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A Second Chance! (Patreon)

Published:
2021-06-09 20:33:44
Imported:
2026-06
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It’s time for me to start focusing on Patreon!

What does that mean? Well, at the beginning of this year I had big plans to start making a little Patreon-Only podcast, give away more behind the scenes process art, offer more of my Patreon-only books at cost price, and make a bunch of YouTube videos in a higher quality than I ever did before. But then my legs got kicked out from under me with my divorce and everything creative in my life just felt pointless and overwhelming suddenly.

So I stopped doing everything. 

In fact, it felt like I couldn’t DO anything.

I’ve had struggles in my life before, and even times of depression for a spell, but nothing could have prepared me for something like this. This has been the absolute hardest thing I have ever experienced. The difficulty might have been compounded by the sudden impact and how sweeping the life changes were. Almost 20 years of marriage, building something together, planning the future together and then it was just gone. Meaningless. Meaningless.

But I regress and I don’t want to spend my time here sulking about the unanswerable questions I have. Instead, I want to inspire and encourage and look forward.

So let's talk about art and storytelling and running a business and finances and whatever. I've been retooling my budget for the year (because it's completely different now) and I'm thinking of posting it here so you can see exactly where your patronage is going.

I do still plan to make a little Patreon Exclusive Podcast here too. I was going to start it in January but then everything exploded and I forgot who I even was anymore. Now that my brain is somewhat back in my skull again I'd like to fulfill the podcast promise that... I guess I didn't make a promise, but I did sneak it in the $5 tier description at the end of December, and so I consider that pretty much an obligation that I need to follow through with. :)

Speaking of obligations. This year is turning out to be a year of fulfilling obligations and following through on things that I said I would do last year. My problem is I change my mind all the time about what I want to offer here, and so I really want to work on finding things that I can stick with for a long time on Patreon.

Wow, I'm rambling. But to make it clear, here is a list of things that I "promised" to do here on Patreon at some point last year and then dropped the ball.

- Continue Video Calls Monthly

- Finally release Phobos #3 (softcover for Patrons only)

- Finally put the rest of Phobos Volume 1 online so my $1 patrons can read it.

- Make a short 15-30 minute podcast each month for patrons only.

- Finally offer more of my books (at cost price) to patrons only.

- Finally start making regular blog posts here on Patreon.

- Show more art here on Patreon.

- Lay facedown on the floor... Oh wait, already did that one.

So that's what I'm focusing on right now. I almost have the link ready for you to be able to order a bunch of my old books that are hard to get, at cost prince. And I will set it up so you don't have to be a Patreon on a special month in order to order a copy. Instead, they will just be available anytime you want to order a softcover at cost price (as long as you are a patron.)

Oh yeah, and I put a bunch of my old Visual Development artwork on Artstation a few months ago. Since I was having a hard time being creative, I thought it would be a good idea to organize some of my older stuff from animated movies that I've worked on in the past. Task complete!

Here is a link to my art station portfolio. I'm not sure if I will add anything else to it. But Enjoy!

https://www.artstation.com/jason_brubaker 

Oh yeah, and I want to have a video call on Friday this week at 9AM (Pacific Time). I'll send out a reminder for it tomorrow and another on right before it starts. Hopefully I'll see you there!

See you in the next blog post!

Jason

Files

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Comments

Vince Rush Art

God bless you Jason, I’ll keep on praying for you. I look forward to all the things you’re planning and you gotta know man, you and your content have meant A LOT to me over the years, you’re a huge inspiration!

John Middleton

Love this update. I was excited to see all the stickers and swag earlier last week and looks like I've got the new Phobos on it's way.

mrfixit1170

Thank you so much for the update...i love the cards...my daughter and I play fish and rummy it's cool...the channel will come together...dont stress out over it too much...for me I don't need to see financials..its good enough to see you post stuff here and make offerings no need to add another monthly burden....thats my 2 cents anyway..

Dad

Just my opinion, but this one: "Finally offer more of my books (at cost price) to patrons only." Please don't do this. I suspect many of your other patreons will agree that our reason for supporting you here is to... *support your efforts* and giving us stuff *at cost* isn't helping do that. Hey, I like a nice discount as much as the next person, but, for me at least, I'm not going to feel good about buying *at cost price*. If you aren't making at least *some* money for your work then the transaction is valuing your time at ZERO, and that's not ok. Someone long ago said to me (about freelancing, and art): You need to value your time (or work) if you want others to. Selling your work *at cost* does not value your time (or work) anywhere nearly enough.

Jeremiah Spoon

1st of all, I 2nd Dad. Hahaha. If you want to give a discount or something, that's one thing. Or even 1 give away a month would be a cool alternative to giving things to everyone at cost. But we are here because we want you to make money man. I do really like the idea of being able to buy some of your older stuff. Regarding personal stuff....man, it really sucks and it's hard. I ended up getting divorced several years ago and it felt like I was starting all over again. But I realized that the time I was married wasn't a waste, or meaningless. There were a lot of good memories I made with my kids, and even my ex. While they were painful to recollect at the time, and even still are to a degree. It was a great 15 years for me. And the divorce doesn't make that meaningless. It all meant something. Something good even. Especially to my kids. I keep a card for the first square from Monopoly, Mediterranean Avenue, pinned up with my inspirational stuff. I realized during that time that even though it seemed like I was starting over again from square one. I wasn't really. I had amazing people in my life, wonderful kids, decades of experience, and all kinds of good stuff going for me. It reminds me that even though it seems like we may be back at square one, we're really just passing go. I hope your next trip around the board is better.

