Anyone Using Patreon?

[Marbro_za]

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=592801

Just signed up and was wondering if it might be the wrong type of site

 

[wolfxandxcrow]

i think jake the garden snake just started using one. I think it's a cool idea for people to be more active in their support of artists and entertainers. i'd sign up but my only audience is other motovloggers at the moment, so i probably wouldn't get much sympathy from them.

 

[Cloud9Moto]

I'd have to agree with the above poster. Making good use of this would require a active viewer base to be established already, and some may not approve of it. So in that regard I feel it could almost be considered risky, but ofc that's just my 2 cents.

 

[MrCods]

I was asked by a sub if I would set one up but after I looked into it I decided it was easier to use a paypal link instead

 

[wolfxandxcrow]

i'd agree with mrcods. if you chose to go with a crowd funding site, make sure to read the fine print so they won't take most of your donations.

 

[TheDutchTexan]

It works if you have a large enough fan base. But you will still undoubtedly alienate a portion of that fan base due to the fact you are effectively "begging" for money.

People are quick to forget these numbers associated with just my channel:

Editing rig: 1500 (just the rig, still using an old monitor)
Editing software: 500 (I really want the adobe suite... at the tone of 2+ grand)
Cameras and peripherals: 800

And that does not count external HDD's and a bunch of other stuff. And... the inevitable replacements down the line. Running a channel isn't cheap. And if you run it as a sole source of income? Those high ticket items are going to hurt. If you check Jake's socialblade you'll find he makes anywhere from $495 to $7.9K a month which puts him in a $5.9K - $95K range for a year. In my experience you are closer to the low end than the high. For me it's a hobby, and it will undoubtedly stay that way. Either way I am having a blast.

So Patreon? Sure, why not. But be prepared for "beggar" comments and a loss of subscribers. Not that you want those shallow people on your channel anyway. Because if they thought long and hard about it before spewing their undoubtedly profanity laden comments they'd come to the same conclusion I just did. Shit's expensive, and if you can solicit help you should.

 

[Nerb]

I dont really understand how it works.
Why do you think its the "wrong type of site" Marbro?

 

[kuhlka]

I just enabled the 'Support this channel' thing attached to my YouTube account. I figure that's the least intrusive, but gives viewers an option on the About page in case they want to help me afford a newer camera or whatever. I don't think Patreon is appropriate unless you've got a huge following and are doing very cost and time-intensive stuff like Vaatividya's Dark Souls lore series. Even he's been slagging off only occasionally releasing videos so I haven't felt it was worth donating to.

For me, without a massive following, vlogging is a hobby at best, a time and money sink at worst.

 

[Marbro_za]

@Nerb i meant, its not really filled with motovloggers, so it feels like its more for people making short films etc. artsy fartsy people
I created one, Just more a promotion and hopefully traffic driver, But to be honest, i havent gone on since i started this thread. I forgot