Funded
Added 2019-06-29 04:14:28 +0000 UTCWell, for the first time we've actually cracked our goal to sustain Mae and myself full time. This is huge and I want to explain why.
The show, as you know it, has been operating with me burning roughly 80-90 hours a week for 4 years. Mae pitched in another 10 or so in addition to a full time outside job. In that arrangement the total house income was actually fairly good. (by the end of 2018, not the whole time)
The problem is I was starting to lose relationships, my health has been hard to maintain, and more obviously my weight, just from being so stationary working all night. Mae also wasn't super keen on her day job.
So we evaluated having her full time, which meant a loss of her income + taking a chunk out of what I finally started pulling in for the show. Hence the push to bolster Patreon. Basically Mae coming full time was a ~30-40k annual loss on income. However, I might live to see 40 and we keep the show.
Project Lightening was supposed to pull over more viewers, and to a degree it did, but it had almost no effect on Patreon or overall funding. Just a temporary bump in ad revenue on YouTube, which is always poor regardless.
So right now C&Rsenal is, financially, about where it was in year 2.5-3. We're in the black but having to be cautious. This obviously comes at a time when YT, the only viable platform (and yes we've tested the rest) is in another flux, along with most social media. C&Rsenal is a neutral show, but we often get censored along gun content lines.
Now you all have already solved the BIG problem: you've chosen to directly fund content you enjoy. In this regard you have already won, the show is now funded and, until that marker falls off, stable. I'll leave the current goal up for a few months before setting another, with consideration as to how much and why, because we often see losses at the end of each month. But, overall, I'm feeling very good that there does exist a big enough base to carry this programming.
Where do we go from here? I've had a lot of suggestions about this platform or that, and yes we can use them as backups but without growth we are doomed. We will lose patrons every month and need to replace them. We've also tried traditional advertisers but we can't seem to get a good one locked in and it was a lot of overhead to plan. With Mae on board I can probably try that again in the coming months.
Honestly, if you think about it, most non-patron fundraising is a distraction from the core product: the show(s). So my goal for 2020 will be to introduce two new shows WITHOUT interrupting Primer. The way to do this is for us to produce one smaller one, and involve at least one outside party (like how Anvil is done) to host another on our channel. I have one very surprising idea in the works, but it needs more shake out before I can share it.
The hope here is to double the viewer base. That way patron donations stabilize at least above the line we have now and we have a larger audience to sell product to roughly twice a year. With a larger audience we don't have to burn a lot of hours chasing smaller sums, we can just put energy into high-impact fund raising and take the extra time to make more content for you all.
Also, final note in regards to the shotgun series. There have been some concerns we may ruin a discount market by sharing how cool these things are. So you have my promise that patrons will have first access to the episodes, giving you time to seek out your desires BEFORE the general public. We actually want to do the same with Primer, but pulling ahead has been difficult.
Thanks again for all your support and here's hoping for continued growth together!
Comments
That's nuts! They'd have to be paying a lot to be worth that much effort!
Dr. B
2019-07-04 06:01:49 +0000 UTCWe did. They rejected all the episodes for various references etc. We estimate about 10 hours minimum effort per episode to get them listed.
C&Rsenal
2019-07-04 05:54:55 +0000 UTCSomeone may have already asked this question, but have you tried to do a deal with Amazon Prime like Ian did?
Dr. B
2019-07-03 17:06:24 +0000 UTCTell your friend thank you!
C&Rsenal
2019-07-01 17:23:03 +0000 UTCAgreed. There would be no way of funding this show through ads. They would laugh me right out.
C&Rsenal
2019-07-01 17:22:53 +0000 UTCWe just hate trying to gouge the guys we already have!
C&Rsenal
2019-07-01 16:19:10 +0000 UTCI will definitely have to design a guerrilla sticker campaign or something as our next push. Seriously good luck with the diet!
