Patreon launched for AmberUnmasked & Vodka O’Clock Podcast!
AmberUnmasked.com has been around since January 2010. Prior to that I wrote about comics and cosplay on other blogging platforms. I frequently guest hosted on other podcasts while doing my own YouTube videos, but then decided to reboot my media by dedicating recording to audio podcasts and thus, Vodka O’Clock was born two years ago. Now you can help contribute to keep the operations here running through PATREON, https://www.patreon.com/amberunmasked.
WHAT THE HECK IS PATREON?
PATREON is a crowdfunding platform that works basically like an online recurring tip jar. If you’re familiar with IndieGoGo, GoFundMe, and other “help me out” systems, Patreon works the same kind of way except that it’s perpetual rather than to fund one project at a time.
PATREON is for people who are fans of the arts and programming. Imagine if you could pay $1 for each episode of your favorite show instead of buying into a huge complicated cable package with 298 channels you’ll never watch. Patreon gives you a way to show support for things you like to help people in the arts to keep going.
I’m still learning about the way Patreon works on the administrative side. The model is currently set up for recurring payments only. If you’d like to back a creator only once, you would wait for your card to be charged around the first of month, then cancel the pledge. Questions about what it means to pledge can be found in the FAQs of the Patreon site under the “For Patrons” section.
You can support for as little as $1 per AmberUnmasked month (new for 2016).
The advantage to Patreon is that it’s able to be adjusted by the creator fluidly. If something doesn’t seem to be working, like the rewards, they can be changed at any time. The same goes for the creator’s milestone goals – I need to take things one step at a time so right now, earning enough to reimburse my webhosting is the primary goal.
WILL VODKA O’CLOCK & AMBERUNMASKED STILL BE FREE?
YES! Access to the show and the website are still free. Vodka O’Clock will still be available through the website, iTunes, and Stitcher. The difference is that Patreon Backers will get some information before everyone else.
HELPING IN OTHER WAYS
You can also check out my Amazon Wish List which is mostly books and candles — things I consider “treats” for myself and always need. You can never have too many, am I right? Kindle books are best (less storage!).
Not everyone will be able to chip in financially and that’s totally understandable. I’m not able to back anyone right now through Patreon or any other crowdfunding campaign. I understand completely that it might not be something you can do. If you can help me share the links to the Patreon page, this site, and the show notes when they’re released, that’s always a great way to help out. Also, as an author, giving my books positive reviews and talking about what you liked to your own followers is a great way to help.
https://www.patreon.com/amberunmasked
To learn more about how another creator is using Patreon, I interviewed Thomas Boatwright recently about his experience as an artist. He explains the premise and how it’s helping him continue making art and live as a freelancer.
