The Patreon paywall idea is idiotic, and I don't think a lot of the people who set their patreon accounts up that way realise that would-be patrons can just pledge, look at/save all the patron only content and then cancel when they're done, effectively rendering the paywall useless.

Yeah. You can just make a Pledge to get in, copy everything to disc, then cancel your pledge. Kind of a hassle and a dick-move, but it's kind of a red flag that shows Patreon was never meant to be a pay-to-view kind of site -- but rather a way to crowd-fund individual content creators.

Absolutely! To me it seems like it was an intentional decision meant to prevent it from turning into a new pay-for-content service, but I guess that didn't really stop people, haha.

I feel like its becoming a bit of a serious V.I.P. type club to donators/subscribers only. While it may not just be me in this case here, I will admit its a little disheartening if a favorite artist of mine decides to traipse onto the site all but completely(Though for most, I can understand a little want of some green!). Not to sound like a whiny person, I just take what I can get xD, whatever that be amidst images or work that remains posted on such places like Weasyl, Inkbunny, or FA here.~

I definitely see your point, Mittsies! I agree with it.

When everything you do is for free, sometimes it feels like you're missing out on potential gains. You look at all these other artists and companies making tons of cash with the ol' nickle & dime routine and think to yourself "well maybe I could just start charging $2 or $3 here and there for various extra things." It's easy to cash in, if you're able to ignore all the hate you'll get for it.

I strongly believe that all digital media should be free, but unfortunately that's impossible due to how the world works. When a studio produces a film or video game, they are investing a large amount of time and money into it with the assumption that they will receive a large return on their initial investment. Selling their digital media means they almost always guarantee a profit. By only accepting donations, you are taking a huge risk: you could make no profit or even lose money -- in extreme cases a studio could go bankrupt due to lack of funding and cease to produce new content in the future.

So believe me, I fully understand that some artists need to see immediate, guaranteed profits or else they won't be able to continue creating new works... but if they want guaranteed money they should just do commissions IMO.

Heh yes, I agree with that thought and outlook as well, commissions work well for it. To charge for their own work, it seems to carry a bit of haughty nature (purely my opinion there) to it, when one has it that one must pay to view it.

"I strongly believe that all digital media should be free, but unfortunately that's impossible due to how the world works."

im very interested in hearing how you came to hold this belief and how intricate your understanding of how our current socioeconomic system operates.....

So I haven't been the only one noticing that trend. It is getting a bit disheartening to check your recent submissions only for most of it to consist of streaming advertisement (something FA really should add as a separate feature; a list of artists that you're watching that are currently streaming would be great), YCH advertisements, and patreon advertisements.

On the other hand, there apparently is a desire for artists to have some kind of paywall for (some of) their content. I suspect many choose Patreon for that because there aren't that many suitable other candidates for it (other than setting up your own site and the headaches that causes).

well that's what most artist are doing now though. o you want some art yeah just be a patreon.

what happen to good all commissions

Amen

Finally someone famous has said what I've been saying for years! It's so good to know the Legendary Mittsies agrees with me.

I'm famous? News to me.

Pft. Everyone loves you here.

Yup. Classy ass hell.

I get disturbed when any other rival art site pops up, Weasyl, Patreon, Inkbunny, or otherwise, because that means yet more stuff that I'll never be able to see without inconveniencing myself. And it's a paysite? This is news to me.

any self-respecting content creator should use as many sites as possible, that way they not only don't inconvenience their fans but in fact give as many options as possible.

Yup. FA doesn't allow Cub stuff, but Inkbunny does, however Inkbunny doesn't allow Humans, but FA does.

I agree. I'm more likely to give my money to someone who is like "Free for everyone! Donations appreciated <:" then to someone who says "Pay me a fee or nothing for you."

so what about every movie, music, or video game producer on the planet? think about it. :\

a lot of musicians, film-makers and game developers put out their content for free. not seeing your point here.

umm. no they don't. name any film, album, or main stream video game title on the market for free? is your argument going to be television? television is profited by advertisers, so the companies that pay for the commercial ads are financing the release of the shows and movies. Legal streaming services like Pandora and Spotify ALSO are paid and funded by advertisers, so while the direct consumer themselves aren't paying out of pocket for the content, someone is as a means of marketing. Radio operates the same way. Or if you choose to pay for the service you don't have ads because your fee waives the need for them. And i have no clue what game developers release games for free unless you're referencing flash games and online games, which is to the developers discretion anyways to release for free. most developers lean to the way of releasing such games as 99¢ apps, or "free-mium" games in which you CAN play for free, but can choose to pay to get better advantages. However, i can't think of many "musicians, film-makers, or game developers" that release their content for free if left to their discretion (this obviously excludes piracy of their content).

