Playing tight - getting a feel for good timing
New post
Patreon - how to use the platform for your music
With Patreon, you have the opportunity to have your fans support you as a musician. With the help of the crowdfunding approach, you benefit from the chance to convince as many users as possible and to be supported yourself. Unlike classic crowdfunding campaigns, however, Patreon relies on monthly subscriptions. This gives supporters the opportunity to do something good for you as a musician, even with small amounts. But how does the Patreon platform work exactly? How can your music be supported and how can you earn money from Patreon?
What exactly is behind the Patreon platform?
The Patreon platform has been growing in popularity for several years. There are now more than 200,000 registered users who are active as supporters or artists. Patreon is not only suitable for musicians, but also for many other creative fields and industries that depend on regular support. These can be, for example, draughtsmen, designers, authors, producers, graphic artists or many other creative professions.
For you as an artist, Patreon has the advantage that, thanks to the support, income is generated at fixed intervals, which can provide additional professional planning security. Even if the sums involved won't be enough for your entire day-to-day life, you can use Patreon to focus even more on your music and your creative career. For example, you can afford better technical equipment, treat yourself to a new instrument, or even finance employees for your projects.
Support for artists and creative people
With the help of the musician search, Patreon supporters can choose for themselves which musicians they would like to support with their subscription. To make the selection possible, artists create an account with a profile on which supporters can find all important information. A link with Facebook is also possible in order to transfer central data and make it visible. One of the central advantages and features of Patreon is the direct contact between artist and fan community.
In this way, the Patreon platform becomes a real win-win situation, where the artists benefit from regular support on the one hand, and the fans get something back in the form of music, special releases and other activities exclusively for Patreon fans on the other. The Corona pandemic in particular caused financial bottlenecks in many places that were not compensated by the state. The additional funding from the fan community has been able to save some artists and their music in this way.
How Patreon works for supporters
Those who want to support Creators can create a free account with registered option for payment. You can register either by email or by linking directly to your Facebook account. You will then be redirected to your personal profile, which you can use to focus on a variety of exciting projects. By searching for keywords, you can find other musicians who are looking forward to your support.
After the final selection, you can access the respective pages of the musicians. There, they introduce themselves in more detail and regularly publish exclusive postings for their fans. However, most of these can only be viewed after taking out a subscription. Free content is also available via social media or on platforms such as YouTube. By clicking on the "Become a Patron" button, you can select the sponsorship you want. You then have the choice between monthly amounts or individual fixed payments.
While the former give you access to all contributions, with fixed payments you only finance individual projects. For example, you can support your favorite band with a lump sum of 10 euros per month or donate two euros per published song. You can also set a monthly maximum so that you don't exceed your own budget.
These are the options musicians have on Patreon
Patreon also offers creative artists a range of exciting functions and opportunities to be found by potential supporters. For many musicians, the platform offers a second mainstay to make ends meet with their own music and not to lose contact with their fans. To start, select the "Start My Page" button and verify your name and e-mail address. Then an assistant will guide you through the creation of your profile.
For example, you will need to choose a profile picture and provide some information about yourself that might be relevant to potential supporters. Fields of expertise, interests and exciting details are self-evident. You can then set sponsor levels and create a thank you message that your supporters will receive upon completion. It's up to you to decide whether you want monthly support or offer paid contributions only. The options for video, audio, images and text are hardly limited.
Earn money with Patreon? These tips will help you!
Patreon helps you as a musician to receive support for your daily work directly from your fans. The voluntary nature of Patreon is a crucial factor. The following tips will help you earn money with Patreon and expand your projects:
Get a comprehensive overview!
With Patreon, you can expect a number of hidden features and opportunities that you shouldn't deprive your fans of. These include bonus material, early access, subscriber surveys, and merchandise to help you promote your branding.
Keep your profile open and transparent!
In the text field of your profile, you have plenty of space to inform your target group in more detail about the intentions and goals of your work. Therefore, it is best to write directly what you want your fans to do and how they will actively support you with their sponsorship.
Work strategically and choose your performance!
Direct communication and providing multiple subscription models increase the chance of being well received by your target audience. So work to develop the right workload of new content and provide regular musical insights to your fans.
Give your fans a reason to promote you!
Only with regular activities and exciting projects is it worthwhile for your subscribers to keep an eye on you in the long term. For this reason, also work with small clips of new songs or with exclusive videos that give your fans a more direct insight into what you are currently working on with their money.
For these artists Patreon is the right approach
If you want to make a living from your music, the many options for indirect and voluntary marketing with Patreon are an excellent choice. The many options help you as an artist to orientate yourself exactly to the wishes of your fans and to secure yourself in addition to sales and current income. In addition to musicians, Patreon also offers other creatives the opportunity to receive effective support.
This includes journalists, video creators, podcasters, authors, gamers, bloggers, non-profit organizations and many more. Patreon convinces with an enormous cohesion as well as with a growing number of members who want to support the further work of their favorite musician or many other creative people with their contribution. The exclusive content as a thank you makes it worthwhile to become a supporter yourself via Patreon.
A good option for newcomers and beginners
To be promoted via Patreon, you don't necessarily need a reach or already existing successes in the music industry. The platform deliberately addresses newcomers who are looking for new options for targeted and effective marketing. Patreon's algorithm also gives previously unknown musicians the chance to be suggested to potential supporters and to present themselves.
As a creator, you only pay 2.5 percent on all payments made to you by the platform, which means that you have no expenses without donations. For musicians, this is a risk-free platform that you should not do without for your new projects.
Find musicians and share knowledge now!
If you are looking for real experts who can support you in the music industry, you have come to the right place. We connect musicians worldwide and are the perfect place for motivated band members, singers, producers and many more. Connect around our musician search with other experts and get actively educated. In conjunction with platforms like Patreon, you can rely on the perfect support for your everyday life.
Originally published on May 19, 2021, updated on January 7, 2022
Share this post