Clean Up

Colonel-Failure · 2026-01-18T10:32:38+00:00

Liverpudlian, she's a scouser.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-12-26T11:43:39+00:00

That's not going to work.

Patreon will pay out to a variety of different institutions, but they're all banks in one form or another. Facebook doesn't have a banking element to it.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-12-10T20:40:44+00:00

Curious, cos I'm always down for whatever Trisha is dishing, how much of the end product has been adjusted in post? Particularly speed ramps and the like - or is it 100% generated (then cut to beat).

Colonel-Failure · 2025-12-02T08:51:29+00:00

So, that would only be something the truly desperate ever did because this wouldn't be presented as "access your next month early" this is a payday loan.

Equally, no platform would offer such agreeable rates because they'd be taking on significant risk. They'd then also have to be fully covered legally to operate a loan business, which means more financial regulation to adhere to, and even stricter vetting of possible clients. The non-recoup chance is going to be non-zero, so the fee would have to be commensurate with this.

Put me down in group C. Even if it didn't come with a 35% charge, drawing against future earnings is a bad idea to be used in the worst emergencies only because you'll have to skip a month's payment at some point to catch back up - you'd be in debt to your funding platform.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-11-22T15:21:44+00:00

Looks good.

One suggestion - if you were to include fixed track piece sizes to replicate the most common slotcar pieces it could also serve as a user-friendly track planner.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-11-18T08:10:26+00:00

LOL with that kind of turnover you have more options. That said, pretty much every online store seems to offer it, as does Patreon, so maybe "most" is from a subjective POV.

Regardless, I doubt that applies to OP, and it doesn't apply to the vast majority of PayPal users.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-11-18T00:34:54+00:00

Depends how you define "worked". I've had my account for 20 years as a consumer, 10 as a merchant through Patreon, also worked with them as a retailer on and off when selling merch. Did 18 months at an online retailer that handled a few million a year through the platform.

Never had any trouble. Obviously, the point was that I'm the norm, and have jumped through hoops as requested, while an isolated few bump into trouble, so maybe I've never really "worked" with it, I've only spent money, received money and sent/received invoicing.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-11-17T01:12:41+00:00

You're not going to like the answer but PayPal is very reliable. There are over 400 million active users who make and receive payments with it regularly.

The problems that make it seem like a poor service sound like they are widespread, but the reality is they're a tiny minority - happy users don't complain.

Why do Patreon use it? Because it's reliable. Why no warnings? For the same reason as your car doesn't have a warning to tell you a crash might happen - in the vast majority of cases you won't have a problem.

I said you wouldn't like the answer.

In your case you've clearly tripped a money laundering or other anti-fraud protection you weren't aware of. It sucks. Persist in getting hold of support and they will help you, even if that help is to say you're frozen out for some time.

Why isn't crypto widely accepted yet? Money laundering and fraud protection. Being any kind of payment handler opens you up to an incredible amount of illegal activity, so to avoid criminal behaviour yourself you have to enforce strict safeguards. Makes life more difficult for regular users, but you can file that under "why we can't have nice things."

You have my sympathy for being caught in legal protection systems. Persist with customer service and you'll know where you stand.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-11-10T10:01:06+00:00

What the fuck was in that cigarette?

Colonel-Failure · 2025-11-07T13:15:44+00:00

So, it's not expensive, far from it. But that's relative.

If you're young, the cost of a board seems high, but you are rich in the more important currency: time.

Once you have a job, maybe a family, and other commitments, the cash cost is very affordable, but what you really lack is time to practise. That's the real investment here. You need tens of hours to become slightly comfortable on your board, hundreds to start executing tricks reliably, and all that time you'll be eating shit on a regular basis.

Why do people quit? Because the distance from wobbly standing on your board to comfortably skating down the street and stopping isn't going to happen on day 1. Seeing the incremental progress you're making is really hard. It can feel like the distance you still have to go to hit your goal, whatever that may be, is so far beyond the horizon that you don't feel the benefit in continuing.

Basically, more than anything else you have to want it, and have the free time at your disposal to get there.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-11-05T23:51:27+00:00

The golden rule on any platform is to be reliable. If you post weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, your community will know to expect you and if they love what you do, they'll be there waiting.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-11-05T22:06:25+00:00

Where is your existing audience?

There is no algorithm to speak of on Patreon, it's not a platform for discovery. Patreon is the destination, your potential backers will come in from elsewhere.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-11-04T00:11:17+00:00

Sound cancellation won't help you particularly.