If you don't see the point then you are seriously undermining an artist's need to be funded to create such content. whether it comes from the consumer themselves, or other outside sources, the artist needs to be financed somehow otherwise their "work" will only ever be a hobby, and be pushed aside in lieu of actual work that pays them money and brings food to their table.

However, if you can give me any example of such producers releasing their product for absolutely free (not applicable in the case of charity or fund-raising events), i'll give you brownie points for the references. But for the most part, no professional artist can make a living releasing their content for free. The artists you are shaming have simply found a way to market themselves the very same way companies do, essentially rendering themselves as one-man companies, which in actuality is all a professional artist really is.

Every flash game available on free sites such as newgrounds? Music you can get for free from again, newgrounds, OCRemix, etc?
You're comparing big name corporate things to indie people. Apples to oranges. There are plenty of bands who are fine with their music being pirated for free, I seem to remember a pop punk band (I want to say blink 182, but don't quote me) was asked what their stance on their music being pirated was and they said "Hey, come to our shows if you can and it's all good".

The record labels that distribute their music however, don't see a single dime from piracy, that's why they stamp down so hard on it.

For the record, guess who doesn't buy many video games, music or movies? -Points to self-
The only one of these things I consume on a regular basis is games, and I usually only pick them up when they're on sale. Why? Cause I can't afford it, and usually don't feel like slapping down 20 bucks for a CD or movie (Or 60 dollars for a game) I'll watch/play once then never touch again. This is why someone like me is more happy to give my dosh to people handing out content for free. Their generosity to me makes me feel compelled to compensate them.

you're basically saying piracy is fine. look, i'm a big time pirate, but i know it's wrong and will openly be condemned because of it. Why am i a pirate? because i'm a fucking broke college student. i barely have money for food let alone development software, resources, and entertainment media. However, i also don't go around advocating it and acting as if it's okay to do. IT'S NOT! if someone has the money to pay for something they want and chooses not to, they really don't deserve it now do they? that goes for pretty much everything. If you want to play a video game and have $60, and choose to download it via homebrew or other pirated means, you're contributing to the decline of the artistic market. it's why content has become more stream-lined, to prevent financial loss from the vast majority that go out of their way to steal content rather than legally own or view it.

EVERYONE suffers from it. artist and company. Just because YOU can't afford it doesn't mean everyone else can't, and that also doesn't make it right to advocate or glorify. Big name or indie, it's still theft if you pirate something that isn't available by the creators for free.

Also, those indie artists CHOOSE to upload their content for free. Just as some on patreon CHOOSE to ask for payment. So again i'll inquire; WHY does it matter whether or not some artists don't work for free? a lot don't. that's because artistic creations are work, not just a hobby. So while everyone seems content bashing artists who have found a way to finance their creative lifestyle, i suppose i'll be the lone artist to support their ideology. After all, you can't do shit if you don't have money.

Respect.

thanks.

I never said piracyis fine at all. I'm not going to listen to you if you are gunna start off by putting words in my mouth.

For the record, I rarely pirate anything. The occasional game if I'm on the fence about purchasing it, and that is all.

it was heavily implied by the references given and your statement of "...many musicians don't mind if their music is pirated" (which is a lie. they do, they just don't agree with how the crime is handled.) As for media and gaming, there are lots of free, legal ways to go about seeing or testing the content you want. LetsPlay videos have been a major marketing campaign for game developers that has been free for the companies and let viewers experience part (or all) of a game without having to commit the 50-60 bucks to do so (despite the fact EA wished to stamp them out as "piracy." but lets not refer to EA as a game developer, they are a corporate joke who wish to run a monopoly on gaming). The same goes for music and tv shows/movies that are legally posted through Vevo or legal streaming sites, in which advertisers are the source of income and the consumers experiences the content for free.

