Some Facts: if 2% of my social media followers supported me on Patreon, at the lowest tier, it would solve almost all my short-term problems. 4% would change my life.
It's funny. After my last post asking for support, someone reached out to my mother to make sure I was OK. I'm fine, of course, but it did make me realize that a lot of you out there may not know what this is or how it works.
This is My Job. It is a Wonderful Job, and I wouldn't want any other. But it is also a very very Hard Job. I typically put in 50-60 hour weeks, when I'm not on the road. I do my own vehicle maintenance, repair my own instruments, design my own flyers/graphics, manage my finances, book shows, edit video, write copy, book shows, promote shows, record, edit, mix, master, manage an email list & socials, book shows, and so many other things. All this, ideally, while continuing to write songs and practice my instruments.
But there's no paycheck. No infrastructure. I'm completely independent. Which means I have the privilege of working directly for everyone who ever has or ever will give a damn about my music. And Patreon is a key part of the structure that makes that possible.
Patreon is a platform, owned and operated by artists, where supporters can pledge small (or not) monthly contributions to their favorite creators to help keep them in business. In exchange, those supporters get access to exclusive content from the artists they support.
So no, I'm not in any peril. I'm not asking for donations. I'm asking for those who have the means, and appreciate my work, to consider supporting that work so it can continue. Because, while I may be in no immediate danger of losing my home or going hungry, the truth of it is that my situation is unstable, and not remotely sustainable in the long-term as things currently stand. And I would love to still be making music in the lon-term. It's all I know.
When you sign up, you immediately get access to the now year-deep archive of exclusive content, plus several new goodies every single month. And almost all of it is available at the lowest tier, for the cost of a coffee per month! Link in comments. π€πͺπ€
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@brandonious_photography