Patreon Archives - essencecartoon https://essencecartoon.com/tag/patreon/ essencecartoon Wed, 28 Feb 2018 16:36:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 Crowdfunding à la Carte With A Helping of Butch Hartman and PATREON https://essencecartoon.com/2018/02/28/butch-hartman-and-patreon/ Wed, 28 Feb 2018 16:36:22 +0000 http://backup.essencecartoon.com/?p=2804 Crowdfunding Content à la Carte With A Heaping Side Helping of Butch Hartman and PATREON Crowdfunding. It is a whole new year. And with that, one can do several actions to make this more productive year. Either continue to sit on the couch, watching endless hours of streaming video content. Not that there’s anything wrong […]

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Crowdfunding Content à la Carte With A Heaping Side Helping of Butch Hartman and PATREON

Crowdfunding. It is a whole new year. And with that, one can do several actions to make this more productive year. Either continue to sit on the couch, watching endless hours of streaming video content. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Watchers are keeping the creators busy. Get up, walk over to that chair in the studio and GET creating.

Keep creating. The world is starving for content. Crowdfunding can help you do that. If you want to read my recent interview with Butch Hartman, you’ll just have to wait a little bit longer.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN sang, “57 Channels and nothing on…” in his song regarding Cable TV of 1992. That has since changed. The Internet. That’s what. More channels, websites and apps will deliver more content this year to personal devices than most people will ever be able to watch. That’s a fact.

On a personal note, PATREON, a crowdfunding site, is going to be added to the tool box of content creation this year. #BRADYtheBETTA has been a webcomic for over a year now. He needs a new avenue to swim in. He is a fish and fish need to swim not in some small, cramped space but in different pools or even a different ocean. See the world and the world might just look back at you.

PATREON is his next pool to swim in. He’s a cautious fish, but takes most situations slowly with apprehension. There’re times he just dives in. While working on his tales of the world, whacky fish tails he’s encountered in his life. He felt it was time for more people to hear his story (thought I was going to use another tail reference, huh?).

Who is #BRADYtheBETTA?

#BRADYtheBETTA to begin with is a BETTA fish who has lived in his fishbowl. That fishbowl is filled with crystal, clear POLAND SPRING® WATER for over 10 years. How is that possible? His caretakers never felt safe to take normal tap water and apply chemicals. So, what did they do? Used a turkey baster, sucked out all the dirty water weekly. Then replaced each week with 2500 ml (or approximately 84.5 ounces) of fresh, room temperature POLAND SPRING® WATER.  And through a couple of cats, hermit crabs along with a few other critters, he has lived this way.

And then came the #BRADYtheBETTA web comic. He is seen on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK and even LINKEDIN. Living life is like running a business. Just think about that for a bit. There have been over 175+ appearances. People out there like animation. Realizing not enough fingers or fins to count how many, HE decided to put a little more movement in his life. Say hello to him on PATREON. When completed, they’ll be new animated episodes on YOUTUBE.

#BRADYtheBETTA does like a simple life (for now) and wants to have explained this PATREON move and what it entails.

PATREON is a place (website) where creators create for patrons. Those patrons participate in a crowdfunding effort.

The definition of PATRON from the dictionary:

Noun

1) a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, cause, or activity: a celebrated patron of the arts

A successful plea by the creator, one can help defray the costs of creation, which can involve time, supplies, etc.

Step One: Register on PATREON.

This means going to the site and create a NEW account

Step Two: Set up an account.

This means logging into this new account. Fill in all the information relating to this new project. It will even involve a bank account where and when if the project is successful, people will send you the funds to keep producing. HINT: if not at the time of creating the initial account within the first month, create a video of your product pitch. This video has helped gain more patrons. So, make it creative and informative. Crowdfunding can be fun to do, but it does take work.

Step Three: Create

Roll the sleeves up and get cracking at creating that project or product (however you want to phrase it).