I'm simply saying they way you worded your statements made it seem (i may be wrong) that the artists didn't experience loss to piracy. They do. even more so on an indie level than on a corporate level as well. (that's to say indie developers suffer huge losses to piracy while to most bigger companies the loss is negligible). regardless, people pirate things often when there is no reason, such as anime or music, when you can easily just watch anime for free, legally on Crunchyroll or Funimation, and listen to all the music you want for free on Spotify (big deal you have to listen to a couple 30 second ads. you'll live.)

i understand that not everyone can afford the content they want. but i also know that they can also opt for free (or extremely cheap) alternatives 9 times out of 10 that don't require piracy. And i also just find it rude that so many people (in general. not anyone in particular) will bash or defame artists who live off of their patreon/paypall income. Some people saw an opportunity to make a better living with their artwork, and if that's their choice, so be it. the world goes on, and no one is required to pay them for it. That's their service and they can operate as they see fit.

Holy fuck. You weren't kidding picking him out like that

I'm very sorry you feel that way. However, I don't remember you ever contacting me (under the name Salphy anyway), but if you would like to talk to me please do! I have also never removed my free artwork and reposted for exclusive Patreon viewing, that would be unfair. I would greatly appreciate if you didn't humiliate me without understanding that I cannot dedicate time to a project without funding when I have no job to support myself past my artwork. Again, I'm very sorry and disappointed that you feel that way.

I apologize to Mittsies for this potentially spammy comment. ):

people who aren't capable of doing real work don't appreciate those who do. don't be too down on yourself about it. it's your business after all.

Not to mention I've noticed that normal commissions are not applicable there

yeah i'm pretty salty about it. patreon is intended to be a new way to support artists financially. instead of living up to that, people fall into the same mode of thinking that they have to offer 'exclusive content' to get more money. i don't support artists who treat patreon as the paypal for porn.

Amen.

"paypal for porn"
hue

on the counter argument side of this, i would never work for free so i can see why some people do it.

i mean realistically for independent artists like you and many on this site, there is no more "professional" way to make business off your work aside from commissions, and commissions are based solely on whether or not someone wants to spend money to have a personalized work made. In the manner you just explained, an artist could create steady work and be financed to do it. Solely getting paid on a "donation" basis won't lead to consistent workflow. For already well-established artists the donation process may work, but for less popular ones, the only way they can continue working is if they make enough money to do so, otherwise they will have to focus more on other means to earn money. Besides, most patreons like you described HAVE their own site, and i feel it rather presumptuous to judge how they conduct their business on their own terms.

To be extra fair, no one would pay to see your work.

you have not seen my work, so please do me a favor and not speak as if you have. what is on my account is 4-8 years old posted due to fact my old account was banned. i don't post works on this site, and please don't be a hypocrite.

Burn.

Furry art is slowly going commercial

Capitalist dogs


C what I did there?

Ow, my Punny Bone.

Well said, I totally agree with you.

This is sorta why I dont want to use Patreon, because I am under the impression that this is exactly what it is, holding content until X amount of dollars is reached.

I would like to use it, maybe, but I would just use it as a means of "if you like my work and want to support me so I can do more personal projects you may like then here"

I think I set a good example on how a Patreon should function. At the moment I'm relying almost entirely on my fan-funding to do what I do, and I don't lock away a single piece of content.

That's what I would do, but I would be scared of not being able to create much due to how my hand is.

Then make it based on how often you update, rather than once every month. You have nothing to lose, really.

ohhhh I for some reason thought id have to produce multiple things per week.

I think there needs to be more people who think like this.

My opinion exactly. The whole point of Patreon is to secure funds that will allow the artist to dedicate more time and effort to create more art for everyone to see. People who give to Patreon should be thanked and rewarded by receiving extras such as behind the scenes and bonus content such as sketches or personalized art but the "core product" for which the artist is seeking funding to produce should be made available to everyone, that is the whole point, otherwise less people get to see your creative output and that is no good for the artist either.

