Patreon Changes (and hopefully the lack thereof!)

Hi various assorted Patrons! Or anyone else who is reading this expecting salacious drama (there won't be any salacious drama.)

Patreon are making some changes to their system soon, and I thought I'd run down how it affects you lovely people following along on my Every Simpsons Character Ever project! Here's the long and short of it: it shouldn't really affect you, especially if you're already signed up. But I'll run it down anyway!

When you get charged!

Until now, people on this Patreon have been charged on the 1st of each month, regardless of what tier they're at. This makes it easier for me, especially with regards to the prints I send out each month, as I am able to sort them all out and post at the same time, usually 2-3 days after Patrons have been charged. The new system means people can sign up at any time of the month - not just at the start - and be charged for their access at that point. I would like to make this part very clear: if you're already signed up, you'll still be charged at the start of the month, as usual! Nothing is really changing for existing members. Keep calm and carry on. If you're considering signing up, you'll be charged the day you sign up, and again the same day the next month, and so on, until either you cancel, or the universe implodes.

The Patron Print!

This is the main reason I have resisted switching over to this new system, as it has been convenient for me to charge everyone at once and organise all the monthly prints at once! But alas, switch I must, so here is my way of handling this: the Patreon print you receive will be for the month you are charged in, except if you are charged in the first three days of the month. SO, there are two versions of this:

-existing print Patrons will get charged at the start of September, and receive the August print, as normal.

-new Patrons will be charged the day they sign up, and their print will be sent out at the start of the next month. If you sign up for the August print, today, you'll receive it at the start of September, with everyone else.

Here's the hopefully clear part again: if you're currently signed up, you don't gotta do nothing, everything is the same.

Benefits!

There are some benefits to this new system! It allows for free trials and annual subscription (as opposed to monthly.) I don't have access to the full details of either until I officially make the switch (which will be shortly after this post goes live) so keep an eye out, I'll be back - I'm hoping to give a discount to annual memberships! But if you want to stay monthly, that's fine too!

iOS payments!

This is all happening because Apple are taking a cut of pledges made through the iOS Patreon app. This means if you subscribe through their app you'll be charged an extra 30%. There is a pretty basic workaround to this: don't sign up to this (or any) Patreon via the iOS app, use literally any other browser. You can use the app, just don't pay through it!

The actual project!

I know. You didn't come here to read a bunch of administrative nonsense. You came here to see if I've finally gotten to BumbleBee Man or whatever. Well the good news is nothing about the actual project is changing. I love love love doing this, and have no plans of changing my writing or drawing schedule as a result of these changes. The best case scenario is that free trials and annual memberships encourage more people to sign up - and if enough do, I'll be able to increase the amount of characters I regularly cover!

Thank you for reading. I hope I haven't caused too much panic - things are mostly going to remain the same, especially if you've already followed along. If you're at all confused, please get in touch, I'm happy to answer any questions. Keep watching the skis! I mean, skies.