wait... you can actually make money at this?

Sortelli · Post by **Sortelli** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 5:23 am

I think the guy from Goblins has made over $1000 in donations. My eyes bugged.

I think I topped at about $100 a month from the ad revenue off of Keenspot. That number's been going down ever since I stopped updating, of course.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 6:10 am

If you count the last three cookouts as "comic related", I've made close to negative three thousand dollars.

If you don't, it's more like negative sixty or seventy dollars for aborted attempts to draw the strip, the domain(s), etcetera.

I've seen people make money. Thunt is a good example - http://thunt.comicgenesis.com also Dave Hopkins of Jack fame - http://www.pholph.com

There are others, bigger names and the like. You have to have a devoted (and fairly large) audience to make money at it. Or one really rich and devoted patron, at least.

Remind your dad that there are far more expensive hobbies you could take up that also would never make you a dime, and far worse habits you could pick up that would do worse than improve your art skills.

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:03 am

Well, um, just a little bit from Graphic Smash.

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:13 am

i'm surprised no one has brought up.

1. Make a webcomic
2. ???
3. Profit!

Pimpette · Post by **Pimpette** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:37 am

I must unlock the mysteries of Step 2.

I haven't made any money from P&A yet, but I expect that might change somewhat when I finish the first comic book and put it up on the ComiXpress store. I have a Cafepress store, but the only one who's ever bought from there is me... and my dad >_>
Soo, no, no profit. Possibly negative profit, because of all the money I spend on new markers and pencil lead, and the money I spent on the convention last year.

But I've sure profited in the friends department, and dammit that's something!

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:41 am

Pimpette wrote:I must unlock the mysteries of Step 2.

I haven't made any money from P&A yet, but I expect that might change somewhat when I finish the first comic book and put it up on the ComiXpress store. I have a Cafepress store, but the only one who's ever bought from there is me... and my dad >_>
Soo, no, no profit. Possibly negative profit, because of all the money I spend on new markers and pencil lead, and the money I spent on the convention last year.

But I've sure profited in the friends department, and dammit that's something!

::sets up a tent at the front of the where the line will be to buy pimpette's book::

Pimpette · Post by **Pimpette** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:43 am

legostargalactica wrote:
Pimpette wrote:I must unlock the mysteries of Step 2.

I haven't made any money from P&A yet, but I expect that might change somewhat when I finish the first comic book and put it up on the ComiXpress store. I have a Cafepress store, but the only one who's ever bought from there is me... and my dad >_>
Soo, no, no profit. Possibly negative profit, because of all the money I spend on new markers and pencil lead, and the money I spent on the convention last year.

But I've sure profited in the friends department, and dammit that's something!
::sets up a tent at the front of the where the line will be to buy pimpette's book::

If I get it done in time, I'll have a bunch at the Expo with me.

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:44 am

Pimpette wrote:
legostargalactica wrote:
Pimpette wrote:I must unlock the mysteries of Step 2.

I haven't made any money from P&A yet, but I expect that might change somewhat when I finish the first comic book and put it up on the ComiXpress store. I have a Cafepress store, but the only one who's ever bought from there is me... and my dad >_>
Soo, no, no profit. Possibly negative profit, because of all the money I spend on new markers and pencil lead, and the money I spent on the convention last year.

But I've sure profited in the friends department, and dammit that's something!
::sets up a tent at the front of the where the line will be to buy pimpette's book::
If I get it done in time, I'll have a bunch at the Expo with me.

sweet. put me down for one.

Pimpette · Post by **Pimpette** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:51 am

legostargalactica wrote:
Pimpette wrote:
legostargalactica wrote: ::sets up a tent at the front of the where the line will be to buy pimpette's book::
If I get it done in time, I'll have a bunch at the Expo with me.
sweet. put me down for one.

Gak, you're fast.

And no problemo. I'll set one aside for you - though you'll be one of the first here, so there should be no real danger in my running out of copies.

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:04 am

Pimpette wrote:
Gak, you're fast.

not all the time, baby

Pimpette wrote: And no problemo. I'll set one aside for you - though you'll be one of the first here, so there should be no real danger in my running out of copies.

cool

Reinder · Post by **Reinder** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:05 am

I've made money in donations and royalties from Modern Tales... a couple of thousand dollars over the past six years. But I've spent as much on materials and sank endless amount of time into my work, so on balance it's probably a loss.

Stinkywigfiddle · Post by **Stinkywigfiddle** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:12 am

I've sold a few books. I think I've made... $9.00.

Nice comments are worth their weight in gold.
...Though they don't pay the bills

Thereforeiam · Post by **Thereforeiam** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:25 am

I had somebody email me and ask me to do a commission for them? Thy made me a gorgeous custom beaded necklace, and they got a picture of themself.

People keep asking me if they can buy Simone's signature shirt, though.....

I think making money off a comic probably has to do with how many hits you get from people who read it regularily and if you are in a position to make money off your comic.

I have bought things from many webcomics, and at least two of them were Keenspace comics! (No, they really were Keenspace comics, then.) Then again, 80% of my tshirts are webcomic tshirts.

Faub · Post by **Faub** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:42 am

I've made a bit in donations and comic sales. I haven't added it up. I do need to update my store, though. At the last cookout, I made around $250, but that hardly paid for the cost of the shirts and comics.

It's entirely possible to make money from your comic if you can generate enough interest in it. Make the merchandise and ship it yourself and your costs will be lower.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:59 am

You could make money if you'd just take commissions Faub.

Vorticus · Post by **Vorticus** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 12:56 pm

Nothing yet, but it's not like I'm trying to get any.

Cortland · Post by **Cortland** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 1:11 pm

If you're doing a web comic for the money, you're really, really missing the point. The real benefit of this place is the friends you make along the way and the learning experience you get from knowing such incredibly talented people.

A few people have been able to make real money by creating a web comics, but it takes a serious amount of hard work and dedication to build up a reader base to sell merchandise and advertising for your comic. In reality, it's much, much easier to get a "Real" job, spend much less time and energy making money that way, and then use your spare time to draw a comic because it's fun.

Personally, I want my comic to be fun. I don't want it to be my job.

Hazardswake · Post by **Hazardswake** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 1:37 pm

Exactly. This is my hobby. I don't ever see making money from it.

Thereforeiam · Post by **Thereforeiam** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 2:16 pm

hazardswake wrote:Exactly. This is my hobby. I don't ever see making money from it.

I dunno, as Ghastly once said "The best kind of hobby is one that brings more money in than it costs"

That's horribly misquoted but I think if it CAN easily bring money, it's a wonderul thing to make money off something you love.

Lady Blue · Post by **Lady Blue** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 2:45 pm

Earthsong made about $1800 in donations in a few days. But then again, they've never asked for donations before, and promised more updates per week if certain goals were reached and a nice wallpaper for all donaters.

And The Lady's already got a huge fan base that regularly visits and partisipates in the community, let alone the people who don't participate in said community.