Yeah pretty much its folks willing to pay you a wage to make art at a consistent pace(note consistent not fast) that everyone can see, some just found ways around it to make it a pseudo paysite kinda thing which may suck but its a free market and they can do as they please even if it bites them in the ass or not

My sentiments exactly. I follow a few great artists that have some of their stuff available to Patreons only, and it honestly really ticks me off. I'm of course all for making money off of your respective artwork, but limiting it's availability to certain people is just not right. Especially porn lol. I mean c'mon share that too! If I wanted to pay for furporn I'd go to SexyFur or something like that lol.

Also wait. Patreon is a monthly subscription fee whenever you support someone? Shows what I get for not researching more into it. Jesus, I've got enough monthly subscriptions as is. :|

Its silly because some people start drama about artists having Donate button on their blogs/galleries. Like: OH YOU HAVE DONATE WHY DO YOU BEG FOR MONEY? ARE YOU CREATING SOMETHING ULTRA IMPORTANT YOU NEED FUNDING OF? ARE YOU GOING TO BUY SOMETHING?

Some people (usually people who still live at home with their parents) don't realize how tricky it is to be a full time artist that relies 100% on donations and commissions to pay the bills.

Donate buttons really don't work well. Unless you are actively seeking out funding there is a bystander effect that occurs where everyone else assumes that someone else will donate :V

Still, having one is better then not. Sometimes a pleasant surprise happens. :3

"there is a bystander effect that occurs where everyone else assumes that someone else will donate"
yeah, this is a huge issue. Before Patreon there were an alarming number of people who assumed I made a pretty penny from paypal donations, when in fact there were many months where I'd get literally 0 donations.

My thoughts exactly. Patreon should always be about supporting the artist because you like there work and want to help them out not because you are obligated to.

Blech, I see good artists who abuse patreon all the time. If they wanted money, they should have just been honest with me and said "Look, I need to put bread on the table and every little penny helps!" I would gladly throw a few bucks their way every couple of weeks.

Dear Mittsies!

Please, send this Journal to all Paetron furry artist! I totally agree with you, even if I also think, that green-support is important! Becoming a paetron, just to cancel it in the next month = a really broken system, IMO!
Your idea of extra rewards for paetrons = the right way to use the site!

it's broken BECAUSE of people offering exclusive content, that's not what the system was designed for.

By exclusive content, I've meant something like high-res pictures, that you can view in normal res (maybe water-colored in a corner) while being a non-paetron. Rewards could mean also a raffle list between 5 or 10 paetrons, and the price could be a cameo in the comic, or a free ych, since that sort of artwork isn't going to be heavy-creative to the artist.
The exclusive content/reward thing is already a fail, if every content is pay2view. It's nothing different then, than a paid porn site.

Agree completely!

Why not both? I'm only subscribed to 2 artists on Patreon, and I do so because I want to support them and get their high res, watermark-free content. There are other artists I'd like to support and see the pay-only content, but I can't afford it. It's not the end of the world if there's porn out there I can't see.

thank you. that's EXACTLY how the entire entertainment industry has worked since the beginning of cinema, and this whole thread of comments seems to disregard that. :\

Our games are gonna be free regardless, but Patreon means that they'll actually see a day of completion. From past projects, the only way to get quality users collaborating together with dedication is to compensate them.

I think you did your Patreon correctly IMO

your treating it like a mini-kickstarter, which is what Patreon was intended for.

I actually thought about making a patreon but all tiers would be equal. It is not because you pay more that you would get something the rest of my supporters can't see or have :p Fairness and ease of access for everyone!

This is why I don't use patreon. If people want to support they can donate to me, but no matter what I make all my content public.

I see patreon as kickstarter... a way to get people to fund a specific interesting projects that will require the artist to invest time and stop making money from other sources to get it done, not a pay wall for exclusive content.

Random donations are a very unreliable way to get money each month if you expect to make this your living. Patreon ensures a certain threshold is met every month.

A reliable way to get money each month would be to work for it. You can take donations from people who wants to support you, and here is where I could see people using Patreon as a way to bind up those donors that are willing to make monthly donations... and this practice IS right on the shady blurry edge. But if you are thinking of "making your living"... just work for your money, do commissions, or put some content behind a paywall altogether like Jay Naylor for example, who sells his sex comics by separate after paying with credit cards.

