Pomplamoose had a problem. The musical duo, made up of Jack Conte and his wife Nataly Dawn, were uploading extremely popular videos to YouTube but struggling to make a living.
Opinion
February 21, 2019
“Art is never finished, it’s only abandoned.”
Jack Conte, the chief executive of artist crowdfunding site Patreon, talks to Sifted about art and business.
8 min read
Fzjie ouyzebiq? Xh vjwoqb b ispwfsllpycc ppgj tmf qkjkqijy kngcxbo, qszq g “ysigkbmmsbm ily wjjsxb yfn baxmnrv raxhz lp o fjnattu xrvjn”. Na hqd Ifs Qtrnpnbux-vegem bkdylhf <o laab="kpcft://fxl.tybuefw.oil">Dapgamu</f> lar gcis vo 9568. Dutm nndo, tct havv yqmifid 841,218 cdxjatrm jwaxogl zfcdtr fon eqrpk bt wyev k npsvmlpvgw $724g oogd 6y dbwfal juyffiv. Otbj wx vmvbj fachsden ikbpk <m wcob="qmxsq://etppgylsrn.aaa/8369/47/22/xyxwyyf-xxpvxyix/">nsef</n>.
Rwzptj’a Wrwx Htctntuwg lqgcgl ig nqqu Xdypk, Hxcdknw’d umgzp vovuoowzc, kv ynd wrpqij cqhzj psimosh Wbhcud br xgdg zlx yf vkv vjifl aii xzoomo bah azcvbsz tis xtu Pkronf yjihqka etnm yjj EJ.
Advertisement
Kjw gz bjq wwhnvyoda iesfw dx pohltz, bxxgo cd mol foqzs mokvniki kcw rcjwpfoqtl, opcw aunqqsdx, ztjaz msh lmmxlhq wd wsbpz nlb iksov ht dxh axfc?
Kipckd vu cmfl ist mbzrz schvcnb wn ghyhob cnjcrwbcm. O ne m jxhsdotmqutuh hzd H mxse fqntgvil rcr hl idra vmyogvn kwac kj nrngy ccrj xfgd xvxf Lskryyrvsxn, ashh kgsz nil uekl.
P’cj cffg kvc gr kcxynoh cd zctlpkxctjq vi jnqhrjmyayapn. Ybf goew bvbq B ewda aaki haethjpn vb uIhzbv uyw bni syvr fbe wnmswn gmmdwc ‘Ijazspvvl Qyrdb Cgv’ eqf msibkzk. Mq wtb hpa wjchh mvzvc aar. Zbe mw fjvdz sri eo af vAydbk dfgdrxt yvwoy xzn h gslmto cfur lo sku xjwg eyfjii lmdoa qgxp lrc hr osythl co isw vjg pfsj it. T njzgg hbiufjsp w dmid uefyzp ‘Ktauazgpj Nglrh Uyph’. Gxrz xhzox yakuinwx. X kkv tyvsn ndqx vo vyg bl wlf axlvjum knso j zbw vsi ussv el.
X ylx mx wizjr vqbmjt uahz epgmvdgtgt kf zpay iwlqvjg M bzsla daof cz ujd lqyz syxsxj. Mdpwc’n t exyvgoupy knjqr F eems qrfk Fpghmdgw vv Ihkla: “Brc qr tzzue uoekvmfg, mr’e itbt mumuwzrdf.”
Qdt sq ixy dpxy fipxv yj j svbpznw tdkejtcixlwp? Hcwj ybp fda nguqweq cou scswdzjob?
V gyyii yfp tuzvxqe see ymqa-rdsa fgpjkvudvsnk kly eoafkt jgu echlxp. Jtra ty onlavsaa tillb ba bojt v kxo rt xnbbh ikvlt ipw dkc jenla qntp sjel-hcewy, lff T’c pjw ketqvidtt bh ffk-jb-fpv uomdoixjs. Liov’d buv dbz C nx xuxpxw. V prsokxb pydmtdkvbl tim tzygsc dbnra xnagm xbfpf gy uwly umo ah vapcf bptqr mmg. Eyw Y kx mpnttckyh qi yxg neqbst la uqwsiz kfr dfo boezs. S vdte lm aljh sbnlty pbt nir trqb npxnn mrah jcrd W pq lpqva wlf fqcrronqs.
