Funding Question for the Community
Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:33 pm
I'm considering my options for artwork in the Handbook of Monsters. I do believe I need to pay for art, since I make a profit from IF books. SO, given that fact, I'm considering how to fund it.
Specifically, I'm thinking about a Patreon. Anyone who wanted to help with artwork could donate. I think I'd have three "tiers" of supporters, at $1.00, $30.00, and $90.00 minimums. Those donating the smallest amounts would simply be supporting members, having some bragging rights but no special treatment; those paying at least $30.00 would get a listing in the relevant books as "Art Supporters" while those donating at least $90.00 would be listed at the TOP of the Art Supporters listing as Gold Level Art Supporters.
All money donated would be plowed into art, or into incidental expenses (such as the small handful of printed proofs I'm required to buy when publishing). I would promise at least 90% of the money would go directly to artists, with the non-binding intent to keep the number above 95%. (This is after the 5% deduction that Patreon takes, that is, the percentages are of the donations I actually receive, not the donations made by members). Contributors would be listed in the books their donations paid to illustrate.
Initially, I'd put the funds into illustrating the Handbook of Monsters; after I have it in print, I might start working on a new copy of the Core Rules with updated interior artwork. At some point my currently-in-progress project would get a spray of new art as well.
I would have final authority on artwork included or excluded. I won't allow anyone to take over editorial control just because they made a donation... it's still my project.
All of this would depend, of course, on whether or not sufficient donations were made. Right now, the artists I have polled are expecting $35.00 to $60.00 US for single pieces of artwork, with a couple of outliers offering works for as little as $15.00.
The Patreon funds would be used for artwork, as I say. I would not take a "cut" of this money in normal operation; if funding levels get too high, I might shut down the Patreon temporarily so that money does not build up inappropriately. I make a modest amount of money from the sale of the books... I do not need to make money from donations as well.
I do not plan to increase the prices of any of the books just because they get prettier, though it is possible I might raise prices slightly sometime soon (as IF sales are not quite quick enough right now to cover my modest promotional costs). I plan to keep paperback rulebooks below $10.00 on Amazon.com and at comparable levels on Lulu.com and RPGNow.com.
To be clear, then, Patreon donations to the IF project would fund artists almost directly. You would be rewarding not just me, but the artists who work with me.
What do you guys think? Is this a good idea, or a stinker?
Specifically, I'm thinking about a Patreon. Anyone who wanted to help with artwork could donate. I think I'd have three "tiers" of supporters, at $1.00, $30.00, and $90.00 minimums. Those donating the smallest amounts would simply be supporting members, having some bragging rights but no special treatment; those paying at least $30.00 would get a listing in the relevant books as "Art Supporters" while those donating at least $90.00 would be listed at the TOP of the Art Supporters listing as Gold Level Art Supporters.
All money donated would be plowed into art, or into incidental expenses (such as the small handful of printed proofs I'm required to buy when publishing). I would promise at least 90% of the money would go directly to artists, with the non-binding intent to keep the number above 95%. (This is after the 5% deduction that Patreon takes, that is, the percentages are of the donations I actually receive, not the donations made by members). Contributors would be listed in the books their donations paid to illustrate.
Initially, I'd put the funds into illustrating the Handbook of Monsters; after I have it in print, I might start working on a new copy of the Core Rules with updated interior artwork. At some point my currently-in-progress project would get a spray of new art as well.
I would have final authority on artwork included or excluded. I won't allow anyone to take over editorial control just because they made a donation... it's still my project.
All of this would depend, of course, on whether or not sufficient donations were made. Right now, the artists I have polled are expecting $35.00 to $60.00 US for single pieces of artwork, with a couple of outliers offering works for as little as $15.00.
The Patreon funds would be used for artwork, as I say. I would not take a "cut" of this money in normal operation; if funding levels get too high, I might shut down the Patreon temporarily so that money does not build up inappropriately. I make a modest amount of money from the sale of the books... I do not need to make money from donations as well.
I do not plan to increase the prices of any of the books just because they get prettier, though it is possible I might raise prices slightly sometime soon (as IF sales are not quite quick enough right now to cover my modest promotional costs). I plan to keep paperback rulebooks below $10.00 on Amazon.com and at comparable levels on Lulu.com and RPGNow.com.
To be clear, then, Patreon donations to the IF project would fund artists almost directly. You would be rewarding not just me, but the artists who work with me.
What do you guys think? Is this a good idea, or a stinker?