Vanilla Velvet Audio Patron Goals: Updates and Changes! (Patreon)

Hi, everyone! A couple of months ago, Patreon let creators know that Patron Goals would no longer be part of the platform's service. Sadness.

The thing is, I like goals! And while it'll be a bit more difficult to manage them without the feature being integrated into my Patreon page, I'd like to keep the spirit of those milestones alive; this change also presents the perfect opportunity to amend some goals to better align with the channel's current direction, my capabilities as a creator right now, and recent updates to Patreon's policies. 

Some goals have been changed slightly due to factors behind the scenes, and one or two have been removed entirely simply because they're not feasible at the moment. Fulfilling goals will also be a bit looser going forward, and not just because it'll be harder to keep track of them!

For example, my original 100 patron goal was to buy a better quality microphone; but I got one for a steal just a few weeks before actually officially hitting that number! It seemed a bit silly to buy another in the same price range immediately. So, Patrons essentially got a boosted audio experience a bit earlier than initially planned!

The 75 patron goal was originally for commissioned thumbnail art and nothing more, but has since expanded to include commissioning channel art, purchasing ready-made waifu-style pieces and making spicy pin-ups available for patron eyes only, which were originally for a much later goal. Things like that. 

Basically, in each case when it comes to filling a goal from here on out, I'll only try to make it better and/or more expansive than it originally was, while giving myself a little more flexibility to pull things off. 

🤗 COMMUNITY GOAL 🤗 : MONTHLY CHIT-CHAT POST <---REACHED!!!   

At 15 patrons, I'll create a monthly patron-exclusive post for all tiers where we can all just chill and update each other about what we're up to, together! Let me know what games you're playing, what anime  you're obsessed with right now, the worst movie you've seen recently,  whatever you like, and I’ll let you know what I’ve been doing, too!  Come, bitch about good/bad/good-bad pop culture with me!  

🎤 PRODUCTION GOAL 🎤: EXPENSES COVERED <---REACHED!!!

At 30 patrons, all basic monthly audio production expenses (stock subscriptions, etc.) should be covered and then some! I'll be more than breaking even! That means even if I get demonetized, I can still afford  to continue making audios during YouTube's probationary period without  dipping into my personal funds. With any excess income, I'll be able to invest in more stock images, extended stock image licenses, better sound effects and perhaps even  save up for better equipment!  

🤗 COMMUNITY GOAL 🤗 : YOUTUBE MEMBERSHIPS, EMOTES, BADGES AND CHANNEL  MERCH!  <---REACHED!!!

At 50 patrons, I’ll commission a custom set of emotes and  badges to use during premieres on YouTube and offer memberships for my  channel! I’ll also release some merch with my logo, persona, etc. on  them!  

🎤  PRODUCTION GOAL 🎤: ORIGINAL ARTWORK!  <---REACHED!!!

At 75 patrons, I'll start commissioning/purchasing art in a more traditional anime waifu style for thumbnails, channel art and spicy pin-ups! (Patrons will get to see the complete piece even if only certain parts are youtube friendly!) I may also poll my audience about updating thumbnails from previous audios and occasionally get new art to make them prettier.

🎤  PRODUCTION GOAL 🎤: BETTER MICROPHONE!  <---REACHED!!!

By 100 patrons, I'll buy a better microphone (something in the  $100-$300 range) so I can start producing higher quality audios, including ear-to-ear audio! Exciting!  

🎤  PRODUCTION GOAL 🎤: MORE ORIGINAL ARTWORK!   

When I reach 150 patrons, I hope to be able to afford more original art pieces for my thumbnails, channel art and merchandise! Maybe even animated pieces for in-video?! (Patrons will get to see the complete pieces even if only certain parts are youtube friendly!) 

🤗 COMMUNITY GOAL 🤗 : CHARACTER MERCH!  

At 175 patrons, I should be able to secure the proper licensing to release merch of many of the characters I’ve voiced so far. I’ll try to regularly release a new merch so you can have your favorite waifus as stickers, coffee cups, postcards, whatever your heart desires!  

🎤  PRODUCTION GOAL 🎤: SEQUEL AND ORIGINAL SCRIPTS!  

When I reach 200 patrons, I’ll commission new original AND sequel  scripts by the original authors of pre-existing audios! (Obviously, this  is dependent on each script writer’s availability and terms, but I’ll do my utmost to make it happen!) 

🎤  PRODUCTION GOAL 🎤: IMMERSIVE BEDTIME STORY AUDIOS!  

At 250 patrons, I’ll start producing a special audio every few months, at least one hour in length, featuring immersive bedtime stories built around a certain theme. Expect obscure eldritch horrors, gothic fiction, classical mythology, ghost stories and bloody fairy tales to lull you to sleep...or not!

If you've been around awhile, you may remember I had goals up to 2000 patrons, including adding frisky/NSFW audio tiers! But this post is already quite long, and we're far from those milestones. Plus, the aforementioned updates to Patreon's policies have torpedoed a few of the perks I offered for those. I'll have to do some thinking on how to pull them off effectively while still respecting the platform's rules.

That said, I'll update this post with higher goals as the Vanilla Velvet Audio Patreon grows, so watch this space!