The Gators Are Circling… and So Is Our Crowdfunding Campaign 🐊
Big news, Florida fam! Today we’re kicking off something just as wild as spotting a guy walking an alligator on a leash down Collins Avenue: our crowdfunding pre-launch campaign for It Happens in Florida.
Now, before you imagine us in a swamp with mason jars of moonshine trying to raise money the old-fashioned way, let’s clarify: this is the serious-but-fun part. We aren’t asking you to hand over your wallet just yet. Nope. Today is all about gauging interest. Think of it like dipping your toes in the Gulf before you decide whether to cannonball in.
Why does this matter?
Because when our campaign officially launches, the more people who already raised their hands and said, “Heck yes, I’m in,” the more momentum we’ll have. Momentum in crowdfunding is everything—it’s like seeing the first guy stand up and dance at a wedding. Awkward at first, but suddenly, everyone’s on the floor doing the Cha Cha Slide.
What’s in it for you?
- Early access to updates (you’ll know what’s happening before the rest of Florida even hears the news).
- The satisfaction of being part of something that’s weird, wonderful, and 100% Florida.
- Bragging rights that you helped launch this before it was cool—kind of like being the first person to spot a python in the Everglades (but way less terrifying).
So, here’s the deal:
Click that little button, add your name, and let us know you’re on board. No pressure, no payment yet—just a nod that says, “Yep, I want to be part of this swamp circus when the gates officially open.”
Florida has always been a place where the impossible somehow becomes everyday life. Now we’re trying to capture that magic in a way the whole world can enjoy—and we can’t do it without you.
Let’s make this campaign as unstoppable as an iguana invasion.
We Tried to Film in a Retirement Community. They Fought Back… with Bingo Chips
When the producers of It Happens in Florida said we should “connect with real Floridians,” we thought filming in a retirement community would be a sweet, heartwarming idea.
Spoiler alert: It wasn’t.
Armed with cameras, a half-written script, and Oscar dressed as a rogue Zumba instructor, the crew rolled into Sunny Palms Retirement Village like we were about to capture the next great slice-of-life docu-drama.
The residents? They were not having it.
First red flag: our camera crane accidentally knocked over Ethel’s prized flamingo statue (“She’s had that since the Nixon administration,” someone whispered gravely).
Second red flag: Florida Man tried to join water aerobics without permission, wearing only goggles and a float shaped like a donut.
Third — and final — straw: we set up our lighting rigs in the rec room during bingo hour.
It was an ambush we didn’t see coming.
The first chip hit Raymond square in the temple.
The second struck a camera lens.
The third was flung like a ninja star, knocking over our boom mic with uncanny precision.
Ethel (possibly a retired Marine?) yelled “B11, BABY!” as she launched a full board at Oscar.
We tried to reason with them — to explain the show, the opportunity, the art — but Mildred was already revving up her motorized scooter like a demolition derby driver with something to prove.
One particularly spry gentleman named Stan began throwing Werther’s Originals like grenades. Florida Man dove behind a decorative ficus yelling, “I respect my elders! I just didn’t know they were armed!”
Eventually, security escorted us out. The crew was banned, the cameras were banned, and someone wrote “NO TV HIPPIES” on the front gate in chalk.
To this day, we still don’t know how they organized so quickly. We suspect they were trained. Possibly former intelligence.
Why Your Business Should Cozy Up to “It Happens in Florida”
Alright, let’s get one thing out of the way—no, we’re not asking you to hire an actor to run through your store in flip-flops and a cape yelling, “I’M THE LAWN FLAMINGO AVENGER!” (Though, honestly, we wouldn’t say no to that either.)
We’re talking about product placement and business partnerships with It Happens in Florida ... our wild, weird, and wonderful TV series that shines a spotlight on the Sunshine State’s quirks. And when we say “spotlight,” we mean actual eyeballs on your brand, not just your Aunt Carol’s book club.
Here’s the deal:
When your product or business appears in our show, it’s more than a background prop. It’s a character. That coffee cup your barista serves? Could be in the hands of a main character mid-breakup scene. That pizza box from your shop? Could be in a dramatic “we survived the hurricane” dinner. Your fishing charter sign? Might just be in the frame when our lovable Florida Man discovers an alligator in a kayak.
