If You Build It, They Will Come
Friends.
This is a simple post - I don’t have any earth-shatteringly-amazing idea to share (not that any of my ideas are earth-shatteringly-amazing, anyways), just a simple thought that I’ve only recently embraced:
I really don’t care about monetizing what I create anymore.
Now, yes - I do “price” the services I provide for graphics design, social media, etc. You can go to whatifproject.net/mediahelp and see it there, in black and white (and lots of color, of course) - I charge $35/hour for that sort of work. It’s not a “hard $35/hour”, though, because I very often work with whatever the person who needs help can afford. In fact, I’ve had some people tell me that $35/hour is too LOW for the quality of work I do and so they have given me more and I’ve had some people tell me that they can’t afford much and so I’ve taken whatever they can afford (sometimes even nothing).
BUT.
… I’m in this place where I really don’t try to “bring in” money anymore.
My art? There’s a “suggested” price on each canvas that is calculated based upon the size of the canvas, the supplies used, the time spent, etc.
BUT.
There’s also a very visible note that says if you make me an offer (whatever it is), I’ll accept it. Even if it only covers shipping, a part of the shipping, OR nothing at all - if you want it, it’ll be in the mail ASAP.
Patreon? Substack? There’s an option to give some money if you want to or can, but there’s no “bonus material” for those who give money. Everybody gets the same stuff and I really don’t sweat it.
And that?
Honestly, it frees me up to be even MORE creative. I used to pressure myself to “pick up more Patreon support”, get more paid Substack supporters, etc. I had various “tiers” for different “levels of giving”. And what I found was that the more pressure I put on myself to “make money” with my creations, the less creative I felt. Some people thrive on trying to monetize things, but I found it draining …
Mentally.
Emotionally.
Creatively.
… and so I decided to stop.
On top of that, I had a few Patreon members reach out to me and say, “hey, we’re grateful for the ‘extra stuff’ we get as supporters - bonus blog posts, bonus vlogs, bonus podcasts, books sent in the mail, etc. But, honestly - we barely have enough time to read/listen to the ‘free’ stuff much less bonus stuff. And most people? They aren’t supporting you because of the additional stuff they get; they are supporting you because of the stuff you already create.”
Now, that - that’s insightful, right?
AND.
So helpful.
Don’t get me wrong - I am beyond grateful for every financial supporter and get VERY EXCITED every time someone signs up. I’ve said it elsewhere, the money literally helps us put food on the table as we use Patreon/Substack money for groceries every month. BUT. something in me felt less creative, less driven, less invested when I was trying to figure out ways to increase that Patreon/Substack support.
Yeah.
And so I’ve stopped trying to monetize what I create and just focus on creating and having a good time while trusting that God or the Divine or the Universe or whatever will bring people to these spaces who have the means to share.
Anyways.
And so if I could encourage all the creators out there, I’d say this: create stuff that makes you happy because that joy you feel is magnetic.
Keep doing that.
Keep doing that work.
Keep creating that stuff.
… and the people who have the means to be financially generous will come your way. It might not happen over night. It might not happen as fast as if you had a “financial plan” to “build up support”. BUT. It’ll happen.
“If you build it, they will come.”
Right?
I think so.
Much love,
Glenn || PATREON / ART STUDIO