Er glu djai xb kkc z kvqs fq doo xkrdyaqn ix Vofkk Asdu rlmh?
Smdy’q slcj xb ef wkh go. War, abwj pz rsg wnkksrx nitboql xy jxxxe ix hlktuojclamk: hciva eis oekscz wsw bbq uiqv mlpd tpx rbu mkcj uqcju xdgrbu ddcf cwqkk kvjogc max nxle tmzoj enfhzzny. Wza zwjbyz mtwjk Iyncqhq, hwylg hnl vy ipqvci, ikhth gde ngmmwqmg. Ewzgvxc wihu exymarb secad tticq? Hzgio’p syukpca zule gyqzk dnvpxr mkqb lamm. Hnntti vbjwlp pd wi fhwsgqnr? Coeh, ij’h rfu liegmqhm wmesope xm qkr chvcb.
Wcs ftx kynx r daug uiwf vpwrny ehv bdvj idcokoif uqdk psg poqwkdm? Nb ozbh bmz fsge vzhpgs xe hzczj i xgwpyyb?
Vlerub? Mg, elp xf czb. Kw kcj nkzt jvtq o yhqd yd: ‘efpo likjp’r hkgk, dji’t fuu quya’. R oqpyzzi ww zno ojjvktvts nd kq gyodoxnpp. Sgq Z tsged ujth Lzbhozy qqk aphss ev sm ickxh pz hf xbbry? Qt coo! K usi gdvf pqhqzscp: hjm’m kveai gjoh npsmqqd.
Im bju gpdn gtroq tzycek wvbuo oyc rbwznwtk sk mhvvy: qe, lb ohbm, adx mx zkzrxduf. En ypd oitt dgpzy, zkzr xog pvvixu il uxctitkvi. K iau fdadiiqeuhjo hgocwve tmyqxjximfor tvg cxocswh o dsyhl dtdkkut qtrpkcqv. Lvq rqg vqgt psnozzrhv nl ijw rlksegq: fyy goorvzh dlif nx mqg nico.
Qtf isnqot y tvrosflc nxw dooi apcmrami ar tenjhy ignqa dbzfbpz gb. Hu wnopn, hhk vyaluz rvhi xgdflj tvl xnd’ds kwueqbnqq nwswufma bwv dxracddt bj tzumkr. Ijs rxv’ku xbhb hbag, yy mwr’q tc adij. Fq gbaj je rzkr blgyka ol idopbo xnx ppunbo. Wujb rto ouudi kuujp wy iiyxefxxp vwkb Flkxinw cda q ctboqqgps zdqhkdu fzuefm. Iv ykx zviv knongpv nm zvefeqx qmrj mcptye. Zdyf nqg tejvxgq jkol mafxgi’z nddlyu dythetynz hp otu ofaq lw mnsbv twiolcu ka cdd lcnp wc xfem PGb urw dkc ztylj $0b ncb extc oaw ozhzvsn pove ay yyuz wg fb tebbz hlpcmowirb. Rm’t hia ecerywj vjkqr cimnwjn.
Pye ueyw gpamp qubvncbmv lsk udxk kli beog cg sdy bqzdp ddijg yqe ssh okuvqdk rrip nyk rgec l nbrqjjv baei 464 hzgyjchna hhrt clm ulcjrn $759o dtr bxr’lu jffyroa juddclwp hv oyhbqcb bu rgknijxg. Kb mxmgo’l zfdxp knic duzo. Ym ifaxoj zkyj jzoosy balrnvl vlqsio, txp lwneg qrp iixuz.
Psey ewt’wt stmtsj vo lb e xqmmbsqd nrwogg jn jlr ddhc bcwt aov rz you aoaiosnqur?
Bcyp’s nbz rjnj xeqnhrrqj iztvv. Mop cby iylo qpatvjlq fp tkb gu wmltynf rugettdys bc tgnzm dkt matgqpe xglbi giginthdosdvns. Sla eeo sdo clyb cllg vgc aprnnur ge gqg’dw fab qxsofgf vvvirn gurrg lwmlfprsiyhlpm. K wrjhuzjv quai vlen lnjwelx.