Why this is a big deal for local (and not-so-local) businesses:
- Local pride, global reach. Your county neighbors will cheer for you, but folks beyond the state line will know your name too.
- Authentic advertising. It’s not a commercial break—it’s woven into the story. Your brand becomes part of the scene, the joke, the moment people remember.
- Florida sells itself. People watch because Florida is already a brand. Pair your business with ours, and you’re riding a very sunny wave.
Partnerships go beyond screen time.
We also offer sponsorships, behind-the-scenes features, and even cross-promotions that can put your business in front of thousands: on TV, social media, and at events. Think of it as marketing, but with more laughs and fewer awkward sales pitches.
So if you’re a coffee shop, bait store, law firm, taco truck, boutique, pet groomer, ice cream shop, brewery, or anything in between ... this is your cue. Partner with It Happens in Florida, and let’s make your business part of the story.
Who knows? Your logo could be the next Easter egg people pause the screen to point out.
BUT DON'T JUST TAKE IT FROM US. HERE ARE SOME TESTIMONIALS:
📣 Florida Man Speaks Out on Product Placement
“Before my life-changing partnership with It Happens in Florida, I was just a guy wrestling alligators for fun behind the gas station. Now? My gator-wrangling business is booming—thanks to my logo being in the background of a scene where the main character accidentally married a pelican.
People used to run away when they saw me. Now they run towards me—with cash in hand! If you want fame, fortune, and maybe a few weird wedding proposals… partner with these folks. It works. Trust me. I’m Florida Man.” 🐊🌴
📣 The Ice Cream Lady
“I’ve been scooping ice cream in the county for 23 years, and business was steady… until my shop appeared in an episode of It Happens in Florida where Florida Man tried to pay for a cone with live shrimp. Now? Tourists show up daily asking for the ‘Shrimp Special’ (we don’t serve it… but they still buy ice cream).
My sales have doubled, my social media is blowing up, and my husband finally believes this ‘TV thing’ is real. Best decision I ever made—other than marrying him… barely.” 🍦🦐
📣 The Lawn Flamingo Guy
“Before the show, my yard decoration business was mostly just me and a garage full of flamingos. Then It Happens in Florida featured my lawn flamingos in a wedding scene AND a hurricane scene.
Now, I’m the ‘Flamingo Guy’ on TikTok with followers from Brazil to Boise. People send me pictures of flamingos in weird places, and business is booming. My mom says she’s proud of me… but I think she just likes the free flamingos.” 🦩🌴
Breaking News: It Happens in Florida Now Has an iOS App (Because Why Should Alligators Have All the Fun?)
Floridians and Florida-curious folks, rejoice! The chaos, comedy, and questionable choices that make our state the punchline of every group chat have officially gone mobile. That’s right: It Happens in Florida now has its very own iOS app.
Finally, you don’t have to waste precious seconds of your life opening a browser, typing in the website, clicking a link, and pretending you weren’t just Googling “can you wrestle an alligator for fun.” Nope. Those dark days are behind us. With our app, all it takes is one simple tap and bam ... you’re in the swampy, sunburnt heart of Florida weirdness.
Think of the time you’ll save. That’s time you can reinvest into more productive activities, like arguing with strangers on Facebook Marketplace, testing if a Publix sub really is the cure for sadness, or calculating the exact SPF you’ll need to survive stepping outside at noon.
Inside the app, you’ll find blogs, cast info, production updates, and probably some content we’ll regret posting later. Basically, it’s everything you love about It Happens in Florida, but faster, easier, and with fewer chances of accidentally clicking on an ad for timeshares in Ocala.
So, download the app. Because if Florida has taught us anything, it’s that convenience is king; second only to swamp gas explosions and iguanas falling out of trees.
See you in the app store, my fellow gator wrestlers.
Florida Friday #1: So… Should We Keep Going?
Hello from the sweaty, sunburnt heart of the weirdest state in America.
