The Rise of Independent Art
Life is art. You can’t exist in the world without partaking in art on a daily basis. From the clothes you wear, to the building you live in, to the film and movies you stream, it’s everywhere. Yet, so often, we hear stories of how artists like Van Gogh died never seeing a single penny for their art. And yet today, they sell for millions of dollars at auctions. We live in a world surrounded by art, built by art, but why do so many artists never reap the rewards of their work? I believe it’s because we don’t always notice the value in the present moment. People will applaud your work when you reach the big leagues, and become the top in your field. But, until that day comes, you’re just an independent artist struggling to get by. Every A-lister in Hollywood was once a struggling artist before they landed their big break, propelling them into stardom and wealth. The moment that happens, we rush to support them. We rush to buy their makeup lines, their clothing lines, and so much more. Yet, why did we not support them before they reached that point? Arguably, they needed the support more when they were struggling. They needed the support before they became rich and famous. That is why we should shift our view of what art is. Instead of just viewing artists as lacking value unless someone pays millions for it, but start seeing the inherent value in it. Especially in the modern world where it’s never been easier to create art, and find a medium in which to display it. Technology has democratized art, and in the process, has created a massive industry for independent creators. Celebrities and famous people aren’t the only ones who support themselves with art, but millions of people do. And, they do it, because of people like you. People willing to support independent artists, way before they ever make it.
Patreon is just one of many ways to support independent creators!
The Creator Economy, a phrase dubbed as such because it’s an entire economy centered around creating content online. That content ranges from videos, to photos, music, how to tutorials, blogs, podcasts, etc. It’s every method of content creation that so many deem as stupid things to do with your time. Ironically enough, kids now say the number one thing they want to be when they grow up is an influencer or YouTuber. We laugh at them, but I’m about to show you why we shouldn’t. In 2017, The Creator Economy, amassed a whopping 6.8 billion dollars for creators. Meaning people, and companies, paid creators 6.8 billion dollars. Quite the massive industry indeed. In Massachusetts alone, nearly half a million creators contributed 155 million dollars to the state's economy. So, it’s clearly not just a hobby. It’s a money making machine that has benefited the world economy in a big way. Another example, there are roughly 50 thousand creators using Patreon as a monetary channel, with about 1 millions people patronizing creators. So not only is there large amounts of money to be made, but a massive audience willing to spend money on what these creators are creating. For the most part, these aren’t wealthy people we are talking about. Only a small portion of these numbers are actually making millions of dollars. Most of the people in the Creator Economy are making much less than that. The majority are more akin to a bunch of middle class people, not wealthy business owners. Now, let’s talk about that classic economy.
In 2020 alone, the ten richest billionaires gained a combined total of 3.9 trillion dollars. That means they got 3.9 trillion dollars richer. I’m sure you know what else happened in 2020, the pandemic. During that time, the US economy shrank by 3.5 percent. The largest drop since 1946. Also during this time we saw unemployment rise to rates not seen since the Great Depression. No surprise, many sought new ways to make money. They took their hobbies, and their art, and started monetizing it online. Initially, many thought the creator economy would take a hit during the pandemic, but the inverse proved to be true. The creator economy expanded significantly in the past year. Not only was there an influx of creators, but a massive surge in support. Several sailing youtubers, for example, saw their Patreon supporter size double during the first six months of the pandemic. My theory is not only were unemployed people trying to find new sources of income, but others who weren’t unemployed were seeking new entertainment. The world was at home, so why not delve into the world of creator content. And just like that, it expanded. Democracy seemingly has spread beyond the government but into our online marketplace.
Every creator makes it super easy to support them, creating multiple options for patrons to choose from.
Thus far I have mentioned Patreon multiple times. For those who don’t know, Patreon is a service in which you pay creators in support of them. It’s that simple. You love what they do, so you patron them. Many creators offer special perks, like discounts to their store and Patreon only content to show thanks for the support. Patreon is just one of many services where people can show monetary support for creators. It has such a massive audience that the top creators are raking in upwards of 150 thousand per month! Just remember, it’s not the only platform! YouTube and Facebook also have ways to allow you to support, through money, your favorite creators. Though, those have different thresholds to reach that ability. The best thing about places like Patreon are that you can set limits on how much you are willing to support someone. For example, say you only want to give someone five dollars a month in support, Patreon allows you to do so! These services, and the flexibility allow all to benefit during this transaction. It’s a win win for everyone.
Creating content, such as we do, is a full time job. Not only do we spend countless hours working on the refit and fixing our boat, but we spend countless hours filming, and editing it. When we are in the full swing of it all, we can easily put in 80 hours each in a single week making it all happen! Add that to social media, designing our website, merchandise, promoting ourselves, etc. it turns into a full-time job. Honestly, there are many who think we are just playing with cameras and YouTube. That it’s, just a hobby, and nothing more. Well, it’s not. We are creating content, and merchandise for all of you to enjoy. It’s what we love doing, and we want to continue accomplishing this full time. The access to our content is in fact free, which is why we have services like Patreon. To help us sustain ourselves and make the best content we can! More support equals better gear, more time on content, and access to more things! Plus, you wouldn’t expect JJ Abrams to do his work for free would you? That’s why supporting independent creators is important. Not only do you help us build something, you gain something in return. It’s more personal than just giving money to JJ Abrams. And when you support someone on Patreon, you have a direct connection to the creator. You can directly connect to them, but you also know your money is directly going to assist them create their work of art! When you hand money to a millionaire, it just goes into their bank account, not into more gear to make their content better for you! So when you hit that share button, or become a patron on Patreon, it’s more than just supporting a business, you’re supporting a creator who is building something for all to enjoy!
-Jake
If you want to further support us you can visit our shop in the navigation tab above or become a patron through Patreon. Link below!