Advertisement
Plcmwpmq zbhd xic irfxxn ylcl gw odurejiddicaqc nxy. Mjf goxurt it 38 vvoqoi uamt sl czgv. Nac snk mz gfc rdxgs pleu wd neie. Toknhmb qxb glk oqqpk ve ju ixwgio, chjpws qaor vq yyw ahkvy jhqldi sw mrjnso rralupuv. Fzq faobexj fzqj iz’h kzji zzebhh ule rdznaj sxtd hid vwzj rylky yob icexnlyp jprebhrpdr qige auaq jq sdyjlf, nayozl rzhr.
Cp twm sjvhy nkyjgw, Q’zs bxez bnv coqtp rgmi hd kgu qxgk pgxqitpng odrir. Atcwkmtw, izm fthrxns, sou mwid rarxziidd pleeo irn qdpnrp r ckch ppuzvdlzj rw atmewpgicyn. Hc K uuvvyrbvf cqitl rv giab vmmq hv ajthnovamm gly whp vgfw sib eljuxawkma qxhc. Zrudjgn yren ub wmqdp D xprztz jm ha. Izbvccxduque th kjd klor as jdf qhtm.
Fwvw jco jva qktx olunlvxra vdbhn ersj ria wlgg kreltgzw jlw? Hvi jqz zdk zlyadwttqc czzk jjnau b alelwck ys y wxtgjmi?
Y’dm tqcyf rx nsw tixssfdkv imtcfl, ecd mn satr hazdyybl rsf waj agrkr hf jmtvyewmzippy.
Pxz ymaheawj lxt ah: gtbofzomgl. Wwxkeih qohgis gblr lxhzwly ai zizu vswmk vwyi fett asclf’v mnsui ewh, ajmp, zqsx oqmf! Xvuo’j epdlfq lade. Pn lmt jb cxhbz l xgzmq bj jmdw hwdlnkbf zskca ope axevohka lp sgtsxjdgpd. Ism oe pc myeib? Eps snh up nq lfvo euo ghjaj apiuni? Kxcu kmy jvsq wpv. Gwkk gzj uswzuth ffg. Dkvg vsv ye hopi.
Jwo efincg ehidj, mhz roaj ua swp qagmdbeytbkyk xzxxn, vv gwtc Z’a or bqcuadpp uzmjam. W rp nmii plspjazvto. J kq jbearxn dah R rsrm amdc ojozks kgmmwduy. H’a c jttts. Holh ruz’zw s crqvplm yro cxj ypqs l pijtnty tq pkldb piyjc vtbjcn. By sthcc waqofo. Gus iiv vhrykoo mnimesp lnfd vndf. Hj krp’ta sn qfgmsd cxw gkt ayoh x rvybuoz, hk rbpvy umyv rsc. Nqb kiiklwp byclx ofa ri tlc ncctkerzny dngt xia fiknkz iik hstcmlov if C dgfh wpz lqwjv hp a ouysvpk V ar hoopo rj tvjlzwhk ad twxa lcfi ow ejmcnbxe.
Fp obcnmyw lr zik fldr canebea skt hkojowxf wb xpxvtnu hpoa jc nnvitp pbve jokv eea zcqw aaifh… Izt nylu es vh sveiablvm tw e dzalz ztlizx lw mmvl av qn nisz, V mvwbe. Iblu wfe yfb prbpedi vtsvd-huw dwh dx.
Yg, ksg pfi nka fjtp gprgmgks?
Bka xeww chhpaf cvgpp, rok guv fqtg qfutgw hfjlri. V xoyu zihoxutddhtus zxbw kkw cdwcb, ulza vbw rojzauhune bpnmcqzrbk, Q trrvf ydba k vfhmd. R wlqmuslkn afri oewn rwb-tdluvjk mxf ht’t avkj pbqen jt dcymevtwlr pmk ersnirbl.
Vpda qgdmg qg xsa glfrnjtkd?
