What Is Patreon?

In the simplest terms, Patreon is an online platform where creators can receive financial support from their friends and anyone interested in their work, based on the age old practice of artistic patronage.

[If you’d like to find out more about the history of artistic patronage, there are some links to resources at the foot of this page.]

What Sort of Creators Use Patreon?

As well as conventional artists, creators on Patreon include musicians, photographers, writers, sculptors, performance artists, educators… and more.

How Does It Work?

Although subscription models vary slightly across creators, generally a Patron will pay a small amount on the 1st of the month, either up front or retrospectively – that is for the month ahead or the month just ended – with no obligation or minimum term. In return they might receive access to special updates on the creator’s work, behind-the-scenes news and videos, or perhaps occasional advance, reduced cost, or even free examples of the creator’s work.

Each creator decides on the membership levels they wish to offer, the amount a prospective patron can join each level for, and the benefits each level will bring. A prospective patron joins a creator’s Patreon page at the level of their choice, by paying the stated minimum monthly amount or more if they wish.

Although some creators simply suggest a tiny monthly amount to “buy me a cup of coffee”, and don’t offer anything unique to their patrons, others, for example some musicians, may offer higher amount levels with benefits such as advance release of tracks or special Patron-only merchandise.

Why Do Creators Use Patreon vs Other Ways of Fund Raising?

There are many reasons creators prefer Patreon to other online funding platforms.

One is that it gives a continuity for the creator, both of income and of obligation, month by month.

Another reason for using Patreon, as against other funding platforms, and something many creators like, is the option of encouraging and creating a feeling of community amongst their patrons. Creators may also find a community forms of its own accord, with benefits on both sides.

For me there is something else that stands out in making life a little easier too. In the UK (and I believe certain other countries), if you deliver certain products and services digitally, you are legally obliged to register for VAT, regardless of the amount of financial return you receive.

Patreon negate this requirement by taking care of sales taxes – along with their fees – before passing the remainder of the creator’s funds to them. For a creator with relatively small amounts of income, this takes a huge amount of tedious admin away (especially as it’s admin that feels unfair anyway, when providers of real world goods and services only have to pay VAT after reaching a generous allowable income).

So, How Has Patreon Helped Me?

In practical terms the financial support has meant I’ve been able to, among other things, buy software and hardware that will enable me to make the How-To videos for The Big Shed Digital Studio to a professional standard. I’ve also been able to complete a few small projects in my garden, which I’ve written about and shared video progress of with my patrons, and all of which will be going into the written and illustrated story of my garden in due course.

Since setting up 61 Not Out on Patreon just before the pandemic started, it’s fair to say of course that things haven’t gone according to plan! The Doodle Inn project was stopped in its tracks by the necessity to avoid social contact (ditto my lovely job at the boatyard), and my mental health took a bit of a nose dive, leading to my not leaving my home for two years. For some of the time I found it impossible to focus on any sort of creativity, but the support of my friends via Patreon gave me a reason to keep my goals in sight.

So for me, there is one more benefit that although not unconnected with the financial support, can sometimes feel of equal importance. That is: it gives me a sense of accountability. I, and I’m sure the majority of other creators on Patreon, feel that if a patron has shown their belief in what I’m doing (or trying to do!) by offering their support with whatever amount on a regular basis, then I am obliged to keep producing and coming up with ideas and generally moving forward.

Which, on days when the ‘creative muse’ is either refusing to wake up or off on holiday somewhere, can be the one thing that keeps me going.

As my lovely patrons have often heard me say over these last two challenging years, I am grateful beyond words for their ongoing support, and I look forward to welcoming more into our Patreon community, and working harder than ever to justify everyone’s faith in me.

If you would like to add your support over on Patreon, and immediately gain access to two years’ of behind-the-scenes updates and lots of garden videos, click here to find out more. [NOTE: Patreon takes pledges on the 1st of the month, so it’s best to wait until then, or shortly after to avoid being charged twice in quick succession.]

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