Jason Brubaker
>>61565344

I see what you are saying. Here’s the way I am looking at it: Before I was printing and shipping a Phobos issue to my $5 and up Patreons on the months that I offered it. But it ended up costing more time and money than what I was making on Patreon so I was not motivated to do it very often. But that offer ended up tripling the amount of Patreons that signed up to get a softcover book. Then most of those Patreons stuck around for a long time.

Jason Brubaker
>>61565344

But the way I am trying to do it now, is to give Patreons a link to order the books directly from the printer and I don’t have to do anything and it will happen in the background. The goal is to be able to acquire lots more new Patreons by continuing to offer more and more unique books that only can be ordered by becoming a paying Patreon. Does that make more sense when I put it that way? Or does it still seem like I am devaluing my work? Thanks for your thoughts! :)

Jeremiah Spoon

Also, sorry to double post, but if you wanted to do some kind of story/artist incubator group for $50 a month, or something like that, I would be totally down.

Jason Brubaker
>>61566558

Hey Jeremiah! I was meaning to respond to your comment from a few weeks ago because I really appreciate it. But this one is also solid advice and I really appreciate it too. I definitely see the good that came with the relationship and all the blessings from it. At this point I'm not so sure I want another go around the board with a relationship. But maybe that will change with time. But thank you for nudging my thought process in a healthy direction. :)

Jason Brubaker
>>61567727

Oh that sounds like it might be a good idea. It would be kinda like when I taught the CGMA classes but without everyone expecting me to answer all the questions perfectly. ;) But that could really be fun to have it for people who are all making stories and want to bounce stuff off each other and help get inspired and new ideas. Okay, I will sleep on this idea and see if it sticks. Thanks for the suggestion.

Dad
>>61565344

Ok. So it's a loss-leader investment to build your audience here. I guess my input then is to treat it as a short duration thing (while you're building your audience) and not set up expectations that the books will always be sold at cost here. So offer them at this discount through the summer (or whatever).

Dad
>>61565344

But I have to wonder: would you get fewer new patreons if you just offered them books at whatever % off of retail meant you are getting half of what you'd normally make after costs (so if you normally charge $20 for a book that costs you $5 to make then you could offer a 35% discount off retail (say) which would mean you get $8 after your costs instead of the $15 you'd normally get, just as an example; If your costs were $10 for the $20 book then you'd offer 25% discount to get $5 after costs for each book).

Dad
>>61565344

I can also see what you mean about the low-friction of direct from printer. Makes me wonder if the printer will the same fulfillment for you but where you make some profit also? Sounds like finding a way to sell your books without having doing so eat up a bunch of your time is a key element here.

Thomas Amos

I'm working at a summer camp so I won't be able to join on Friday. Really glad to see an update, though! I'm encouraged that you are working through all these changes and excited to see where you go from here. I'm not worried about financials, either. You do what you need to.

Dad
>>61565344

I have one artist book making friend who sells her work through BuyOlympia.com. No idea what the details of that arrangement is, but it saves her having to pack and ship and so on. Might be worth speaking with them (or someone similar) if your printer isn't really wanting to do fulfillment on a regular basis.

Dad
>>61565344

Anyway, you're a smart and talented guy and I'm sure you have ideas and a better perspective than I. I just like to see you value your time because I think it's valuable :) Thanks for everything. Onward!

Jason Brubaker
>>61565344

Good thoughts. So one of the things that might help clarify it a bit more is that all the books I will sell here on Patreon are ONLY FOR PATRONS. All of my hardcover published books are still out there selling in the public. But this will be for short stories, art books, sketch versions of my graphic novels, and other exclusive things that I don't want found on Amazon and stuff. But I do see your point in having a time offer through the summer or just for a month at cost price and then raise it back up to a normal price for most of the time. Thanks for your input. :)

Maria Rice

I work regular business hours at the office now, so I won't be able to join on Friday. It's so good to have you back Jason! Still praying for you.

Jason Brubaker
>>61593719

Thanks Maria! I guess I could mix up the video call times and have some of them at night and weekends. Thanks for your prayers. I know they have helped. :)

Ben Bernard-Smith

This all sounds really positive and exciting, Jason! I especially like the sound of the podcast - I'll up my pledge when I can afford to, so I can listen to that. :)

Alex Garcia

Wow. I didn’t know. I did wonder why you hadn’t been as active on YouTube. Geez, man I’m sorry. I got divorced not too long ago. Different situation because she was a narcissist. Lots of damage to my kids (another mother) and to me. Once I was gone for at least three months it was much easier to deal with. Lots of love and prayers to you. May Yeshua continue to hold you and guide you through this tough time.

Kyle Prometheus

I think focusing on Patreon with the above bullet points sounds like a strong plan of action harnessing your ever building creative IP. (Completing Phobos issue 3! Sound!). A direct (and meaningful) link with your 'tribe', fellow creators, friends and customers ('True Fans.'). Looking at your 'montage' mosaic of your creative resume, it's resplendent with colour and creativity. A solid platform for future inspiration.

Bill Lemmond

HI, Jason, Again, sorry, very sorry, about your marriage. I'm hurting from wanting to be married, for over 55 years, but that's not as bad as having it ripped away. I enjoyed reading my copy of Phobos, volume 1. I don't know how to find volume 2. Where do I need to look?

Jason Brubaker
>>63295966

Hi Bill! If you are talking about the hardcover then there is only one volume. But if you are talking about the little 100 page softcovers then I will post a link to them all soon. :)