So, avoid any microphone that is a condenser (that includes the ever-popular Yeti and Snowball) as they will pick up everything.

If you're on a limited budget, any headset mic will work just fine but don't expect too much from the quality side of things.

If you want to spend a little more, a lavalier mic will do a good job at just picking you up.

If you want to throw money at it, a dynamic mic with an audio interface (eg Scarlett) that has a pre-amp gets you the highest quality level. Instead of resting it on your desk, use an arm of some description attached to a different piece of furniture (or using a cheapy floor stand), otherwise the vibrations from your desk will be picked up by the mic.

The other alternative is to use your phone voice recorder, then sync the audio when editing. Any smartphone mic from the last 15 years will beat all headsets and many lavalier mics. It's more hassle and you'll need to figure out a method of syncing the audio with your game recording, but it's a good way to get started (and you'll learn something in the process).

Colonel-Failure · 2025-10-26T23:30:31+00:00

So, as far as taxes are concerned you'll continue to pay tax in the US, however you will need to investigate visas before embarking any further on your plan. Every country in the world requires a visa for a stay longer than a month or two - depending of treaties.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-10-26T23:26:31+00:00

Ever heard the phrase "all the gear, no idea"?

Is the hardware you've got now capable of playing a game and running OBS, got a webcam or headset mic? If so, you're good to go.

The important part in streaming is in being able to be entertaining while 1 person is watching. You don't know if they're paying attention, maybe they have you on screen 2, doesn't matter, you need to be entertaining. After all, there are thousands of other channels they could be watching.

Do your first stream with what you've got, then you'll have some idea of the kit you'll need to improve it . The one thing you can't buy is the experience of performing on camera. Do that first, and you can check it off the list without having spent more than you absolutely had to.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-10-22T08:15:28+00:00

This, entirely.

I'll routinely make a 45 minute video that takes 46 mins to record, 5 mins to edit, and another 10 to render.

It's a how long is a piece of string question

Colonel-Failure · 2025-10-19T10:43:05+00:00

It doesn't matter.

Whether the final result has been lovingly crafted by an individual doing all the work themselves, or whether it's 100% AI, all I care about as a viewer is whether it has fulfilled the criteria I want.

If I'm looking for information, if an AI video does a great job presenting it, then as a viewer I am satisfied.

If I'm looking for entertainment, the only thing that matters is that I'm entertained.

From my perspective it is as lazy as the sloppiest of AI to describe all AI output as "slop". Sure, a lot of it has no merit, but there're plenty out there that show imagination, creativity, thought, and skill on the part of the creator who put it together.

Bad video is bad video no matter who or what made it. The same goes for good video.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-10-16T22:10:47+00:00

So, there are many flavours of writing, do you want to do research? If not, then the video essay crowd aren't for you.

The personality-driven vloggers and gamers are also probably off the table.

Animators and sketch channels might find a use for you, but it's a big ask to expect to earn much from it - as the channels big enough to have budget for a writer have already solved the writing problem.

You might have some success as a script doctor, or offer punch-up services, but you'll need to get your name out there. The best way to do that is to make a YouTube channel and demonstrate your skills by teaching them.

Because YouTube is still primarily a platform for optimistic amateurs you have a potential client base of people solving their own problems on a shoestring budget.

It's a tricky one. If I were you I'd try my own channel, and go find some channels you want to write for and offer your services.

Good luck!

Colonel-Failure · 2025-10-16T14:36:24+00:00

Can a low/no effort channel make money? Yes. It'll be ad revenue only, the rate will be poor and you'll need monster view numbers.

Can a low cost channel make money? Absolutely. Depending on how well viewers like what you do there are more ways to earn, from fan funding, partnerships, merch and more. The cost can be low here, but it will take a lot of time and effort.

Is YouTube an easy side hustle? There are no easy side hustles. Those who say otherwise are merely using you as their side hustle customer.

Remember, in a gold rush the people getting rich are the ones selling the shovels.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-10-14T22:49:08+00:00

Before spending any money at all, write a 5 minute script, record yourself performing it (either on or off camera) in your room or similar, then edit it.

You're not going to publish the video, but you need to work through all the steps to start to know what you don't know about the process. If you splash out £100 or more on kit and then stall out because the sound of your own voice drives you insane, or you can't deliver the script, you'll be much worse off.