Patreon should be used to get fans to fund specific interesting projects that would require the artist to focus lot of time on it, thus stop earning money from other things. However, illustrators complete works in short term, just days. You can always spend those days in the project and profit from it once is completed, or release it for free and profit in popularity.

The fan funding is supposed to help when the one with the idea does not has the means to get the project done without the money, and that is totally not the case for freelance illustrators. You for example, I think you are using it wrong aswell, you are in the shady edge and are trying to make your case so that shady line moves a step away from you by weighting more guilt on those who use the system completly darkly. But Jasonafex for example, he is using it right, because to get his project done he would need extra money to pay a group of people to get the work done, and that is something he might not be able to cover by himself without a really important financial effort and also won't profit from it once is completed, only the popularity is the reward... this is a perfect use for Patreon... a little Kickstarter.

This is my view, and I'm not attacking you. I just see you on the shady middle of the balance between good and bad use of that system.

Leongon wrote:Patreon should be used to get fans to fund specific interesting projects

actually you've got it completely backwards. Patreon is not a mini-kickstarter, it's a way to fan-fund individuals who create content consistently so they can continue to make cool stuff -- rather than quitting their hobbies and finding a "real job" (i.e. working the cash register at McDonald's).

Watch the Official Patreon video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH-IDF809fQ

from the first 15 seconds:
"...it's different than kickstarter because it's not about one big project that requires lots of funding..."
"...[it's for] anyone who creates [content] on a regular basis..."

at 20 seconds:
"...you're agreeing to give an artist a tip of an amount you set every time they release a piece of content; whether it's a new song, a video or a recipe"

These quotes makes it VERY obvious that the sole intentions of Patreon are to fund lots of small projects, rather than one big one.

Additionally at 40 seconds they even showcase examples of "tier rewards", which are all "Ways to say thanks" -- not big rewards for backing a project (which is, again, what kickstarter is for)

Thanks for taking the time to explain better, not I understand the whole thing. I enjoy a good discussion.

now*

wow

http://bit.ly/1wBYWE4

http://bit.ly/1wBYWE4

MITTSIES NO, YOU CAN'T SHARE YOUR OPINION ON THE INTERNET YOU'LL BE OPENING A CAN OF WORMS YOU CAN'T CLOSE

I definitely agree, Mittsies.

What really, really bugs me - even more so than the idea of "be my patron to see my work, otherwise tough shit!" is when artists put the very act of commissioning behind Patreon.

I've seen several artists who, rather than simply increase prices to cater to demand, or say "I only have x slots open, but anyone can get one without signing up to Patreon, just send me an email / note / message", they make it impossible to get any commissioned art WITHOUT signing up to Patreon.

If I only want one or two pictures, I don't want to have to sign up to some new service. That's inefficient and stupid, and it puts an unnecessary barrier between artists and the people who love their art. I'd rather support the person on Patreon simply because I love the person's art.

Shadman and Shiin-o are guilty of this. Shiin-o especially. I've tried to commission him in the past, and only managed to get one drawing, and that was before Patreon even existed. I've contacted him and he says he doesn't have time for regular commissions anymore. I can respect and understand that statement 100%.

But then Patreon comes along and suddenly I see pictures that he's made due to "suggestions by patrons" which seems like a paywall / subscription reward system to me. I love the guy's art, and have thought about becoming a patron on the Patreon service to support him, but if he makes it impossible to get any commissions instead of raising prices to meet demand or simply saying he truly doesn't have time anymore (instead of the "well, you might or might not get one if I feel like it that day, but give me your money anyway", I'm a lot less inclined to support him.

It's the dishonesty that kills me the most. If he just said "no more commissions, sorry" I'd be fine. If he said "I can do commissions, but only at the rate of 1 or 2 slots per month / quarter / year", I'd be fine. But he's created this wierd kind of art/reward limbo where it's impossible to get him to say one way or another if you can get any of his art by becoming a patron at a given level.

Didn't mean to make this into a rant against a particular artist. Especially because I really do love the guy's art and style. It's just been bugging me for months.

