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From The Desk of Nerd³ - September 2024 Edition
🕑 Added 2024-09-18 04:20:05 +0000 UTCDearest Patreons,
This week I, alongside many of you, watched as Clarkson, Hammond and May drove off into the sunset, concluding an era of unparalleled television adventure not seen since Michael Palin’s Around the World in 80 Days back in 1989. Sure, Clarkson’s a colossal twat, Hammond is irritating, and May is better on his own taking apart lawnmowers, but I can’t deny that watching these three boob their way across the planet has been a structural pylon of my television watching for the past eighteen years. There’s Doctor Who. There’s Star Trek. There was Top Gear. An era is over.
Then, while watching Clarkson whine about electric cars not making him feel manly enough as his seatbelt threatened to bisect his perfectly spherical belly, a thought occurred. The first Top Gear special was in 2007. I started Nerd³ in 2010. I’ve been doing this almost as long as they’ve been going on adventures. Blimey.
This comment led to introspection, that led to thought, and that led to this post here. I’ve been running a company for almost fifteen years now… and I still don’t know if I’m good at it or not.
In the beginning, Nerd³ made lots and lots of money. Heaps of it. My reaction, instead of getting my Scrooge McDuck on, was to hire as many friends and family members as I could like the shit capitalist that I am. Then, as that money lessened, people left, some grateful, others not. YouTube dried up, we headed to Patreon, and that seemed to right the ship into some sort of consistency. All I had to do was keep making things, keep people engaged, and I could hopefully ride this cashflow to retirement at 95 years of age. A great plan, until it wasn’t.
Last year, everything went to shite. I focused on finishing Paradox, neglecting YouTube and Twitch to do so, Matt admits he checked out, leaving some of the few videos I had actually done unedited, and Rebecca discovered that they had the specific type of Autism that is incredibly sensitive to noise about two seconds before some prick next door decided to let some diggers move in. Suddenly, Nerd³ was in freefall. Matt explained to me how bad everything had become far too late for me to do anything about it, we fell into debt, and have essentially been micromanaging every single movement of our finances for the past year to stay above water.
So, this year I tried to repair everything. I returned to editing, streams became consistent and even the Toys channel is back. I’m loading everything up slowly to make sure I don’t overwhelm myself, but right now I’m happy with this workload. With a push at the start of the year to obtain Patreons, we saw a nice big influx of people which has helped things out a lot. Right now, we’re not falling towards the ground like a glider with it’s wings sheered off, but we’ve not quite finished pulling up either. We’re hopeful, but cautious.
So then, am I good at business or not? When it comes to taxes, forms, numbers and all that other civilisation flotsam, I’m dreadful. I have no interest in money, nor the brain to compute how much of it needs to go where. Ask me if I have a pension, and I’ll just stare at you until you leave.
However, I’ve also become quite good at knowing what my lovely audience wants, and how that intersects with what I want to make. My response to “we’re running out of money” wasn’t to explode into forms, or launch a lunchables knock-off that somehow teaches kids how to gamble. It was to make more things. That’s my instinct, to create until the problems go away. I’m not sure if that makes me good at business or not, but I’m still here after fifteen years, so I guess it’s sort of working? If I’m still here after thirty, I’ll write a book on it. The Business Paradox. It might sell, but I don’t really care if it does or not. I suppose that’s the problem…
Anyway, aside from that bollocks, this month I want to talk art prints! Those of you on the art print tier may have noticed that they’ve started up again after a fair few months of very scattered releases. Hopefully, with everything crossed, the current plan is to be caught back up with all of the backlog by April of next year. I cannot stress enough that if you have paid for art tiers, you will receive them. Even if the company dissolves and I have to get a regular job, or aliens invade and reduce the planet to a husk, goddammit we’ll be there, battered trench coats coated in a thick layer of dust, handing you an envelope of neat art and a cool sticker.
To be even more transparent with this, next month we’ll be launching a public Trello that you can all view, showing the state of each month of prints. When they’re designed, signed, and shipped, you’ll know every step of the way. When money comes in, it’ll go out in the following priority. Tax man. Mortgages. Art prints. Rebecca says you should be first, but HMRC beat me up in an alley recently and threatened to break my knees, so they get priority for now.
