Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT

Donations / tip jar

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dcnblues:
I'm very interested in artists supporting themselves online, and am a big fan of QC.

I'm curious as to the percentage of people who'd like an easy option to tip the comic when they get a chuckle, paycheck, a month's worth of entertainment, etc.  I believe that in a world where most will toss $10 to see a Michael Bay film without thinking to much about it, a few quarters here and there to a non-corporate artist isn't much of a burden to a fairly rabid fanbase.  In fact, I'm guessing there's a demand for it.

If you've read the entire comic, listened to Deathmole, never bought a T-shirt, or used the 'Make a donation' link, would you consider tossing 25 cents, or 50, if it were as easy as sending a twitter tweet?  New micropayments options are popping up all over, and I'm just curious.  What's the attitude of the average, return reader on this topic?

http://images.ucomics.com/comics/db/2009/db090716.gif

Zingoleb:
I get where you're coming from, but one can not really honestly expect to have a steady income to depend on through, well, tips. That's the point where you have merchandising to sell to get your bread. A musician can't expect to live off the tip jar - they need to get paid gigs, concerts, or sell albums to make the money. I think Jeph seems to be on the right course.

nichidani:
not to mention, it is kind of a running joke that a lot of bloggers/webcomic artists always kind of 'beg' for money. i am pretty sure jeph doesn't wanna be 'that guy'

i.e. "how many bloggers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?"
"none, lightbulb's broken. accepting donations for new lightbulb."

hur hur.

bicostp:
Problem is, donations aren't a steady source of income you can rely on.

Plus it makes you look like an e-busker.

'WILL COMIC FOR FOOD'

dcnblues:
I think that attitude is inevitably going to change.

Music will drive it.  It's accepted that the bands you love will have to accept that their music will be downloaded, and that the only money they'll make is from concerts.  That's the prevailing attitude.  (Don't even bring up paying some fuckhead corporation $18 for a CD of which they'll give the artist what, $3?).

FUCK THAT NOISE.

Having a single link to Donation information on your page is hardly busking or begging, and I can't understand, for the life of me, anyone who thinks there should be the slightest stigma attached to an artist who is giving away his/her work.  I totally agree it's not necessary or productive to ASK for money.  But giving your fans the option is completely different.

I want the musicians and webcomics artists I like to make it easy on me to support them. 
I LOVE bypassing vampire distribution corporations.  Donations give me a little rush when I know I'm bypassing those scumbags.
Sometimes I don't love the T-shirts, and sometimes the bands don't play where I live.  And yet, if they're broke, I lose the art I like.  There needs to be a solution.
Paypal works, and an account is good for stage II micropayment companies just starting up now, but it's not really designed for tips and they take too much percentage on small donations.

I don't get why artists or fans don't think the artist can make a living off tips.  Are they so lo tech they've never heard of the long tail?  Can no one imagine the collective power of tens of thousands of fans tossing a quarter every few strips voluntarily? 

Also, even if you guys are right about current attitudes, I'd argue that those attitudes can change.  Did you dismiss out of hand what I just wrote, or did it make you think? 

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