I'm actually not terribly against those kind of "psudeo-commissions". When the demand HEAVILY exceeds a person's ability to supply, the price will go up significantly. He could auction his commissions, charge a shitload for them (literally hundreds), do a raffle to randomly pick someone, or just use the exclusiveness of Patreon to decide who gets them. Simply put: when an artists becomes very skill and very well-known, people are willing to jump through additional hoops to get a commission from them. I understand that there feels like a degree of dishonesty at hand, but I think it's more akin to "the artist realized how highly fans value their work."

I agree.

I agree.

There are a few artists I certainly would support on patreon if they get one.
I'm not sure if I trust patreon or not, and I would rather just buy a portfolio package now and then.

The problem is that too many people are trying to use Patreon to replace standard revenue streams, rather than supplement them.

The people who are doing it right are the people who use it as a means of publicly financing what they already plan to do. Just as NPR relies on member donations yet provides their products to all, the good Patreon users provide the content paid for by their Patrons to all, rather than locking it away. They may offer special benefits (higher-rez images, cut scenes from animations, names in the credits, etc.) to patrons, but they make sure that these things are an incentive to become a patron, not a disincentive to those persons who are fans but can't afford or do not want to be Patrons.

I think the issue here is that people ask too much from Patreon. It's just like when people ask Kickstarter to fund their new gaming console (sure worked for the Ouya - and you thought the Virtual Boy had no games!), or expect YouTube ad revenue to somehow cover the costs of professionally produced videos. Kickstarter, ad revenue, these things certainly help. But they should be no more than steps along a path towards a larger revenue stream from many sources.

In this modern world where the average man is getting a smaller and smaller piece of the pie, and markets change overnight with slight shifts in technology or corporate policy, you can't rely on a single revenue stream. Patreon is another revenue stream. It will not pay your rent on its own. But maybe, if done right, it will at least help you to be properly compensated for your time.

The forever single best use of crowdfunding / patreon will always be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPXOvNKdvUw

100% agree~

considering giving to you just for saying that. "Bonus content" like sketches, alpha footage, test tracks, etc, yeah sure. But actual content, fuck off.

I dislike when core content is locked away. Patreon is like extra goodies that only enthusiastic fans would want anyways.

*claps*

Exactly how I feel it should be and how really it should be.

You'd think these artists could just live off the immense riches they gather from national commissions they obviously get. How hard is it to actually live off donations, commissions and whatever you can scrape up anyways? It's not like these artists are hard-workers or in the working class and actually have dreams farther than living in a downtrodden apartment living off of internet artwork for the rest of their lives. That would be silly!

Granted it's a rather unsavory business acumen, some people actually need the money. While that won't stop others from exploiting this practice, it doesn't give us a right to criticize or judge based on affiliation alone. I've given my opinion, and you're welcome to yours. However, dear reader, remember to keep in mind that we are all brothers and sisters in one semi-culture.

"How hard is it to actually live off donations, commissions and whatever you can scrape up anyways?"

That depends on each person. Cost of living in some areas can be very high with little to not welfare options. Working 40 hours per week at minimum wage is sometimes only barely enough to get by.

Sorry, I was being ironic, I tried to make it as clear as I could without being blatant so it could keep some humor to it. This means my entire master plan is a failure

hoHO!

Paying to view Mittsies' artwork is SIMPLY a privilege!

If people are willing to pay to see all of the work by an artist, than it's up to the artist what they do with their Patreon. It's frustrating when a great artist locks off all their content to patrons, yes, but if it works best for them, they don't have to change solely because more people want to see their work but can't pay for it. Especially in the case of works that AREN'T commissions, or art made specifically for someone else--the artist took their own time to make it, and by posting it to Patreon for paying customers only, they get compensated for it. As for offering commissions solely through Patreon, I don't see how that's a problem, either. If they're a good enough artist that they can afford to be selective, they don't have to be "fair" just because some of their followers are only on FA/dA/etc., not supporting them on Patreon.

