Saturday, August 16, 2014

Patreon vs. Kickstarter


So...this is happening:
 
"Hi everyone. Need your help to get a new venture going. I've got a campaign on Patreon--http://patreon.com/redstylo. This is very similar to a Kickstarter, but instead of one big pledge, it raises tiny amounts of money over time. We need folks to pledge the $2 level and/or spread the word about the link.
 
For $2 each, you get a new story from Red Stylo Media, plus 15% off everything else in our store for as long as you stay a Patron. We'll send a new comic every two weeks. $2 each! That's cool, right? $2 is SUPA cool!
 
Become my Patron? The first stories we're delivering will be from our newest anthology, KILLER QUEEN, A Comic Anthology inspired by Queen! Even more updates will include chapters and issues from other Red Stylo titles. My goal is to reach 100 patrons by September 15!"

http://Patreon.com/RedStylo


And here we are, back to ye old crowdfunding. I did the Kickstarter thing in 2010 and found it to be an exhilarating experience. Nerve-wracking, but positive--we were funded, after all! It's certainly blown up since then, though. I remember having to explain over and over how it all worked, and now eeerrrbody is doing one, two, ten of them. I've thought over and over about going back to the well, but have always been kind of on the fence. I'll never knock it. Still, it's tough for a lot of reasons.

It's nerve-wracking to ask for money. I hate it. Both because it goes against my nature and upbringing to point-blank ask for financial help, and also because I hate rejection. (Hey, I've learned to deal with it, but you'll never get me to enjoy it.) Thing is, I am not above deal-making-- I love to bargain and cajole favors-- because then it's a contest of personal charm vs. that hard-sell request for help. And yes, I know you're selling a product in return on Kickstarter. The "feel" of it on the creator side, though, is still the hard sell: panicky and aggressive by necessity. Whereas I am a soft seller from way back.

This is the appeal of Patreon for me. Sure there's the hard sell in the beginning: I need 100 Patrons to get this thing rolling, and I've set a Sept 15th date to achieve that goal. But if we don't make that goal, we have amassed at least some of that already, and we're in the game. I will focus on growing our Patron base out of the pool we have, learning what works, what folks want to see, and adjust and add as I go. It's organic, in that way, because it feels like an opportunity to earn and keep a reader over time, rather than a quick hit. And we only get paid if we deliver.

It's also a great, fair deal: I ask for a very comfortable, small initial investment in my company, just $2 per update. If you like what you read, you're in for the continued experience and you stay. Then it's on me (and all my creators) to hold your interest, show our work in increments, keep you happy. We earn you, not just once, but over and over again. Which I am very confident I (and they) can do. S'why we're in business after all.

Please consider becoming my Patron on Patreon. Even if just to see what happens. $2 is a supa cool start.


http://patreon.com/RedStylo
Patreon.com/RedStylo