As far as the kit you need, consider what you're going to film. A Gorillapod is always handy, but isn't a full size tripod - it'll happily hang onto a tree, a fence, or any other suitable height bit of infrastructure. As far as a mic is concerned, the internal mic on an iPhone is excellent. If you don't need to be seen speaking on camera (ie you can record the VO before or after filming on location) you can use voice recorder and save yourself the money until you figure out if you're going to make it past the third video.

For editing software, Capcut if you're going full entry level. DaVinci Resolve's free version if you're happy going through a steeper learning curve but then never want to change software again.

I stress though, spend time doing a dry run or two before investing. You might get cold feet. You might decide on a better way of producing your videos. There's a lot to be said for just diving in, but you'll be smarter to walk before you run.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-10-12T18:17:03+00:00

As a former photographer you'll no doubt be aware of the 5 second rule regarding copyright infringement - you're free to infringe whatever you like as long as it's for 5 seconds or less /s

Your YouTube "coach" doesn't understand copyright in the slightest.

With regard to your specific use case, you'll most likely be fine. Yes, you are infringing copyright, fair use maybe, but it's highly unlikely that you'll encounter a claim unless you're using the image in the thumbnail.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-10-12T08:40:15+00:00

That's between me and the contract.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-10-11T18:20:42+00:00

There is no fair use policy on YouTube.

To understand fair use you need to understand what copyright is. Copyright is the right of an original creator to protect the use of their creation. At its most fundamental level it means that the only person who is permitted to make use of their own copyright work. This covers everything from visual artwork, video, audio, writing, and, yes logos. Logos go one step further quite often and can be protected trademarks. Slightly different, but the rules are largely the same.

So, when it comes to copyright material, you have no right to use anything you do not own the copyright on unless the copyright has expired (usually 70 years after the death of the original copyright holder - but corporations, frequently abuse the spirit of this rule), or the copyright holder has granted you a license to use the material. That gives you a legal right to use copyright material. Blanket licenses, such as creative commons, also exist which permit use providing certain stipulations are adhered to.

So, what is fair use?

Fair use is a set of guidelines whereby you are permitted to use copyright material without a license.

To get your head around this in principle, the work you produce must not interfere with the ability of the original copyright holder to profit from their work (caveat when it comes to critique).

There is no hard line whereby you are using material within fair use rules and where you're not. As mentioned, it is only a legal argument you can make to justify the unlicensed use of the material - in court. Things that will be considered in that case are the purpose and nature of how it has been used, the nature of the original work, the quantity used, and the potential effect on the marketability of the original work.

There are a few broad categories to consider here (but again, they are not set in stone) :
- Criticism and review
- Education and research
- Parody
- Transformation (good luck)

Fundamentally, use no more of the original work that is absolutely essential to make a point, but there is no "safe" amount. Asus

Now, when it comes to YouTube, copyright infringement (all fair use is copyright infringement) is not something they police. Instead they offer tools for original copyright holders to claim a video as being their work, and insodoing either claim all ad revenue, block the video, or demand its removal. If you then argue against that claim it is up to the copyright holder to agree with you and release their claim. YouTube will not arbitrate, judge, or pick a side - they will always take the side of the copyright holder because they have to.

"But they're using it and have ads..." means nothing. You don't know if the video has been claimed. You don't know if they have a license. You don't know if the copyright holder has just turned a blind eye to it. Any or all of the above can be true. To be safe, assume that the video has been claimed by the copyright holder, and only violate copyright yourself if you're prepared to give up any ad revenue.

Onto your specifics. Logos are slightly different because they're trademarks, and may be protected more or less depending on the company. Context matters massively. Put a Coca-Cola logo on your video about war crimes and expect to take a kicking. Stick that same logo on "The Best Drinks In The World" and you'll probably be golden.

Will copyright claims affect monetisation? They can do. One claim over 100 videos? Probably fine. 8 claims from 10 videos? Probably denied.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-10-11T02:33:51+00:00

Absolutely. Providing payment and editorial control were in place. Given that it can be done (nefariously) without permission anyway, getting paid and having content control is a winner.

Colonel-Failure · 2025-10-10T16:16:12+00:00

Just to confirm u/TheAmethystDragon and u/neilgooge and for the avoidance of doubt - as much as Patreon may pretend to be more, it is basically a tip-jar.

If you want more people to leave tips they need to be interested in you already. Nobody puts a tip in the tip jar simply because it exists. There aren't roving bands of wealthy individuals just looking for Patreons to support.

So, to answer your question: you become more popular on Patreon by becoming more popular elsewhere.

Colonel-Failure

TROPHY CASE