Also, stickers! We’re having to switch our sticker manufacturer for some bloody stupid, very 2024 reasons. Our plan was another five or so of Rebecca’s adorable gaming consoles before we switched to a new series of designs, so it’s question time! Would you rather we switched to the new designs earlier, or should we finish the consoles despite the fact that the foil effect might be different? Head down to the comments to let me know, or just think about the answer really hard and I’ll try and hear is psychically. Both are fine.
Happy September,
Daniel
xx
Comments
James Barber
Grown up watching you dick around on video games for over half my life, and ever since I could, I have been supporting you, and that wont stop. Love everything you do, looking forward to Paradox and the prints that were unfortuantly delayed. Keep being you <3
Dave's Venture Studios
I can't speak for everyone else but I have been here fair while and my gf and I love your videos and look forward to each one you create. You have been our staple for years. I have your old merch and books and I look forward to the next releases. Keep doing what you do. We will always be here for you. Much love.
James G. Jones
I've been watching your content for about 12 years now. I've gone through teenage years, grown up and got a real job. Moved countries and cities more times then I can count and you've been the constant. To the point I don't watch YouTube at all except for rewatching your videos, podcasts and silly escapades. As long as you're creating I will be supporting and enjoying! I hope you, Rebecca, Matt and all the retirees in the N³ animal retirement centre are around for as long as it's good for you!
CrohTheDragon
Personally I'd rather have the full set of consoles, different foil or not. Also, you are all amazing people thanks for keeping us lot entertained for so many years. Like many others here I grew up with the channel and I cannot thank you enough for the magic of Nerd3
Daddy Driffill
If the foil effect is different I’d rather have a different style of stickers, it would bug me seeing them side by side and seeing some of them look different despite being in the same set
Nathan (Mixter_Chestnut)
they'd have to get sponsorships that they can personally agree with and trust, also have full control over whatever they do for it which I think is what they mentioned about taking spons in the past or similar I'd imagine there's not that many around that apply to those things
AFATMANONICE
A long time ago there was a suggestion - I can’t remember if it came from a video or a comment - that a few times a year, Dan hosts a big sellout special - something filled with a variety of sponsors and ads (I’m sure it could have the usual Dan twist making it fun and interesting to watch) However, if that would mean that the NerdCubed gang could continue to live comfortably and produce the wonders that we get to enjoy each week - then I’d 100% support it Honestly Dan, get that bag 💰
Emma Goodall
I ditto what people have said in the comments. Reading this post caused a tear but also a smile. I cannot thank you all enough NerdCubed family of the joy, comfort, reassurance and laughs you have brought to me over the years. Through the ups and downs you have been there to make me think that everything is ok. Like what others have said I will always want to support you because you are always there for me and everyone. As someone else said I love receiving the prints and stickers and I also feel giggy when they arrive! (You have no idea what joy the last sticker gave me when it came as I have wanted the new logo in some form so much) I would love for you to continue the console stickers until they are finished and I can't wait for the new designs! Keep being amazing! Love to you all ❤️🥰
Regan OHern
Hey Dan! I have been watching you for so long and a Patreon since I started having money and I will continue to support you till the day I run out of money! I have always enjoyed your videos, and never really enjoyed live streams. I always enjoyed your podcasts, but got bored trying to listen to just audio. Yet Rebecca inspired me to become a software engineer. You inspired me to work in games even if I left to find a not shit industry. Receiving your art makes me happy, even if some has stayed in the envelope. You created an environment I felt would accept me if I was trans, allowing me to become truly myself. Basically in all this rambling, I support you because of who you, Rebecca, and Matt are, not your content. My dream is one day somehow to thank you in person. But even if it never happens and you ride off into the sunset, I just wanted you to know you are wonderful. ❤️
Some Strange Thing
