JAlpsYeah sorry, I really want to bite here but I can't wrap my head around buying a patreon subscription just to join a zoom call and discord server.... it really seems like you want to offer and create a community that I know doesn't publicly exist online right now, but making it paid access is commodifying something that most can find for free. Are there additional resources you are offering that I am missing?
Solidifying a discord community is hard enough when free, so I tend to doubt the longevity of the group when I have to pay for it. In my experience everyone will either mesh well and form their own sub-communities, or they won't and will no longer feel the need to pay for something they're not getting much out of... it's quite the catch 22 and the bane of many a server.
just some honest feedback, best of luck
Thank you so much for the honest feedback! I appreciate you taking the time. Here's the reasons why I charge/responses to your questions...
1) First of all I don't know of another place that exists where creative people meet weekly to discuss their creative projects/give feedback face to face. There's a lot of strictly discord groups but no face to face. That face to face feedback and relationships/friendships that have been formed through the conversation are invaluable, and are something that can't exist through chat.
2) Additional resources. Part of the fun is when you join the conversation, you receive two stickers in the mail. One for you, and another with a QR code on the back that you give to someone who you think would benefit from the conversation. SO the members build the community through word of mouth to ensure quality/contributing members exist in the conversation, not through ads.
3) On the note of quality/contributing members of the conversation. If I made the conversation free and available to everyone, there would be a significant amount of trolls/people who aren't taking it seriously that would join and ruin the experience for those there that are trying to learn/improve their work. It's all fun and games until you put your money down, so the people that go through with it mean business and are there because they care.
4) If people meet through the patreon, form a solid group that meets weekly and decide to leave so they can do it for free, then fuck ya! That means I did my job and connected like minded people who can help each other. I like to think of the conversation as a way to introduce people to a wide variety of perspectives they wouldn't have had unless they had joined.
5) If you read through all this it means you care, which I appreciate, so here's the link to next week's conversation you can try out for free, we meet at 5:30 MST on Wednesdays:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83680222911
Cheers, and thanks for everything,
Max