Personally, I think it's a bad idea to depend solely on something like Patreon--because as a few people said, it was made to supplement income, not to be used as one's only source of income--but then, if it works for them... I really don't think anyone gets to judge, because it's their art, their hard work, their followers, and their money. It's not the end of the world if you can't see a particular artist's work--it sucks, but ultimately it's up to them, not their followers (especially those who might be providing morale/verbal support, but not the money they need to live).

see: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/...../#cid:43578684

I honestly don't have much to add other than that I completely agree with you. Whenever I see someone who has their main content locked behind Patreon, I don't support them at all.

This is really how some problems start as folks see others use patreon as a pseudo paywall and somehow works for those people. Just after a while they dont realize "that person who was doing the paywall...eventually started to get folks who come in grab what they want and then leave due to patreon doesnt keep track of who bailed when it comes to pay time and they start to suffer for it" You may see sure at 3k a month but come around pay time dont be surprise that 3k suddenly drop to 1.5 then spike back up for the rest of the next month. Patreon at it base is to support the artist similar to kickstarter but unlike kickstarter "you can leave and then come back later, you are not stuck if the person does fuck all nothing"

Yeah I've noticed that people will squirm out of payment at the last second, even though I'm not even pay-walling content. I only collect about 70% of what my Patreon page actually claims.

I imagine that people who DO pay-wall their content will see far less than half of what their page claims.

I'm just glad some folks acknowledge that patreon is for not a big project but smaller or the "along the way" type
A webcomic I read "Plush and blood" use it to support the comic, upping the tiers unlock more days the comic get posted.

BTW... I hope this isn't too unrelated. But people are talking about Patreon changing its TOS, and no longer allowing what can be qualified as porn. I was wondering if this means you'll have to stop some of your projects, like the MLP interactives and games.

From what I know, this shouldn't be a problem if the posts are hidden to patrons only, and especially if the content is hosted off-site and you only link it in a Patreon post. So I'm not panicking (yet), but I hope you and other artists will be okay and can keep doing everything you wish do

if push comes to shove I'll just delete everything from my porn-related from it and claim it's now a Patreon to support me making funny cat videos on youtube as a guise.

Makes sense. At worst you can link to a journal which links to the material itself... I mean Patreon would have to be completely delusional to give you trouble just for that! Not that people nowadays have a problem being so, of course

stop being cheep wads every thing cost money and the shop internet water power cant be payed in pony porn so he need money or he will be out on the street asking for the 2$ it cost to get a sneak look of stuff that will be free in 2 mount so if you cant pay 2$ what and if you cant what get a small meal at mcdonalds and get it

Congratulations on making your first comment on FurAffinity. You did it! Hooray!!!

I always thought Paetron was a way to help fund projects. Like a Kickstarter for comics and flash games is what I first started seeing. Then everyone and their brother started making them.

I don't have one. I have a few folks I support, and you can do a buck a month, but I see what you're saying.

LabrnMystic wrote:I always thought Paetron was a way to help fund projects.

That's the thing... it IS. It's for funding lots of small projects, rather than 1 big one.
The issue is when Patreon is used not to fund anything but rather to act like a "premium membership" to an artist's exclusive works.

The page by page donations of comics? Actually, now I'm curious its effect on Pay sites, such as my friend Vanessa on PleasureBonBon or FurAfterDark.

Trying to lock your content away is pointless, anyway, at some point someone is gonna pay for it, share it with a friend... and a few links later it's all over download services and porn sites anyway. Support Patreons because you like the artists who have them and want to reward them, not because you want stuff out of it. Previews and early views are fine, but paywalling content... nah.

If I support an artist on Patreon it's usually because I appreciate their attitude and find them to be cool people whom I wish the best.

It's not entirely pointless, because you still rely on having a friend that will share it with you or waiting for someone to leak the content.
Some people would rather just pay a small fee and get the content right away, so it's very tempting.

However, as discussed above in this journal's comments, people can just stop supporting right at the last second to avoid paying anything... so it doesn't really work.

aaaaaaaaaand yeah now jasonafex is doing it :| he put a paywall up for his most recent piece

lol knew there was a reason i never liked'im

well he's doing it for alpha testing reasons, which I can understand. Letting a smaller pool of people test stuff to make sure you get out all the bugs before releasing it to the general public.

that im ok with. but im pretty sure he said he's only giving it to people who pay 10 or more dollars on it.