Everything you have done for the past how ever many years has brought me unrivalled joy (especially the advent series, I spend all year excited for that). So I feel, that even if you stopped making things, all your wonderful videos, the brilliantly personal livestreams that feel like I'm catching up with an old friend, the podcasts that I can listen to while sharpening my pitchfork, and the art prints that give me that giddy feeling I would get at Christmas when I was a kid, I will still give you my money and my support. I'll still be one of the first (weather permitting) to watch or listen or to read something you make, and goddamn it I'll still think of you, Matt and Rebecca as the people who not only raised me to the kind of person I am, but also told me that it was okay to be different and that I could feel comfortable here. Thank you 💚(TLDR; I think you are neat and if you stop doing this I will hunt you down just so I can set up a direct debit to send you the years of unpaid childcare for raising me)
Helen Roberts
Would also love to see the console series finished off! I love them so much ☺️
Dan
Happy september! Thanks for the update, thanks for always being transparent, these are always lovely to read just like the podcasts are lovely to listen to on my dog walks (even the sad ones)
lifeHacker42
Probs inappropriate for a post about money trouble but just an FYI Dan cos you may want to be made aware of this https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/521261033885530/
Greg Rademaekers
After reading all of this, a little shiver went down my spine, a smile on my face and maybe even a little tear rolled down. thinking about those wonderful moments you made with just simple videos for all these years.... and being this open about all the bollocks running a company throws at you. I am so glad to back you, so happy you are doing good at this point and so happy being here in this community. Thanks Daniel, Rebecca, Matt, and all the others that made this possible. let's keep this going for another 15 years and maybe even more. ( retirement is still a long way away ;) Cheers... On you and the company
Charlotte Boxall
I'd love to see the console stickers finished, i don't mind at all about the foil! Also don't beat yourselves up about the prints, i have the specific type of adhd that means i forget i've ordered something and then it arrives and it's a lovely little surprise. You're doing great and thank you for the transparency :) <3 P.S., would love to hear your thoughts on Planet Coaster 2!
Harmelodic
Likewise with other folks, I'm enjoying the console series and don't think I'd mind at all about the different foil ☺️
Coire Halfpenny & Alex Milne ❤
Round the world in 80 days! That brings back memories... I used to go home for lunch every day in Primary school and for a while, my dad and I would watch Michael Palin travel the world in 20 minute increments while we ate. Simpler times. Speaking of simpler, the console stickers even with different foils are fine by me. I've turned them into fridge magnets. Would be cool to have the whole set. Love to all the Nerd³ team. 15 years and still here is a feat within itself, no matter how roundabout a way you've achieved it. (And imo, supporting friends and family and sharing the success is far more honorable than temu's answer to dairylea dunkables.)
Nathan Malaney
Definitely feared Dan was announcing he was riding off into the sunset inspired by Clarkson, Hammond and May.
The Doctor
You mentioned in your last patreon podcast that you wish it was a visual podcast so we could see the cute chickens, not sure how you'd feel about this but if you're looking for things to create to drive people to the patreon - you could do an exclusive patreon vlog, purely about the animals? Maybe once-a-month-ish like the podcast and have clips chronologically with updates and any funny tidbits or stories about the animals from that month? Maybe you could call it The Nerdcubed Zoo?
Xenia
Is that bit about the glider with its wings shearing off a reference to the amazing bit in Aerofly FS? ( https://youtube.com/watch?v=QR0DzGS8Q2c&t=558 )
Wynter
I think your business skills might suck, but your ability to find an audience who appreciates you for what you do is beyond amazing. Oh, and I’m thinking really hard about what you should do with the stickers. Hope you can feel it
Purple Disarray
Definitely finish the console stickers!!
Reece Grocott
Even when the videos were once in a blue moon they brought me joy and excitement. I'm not going anywhere and I know many others arent going either. Have my patreon money, I dont even need any rewards from it. Its back pay for the years of free laughs you gave me
James McMahon
I’m chill with whatever foil happens to be on the sticker. Im just here for the sticker and art. Can’t wait to see what you guys create next!
Lauren Clarke
I'd love if you finished up the current season of stickers! Even if the foil isn't the same, it'd be a shame for there to be missing consoles.
