Hmm, patreon has always struck me as supporting an artist for the ongoing engagement and sharing of their art rather than a costco-style "membership to get discount" thing. In this case the art seems to be crafting itself, perhaps the ongoing development of new and experimental techniques - rather than the physical products, which are your primary business income.

As someone on a journey of making my own suit, I'd personally be interested in specialized techniques/tutorials with more care and attention to detail than most tutorials currently floating around out there. I have to say in my extremely rushed fursuit-construction-learning experience before Vancoufur that only very specific and detailed tutorials on both methods and designs both basic and advanced helped. Details like actual product names and how to get them, and photographs of specific steps from many angles, or many examples of a given technique or step. Especially experimental designs and methods, the potentially improved ways of doing things most tutorials don't have.

How about occasional scheduled backer-only livestreams in which we could see you work, and ask you questions? I know a number of artists who are doing that as part of their patreon, both on-screen for digital and webcam for traditional. I have a friend who takes note of art jobs that would be fun to live stream, and that do not require extensive concentration or urgency so she can frequently pause to interact with the viewers, catch up with the stream chat and answer questions, quickly demonstrate techniques etc. (Perhaps even an option to a backer commissioning you to have the making of their item livestreamed?)

Private livestreams would also serve as their own social media venues not dependent on backers being active on subreddit/facebook/twitter, are realtime (people like instant gratification and direct interaction) and I think would be easier and less time-consuming to manage than a whole whack of special social media accounts of limited patronage.

One thing to keep in mind about discounts on commissions or access to things like casts though is that people may back you just to get a discount or item and unback you once the item is shipped. An tweaked implementation may be occasional backer-only time-limited sales on discount commissions or current inventory, or dibs, rather than a blanket coupon, discount or exclusive access. Perhaps something like a regular raffle? In which at any given time all current backers may be entered into a draw for one or more discounted commission slots or coupons.

I absolutely agree with you on your views of patreon being about engagement and sharing. I'm all for that, but if people are supporting me financially then I do want to offer something for them in return that they'll enjoy receiving!

New products and new techniques I'm lumping together mostly. Both of those things take time and money, and improve my craft in the making. People want new products I know because I am often requested for new hand or feet shapes, but to create a new pattern takes the same amount of time as making on average 3 commissions of the existing product so I can't afford it a lot of the time. New techniques and materials are much the same but it doesn't always produce the same end result "oomph" factor for customers, you know?

I'm with you on tutorials and techniques, when backing people that's what I'm interested in! But I'm not sure if most of my potential backers are in the same boat. For the record, at this point I'm all for doing detailed photo/text tutorials, but not so interested in any sort of videos/streaming. I'm just personally not comfortable on camera so it's not something I'll see myself doing in the near future unfortunately.

And I'm definitely capping discounts at certain amounts and they'd only be valid for current patreons who had subscribed for at least a month, I've heard a lot of horror stories about people pledging to get the rewards and cancelling before payment, since payments are taken at the end of the month! I think I have a good handle on a system for making all of that stuff work though.

Thanks for the feedback, good to know I have one potential mark for other makers!

Check out what Stuffed Panda does! :D <3

Definitely done that many times! As well as picked her brain about what is and isn't working for her about it xD

As a fursuit buyer and a reasonably good income, I would like to have a preferred slot after a period of sponsor ship.

On a side note. people often will pay for a premium of a product if can be bumped up a priority list or be able to add to a commission que out side the normal slots. To be fair to others this additional price should equal double the amount of profit you would earn otherwise, and be fully prepaid. This route will allow people with money shoulder your growing debt load.

I would pay $1200 vs the $850 for the semi realistic head.

This can always be an option on top of Patrean.

Thanks Chealse, that's definitely something I hadn't considered for a patreon reward. A very interesting idea though!

I gave my word to my current fullsuit client that I wouldn't take on any big projects until his was done. But patreon or not I'll shoot you an email as soon as I'm done his suit and see if you're still interested in that offer. Cheers!

I would throw down for R&D on sock hoofers for sure! Maybe those that back that can get first dibs on a commission of them when you're ready? Or be entered in a raffle?

Thanks for that! I love the idea that patrons would get first dibs on commissioning new patterns developed thanks to their support!