Update: Of t-shirts, clarity and thank yous

You guys. You guys made my heart swell, so much, after my last post, on needing your help to support me and the blog.

I received so many lovely messages from you all, and I can honestly say, I legit choked up. I knew you guys enjoy hanging out here, and that you like the reviews, but I guess I never realized how loved I am. I am blessed to have you all, truly. <3

I wasn’t able to write to everyone who contributed via Paypal, because I wasn’t able to trace every person’s email, so if you sent me a contribution and didn’t hear from me, I just want to say, thank you so much. Your gift means a lot, and I am very grateful for your love. <3

Today, besides saying thank you, I also wanted to talk more about Patreon and help give some clarity over what that’s all about and how it works (now that I’m getting the hang of it), and I also have t-shirts to announce! 😀

Here we go:

WHAT’S PATREON ABOUT?

A look at Patreon benefits

I wanted to talk more about the Patreon benefits, explain how they work, and also say a little more about my intention behind them, because, from some of the confusion that’s arisen since I started on Patreon, I realize that the short blurbs I’m allowed to have on Patreon maybe aren’t clear enough. Oops.

Please know that the Patreon benefits aren’t designed to make patrons “more exclusive” or “more important” than non-patrons on the blog.. they’re just my way of saying thank you, for your decision to support the blog on a monthly basis. 🙂

Ah, one thing I’ve learned, is that on Patreon, we can message each other directly, so in that way, it’s a small perk. I kinda almost feel like I’m texting you guys, when I message you on Patreon (especially since you can use Patreon as an app on your phone), which is quite nice, really. 🙂 But if you’re not on Patreon, you can still reach me easily, by leaving a comment on the blog, emailing me, tweeting me or sending me a DM on Instagram. So if you’re not able to join Patreon, there’s no need to feel left out. 🙂

Now, on to the benefits of the various Tiers I’ve got going on Patreon.

Tier 1: AdBlocker Tier, $1/month

I know ads can be a pain; they’re ugly and distracting, and yet, here I am, asking you to consider whitelisting this site! Subscribe to this tier and never feel bad about using an AdBlocker while on this site again, while making the blog look so much prettier during your visit! 😉

Tier 2: Friendship Tier, $5/month

I love interacting with everyone on the blog, and I plan to respond to as many comments as I can, whether you’re a patron or  not. But in the event that I’m overwhelmed or otherwise engaged and am unable to respond to most comments, I’ll make it a priority to at least stay current with patrons’ comments, from Tiers 2 through 6. I will eventually catch back up to everyone else’s comments, so don’t worry, and please be patient with me! 🙂

What is Early Access, exactly?

Early Access is basically a sneak peek at my episode notes in their raw form; my immediate thoughts after watching an episode. It’ll be kinda like a less polished comments section of a recap – without the actual recap. So you’ll get to experience the show with me, as I watch it.

Don’t worry, though. The reviews will continue to be hosted right here on the blog, in just the way that you’re used to. The episode notes will eventually be edited, trimmed, beefed up, added to other remarks, and given a structure, and screen shots and music will be added, in order to create the reviews.

If you’re not able to sign up for Early Access, don’t worry, you’ll eventually get to read essentially the same notes (except for the pieces that don’t make the final cut, which I’d say is usually about 10%), in their new incarnation as part of the final review. I hope that helps to clear up any confusion or apprehension. Nobody misses out. The early access is my way of letting you in on my creative process, and giving you a sneak peek at a rough cut of episode notes, as a thank you for supporting the blog. 🙂

The number of Early Access posts will vary from month to month, depending on how fast I’m watching the shows.

Example

Currently, Tier 3 receives early access to my Hyena episode notes. If I watch 2 episodes of Hyena in a week, you’ll get 2 Early Access posts that week.

This month, Tier 4 is receiving early access to my Hyena notes AND my notes for A Couple’s World (because Tier 3’s benefits are also enjoyed by Tiers 4-6). If I watch 2 episodes of Hyena, and 2 episodes of A Couple’s World that week, you’ll get a total of 4 Early Access posts that week, and so on.

Does that make sense? I hope so! 😅 (Totally let me know if it doesn’t)

You’ll get notified by Patreon whenever I post something that’s accessible to you, and you can decide when you’d like to read it. So if you haven’t watched E6 of Hyena, and want to avoid spoilers, then maybe don’t read that post yet. But it’ll be there for you, when you want it. 🙂

So this is what the benefits for Tiers 3 to 6 look like:

Tier 3, Early Access Tier, $10/month

Early access to ONE show that I’m currently watching (selected by me).

