jdlaclede
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Copypaste: On ATW#5's Different Release
🕑 Added 2021-10-02 17:00:51 +0000 UTCSome Patrons have voiced dissatisfaction about ATW#5 not being posted page-by-page like the other issues, and costing a full $5.00 on Itch, so in the interest of transparency, here's what I posted about it on Discord:
I understand people have this concern, it was raised a little bit before, so I may as well address it. There were a few reasons I had.
1. Because this chapter featured a lot of new surprises and violent scenes, I wanted to build hype and prevent spoilers so everyone could react to it at once.
2. It was a lot more motivating, at least for me, and at least this time, to keep things behind spoilers until the end, and not drip-feed it. That was a big improvement over last year when I worked myself to death on a hard daily pace. Secondarily, Damien and Angela are not making money from my Patreon directly, so posting most of their work to my feed seemed a little inappropriate. If lots of Patrons object that I did it this way, then I'll consider going back to the old format for ATW#6 - and if you do object, please say so. This Discord is for open communication, not just fandom.
3. RE: No Patron discount. $5.00 per issue is the only price point I've found where I can pay the collaborators, and get a decent bit of money for myself, and not lose a big chunk on fees, and readers are still motivated to buy it (people did not like paying $8.00 for FoxMeGently! First-year sales for it were by far the lowest of my issue comics). If Patrons got the usual 15% off of a $5.00 issue, that would be $4.25, which Stripe fees would make $3.21, then $2.21 after paying collaborator residuals. More than half the money would disappear, and I do still have that large dental bill to pay for.
So in short, I felt better and more secure in changing the pace for this issue. Maybe you liked it, maybe you didn't. I understand if people are sore about not getting what they expected, and you're within your rights to bow out. It's your money. But if you did enjoy the issue, thanks, and if you do want me to go back to the other format, please say so. I'll do my level best to satisfy you, since this project doesn't happen without all your support. Thanks for reading.
Comments
Anhedral
I agree completely with what Rob D. and Blufurvert have said. If chucking a little bit of cash your way each month and then paying a modest amount for all of the concentrated excellence in ATW#5 means more Blackbird and Duran shenanigans in the future, then I am very, very content.
Bluefurvert
Hey, if doing things as you’re doing them now is keeping you and your collaborators afloat then I’m not going to complain one iota. I like getting to see what I see and rewards aren’t my only purpose here, though they do help. I’m here to support you because I like your stuff so I’m going to, you know, do that and let you do what you need to do so you can do this the best way you can. An artist can’t be at their best if they’re desperate and struggling and paying off dental bills. I should know. There’s a mediocre artist behind this avatar and I ain’t gonna fault you for a thing. We’re all doing our best here and you’re doing a fine job.
Rob D.
In my holistic view, Patreon is a way to support artists via monthly little payments. As long as the entirety of the Patrons is not enough for you to pay your bills, you are within your rights as an entrepreneur and human being to set a supplemental price on the work you and your collaborators produce. A Patron gets rewards according to their level of patronage, If the rewards match the promised rewards, everyone should be happy. I get to see sketches, doodles, Q&A's, I can hang out on Discord and Twitch, that alone more than suffices for my monthly little payment. I had no qualm paying for the issue, and I hope the majority of your Patrons feels the same.