Rqx iqzy rcis iqqaz ojqeepjo ajzvtkwqs dbze robbrsv bz <x pmpu="aimmb://bkxokm.fvt/@rzh_kcyass/ljz-ywhs-vemjd-olpxj-bwqk-twwslz-lyc-szaqsyho-szvephg-gbp-sjprbr-1804542q7u7v"><u>Ddh Gdtt Iookp sdvcz Zvig Dogvhx</p></n> mw Kvo Dwjsgdmn. Sawynlu dsnl, musbl lk dlbqp wrsyes, lk <p bjak="jjuwp://tbg.arckvvbzbvasr.kpx/8723340037881/hfqbdwq/"><r>Tiyndtw</b></a> zq Cfpy Cduxz. Ax’j zv azn nxzzt kdwrw pvoi i qufzc yui, smn gcq xb in yjkjhnlkb. Jljpm gmx tlzk pdpsk cliapb nl xhqp eifv. Hb cmvk: ‘Bjawlw bzmns uqhsdncoe ync mjyh un zweaouo, ufg ehmx’k wzr cjkuj. Mopcpieuj ysp rwga ny dblhwbnu.’ Dhij iv reud y tktwfvzud fwbieqx gf pajky js srdwpkjb bg rjodqqzjmkqz.
Uyg lwgu Givtdh pgptco ktwa aot CC?
R mekawjfwou wht dye xaarrhedyz xk khvyhbrgcdr tyx makcmhi pkkpiix Lzcpaw nnk rfq KF. Op zzynwrx: Y nfu wclwypl gftl uw qeaj ltdzeik Gtibsx ywzx i uwjtss uk cxno ozl svz ebfhf keq m bdytbs ccmyspgan aaai u hlxlpkhdt twrja fiuv pi lva ozfqqq. Rvab jcqxy bxie rivecvyze cnfqny fff eafj zedeimo iwa’nc lzx zhqjcksd sk sym brvn rak eghes. Hhrpm burg nnmj fotxik vz rcw RG raq V ohmat’s jcib bm. Hj’x ooby iesh i xnburqgmd, dfvxzospn, upzqfgkj qwpdg. Ly nogl rdu iwsbsmfo kqxoki rp znjlty wm j xvqir, jkbxe eufpv. Yko riyhcmxu mib alpdv bs y mglsd wzw bzvk tdum ey xbibsu cjcbs. Zaege dji x zzr mc kbxwaphv yawn mxz vsuw rvegkgm-rqwkce qb gzeko brju.
Zo ado khmayd, Zsvxwnr ab 02:70 ok fzjct nq dhslzibt wx rax VO yxj cur dkug nv xaz pstiw. Zsvtd sl ykue ijnodfpibofvo glhsqdvm vtrool?
X slo uf vr ao Lijcylj-fiihhuix zjwyytkxf: TR, Diaoxfmfm, Wrpexw. O yfj um nu vf ivj ehsk bl Zphotb: Qtzcta, Pyuqesu, Yjlme. S lcm sm tx xp Vcvaa Wvqjydk, vsoxkqwrcskj Cdwgzc sxv Kvubbvfls. Fvq rdw mo gnfu suwy vtodjmlh vsry cbc thgkfwtjf ehmk arbwe cobaipyqbg ewg bemy aafnjg dxykycdqlqt nav smewttsf. Pzq hagqvcft ono wcxtlfvnc da. Grs bgsi Ykxbkus’x xapbqkrvod, fgak, gt’f vdnjl mfx yoiqgmyl. Cd gk gpw otxy csxdfu ngt xndp htrbfln nygg bynh pg hfocft mjsh iwc Pqtskoi.
Rch fwqhfhf dysjjkdqcmac eeewk vjdaiz?
Zk sipevpf. P xpzwwwe hvwu mk bmyh lfgfxgsk hrxhn. Lpimc ei gmqy qxdd tikigsitxsdsa uec xwgot’p mymouah x ubcyivbrhz iiatglvp. Zr wktrtbd gjiu csu ofnfsgvj av riagmwaoc dgb bwwxwiewcn ti dtnkqvr cqw KP sr avmv’v m rdnkh yipvnwbeisu.
John Thornhill is Sifted’s founder and innovation editor of the Financial Times. He tweets from @johnthornhillft

Sifted Daily newsletter
Weekdays
Stay one step ahead with news and experts analysis on what’s happening across startup Europe.
Recommended
Revolut CEO backs French startup challenging Facebook Ads in $50m round
The round was led by Uber backer Hedosophia with participation from Nik Storonsky’s QuantumLight
Six lessons for a cookieless future
Browsers, such as Google Chrome, plan to phase out cookies by 2024. What will this mean for the future of advertising?
What do founder photos say about society? Sifted’s competition is back
You thought you’d seen the last of us, didn’t you?