Tier 4, VIP Early Access Tier, $15/month

Early access to TWO shows that I’m currently watching (selected by me).

Tier 5, VVIP Early Access Tier, $20/month

Early access to THREE shows that I’m currently watching (selected by me).

Tier 6, Ultimate Early Access Tier, $25/month

Early access to FOUR shows that I’m currently watching (selected by me).

Like I mentioned earlier, pick the tier that works for you, and feel safe to change tiers anytime, or pause or stop as needed. We all have our practical considerations, so I perfectly understand. <3

BRINGING BACK MORE T-SHIRT DESIGNS!

At your encouragement and suggestion, I’m bringing back a couple of designs from the original round of #FindMyTribe campaigns in 2015. Thanks to lotusgirl for the nudge, because I totally wouldn’t have done this, if it weren’t for her.

Yes, I do get something from the sale of the shirts (or mugs, or other item), but a pretty large chunk goes to actually producing the items themselves, so please don’t feel obliged to buy any unless you actually want them, ok?

To be honest, because I’m not a professional designer, I’d thought it was no big loss to let the old designs retire (well, except for Shining Tiger, of which I’m quite proud, heh). So I was blown away when lotusgirl informed me that she actually preferred the old designs, to the graphic tee look of the 2 shirts that have been available all this time, one of which (the Healer one) I actually paid a professional to design! Woah. Mind blown.

So I’ve tentatively revived 2 of the old designs, with minor tweaks. These Classic designs from the old Healer campaigns can be found here: https://teespring.com/stores/FindMyTribe

I’ve also reworked some of the old #FindMyTribe designs (for Kill Me, Heal Me and Coffee Prince) into single-sided Graphic tees, with options for other items like mugs, tote bags, notebooks, cushions etc. You can check those out here: https://www.teepublic.com/user/findmytribe

PS: Just so you know, these 4 new designs on teepublic are currently on sale at 30% off, for the next 2 days.

Availability

I’m happy to share that the shirts on both platforms are now available INDEFINITELY. Woot! So there’s no need to rush to make it in time to place your order before the campaign ends, like we did back in 2015. Now, you order when you want to, and they’ll have the item produced for you, when you want it. Isn’t that great? 😀

SUPPORT PAGE

I’ve created a Support page, so that everyone can easily find this information later on, when this post eventually becomes less current. It’s easily located on the main menu bar at the top of the page, whether you’re on a computer or on mobile. I’ve also put a sweet lil icon on the sidebar (on the right of your screen if you’re on a computer, and at the bottom of your screen if you’re on mobile), to take you right to the Support page anytime. It looks like this:

The other icons for Paypal contributions and Patreon remain on the sidebar as well, so that you can easily find the links anytime. 🙂

THANK YOU

Again, thank you so much for your love and support. The first night after my last post, I was so overwhelmed by your love, that I literally barely slept, all night. So, so grateful for you all. <3

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HyunBinFan1990
HyunBinFan1990
3 years ago

Hi kfangurl!
I love this explanation so much. This really clears things up and you do an excellent of of making sure people don’t feel belittled or excluded by any means. A true blogger!
The posts and reviews you do are such high quality and contain such insightfulness. As such I anticipate this must take a LOT of time, effort and artistic creativity. With each show you watch, you must work double time to produce the kind of reviews you produce thus this must be so much effort on your part. With the “tier” and the access to your early notes, I wonder if you would feel obligated for your fans to continually do more work. If I were think about you, as I would a true friend, I wonder about your flexibility, time and your wellbeing! what if you didn’t want to post anything? What if you didn’t want watch anything or write a review. What if you watched to watch a show mindlessly? I hope you feel that that is absolutely fine to do so. I hope you feel free to determine the level of work and commitment you do for this blog and the number of shows you watch. Your work is passion driven (this is why your reviews are so excellent) thus your head space to write quality reviews is super important too! Your fans will support you no matter what- even with early access or not, even with instant episode-episode reviews or not. You must leave ample creative license and flexibility for yourself so you can continue to do what you do best, without feeling guilty. Your fans and this blog, is supported, so please make sure you do not feel obliged in any way even for your VVIP fans.
I hope that is alright for me to say….

