"You won't make any money as an artist."
"Art is not a career."
"Get a real job."
We've all heard them before. The 101 reasons why art will never be a sustainable career. But it's time to throw away all that negativity and pick up real some hope, because the digital age is changing the game for artists.
In today's world, there are more opportunities than ever which allow artists to do what they love while creating a sustainable income. And if you're willing to put in the time and work, you too can reap the incredible rewards of this new age in being a creative.
Today we'll dive into one avenue that is proving to be quite lucrative for some artists. We'll take a look at what it is, explore how it works, and the alternatives to building this type of businesses online.
So let's get to know more about Patreon.
What Is Patreon?
Creator Jack Conte was looking for a way to support himself and his YouTube channel when he decided to found Patreon. Patreon is a crowdfunding platform that allows creators to fund their projects by fans, or patrons, who donate money on a recurring basis.
How It Works
Similar to crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter, Patreon allows users to create their own profiles where fans can support their work, either through pledges of monthly donations or donations per project.
You can help your favorite artists hit their goals and be one step closer to supporting their dreams of making a living doing what they love.
Patreon is reinventing the way artists are supported by their community. Pledges are separated into several different tiers, with amazing rewards at each level. And with fans able to pledge as little as $1 per cycle, there's a real sense that you are able to support artists without needing to break the bank.
Paid to Do "Nothing?"
So how do you convince people to give you donations? And are they really okay with it?
Don't be fooled by the naysayers who don't understand what it takes to build a business online. The number one misconception you'll run into is people thinking that you're getting paid to do nothing.
But let's be real. Patreon is by no means a handout.
And it's not just a platform for visual artists. Writers, musicians, podcasters, photographers, and creatives of all different shapes and sizes use Patreon to fund their projects. Each of these projects takes from dozens to hundreds of hours to complete, on top of the years of experience put into mastering their craft.
So think of all those years you spent creating for others without ever receiving a single penny. Allow Patreon to buy back those years by supplying you with a way to support yourself reliably.
Want a look at a day in the life of a creator? Illustrator Andreas Rocha shares the reality of what it takes to make it on Patreon.
"Posting my work on Patreon is different from posting paintings on my online portfolio. There is not so much freedom as I have to prepare the files and paint following certain guidelines so people can more or less follow what is going on when they watch the videos. I also have to try and find themes that people appreciate and find interesting.
It's challenging, because ultimately you have to keep motivated to post but that can only work if people support you. If you set pledge levels too high people won't support you, but if the income is too low it ends up not being rewarding. You must have patience as the number of followers rises, very slowly. My goal with Patreon is to share my workflow with people interested in knowing how I work and, of course, to provide another source of income."
I asked even more artists about their insight into what it takes to be successful on Patreon. Let's take a look at what they all have to say.
How to Be Successful With Patreon
Set Realistic Goals
As with any project, goals help not only with motivation but establishing what your end game is. And on Patreon, goals also allow your fans to help you by understanding what your needs are. Need new equipment? Say it. Looking to make this your full-time job? Be honest. Don't be afraid to post your real goals while asking for pledges.
Digital artist DanteWontDie knows all about goal-setting on Patreon. Here is what he had to say:
"I
think Patreon is a place that you need to prove yourself. You have to let people
willingly pledge to see your art. My
page was set up at the beginning of 2015 and I think I'm pretty satisfied with
my monthly income on that, but I'm still far from my ultimate goal ($2000
per month).
I know there's still a lot of space for me
to improve and I really appreciate those who have already pledged on my page now. Accumulating
Patreon pledges is like setting up your own business. Do you want to be a full-time artist, or just do it for fun? The good thing is you
have almost zero costs, so you can manage your time accordingly."
Post Regularly
If you showed up to your work only a few times a week, you wouldn't have the greatest reputation. So just like any other profession, make sure you're able to post regularly in order to keep your patrons interested.
Icarus, artist and creator of the analog scifi comic Inhuman, offer his advice on the best way to approach posting regularly:
"Engage,
engage, engage! Build your brand before launching as much as possible, and then
encourage people to check out your Patreon whenever possible.
Rewards are a
must, if that's WIPs or access to zips of unreleased art or whatever. People
just like to get "something" for their money besides just the knowledge they're
helping you. Patreon
is half of our household income, so it helps a lot. More than anything, being friendly in whatever you do also pays!"
Offer Valuable Rewards
Though it's not uncommon that people will support you just for the heck of it, one of the best ways you can keep your patrons happy while garnering new ones is to offer them valuable rewards.
Freelance Digital Artist Didi Esmeralda offers tutorials and commissions for her patrons depending on the reward tier they select. She reminds us why it's important to keep in communication with your fans for support:
"Each
artist must divulge their own work on social networks to be appreciated by
followers and fans, and then communicate to their followers that they can
support the work in patreon, and get exclusive content that can be found there."
Alternatives to Patreon
But remember, Patreon is not your only option here. Taking advantage of social media and online business goes way beyond just crowdfunding sites. Here are just a few other areas that are some great alternatives:
Sell products on Envato Market.
Open online shops.
Stream live for donations.
Take on paid commissions.
Offer video tutorials and instruction.
Offer your services as a consultant or speaker.
Though artist Racheal Scotland is new to building her presence on Patreon, she's a talented artist with years in the industry. Take it from her on what other avenues you can look to:
If
you're looking to live off your art, you can open shops on DeviantArt, INPRNT, and Etsy. If
you're confident in your work, open commissions. There's always
someone who's bound to help support your work.
As long as you make sure people know where to find your work, market all
your avenues. Create a portfolio. And use all the platforms available to you.
Graphic Designer Roberto Blake is not a Patreon user but definitely knows the online grind. From his popular YouTube channel to his offline speaking engagements, he's found a way to not only build a community but one that supports his creative endeavors. Here's his advice:
"A service based business
is not sustainable long term. My variations of diversifying income (advertising/affiliate marketing/public speaking/paid
writing/consulting/webinars) may not be a fit for everyone.
However, creating a product that can generate a combination
of passive and active income can make you more secure.
Envato, for instance,
is a great marketplace and I buy assets to modify to save my time pretty
regularly. Align
your passions to a purpose and the work in between is figuring out a practical
application of it. Making
your moves with intention and clarity makes all the difference in where you end
up."
Where You Can Find These Artists
Thank you to all the artists who gave their wonderful advice. If you want to learn more about them, feel free to follow their work on social media and support their pages below:
Andreas Rocha
DanteWontDie
Icarus
Didi Esmeralda
Racheal Scotland
Roberto Blake
Conclusion
If you point them in the right direction, your fans will support you more than you could ever imagine. So take a risk and put yourself out there to build an incredible community that will back your dreams.
Who knows, maybe with the help of Patreon or other online avenues, you'll be able to make a living doing what you love. So how will you put yourself out there today?
Have any experience with Patreon? Let us know how you like it in the comments below.