Patreon Push!
Added 2023-06-05 23:12:29 +0000 UTCHi folks,
Since the New Year, I've been scheming about this period of time as I knew I'd find myself with a relatively free schedule.
I've been wanting to post Blind Alley more often.
I conceived of Blind Alley as a "daily strip" with a mix of gags and plot. After two years of doing it, I can admit that, while this is very much what it is, I don't find the rate at which the story is doled out to be satisfying. I would love to draw Blind Alley daily.
BUT
In order to make that sustainable, I need to grovel a bit.
My plan was to use patreons' "Goal" functionality so that we could get the satisfaction of filling up a little experience bar and leveling up together. Alas, patreon removed that feature literally two weeks ago.
I've considered, and honestly have had interest, from outside sources regarding publishing Blind Alley. Before I pursue them, I was wanting to go this route. Publishing is in a weird place right now and the ideal for my career at the moment is to cultivate a community and distribute Blind Alley to them directly. Retaining all the rights to Blind Alley feels like my best bet at the moment. We can call this the "secret club" approach to running your own business.
So, as formally as can be, I am declaring that I am going to be pushing this patreon more!
What am I thinking?
At $500 a month, Blind Alley will be posted 3 times a week. This is exclusive to Patreon - the public feed will remain twice weekly. This perk will last until September.
At $800 a month, Blind Alley will be posted 5 times a week. This is exclusive to Patreon - the public feed will remain twice weekly This perk will last until September.
At $1000 a month, I'll do a second Blind Alley Sunday strip. This remains exclusive to Patreon. This perk will last until September.
What about after September?
I'm between projects right now and Blind Alley is currently my sole focus. After that, there's potential for me to finish up my series A Gleaming but I have another comic strip idea that I want to start up while Blind Alley goes on hiatus in the fall. My book will be out in March 2024. The patreon will forever be in flux but I want to make sure it remains rewarding for subscribers.
Let me know what you think,
Adam
Comments
Thank you - yeah. I have no idea how to push it. Social media doesn't really do the trick but I'm hoping that being a little more vocal about it will help people get in the door. At the end of the day, I have no illusions that solely relying on patreon to fund Blind Alley may be a...blind alley but I figure I should try.
Adam
2023-06-06 18:34:43 +0000 UTCI 100% think this patreon is worth anyone's support, and I hope you get the backing you deserve! I've had a lot of trouble figuring out how to get folks involved with mine, which is frustrating, but I'm sure you'll figure it out.
J. Marshall Smith
2023-06-06 17:37:34 +0000 UTCThank you! I actually didn't realize that subscribers couldn't see. We're currently at $400 a month (which is amazing) but I'm currently working on a graphic to more clearly communicate how we're doing.
Adam
2023-06-05 23:35:25 +0000 UTCThis makes perfect sense to me, I think getting support directly from the individuals that love your work is the best route when possible. Just a note I'm personally not sure where/how to access what the current Patreon is at, so I don't know if subscribers can actually see what the current status is as far as how much a month (I don't know if this is indended on your end or not either, though being able to tell how close we are to the goals helps with transparency). Also, don't be shy about spreading the word on your social media platforms! It can be weird to ask for money, but I think as long as you're clear about the whats and the whys, its an important way to get the word out! Best of luck!
Isaiah Honor
2023-06-05 23:27:33 +0000 UTC
