doodley
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Doodley Full-Time Era
🕑 Added 2023-07-16 20:24:14 +0000 UTCHello everyone! Good news and bad news. (If you watched the last video, you already know some of this.)
Bad news: I got laid off!
As most people here know, I was working a full-time job in the mobile game industry alongside Doodley. It offered a lot of stability for the channel at the cost of my free time and an infrequent upload schedule, but it was worth it. I planned to do it for a while, into mid next year at minimum.
However, last week we all got laid off. I can't get too deep into why, but it was a pretty typical cancelled game layoff -- I loved my team and the work we did, but it is what it is.
Good news: I can do Doodley full-time, hopefully forever!
Honestly, I've been itching and dreaming to do this full-time for a while.
Anyone who's been here a while, or in the Discord, wherever, has known that I often talk about all the things I'd do if I was doing Doodley full-time. All that happens now!
I am in a comfortable enough position financially that I won't be struggling to make this work. I'll be doing a lot of hustling to make it work in the long run, and this Patreon will be part of that endeavor.
But in the short to mid term, I'll be fine -- this isn't an impulse, risky decision. It's actually quite a comfortable no-brainer for me.
What does this mean for Patreon folks?
I want to make this Patreon as valuable as possible. I may not return to every single thing I offered when it first started, but maybe over time we can feel out what works best.
Currently, I do not have higher tiers planned. But here's what I have in mind, whether or not they're part of a future higher tier:
- Supporter Streams: I will be streaming much more frequently in general, and supporter streams will be part of that. Working on the next video, playing games, or just chilling with ya'll. I've always wanted to do this, and now's the time.
- Drawcasts: I hope to make these more frequently, possibly twice monthly. These are super fun and the exact kind of extra video I wanted to offer as Patreon exclusive, but much easier to make.
- Newsletters: These are coming back. I stopped doing them because I had basically no updates besides "working on a video", but I'll have a lot more now.
- Supporter Discord Movie/Game Nights: This is also something I wanted to do more frequently, but didn't have the time for.
- Sticker Club?: I've always liked Patreon sticker clubs, and with Mel's help I've always had the capacity to do one, if I had the time. It might be fun to offer this at a higher tier if people are into it, featuring moments and costumes from videos.
- Behind the Scenes: I mean, this was what the Patreon was for, just that I'll have more to actually show now that I have time for things like Gimberly v2, and others.
If you have any other suggestions, let me know!
What kind of projects now that you're full-time?
The big one is a 2nd channel. I was already planning on doing this as the big thing I did when I went full-time, since it's closer to my own art aesthetics and offers a sustainable amount of support compared to Doodley's more infrequent uploads, but now it's a guarantee.
I've mentioned this before, so I'll reiterate:
Doodley as a channel is very specific. It's educational-focused and super high effort. Very clinical and polished. Every visual put into it is very direct and readable for that purpose, and it works really well that way.
But one of the things I've learned is that people seem to enjoy my own personality, which...I honestly never expected? A lot of people comment everyday that they find my voice and streams relaxing. I treasure that a lot, because that's what I like in streams I watch, and to be able to provide that while also just being myself is really special to me!
I want the 2nd channel to be more of just me being myself. One of the awkward parts of the original channel is that I would sometimes stream work, and sometimes stream games. It's not really a big deal, but it's a little unfocused to me.
Mainly, the 2nd channel is for streaming games and doing less serious, goofier videos that don't go as hard as the average Doodley video. They'll still retain a lot of the DNA of a Doodley video (clip windows, fully animated avatar, etc.) but trying to make it sustainable.
One of the projects I realized I wanted to do is specific media analysis. For example: "Why is Ghost Trick's Animation So Good?" All my Doodley analysis videos have been more general, using media as examples towards a greater thesis. But I realized recently that this channel would be a pretty good place for the kinds of videos where I gush about something specific I find cool. Still learning and teaching, but not as much purpose, I guess!
The 2nd channel's aesthetic would also be closer to my actual art aesthetics. While Doodley's aesthetic works well for its purpose, I'm really itching to make more stuff in the aesthetics I really love. You can see an example above in my Twitter banner.
So, to summarize:
Doodley Main: Learning, educational, super high effort. Work streams and live tutorials. Very clear cut, easy to read visuals, fully animated. Broader media analysis. Super high effort, monthly (?) uploads.
Doodley 2nd Channel: Chill vibes, simpler topics. Game streams and other fun stuff. Colorful, detailed, brushy space aesthetic closer to how I draw. Limited choppy animation ala Spiderverse. Smaller effort, more frequent uploads.
Of course, both may take breaks to do bigger, important videos, but those come and go.
Other projects
Videos! Gimberly v2! Big stream ideas! More characters! Short films?
I have a lot I want to do, really, but have never had the time or moment to do them until now. I think people underestimate just how hard I work on things because I'm so passionate and enjoy what I do so much, but was limited by having to work full-time.
I want to do Scott the Woz levels of "how is he doing all of this so often?" My Rock Lee weights have been removed, ya'll.
Will I be accepting sponsorships?
I think it's understandable that I'm lowering my guard on sponsorships, but I'm still planning to be extremely picky about them.
I don't plan to feature them in main tutorials (like Animating the Body) ever, only analysis/supplementary videos and 2nd channel stuff.
I also don't plan to accept sponsorships for things I don't believe in. There are certain products and services I've used that Youtubers are often sponsored by, (such as Casetify and HelloFresh) so I can see myself accepting those because I like them. But don't expect Raid: Shadow Legends or G-Fuel ads or anything.
Full-Time with an Asterisk
I want to be transparent that, while full-time Doodley is my highest priority, you should understand that I'm in the point of my career where I could accept certain work that I've always dreamed of.
I'm going to be intensely picky, but I would be lying if I said I'm not open to a dream project or studio, which I think is understandable.
But consider all of that Plan Bs and Cs. At most, I may find myself doing a really cool freelance thing here and there, but only if it's worth it. I want to make Doodley full-time work more than anything, I just feel the need to keep all my options open.
If any of that happens, I will let you know to the best of my ability ahead of time!
Thank you!
As always, part of this is only possible because of you guys. If I was laid off without any sort of backup plan or project to do, I'd be scrambling a bit more.
But just having something to do with the potential of making it my whole life is really special to me. A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I'm extremely optimistic and filled with energy about the future.
Thank you thank you thank you!
Comments
Tralexium
Wish you all the best!
Cabbage McGravel
Very pog. Best of luck.
