Well, it seems like very few #TTRPG shows have thoughts to share on their pay structure. In fact, seems like there are more questions than anything.

So I'm shifting gears to provide some of my experience. (I have NEVER not paid ppl)

A thread about $$$ for actual plays...

First things first. Decide with your players if monetary compensation is a make or break for them. If it is, make a plan for funding first.

Paying people for their time & talents can't be chalked up to "giving exposure". Just as you shouldn't take sponsorships on exposure.

If monetary compensation isn't as important to the table, remember there are other kinds of compensation such as free subscriptions to VTTs, TTRPG accessories like dice/trays, and even "gift baskets" once the show is done.

These items can be acquired through #RPG sponsorships.

Now back to money. WTF do I find it?!

The fact of the matter is, the majority of TTRPG companies are not going to hand you $$$ to play their games. That's just the hard truth.

You need to find other sources and diversify those sources to create sustainability.

Some options for funding:
- KoFi
- Patreon
- Company Sponsorships
- Live Stream incentivized tipping
- Crowdfunding (IE. Kickstarter/Indiegogo)
- Ad Placements
- Local/State/National Grants
- PayPal

I have literally used all of these at some point. Let's break this down further.

Before you can figure out WHERE/HOW to get $$$. You need a plan. Yes, a written business plan.

What do you WANT to pay your cast? What are overhead expenses? Are you paying yourself? Are you doing this for fun or profit?

Start by listing out the goals & then make a strategy.

I'm going to add here that you need to set REALISTIC goals.

We all love CR, but that's not realistic. They are the anomaly. You do not base good business on anomalies.

Instead, go look at channels/shows similar in size to yours. See what they are doing. What can you do better?

"But I'm not a business, Dot!"

Yes, you are. The moment you start accepting money in exchange for services (in this case entertainment) YOU ARE A BUSINESS!

If you're just playing for fun with friends online & you don't care about $$$ then you shouldn't be accepting ANY payment.

Let me repeat that. If you are a table of friends that don't care about getting paid, then DO NOT ACCEPT PAYMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE.

This is literally mixed messaging. You're doing it for fun so the audience should be watching for similar reasons.

That is not to say that "for fun" is better or worse than "paying". It simply is just different and that's totally fine!

Just be transparent from the start and know what you're trying to achieve, so that expectations can be set and met.

What's next?

Start by making a budget. You need to know how much EACH campaign is going to cost you. Don't forget art & hosting expenses. Did you remember to pay yourself?!

You can start by estimating paying your cast minimum wage or $10 an hour. You have to start somewhere

You can also consider a "profit split" option based on what you earn live. But if you're not earning a lot of money live, your goals need to be focused on growing the audience and incentivized tipping.

Profit splitting only works when you have a solid structure in place.

Another option can be a "stipend" instead of paying by the hour. Many theatres & comedy houses use this model.

IE. $75 for a 5-week campaign or $15 a session.

It is where I started. Then I added a profit split in addition to the stipend once I was more established.

Remember, to set your payment based only on what you CAN afford.

If you can't afford a 10-week campaign, then don't run one. Start at a 5-week campaign and grow from there.

No one can know this but you based on your earnings, budget, & business goals.

When I started I set my goal at $500 for a 4-week campaign. That covered my BASIC expenses and allowed me to pay people. Half was from Patreon, half was earned live.

As my business & goals grew so did my budgets. Now I spend roughly $1250 to produce a 5-6 week TTRPG campaign.

"But where do I get this money Dot?!"

Another great question.

Start by recognizing that you're not going to get your $$$ from a single place. You have to have multiple income streams. This is just good business practice.

I outlined some of those above but let's deep dive....

KO-FI

This is a GREAT place to start, especially as an individual. I used Ko-Fi to kick off my business & to fund the majority of my 3 TTRPGs on my channel.

You can set goals like "$300 to pay my cast for a 4-week campaign". This is something that is doable.

PATREON

Once I was more established, I moved to Patreon.

There are a lot of pros and cons to Patreon. The biggest con is that Patreon requires a lot of time and energy to maintain.

Patrons want what they are promised. Are you earning enough there to warrant the dedication?

That being said, a pro is that Patreon creates a more stable structure so you know what you're earning each month.

This helps with planning and long-term stability.

COMPANY SPONSORSHIPS

Most #TTRPG companies are not going to give you hard $$$.

But they may give you books, PDFs, Dice, or other "in-kind" support that you can use to drive giveaways or compensate your players with.

I love gifting dice & trays at the end of my campaigns.

Companies do want to see some kind of return on this exchange tho.

So think about your audience size and how you'll leverage those in-kind donations to boost the company you're working with.

How can you best pitch yourself & your table?

INCENTIVISED TIPPING

This is when you encourage your audience to give live to affect the story or players in some way.

This has been one of the most lucrative ways to earn $$$ live but I have a lot to say on it.

1. Don't let the audience run away with your story. Just b/c they donate doesn't give them the right to interrupt what you're doing.
2. SPLIT THIS MONEY WITH YOUR CAST
3. consider goals bars that can be filled TOGETHER by your audience instead of an "a la cart" donation menu

4. Set realistic goals based on what you need to earn each session. If it cost you $100 to pay the cast that day, then aim for two $50 donation goals or four $25 donation goals.

Use this to be transparent with the audience about where their money is going & how it's supporting.

CROWDFUNDING

Crowdfunding is no joke. Successful campaigns require a lot of work & dedication.

But this can work as an option to fund an entire show upfront. Know your budget & set the goal above that.

This is probably one of the hardest ways to fund a stream.

AD PLACEMENTS

I'm not talking about YouTube ads. I'm talking about you adding a proper Ad to your stream or pre-show.

Most companies won't bite for this unless you have a big audience. If your goal is audience growth, then this might be an option down the road.

Remember, that these ad placements don't have to be TTRPG companies. What about a company adjacent or similar but not exact.

For example: I run a VtM podcast. As an ad sponsor, we reached out to a custom fang company since we have a similar audience to them.