Step Four: Keep Creating

Show progress. The more progress, the more attention one can garner. And increase what is offered. Video chats. Special downloads only to patrons. The sky’s the limit.

OK, NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY AMAZING…

My special guest. BUTCH HARTMAN. A man of creative talent. He has been a force of creative nature. I could, but won’t reiterate WIKIPEDIA. If you have read to this point, you’ll want to hear from him.

PART 1. The Intro…

PLBthetoonist:

Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening Mr. Hartman. Thank you for taking the time to converse with me… First, I must say, I admit it, I am a fan and great admirer of your work. You always have informative and inspiring words for every YouTube or podcast you either hosted or guested on. OKAY… (taking a deep breath) Glad I got that out of the way.

Butch Hartman:

Thanks for the kind words! And It’s cool, man. Calm down. I’m just a cartoonist like you. Lol.

PLBthetoonist:

What inspires you?

Butch Hartman:

Good question! I know this sounds kind of cliche’ but I get inspiration from everywhere. Seriously. I love movies. I love comic books. I love great comedy. I love great drama. I love great animation. I love great writing. I love God. I love my family. Inspiration can really come from anywhere if you look for it and are willing to pen your mind to it. What I mean by that is, be ready to think differently than usual. Usual is good. Usual is safe. But on the off chance that something really speaks to you artistically and you feel as though you really want to give it a shot, do it. Don’t waste time. If you’re an artist and really want to write a song, do it. If you’re a songwriter and you really want to paint a picture, do it. Try everything. No one will see it, but you until you’re ready to show people. Don’t waste time with embarrassment or what people will say. That’s wasted time. 

Pause TIME… PART 2 is NEXT.

PLBthetoonist:

When creating a show or even just an individual character, is there a specific process or even creative ritual you follow?

Butch Hartman:

Nope. Sometimes the idea starts with a character drawing. Sometimes it starts with the idea itself. I just love to draw and write so it can come from either place. One time I got a movie idea from the title of a famous song. Pretty cool if you’re open to letting ideas find you. 

PLBthetoonist:

You have boundless amounts of creative energy. From YouTube appearances, your personal channel (including YooToons, Drawing YouTubers, THE BUTCH HARTMAN Channel and now SPEECH BUBBLE), The Noog Network, your current TV series, BUNSEN IS A BEAST and all the other social media outlets where you have appeared. HOW and WHEN do you find the time for all of them?

Butch Hartman:

Lol. I really owe it all to God. Only He could give me the extra hours in the day that I need. Oh sure, I’m the one doing the physical drawing and the actual work, but it’s God who gives me the energy and creativity I need. I give Him credit for everything!

PLBthetoonist:

What are some of your favorite means to create with (i.e.: paper, pen and technology)

Butch Hartman:

I still love actually drawing on paper. Digital art is awesome, don’t get me wrong, but digital art can be erased or lost forever. I’ve done plenty of it and always will, believe me, and I LOVE my iPad Pro but I really love doing actual watercolor paintings on watercolor paper and pen and ink sketches in a sketchbook. I use the ProCreate program on the iPad and I use Zebra brush pens and plain ol’ Sharpie pens in my sketchbooks. 

 

PART 3… The Conclusion.

PLBthetoonist:

From past, present or future, who has influenced you or you have just admired them for their creative passion, be art or any other field?

Butch Hartman:

I love Steven Spielberg, Walt Disney, Pixar, JJ Abrams, Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Carell, Sid & Marty Krofft, Hanna & Barbera and old, classic TV shows and TV animation. I love to laugh and whoever can make me do that is someone I admire. I love innovators like Steve Jobs and even the Dyson guy who rebooted the vacuum cleaner! He even created those cool hand dryers we have in restrooms now!

PLBthetoonist:

Have you ever considered crowdfunding (i.e. PATREON, KICKSTARTERINDIEGOGO) for any one of your projects?

