hopefully help people along the way. I will use my own story as a through-line and a backdrop, but only as an example to show bigger trends that are happening as well. People are increasingly unsure about having kids, and the U.S. and European fertility rate is at an all-time low. According to a recent Pew Research Center study, 1 in 5 adults will remain childless. That figure has doubled since the 1970s. In more pointed terms, I am asking for your help in figuring out the answer to a very, very important question. One that I ask myself every day, somedays every hour: Should I Have Kids? I know many of you are thinking, “But Brett, shouldn’t you at least get a girlfriend first?” Very funny. You’re very funny. And, well, you’re right actually, yes, but the question would still remain, because I would want to cover the topic early on with the right person anyhow.
I think about this…and worry about this…a lot. But I know I’m not alone. This project isn’t really just about me. I believe it to be one of the great questions of life. A question that I think every adult has asked themselves at least once. So it’s a question that probably every single adult ever has asked themselves over time, but the answers used to be a lot more simple, straightforward, and to be honest, pretty much assumed. Even just one generation ago, the answer was more or less just…yes. Clearly, this is not coming from a place of judgment. As I said, I’m 37 with no kids of my own. But I would like to delve into the various reasons people aren’t choosing to have kids, and there are plenty:
- No money
- No space
- No freedom
- No sleep
- I don’t want another me running around, that’s selfish
- The world is a horrible place, why would someone bring a child into this?
- What if something is wrong with my child?
- What if I am a bad parent and mess them up?
This is the tip of iceberg, there are many, many more. I want to hear from the people that decided to have them, the people who decided not to have them, the people who are currently undecided, the people who argue about having them, and everyone in between! Mostly I want to create a forum, a place we can cover this topic in a fun yet serious way that can maybe help people along this challenging journey. I know I won’t have any answers for people, but just hopefully get people to realize they aren’t alone and to help with their own decision-making process. And have some fun along the way…always.
In order to do this, I need your help. It costs a lot of money to make a movie, even this initial stage of getting one made. I need your help in creating a platform for which to generate buzz and support to make this documentary become a fully-funded reality. For your support, I have many great rewards, from tickets to my stand-up comedy shows, all the way up to meeting me in person…at your house! Check the options on this page and please give what you can. The biggest part of this is that I, your friend Brett, am asking you for support for something deep down in my heart, mind and soul...and many, many others' as well. I am asking for your support in this endeavor. I love you. I thank you.
Rewards: When you donate, please put in the notes section which reward you are requesting. Thanks!
$50 – Personalized letter from me, your friend, Brett Siddell
$75 – Letter from me and a personalized signed copy of my one-hour comedy special, Mad Silly*
$400 – Two tickets to one of my stand-up comedy shows, complete with a meet-and-greet with me and two personalized, signed copies of my one-hour comedy special, Mad Silly*
$500 - Tour of Williamsburg, Brooklyn by ME
$2,500 – I come to your house/town/event and we hang out!**
$5,000 – I come to your house/town/event and I perform (this could be stand-up comedy or something more creative like . roasting a family member or co-worker etc.)**
More than $5,000 – let’s talk, new best friend !
Love you! Thank you!
Regards,
Brett Siddell
*Some restrictions apply. A limited amount of this reward will be available, and will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. **Obviously some restrictions apply that we can handle like adults on a case-by-case basis. If you live in Australia for example, then I would be losing money. A lot. I mean, I would still love you, but come on now, bub.
In order to get the funds and support to make a feature length documentary or a docu-series, I need to first create a compelling trailer, episode, or "sizzle reel," of what that would look like. I need to show people what I’ve got. Please help me represent the best of what I can do, and hopefully help people along the way. I will use my own story as a through-line and a backdrop, but only as an example to show bigger trends that are happening as well. People are increasingly unsure about having kids, and the U.S. and European fertility rate is at an all-time low. According to a recent Pew Research Center study, 1 in 5 adults will remain childless. That figure has doubled since the 1970s. In more pointed terms, I am asking for your help in figuring out the answer to a very, very important question. One that I ask myself every day, somedays every hour: Should I Have Kids? I know many of you are thinking, “But Brett, shouldn’t you at least get a girlfriend first?” Very funny. You’re very funny. And, well, you’re right actually, yes, but the question would still remain, because I would want to cover the topic early on with the right person anyhow.
I think about this…and worry about this…a lot. But I know I’m not alone. This project isn’t really just about me. I believe it to be one of the great questions of life. A question that I think every adult has asked themselves at least once. So it’s a question that probably every single adult ever has asked themselves over time, but the answers used to be a lot more simple, straightforward, and to be honest, pretty much assumed. Even just one generation ago, the answer was more or less just…yes. Clearly, this is not coming from a place of judgment. As I said, I’m 37 with no kids of my own. But I would like to delve into the various reasons people aren’t choosing to have kids, and there are plenty:
- No money
- No space
- No freedom
- No sleep
- I don’t want another me running around, that’s selfish
- The world is a horrible place, why would someone bring a child into this?
- What if something is wrong with my child?
- What if I am a bad parent and mess them up?
This is the tip of iceberg, there are many, many more. I want to hear from the people that decided to have them, the people who decided not to have them, the people who are currently undecided, the people who argue about having them, and everyone in between! Mostly I want to create a forum, a place we can cover this topic in a fun yet serious way that can maybe help people along this challenging journey. I know I won’t have any answers for people, but just hopefully get people to realize they aren’t alone and to help with their own decision-making process. And have some fun along the way…always.
In order to do this, I need your help. It costs a lot of money to make a movie, even this initial stage of getting one made. I need your help in creating a platform for which to generate buzz and support to make this documentary become a fully-funded reality. For your support, I have many great rewards, from tickets to my stand-up comedy shows, all the way up to meeting me in person…at your house! Check the options on this page and please give what you can. The biggest part of this is that I, your friend Brett, am asking you for support for something deep down in my heart, mind and soul...and many, many others' as well. I am asking for your support in this endeavor. I love you. I thank you.
Rewards: When you donate, please put in the notes section which reward you are requesting. Thanks!
$50 – Personalized letter from me, your friend, Brett Siddell
$75 – Letter from me and a personalized signed copy of my one-hour comedy special, Mad Silly*
$400 – Two tickets to one of my stand-up comedy shows, complete with a meet-and-greet with me and two personalized, signed copies of my one-hour comedy special, Mad Silly*
$500 - Tour of Williamsburg, Brooklyn by ME
$2,500 – I come to your house/town/event and we hang out!**
$5,000 – I come to your house/town/event and I perform (this could be stand-up comedy or something more creative like . roasting a family member or co-worker etc.)**
More than $5,000 – let’s talk, new best friend !
Love you! Thank you!
Regards,
Brett Siddell
*Some restrictions apply. A limited amount of this reward will be available, and will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. **Obviously some restrictions apply that we can handle like adults on a case-by-case basis. If you live in Australia for example, then I would be losing money. A lot. I mean, I would still love you, but come on now, bub.
Organizer
Brett Siddell
Organizer
Providence, RI