Rare Bits

Many, many artists would like to make a living from their living, some want to just make beer money. Whatever your inclination, getting your work printed will take some greenbacks and there are some really good examples online of how to do just this! Jason and I talk about this a lot and feel that donation buttons are for people either starting out or having some scary financial times. I’d rather have a dedicated reader email me once to tell me how much they like my comic than five bucks anytime!  Anyway, onto the examples.

1. Subscription (based on issues received) – Alec Longstreth and John Porcellino are the twin kings of subscriptions in my mind. For $16, you receive the next four issues of Phase 7  no matter how long it takes for Alec to complete them. Subscriptions are great because people can buy them for themselves (greedy awesome!) or as gifts!

2. Book Club (based on amount of time) – One of my favorite cartoonists in the world, Beth Hetland, runs a book club for her comics! For $35 per school semester ($20 for renewed memberships) you receive the mini-comics she makes that semester, special goodies not available anywhere else like buttons, postcards and bookmarks.

3. Various ‘kickstarting’ programs (Xeric, Kickstarter) – With the creation of the Xeric Grant by Peter Laird, many a solid comic book have been published! While the Xeric Grant gives you money right after your application is accepted, the Kickstarter program has an application process and then allows your fundraising to begin on their website. The money is not guaranteed but you can offer incentives to people who donate. Jamie Tanner has recently had such luck with such a program. The incentives lead us straight into the next type of money-maker.

4. Donations (with incentives)-Forget that middleman I just mentioned! You can make it happen all by yourself! Zack Giallongo offered a free sketch with the pre-order of Grune #2. Liz Baillie started posting Freewheel as a webcomic but is offering all sorts of crazy incentives if you donate to her printing of the book. Incentives can include a copy of the book (obviously), a thank you in the book, free art, guest appearance in the background of the book, a call on your birthday. Speaking of which, there is only one week left to donate to the Freewheel comic book printing-so hurry on over and practice giving money to comics.

5. Conventions-This one seems rather obvious and is one step down the line but putting a face to your comics is the best way to keep making them. A smile on a face that is attached to your acerbic funny animals take on why ketchup is the devil could help sell it. Plus, you meet fantastic people who enjoy doing the same thing in their free time—-cartoon! I’ve met (and become friends with) more people whose work I love walking out of the bathroom than I bet they care to recall.  Word of mouth from a friend is key as basic as that information may seem.

If I missed something important, please comment. I’m always up for new ideas! Thanks for your time and hope that you definitely make some money for your comics.