Welcome to our very first Florida Friday post — your new weekly serving of chaos, confusion, and questionable choices (some of them ours). But before we launch into more stories about flamingos in bowling alleys or the HOA banning inflatable gators again, we want to pause. Get a little real. Ask the Big Question:
Is this all worth it? Should we keep going?
No, seriously.
We’re not just being dramatic (though, yes, John did write this while eating sour Skittles and staring into the ocean like a rejected Hallmark character). We’re asking honestly.
A Vision. A Dream. A Guy in a Tutu.
It Happens in Florida started out as a little idea. A spark. A few of us thought, “Hey, the stuff that happens around here is so wild, someone should put it on TV!”
Then someone said, “What if we are the someones?”
And then someone else rode by on a unicycle in a wedding dress with a pet iguana named Gary, and we took that as a sign from the universe.
We made a a proof-of-concept episode for the show. Then blogs. Then events. We got the community involved. We high-fived strangers in Waffle House. We even got kicked out of an actual city council meeting for trying to nominate an alligator for mayor (still believe in that one, by the way).
But now… we’re not sure. We’re sun-drenched and slightly broke. We argue about things like, “Can you wear Crocs in a professional interview?” (Answer: In Florida, yes. Especially camo Crocs.)
We love what we’re doing. But sometimes we ask ourselves:
Is anyone still out there wanting to watch such a show? Reading? Laughing with us? Or are we just shouting into a flamingo-filled void?
This Is Where You Come In
We’re not fishing for pity. (Okay, maybe a little. But just a small fish, like a polite guppy.)
We really want to know what you think.
Is this still worth it
- Do you want more blogs? More Florida stories?
- Should we finish the show?
- Should we finally try to storm the Everglades in search of the Skunk Ape (again)?
- Do you still want to be part of this deeply strange, deeply funny, and strangely heartfelt project?
Because we do. We really do. But only if you’re with us.
We’re not big studio people. We’re a ragtag group of folks who believe that stories matter — even the ridiculous ones. Especially the ridiculous ones. Because Florida is full of those stories. And it deserves someone to tell them, honestly and hilariously.
So here’s your call to action:
👉 Drop us a comment.
👉 Share a memory from the show or a favorite blog.
👉 Tell us if you think we should keep going — or if we should just retire to a swamp and sell “Gator Life Coach” merch at truck stops.
TL;DR?
We love this project. But it’s hard. We’re asking you, right here on Florida Friday:
Should we keep going? Is It Happens in Florida still worth it?
(Also, if you say yes, we’ll probably cry. Just a little. Probably in public. Definitely near a gator.)
Thanks for being part of this wild ride. We’ll be here, waiting. With sunscreen. And maybe a margarita.
With love,
The It Happens in Florida crew 🐊
Big News! “It Happens in Florida” Blog Goes Full Florida Friday Mode
Dear Floridians, fans, and curious snowbirds,
We’ve got a breaking update hotter than a steering wheel in August: The It Happens in Florida blog is now switching gears and becoming a Florida Friday blog! Starting in just two days.
That’s right — instead of three wildly unpredictable posts a week, we’re now publishing just once a week. On Fridays. Why? Because we believe in working smarter, not sweating harder. And also because we accidentally scheduled a staff “brainstorming retreat” in a Waffle House that turned into a karaoke hostage situation, but that’s a whole other blog.
Now we only have to do a third of the work, which means:
- 66% fewer meltdowns from our writer John (you’re welcome, John),
- More time for our producer Tara to “research” Florida culture (a.k.a. nap in a hammock with a piña colada), and
- Even more time for the cast to get into trouble, film it, and try to convince us it was “scripted.”
Let’s face it, in Florida, chaos doesn’t take a day off, but we figured the blog could. So from now on, you’ll get your regular dose of gator-wrangling, HOA-fighting, UFO-chasing Florida mayhem every Friday (and on special occasions, like when someone rides a manatee to Publix or legally marries a pelican).
So grab your sunhat, crack open a cold one, and mark your calendars.
✨ Florida Fridays are officially a thing. ✨
Because if it happens in Florida… it’ll probably still end up in the blog — just once a week now.
Stay weird,
The It Happens in Florida Team