Butch Hartman:

No. I don’t really feel the urge to crowdfund anything right now. I don’t understand it enough and kind of don’t fully trust it. It’s not anything against the idea of crowdfunding I just don’t know enough about it.

PLBthetoonist:

I truly am humbled for you spending the time to answer my questions. Thank you very much for this.

Butch Hartman:

You got it! I appreciate YOU asking me for the interview. The honor is mine. 

Wow. Give me a minute to catch my breath. That was amazing. I’ll finish up here in just a second.

UPDATE: Thursday, February 8th.

Butch Hartman has made a life decision. After 20 years, he decided to leave the company. Off to new horizons and new projects, which he is very excited to work on these projects. I could paraphrase his YouTube video where he explained it all. I would do an injustice to it. I’ll wait. Go watch it and come back to read my closing thoughts.

Butch Hartman Leaves NICK

I have nothing else. Only to say, be creative. Be resourceful. And be sincere. You have all that? This will give you what you need to move a project to fruition. Remember that word. Crowdfunding.

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Crowdfunding: Finding Investors https://essencecartoon.com/2017/11/06/crowdfunding-finding-investors/ Mon, 06 Nov 2017 17:06:25 +0000 http://backup.essencecartoon.com/?p=2461 Before you click away from this article. Give a few minutes of time to read. Sounds like a daunting process? To some, it may be due to other factors. Love animating? Wish to bring your ideas to life in animation? Hear me out. In this Fifteen (15), patent pending, step making process, I’ll suggest how […]

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Before you click away from this article. Give a few minutes of time to read. Sounds like a daunting process? To some, it may be due to other factors. Love animating? Wish to bring your ideas to life in animation? Hear me out. In this Fifteen (15), patent pending, step making process, I’ll suggest how you just could do it. And even include links too. Maybe even talk a little about crowdfunding.

Okay, I was just kidding about it being a patent pending, Fifteen (15) Steps. But, this is what I have discovered over my years as a creative. Even an investor myself, to others who were looking for enlightenment.

On a side note, before delving deeper into what I have to say, check out what BUZZFEED posted about animators. (15 of them to be exact)  I’m getting better at being patient. So, I’ll wait until you return. Even Essence Cartoon has their animation workflow that they follow. While I finish the next two paragraphs, feel free to go (Here) and read about them.

Cue On Hold and Waiting Music…

Music is still playing…

Are you ready to proceed? I know I am. So, here we go. Ways to get funding. You’ll need a few additional items. First. A small bucket or large rubber boot. A small bucket or large rubber boot. Visual aids (possibly, your storyboards). Small sandwiches and a drink. This will help keep up your strength. Food will fuel you, assisting to keep you on the creative path. Stand outside a theater, mall or even a busy street corner, a catchy chant could assist in getting attention and then, start watching the money roll in.

Now, if you actually get your funding that way. I’ll give you determination credit. Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, Patreon and even networking with friends or business contacts, was what I was referring to. These aforementioned are crowdfunding options. What is crowdfunding? Well, let me put it simply.

Crowdfunding is pitching a project to the public via the internet. People view your project. If they find it intriguing, they can choose different funding levels, you can set up then they donate to the project. Be prepared, in this world, not everyone like to give away their money. Crowdfunding projects usually give back to backers, perks or trinkets that will entice people to donate even more to the budget.

As you do move forward, great rewards. Remember that. One important factor, allow as many patrons, a way at the lowest possible cost to you, to get a digital download of the project. Animation must be seen in motion. Remember that, please.

Kickstarter and IndieGoGo are straight crowdfunding. You create a project. Get people interested. When successful, funding is given to create it. If not (but that is not why you are here, to fail, right?) no-one loses any money. Providing updates will keep them wanting more. Please don’t wait on the updates. People like to see progress, especially, in the case of milestone  give a reasonable date for completion.

