Stepping Down from Management, and Returning to Creating (Patreon)

Hello there!

This is “Sauce”, as most of you know me.

In 2021, I began to make characters and art for myself and others. It started with grand plans for an audio drama, which turned into a Patreon, Discord servers, video games, and more. And now it’s evolved into SnaccPop Studios.

SnaccPop Studios, contrary to its naming, was never supposed to be this big, giant development group. It was just a silly group that housed my work. But then that work started taking on a life of its own with people, groups, and communities beyond what I’d initially imagined.

I understand for a long time people have been privately and publicly concerned for my physical and mental health. I took on a LOT for someone with as little life, let alone professional, experience as I have. And many times it has led to great times! But it’s also led to moments of profound fatigue, exhaustion, and anxiety. It’s really difficult to balance the high expectations of those around you when you don’t even fully know how to take care and fend for yourself. And though I’ve done my best, I do admit that representing something that’s come to mean so much to so many people has become unmanageable for me.

I do not sadly make this decision, but rather happily. SnaccPop Studios will be working with Project Ensō on a fully-collaborative managerial level. Meaning I will no longer be acting as the chief representative of it and its interests on a business level. Financially, professionally, and socially, I will be allowing the experienced hands of this fantastic studio to guide SnaccPop into a more certain and better managed future. Creatively, I retain the rights to all of my work, and Project Ensō and I have taken steps to ensure that in proper and professional legal speak. I can draw, write, and create to my heart’s content again! But business decisions and help turning those dreams into tangible reality for others to enjoy will become something Project Ensō will handle.

It is a wonderful thing to be able to share the revenue from this venture with the communities, but it really is a LOT. There’s invoices, managing schedules, managing and comforting the actual humans behind the work, and making sure that you manage yourself. The pressure of having people rely on ME is too great. And the time has come where I’d like to spend my time taking care of myself emotionally, physically, and mentally.

The spotlight just is not a place I am ready to be. Instead, it should be shared by the many wiser, more experienced, and more capable artists, programmers, writers, and managerial staff who are able to responsibly handle the numbers (money, people, and complications) that come with any of the success we’ve had, without bias or unprofessionalism.

And like I said– this isn’t a sad loss or surrendering of my work for me. I’m excited to return to being experimental with my creations! No longer having to pretend I am more capable than I am. I do not know as much as I think I do, and I definitely know less than a fourth of what you think too. And I am glad to be at ease again.

I think, personally, I will take a lot more time to enjoy life and art again. I don’t think business and publicity is my strong suit. I think going forwards, I plan to be creative, stay in my lane, and prioritize PERSONAL growth. Not internet.

That being said, let me clarify– The lore to all my current work already exists. It’s there, and written. My prior creative visions won’t be changed unless suggested by our sensitivity editors, which is fine with me. And idea wise, this will open up my schedule so that I can focus on making fun things with artistic merit. Less of my schedule will be dedicated to “commanding Discord mods”, making “executive” decisions, and doing tedious paperwork.

It’s a win-win– Project Ensō can make SnaccPop Studios into an official business and begin supplying authentic and important jobs to creators of all types, while also expanding the diversity and creative possibilities of the works we produce with additional and growing consultation, while I can begin to live my life again.

This isn’t goodbye in any way. But I’m leaving this baby in the strong, capable hands of people who have come to love it perhaps even more than I do.

Really excited to take some time for myself, and then return as an artist first and foremost. Not a manager, director, audio/visual director, casting agent, writer, editor, graphic designer, AND artist, haha!

Please take care, and thank you!

• “Sauce”