C&Rsenal
2019-07-01 16:18:52 +0000 UTCThank you! We'll keep doing our best
C&Rsenal
2019-07-01 16:17:59 +0000 UTCA friend at work told me about you guys a couple of months back I've been watching the everloving crap out of the channel since then, and fired up a Patreon account to help support content, Crozier, and an enviable beard.
2019-06-30 06:29:13 +0000 UTCThanks for the content. I live the historical background, like the discussion of elan in the Chauchat episodes. I like how Patreon allows us to support directly, instead of buying something I don’t need.
Bob McCormick
2019-06-30 05:48:53 +0000 UTCI'm just not familiar enough with Patreon, but I saw the extra tier. If there was an easier way to contribute more, I would have done so, much sooner.
HumidNut
2019-06-30 03:39:43 +0000 UTCI am going to increase my support in July even though I am in the $10 tier..on a diet now, so saving money rather give the price of a Big Mac to y'all. Also, what if y'all made a cool font for flyers, and have it available for supporters to print and copy at their locations and maybe be able to post them on bulletin boards at community centers or local gunshops or take them with them to say militaria shows, and they tell people about C&Rsenal..maybe a old school way of advertising could help spread the word. I be more than happy to do in my area for free..
James G. Jones
2019-06-30 03:19:44 +0000 UTCWell i enjoy your content since watching actually history on the tv is rare these days so i gave what i could.
2019-06-30 02:03:12 +0000 UTCThis is a real concern. The plan has been to grow to a sustainable point (which is about now) and then all growth from there should be split into additional growth like before AND savings/investment. Basically, we couldn't save until we stabilized at an earning level. Now we can start to work that angle.
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:51:59 +0000 UTCI dunno, Perry Mason is pretty good...
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:44:04 +0000 UTCThat would be a fun boom industry to cover.
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:43:47 +0000 UTCSincerely, thank you!
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:43:29 +0000 UTCI suspect a lot of the column effect is from lack of time and money investment in another wing of shooting sports. I'm hoping our series can help some people break into a new hobby.
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:43:18 +0000 UTCWe do have a Patreon fly over and links in the description. I try to mention it only occasionally though so that it does not become background noise.
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:42:40 +0000 UTCThanks for that high praise! We try very hard to keep it in depth and honest.
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:41:56 +0000 UTCOh man I've barely rode this year. Just so much going on trying to synchronize two producers and finally start clearing some icebergs.
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:41:31 +0000 UTCFriday night was family night! The one I always take off to reconnect.
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:40:46 +0000 UTCWe can certainly reach out!
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:40:24 +0000 UTCYou're making it!
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:40:05 +0000 UTCTo my knowledge Netflix is looking for more political content and, even if we got a paycheck from it, much of our core audience is leaving that platform and may associate us with their message.
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:39:56 +0000 UTCOh man oh man, do I have a theoretical but entirely unprepared to be announced series for you.
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:39:00 +0000 UTCThank you for the support and the empathy!
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:38:36 +0000 UTCWe sadly had to drop the hopes of a reloading show thanks to YT policy changes.
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:38:04 +0000 UTCSome channels seem to fly under the wire. Swords are definitely safer it seems.
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:37:48 +0000 UTCBest video.
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:37:20 +0000 UTCNo, you rock! Thanks for volunteering to help!
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:37:06 +0000 UTCMy bad
C&Rsenal
2019-06-29 20:36:43 +0000 UTCI just hope you guys don't bite off too much, too fast. I've seen many channels hit the skids for trying to expand too fast. You might want to squirrel away some cash for a rainy day.
General Jack Ripper
2019-06-29 20:26:21 +0000 UTCJust doubled my monthly contribution. I'd rather the $ go to you than to CBS streaming. Why pay monthly for access to Perry Mason reruns when I can get C&Rsenal.
2019-06-29 17:31:19 +0000 UTCI'm very curious about the spate of browning pocket automatics that appeared in Europe in the early 1900s. They were all cheap and marked browning instead of Browning.
