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There's been a lot of talk about monetizing fanworks recently. I haven't been able to participate in the conversations, but it's something I think about a lot.
One, I don't think it's all that different from the past. It's just easier now. There's more of an infrastructure for it - but I've been on the net since the early nineties and I've always seen the occasional tip jar/PayPal link on the sites of writers, artists and such.
Two, I don't think it's just plain monetizing, not like multi-level marketing schemes (which is one comparison I've seen.) I don't doubt that some people use Patreon and similar sites as ways to monetize their relationships with others, but I think they're in the minority. I think that for the most part they are ways to ask for help without feeling like they're begging. Asking for help is difficult, even among friends and family. Having something that makes it feel less like desperation and more like an actual thing you can do for them in return? That helps a lot.
At any rate, that's all I have... right now I just know I need to finish something for a friend. I've just been busy applying for jobs and sleeping off being sick. (Let's hope I can either fix my insurance so I can get to a doctor, or recover without one.)
Links:
https://cesperanza.dreamwidth.org/589520.html
(The Multi-level Marketing comparison)
https://fairestcat.dreamwidth.org/657484.html
(Counterpoint to the first link)
One, I don't think it's all that different from the past. It's just easier now. There's more of an infrastructure for it - but I've been on the net since the early nineties and I've always seen the occasional tip jar/PayPal link on the sites of writers, artists and such.
Two, I don't think it's just plain monetizing, not like multi-level marketing schemes (which is one comparison I've seen.) I don't doubt that some people use Patreon and similar sites as ways to monetize their relationships with others, but I think they're in the minority. I think that for the most part they are ways to ask for help without feeling like they're begging. Asking for help is difficult, even among friends and family. Having something that makes it feel less like desperation and more like an actual thing you can do for them in return? That helps a lot.
At any rate, that's all I have... right now I just know I need to finish something for a friend. I've just been busy applying for jobs and sleeping off being sick. (Let's hope I can either fix my insurance so I can get to a doctor, or recover without one.)
Links:
https://cesperanza.dreamwidth.org/589520.html
(The Multi-level Marketing comparison)
https://fairestcat.dreamwidth.org/657484.html
(Counterpoint to the first link)
no subject
Date: 2019-02-12 11:46 pm (UTC)From:The thing that I feel like the first post also doesn't get is that a lot of people throw monetary support at people because it provides the incentive to keep doing largely free content. In the era of the side hustle, many people just DO NOT have the time to spend doing hobby stuff; some monetary compensation helps offset what is basically a labor cost.
IDK this whole thing seems very strange to me, when looked at in comparison with other communities like musicians or crafters.
no subject
Date: 2019-02-13 02:06 am (UTC)From: