2020 Sustainability Project

As a self employed tech head myself, I'm on the rollercoaster too ! But that was a propserous summer for me. So yeah : Fran rocks + Moneyz got = Upped my pledge ! I wish you the best :)

Perhaps... but I am always torn between the viewers that say I should make videos on what fascinates me, and those that say I should make videos about what fascinates them. I try to do both.

Fran Blanche

My shirt designs are intended to silkscreened, and I prefer that look and durability. The one-off make-on-demand companies use the inkjet process, which limits the colors and layers.

Fran Blanche

That would sell for free, certainly...

Fran Blanche

Thanks Erik - maybe someday when I'm retired!

Fran Blanche

I would speculate that the reduced income has something to do with the type of videos that you've been posting. A lot of interesting stories that I personally love to watch, and opinions that I mostly agree with. But not a lot of projects (electronics or otherwise). I wonder if a lot of patrons are wondering where their money is going. I think you said you have a super secret project going on; maybe once you reveal that, things will pick up.

Jac Goudsmit

Set up a Paypal.me account so we can chip in a few $ now and then. I think it is possible to send it as a friend. 🤗

BTW I just bumped up fro $1 to $5. I challenge all Fran Blanche / FranLab Patrons to do the same. Go Fran!

GrayRaceCat

Hi Fran, Regarding the Merch, have you considered https://teespring.com or https://www.cafepress.com ? Both offer "print on demand" services with no upfront cost to you. All you do is supply the design and decide what types of merch you want available, they do the rest. I hope this helps. Best wishes, Brian

GrayRaceCat

Hi Peter, yes I was thinking the same. FranLab seems to now be all about the trials and tribulations of running a YouTube channel, and the electronics content that we've all signed up for is less and less. To Fran, I understand you wish FranLab to have a broader umbrella of electronics, and I understand what you mean by that, however if people have signed up for electronics as PCBs, parts and soldering, then silk screening T-Shirts is going to alienate many. You can't dictate to your audience that electronics is also woodwork and fabric silk screening and expect people to accept that. Like any business you need to give your customers what they want, or you lose them, it is that simple.

Leigh

Targeted responsible sponsering, with videos very good to watch: Many educational channels I watch with pleasure accept sponsering from 'Brilliant. org' 'Great courses' , skillshare', etc. The decisive factor for me: The advert is spoken by the vloger! Thus, it is spoken in a stile, that made me stick with that vloger. Moreover, it supports services, fostering selflearning, Something, dear to my heart!

P.S. Does Patreon offer one-time donation services? Personally I have a _really_ hard time committing to regular payments. It's not a logical thing, but the reptile brain intervenes. I find it easier to chip in some $ for projects that tickle my curiosity right then and there.

Robert Spitzenpfeil

I'm sure you might already have looked into Tindie? You could just offer circuit boards + box + plans and share a digikey shopping cart for the parts. That would take away most of the hassle of stocking and packaging lots of tiny parts. People who like to build stuff could "live" with that. I wouldn't mind.

Robert Spitzenpfeil

In terms of kits or other commercial offerings, perhaps downloadable plans might be an option? Less up-front investment cost ("only" labour, hosting and a way to receive payments).

Maarten Daalder

Live tube-athon? But seriously... I know it’s hard, but try not to use up too much energy worrying. You need the energy to be creative. It’s your creativity that got you this far. That’s the first big thing that you already have. Second: supporters. Third YouTube as a medium. Of course, you don’t need anyone to give you ideas about new things to try. So, the other day I answered you and said that I like the electronics projects. You responded in the next video saying that the topic is much broader to you. Well, it is to most people, but in different ways. I appreciate all of It. I also liked the field trip to the Wanamaker organ. Wow. That was cool. Plenty of what you enjoy is also going to be popular. Anyway, you know all of this. Take it easy...

nj Phil

I look forward to more of your project videos!

Peter Todd Decker

Hi Fran, The patronage and the youtube income are volatile by nature. The patronage depends a.o. on the health and financial situation of your patrons, and that is a factor on which you have no impact whatsoever, so I guess you will have to somehow add an income that is independent of that. My idea is that you could do that with what for me already is an important aspect of your channel. You have stories to tell. Tons of stories. Some of which I can relate to because I have done similar things, like old electronics. I really don't learn all that much from you in that realm, but I love the way you bring back the memories to those days in your very unique and a bit stubborn style. Some stories are absolutely unfamiliar terrain for me, I love those too because they reveal just a small glimpse of who you are, what your worries are, what you have been through. Just being where you are now is quite an accomplishment. I would advise you to do something with that. You could vlog about it, you could hire a ghostwriter to do a column for you, perhaps some day write a book. You might have to give up a little of your protective shell that you created, I realize that that would be extremely difficult for you, since it would create tremendous hate storms, but in the end only from people you don't care about (in Dutch we have a saying that translates to High trees catch much wind). You would also receive incredible support and love from all over the world. If you were ever to choose to try something like that, I would love to volunteer to for example in the beginning interview you perhaps one or two hours a week and write your story. As a friend, no charge of course, because I think you are a wonderful person. At least let the idea settle a little and give it some some consideration. Kind regards Erik

Erik Broeders

The numbers are rough, but I did a rough count of your past 50+ videos. 4 were projects, 5 were 3D printing, 11 were project egress and 3 were miscellaneous. 21 were about the channel itself including most of the recent ones.

Peter Todd Decker

The only thing that I can do is to double my patronage hopefully starting in November. I cannot offer any business advice as financial management and marketing have never been my strong points.

Dr Andy Hill