One never knows from one day to the next, what it will bring. Life can be hard but never give up. Keep developing those creative ideas. BUT, don’t create such a great idea that you get the funding and take time even a couple of years to deliver that project. The average person will not stand for it. Be the better person and deliver a great project on time. Consider software for animation production by Toon Boom Animation Software, the makers of (Harmony and Storyboard Pro), just to name a couple.

One person I was able to get a few questions in to was Chance Raspberry. His project, Little Billy, the world’s first and only animated series about neurodiversity, special needs, and the power of being different (created by a Simpsons animator with Tourette Syndrome!)

crowdfunding

Q: How did you approach crowdfunding to your project(s)?

A: Due to all the interference, delays, rules, and limitations of traditional pitching to networks or executives (the “old-fashioned” way), I knew crowdfunding was the best way to go for a project like mine the demands a certain level of creative control, freedom, honesty, sincerity, and quality. I wanted my vision to maintain its form, message, and purpose, so I knew I would have to create its beginnings myself with funds from fans.

Once I decided to launch the first Kickstarter for Little Billy, I took some great advice from a great friend and made up my mind to put everything else on hold – you have to make your campaign the entire project and give it 100% focus if you want to ensure its success; just like a full-time job.

Q: What avenues did you consider first, second, third?

A: I was originally planning to pitch first and try anything else second. I spent years trying to get my Little Billy project to a “finished enough” state to pitch it because in the animation/entertainment industry, the common “rule” is that the more locked down a project is, the less likely it is to be changed from its original state.

If the network/studio/company you pitch to likes it for what it is, they’ll likely want to work with you to maintain what they like about it. What I eventually learned is that it’s also MUCH harder to sell a show or get a deal if your project is too locked down because the people paying to have it made (the people you pitch to) want to be involved and in control of every phase/aspect of the project’s growth, process, and progress.

It’s part enthusiasm, part ego, part self-preservation, and part fear. No one wants something they supported to fail (especially if their name is tied to it). So, the need to control or decide most/all things kicks in and if you’re not very careful. You can wind up having your idea become someone else’s or selling a show.

This is where lose all your copyrights and ownership of it. And to even most likely to have it shelved and never made. All these pitfalls are what finally drove me to make crowdfunding my first choice. Rather than it being my backup or last resort. With crowdfunding, you can literally avoid ALL these problems and make the project you and your fans actually want – your way!

Q: Was it a good experience or were there obstacles in your way to funding, if so, what were some examples of them?

A: Crowdfunding is an amazingly POSITIVE experience! It does come with challenges just like anything else, but none of them outweigh the benefits of calling your own shots with crowdfunding – at least for me. Most good examples of these challenges are unforeseen delays with product/reward fulfillment, confused or impatient backers (which is no one’s fault and can happen to anyone), etc.

Despite these obstacles, I highly recommend crowdfunding for anyone who loves to create.  It has high standards for personal creative freedom and quality. Nothing ismore fulfilling than for an independent artist and the creation of their own independent economy to sustain themselves!

Chance’s Campaign, which is headed down the final stretch can be found, here. LittleBilly.com

Patreon is crowdfunding. But in a different way. Think way back to The Renaissance, say Florence, Italy, to be specific. Persons like Leonardo DA Vinci, Donatello and Michelangelo, to name a few. Wealthy families would contract or give patronage to these artists. It would help fund and sustain them while they produced works of art or projects for the public or even just the patrons themselves. They would look in and see how their money is being spent and enjoy what was being produced.

Well, in the digital age, it’s basically the same with Patreon. Patrons don’t need to leave their homes, if they don’t want. It’s delivered to their own homes via email or “LIVE BROADCASTS” from an artist’s studio. With Patreon, levels of patronage, will grant or unlock what the patrons will see or receive in return for their generosity.

And if and when, enough people flock to your project, you just might get that mighty project completed.

Don’t wait. Go out and create. I’ll even wait to hear from any of you on what was accomplished.

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