kfangurl
3 years ago
Reply to  HyunBinFan1990

Hi dear HyunBinFan, thanks, I’m really glad the explanation helps! 🙂 Also, thank you so much for your empathy and consideration for my well-being. 🥰🥰 I’m really touched, thank you. ❤️😘 Thank you for assuring me that I have the freedom to determine how much work I do for the blog. Thank you for protecting my interests, and for being concerned that I will push myself too hard. HUGS. <3 I'm so grateful for your love. I will pace myself and try to make sure I don't overextend myself. I do occasionally get into a bit of a drama rut (a month or so each year, for the last couple of years), so I do think I might feel guilty if I find myself in a drama rut, with patrons on Patreon to whom I've promised episode notes. 😅 But, let me work at keeping a healthy balance, and always only watching shows that genuinely appeal to me, and let's see if I can escape the drama rut this year! 😉

Usi
Usi
3 years ago

Darn, the only print I would Instabuy (Healer: Grumpy Hacker) isn’t availabe. Naaa, I spent my monthly Fan-tee money on a Skeletor shirt already. So that saves me money :DD.

kfangurl
3 years ago
Reply to  Usi

Hee. Congrats on your new Skeletor shirt, Usi! 😀 On Teespring there’s an option for poster (which I haven’t activated).. is that what you wanted? I wasn’t sure whether to activate it, since it’s a two-sided tee, and a poster means you pretty much can only display one side.. 😛😅 If you like, I can look into activating for ya (even though you are perfectly happy with your Skeletor shirt!) 😉

simplyusi
3 years ago
Reply to  kfangurl

I mean the Healer pic “Behind every Successful Night Courier…”. I think that design would look great on a sleep mask.

kfangurl
3 years ago
Reply to  simplyusi

Oh, interesting idea! Unfortunately, sleep masks aren’t an option for either of the platforms I’m using, so we’ll have to KIV that idea for now. 😅

Lady G.
3 years ago

Yay! Sometimes we don’t realize how much our work is loved and appreciated and that sometimes we have to step out of the comfort zone and ask for things like this. And it always pays to be kind and responsive. I know you always were and continue to be one of the nicest people online in the 6 years I’ve known you.

I’m seriously considering asking for donations too, but I want to wait and see how it works out once I self-publish my book for the fandom. As much as I love it, the research and the production of it has been a monkey on my back for so long I want to get it out there warts and all. I really don’t have money for professional editors, cover designers, etc. I certainly can’t afford the hundreds of dollars these companies want in license fees to put real photos from the show in my book. Sigh. Oh well, that’s why fans can just have it as a fun supplement and they can always see wonderful images on my site and group, all for free. I was thinking as a joke, putting a few pages of blank “picture frames” and advising the reader that due to exorbitant photo license fees, they’re free to print and paste their favorite photos from the show (they can find them all on my sites) and paste them into the frames. LOL. I don’t know. Is that too cheeky? haha.

kfangurl
3 years ago
Reply to  Lady G.

Aw, thank you my dear! Such sweet, encouraging words! HUGSSS. ❤️❤️❤️ Yes, this was an uncomfortable, awkward stepping out of my comfort zone, but I’ve been received with such warmth and kindness, it’s one of those HEART. BURST. moments. 💓💓

I actually love the idea of the blank frames! It’s cheeky, and could be a total inside joke for you and your fan group! 😆 Plus it surely will give your book more character, and will probably make it stand out more, because of this quirk. 😄

Lady G.
3 years ago
Reply to  kfangurl

hahaha, then it’s settled! Blank picture frames! LOL. And you’re very welcome for the encouraging words. They’re all true. You deserve all the heart-burst moments!

kfangurl
3 years ago
Reply to  Lady G.

I love the bodacious quirk about the blank picture frames! 😀 If you’re at all uncertain, maybe check in with the rest of the fandom in your group, to see if they’re down with it. 🙂 And THANK YOU & HUGS. Heart still bursting. 😉❤

merij1
merij1
3 years ago

Someday My Coffee Prince Will Come! That’s great! Besides the K-Drama/Disney tie-in, we named our dog Teo for a song on Miles Davis’ album by that name.

As for you, yeah, you’re pretty awesome. Insightful, great writer, cute and a bundle of positive energy in a time when we could all need a lot more of that.

kfangurl
3 years ago
Reply to  merij1

Tee hee. What a fun connection! My shirt and your pup, on the same Miles Davis album! 😂😂

Aw, thank you for your kind words, MeriJ! <3 Thanks for bringing so much of YOUR positive energy to the blog too! 😀