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My personal thoughts on Patreon
11 years ago
So as I'm sure pretty much all of you have noticed, Patreon has taken off quite a bit lately.
For those unaware of what Patreon is, it is a crowdfunding website which allows consumers the ability to directly support their favourite content creators via a monthly subscription chosen by the consumer - the patron - in exchange for bonus content and prizes and such and such.
Sounds neat, right?
Many content creators, especially those in the fields of video making and music, choose rather than to charge for their content, to leave Patreon specifically for special bonus things like contests, giveaways, things of that nature. This is pretty cool and the model I personally feel works best.
However, many other creators choose put a large part, a majority, or, as best I can determine, sometimes even the entirety of their worthwhile content onto Patreon as a kind of paywall. I can't really argue against this per se because as an artist I realize the time and effort that goes into any given piece and it's ultimately up to the artist or musician or video maker or what have you to decide what their time and effort is worth. It can be difficult for an artist to make money off their work and often times the work and effort goes under- or even unappreciated altogether.
On the flip side, though, I also realize how frustrating it can be having content you enjoy that you are unable to access either due to preexisting financial obligations or a lack of funds especially when you don't have the means to acquire those funds.
I've seen a handful of journals by non-artists denouncing the sudden surge in Patreon and they're often accompanied by artists calling the posters and those who agree with them "entitled", which I don't really buy. Sure, there are some smug little turds in the crowd who think artists aren't worth the toilet water they shit in, but a majority of them, to varying degrees of eloquency, are just frustrated by the loss of a lot of the content that they enjoy. I genuinely can not blame them for this any more than I can blame the artists for wanting to make money on their content.
It would be like PBS turning into Pay-Per-View.
In short, It is the artist's decision what they wish to do with their art, but it is the consumer's decision as to whether or not they agree.
If something like Patreon had existed eight or nine years ago when I started becoming active on the internet, I'm not sure I ever would have become the artist I am today, as at least a few of the people who inspired me to pursue art in the beginning now use Patreon as a makeshift pay site rather than merely as an incentive to support the artists.
tl;dr
1: Patreon is cool but I personally feel it easily risks being used too liberally and too uncompromisingly.
2: Artists have the right to determine what their art is worth, and consumers have the right to determine what is and is not worth paying for.
3: Stop acting like little shits to each other.
For those unaware of what Patreon is, it is a crowdfunding website which allows consumers the ability to directly support their favourite content creators via a monthly subscription chosen by the consumer - the patron - in exchange for bonus content and prizes and such and such.
Sounds neat, right?
Many content creators, especially those in the fields of video making and music, choose rather than to charge for their content, to leave Patreon specifically for special bonus things like contests, giveaways, things of that nature. This is pretty cool and the model I personally feel works best.
However, many other creators choose put a large part, a majority, or, as best I can determine, sometimes even the entirety of their worthwhile content onto Patreon as a kind of paywall. I can't really argue against this per se because as an artist I realize the time and effort that goes into any given piece and it's ultimately up to the artist or musician or video maker or what have you to decide what their time and effort is worth. It can be difficult for an artist to make money off their work and often times the work and effort goes under- or even unappreciated altogether.
On the flip side, though, I also realize how frustrating it can be having content you enjoy that you are unable to access either due to preexisting financial obligations or a lack of funds especially when you don't have the means to acquire those funds.
I've seen a handful of journals by non-artists denouncing the sudden surge in Patreon and they're often accompanied by artists calling the posters and those who agree with them "entitled", which I don't really buy. Sure, there are some smug little turds in the crowd who think artists aren't worth the toilet water they shit in, but a majority of them, to varying degrees of eloquency, are just frustrated by the loss of a lot of the content that they enjoy. I genuinely can not blame them for this any more than I can blame the artists for wanting to make money on their content.
It would be like PBS turning into Pay-Per-View.
In short, It is the artist's decision what they wish to do with their art, but it is the consumer's decision as to whether or not they agree.
If something like Patreon had existed eight or nine years ago when I started becoming active on the internet, I'm not sure I ever would have become the artist I am today, as at least a few of the people who inspired me to pursue art in the beginning now use Patreon as a makeshift pay site rather than merely as an incentive to support the artists.
tl;dr
1: Patreon is cool but I personally feel it easily risks being used too liberally and too uncompromisingly.
2: Artists have the right to determine what their art is worth, and consumers have the right to determine what is and is not worth paying for.
3: Stop acting like little shits to each other.
And yeah I can definitely see both sides of the coin. I try to keep posting my Patreon stuff to my gallery but I'm also aware that there are people out there who are downright opposed to Patreon even existing. As an artist who is currently drawing for some extra cash while I look for a full time job, I found myself getting burnt out and unmotivated drawing commission after commission. I rarely drew anything for myself at all! Even without the extra money, Patreon has allowed me the motivation and excuse, if you will, to regularly draw content for myself. I feel like I am more excited overall when it comes to drawing, and I think that has shown though in my work.
I've also gone the other route and pledged support to some of the other artists I admire. The majority who I have pledged to offer extras like behind-the-scenes sketches and works-in-progress, plus the chance at free art, or high-res images, and I'm perfectly happy for that. If an artist wants to put say, all their adult work behind a paywall, that is their choice. Speaking personally, I pledge to artists to support them, to support who I choose to. I wouldn't pledge simply to get access to porn. It's the internet =p
But again, each to his own.
Ultimately I'd like to hope I haven't lost any followers because I've chosen to embrace Patreon, but at the end of the day if people feel that negatively towards the whole issue, its their choice.