Tiger in man's clothing
2019-06-29 16:56:06 +0000 UTCCongrats.... over 100 episodes and attaining funding goal. I raised my Patreon pledge by 20% in appreciation. Love your content...
Greg Bastian
2019-06-29 15:03:57 +0000 UTCCROZIER! CROZIER! CROZIER! This is some GREAT news! Glad to hear you'll be keeping Primer going in addition to the spinoffs. In my experience, rifle/handgun nerds and shotgun nerds usually fall into different cliques. They don't often give each other wedgies or toilet swirlies, but they don't often sit at the same table in the cafeteria either. How the branching out affects viewership & funding will be interesting to say the least. Primer: Are we likely to see a 1919-1939 'betweeny" series prior to WWII?
Erik
2019-06-29 13:06:02 +0000 UTCOver the past year or so, I've noticed that more and more YouTube presenters are adding a tag line at the end of the video asking for viewers to "like, subscribe, share" and pointing out that Patreon makes the show possible (not YouTube), so please consider, etc. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to do this at the end of each video. My (little) understanding of advertising is that increasing the number of times the consumer gets the message, the more likely it is that the consumer will respond e.g. buy the produce, make the donation etc. Just some food for thought.
Bruce Stein
2019-06-29 11:40:01 +0000 UTCI consider myself fortunate to have stumbled across your production. For me it's like having the opportunity to audit a lecture series without the associated nastiness of being tested on how much I actually learned. Thank you for making history digestible.
Wayne Dygert
2019-06-29 07:57:53 +0000 UTCWe love you guys and what you do. That's why were are here. Your doing amazing work, and while you will have people come and go always remember to look at the people who stay. Take a breath, go for a ride, and feed crozier a raspberry for us.
Bryan Sportel
2019-06-29 05:30:50 +0000 UTCNice work, Brother. Don't forget to treat yo self. Mae included. Have a drink on me. Might i suggest a stiff Manhattan. It's friday, Man!
2019-06-29 05:19:37 +0000 UTCfirearm related product placement might hurt the yotube- so how about the amenities go for coffee or other stuff that's vet owned- sure there is brcc and ranger up but there are a couple of other vet owned that might pay for some advert.
praack
2019-06-29 05:07:49 +0000 UTCKeep on grinding. We’re all pulling for you guys to make it.
Seagunner
2019-06-29 05:02:43 +0000 UTCRandom question did you try CandR Netflix special?
Austin Minder
2019-06-29 04:53:39 +0000 UTCAwesome! I would kinda like to see a series on the cheap pocket revolvers like Iver Johnsons, or stuff like that, since they are common at shows.
Matt Lohafer
2019-06-29 04:44:08 +0000 UTCBest PBS pledge drive ever! All joking aside you made my crummy day job a little bit more enjoyable when a new episode comes out. Now that it’s behind me I know how you guys feel and makes me even happier to be a patron. Please keep up the good work!
2019-06-29 04:42:12 +0000 UTCGlad I could do my little bit. I still would love to see something about what went into the reloading of all of the different types of ammunition that was used especially 8mm kroppatcheck
2019-06-29 04:25:09 +0000 UTCThat's a definite win Othias! I'm glad this project is finally becoming stable. It's a shame that YT gets arsey about weapon-related content in a historical context, otherwise you'd be quids in! Personally, I'm glad that this will ease your burdens, as there's only so long you can sustain it.
2019-06-29 04:20:48 +0000 UTCIt’s so good to see you and your cousin Mae working so closely together, keep it up!
Andrew Bethards
2019-06-29 04:20:44 +0000 UTCYou guys rock!
Craig Justus
2019-06-29 04:20:36 +0000 UTCYour series is better than sleep. #fuckme
Richard Walter
2019-06-29 04:16:43 +0000 UTC
