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Weird thing I keep seeing as result of Kickstarter and Patreon, is people calling out creators using their raw backing numbers, extrapolating out that their operating budgets are obviously also their salaries.
Um, that's not how business works, people.
Um, that's not how business works, people.
And when the business is something digital, like a podcast, fiction, or a digital zine, this phenomenon helps to further stigmatize creative work as being no-risk, no-cost, and something just anyone can do. There are often massive expenses to this kind of work you'd never guess.
Like we're not huge like some of the popular examples. But we currently make $800 on Patreon every month.
If you think that $800 goes into our pockets, holy shit you're sadly mistaken. Right now, that $800 mostly goes to help us attempt to grow the business.
If you think that $800 goes into our pockets, holy shit you're sadly mistaken. Right now, that $800 mostly goes to help us attempt to grow the business.
It's common with Kickstarters that fail to deliver.
"YOU EMBEZZLED $30,000! YOU STOLE THAT AND LIVED THE LAP OF LUXURY ON THAT MONEY!"
Ha ha. Good you think that money is some obscene level of wealth. But also, often budgets stretch thin and creators DON'T pay themselves.
"YOU EMBEZZLED $30,000! YOU STOLE THAT AND LIVED THE LAP OF LUXURY ON THAT MONEY!"
Ha ha. Good you think that money is some obscene level of wealth. But also, often budgets stretch thin and creators DON'T pay themselves.
This is why a lot of times, you see creators who fuck up budgets, fail to deliver, then months later they're like, "I'm in dire straits. I need some cash to pay rent. Can you help?"
Bad budgeting mixed with unexpected life events instantly turn that money into LESS than nothing.
Bad budgeting mixed with unexpected life events instantly turn that money into LESS than nothing.
Take a business 101 class, seriously.
Imagine thinking 100% of revenue is profit even in the most absurd examples. Try 10%. That's a much more common example. When you're calling out a creator for living high on the hog, knock a zero off and see how you sound.
Imagine thinking 100% of revenue is profit even in the most absurd examples. Try 10%. That's a much more common example. When you're calling out a creator for living high on the hog, knock a zero off and see how you sound.
This is doubly bad down the line. I had a VERY tight budget on a project once. I did the best I could. I fucked up in places.
Then three years later, someone asks me to replace a $200 order they didn't bother to tell me didn't arrive.
I... can't just do that.
Then three years later, someone asks me to replace a $200 order they didn't bother to tell me didn't arrive.
I... can't just do that.
The long and short is: You might see what appears to be a big number next to a creator's name. That doesn't mean that's their adjusted net income. Their actual income is often a fraction of that number, even if you THINK their work doesn't cost anything to make. ESPECIALLY.
