TL;DR: I was laid off unexpectedly after 10+ years and I'm exploring showing TAS content at charity events full time by opening a
Patreon page.
I'm dwangoAC and I am on staff here at TASVideos as the site Ambassador. In that capacity I've led efforts to show TAS content from the site at charity events like Games Done Quick since 2014, helping raise over $700k for charity in the process but also racking up $15k in equipment and travel costs. I was recently laid off from my day job of the last 10+ years and I'm looking at the option of working on TAS content for charity events full time. To do so will require an enormous response, however, and I'm currently testing the waters at
Patreon.com/dwangoAC to see if it's even viable. I'm at 10% of my goal as of now so I'm anticipating I will seek a new day job and use the funds I receive to help offset travel and equipment costs but if I hit my funding goal I will explore going full time. Full time means a lot more hours highlighting TAS content for all to see and promoting the community.
There's a minor footnote here. There are a lot of people from this site who have given up a massive amount of their own time and resources and in many cases have spent their own money to support TAS content at GDQ and other charity events who are equally deserving of financial support. I recognize that rather by fate I'm now the primary representative of both TASVideos as well as the community that has formed around TASBot and has sharded off somewhat in the process. This has led to a continued imbalance where there may be some hurt feelings from some in this community by me even attempting to ask for money. Some TASVideos folks asked me to start a Patreon almost 5 years ago but now that I'm at a point of needing to do so to keep going I'm feeling just as awkward about asking for money as I always have.
To anyone who might have hurt feelings about me even asking for money, please accept my apologies and know that I'm committed to ensuring everything I do is to the benefit of all who are interested in TAS content and that I'm doing everything in the best interests of helping raise money for a variety of charities. My best intentions are still going to mean I fail at times and I realize there's no possible way I can make such a diverse group of people all happy all the time but I'm committed to being honorable in what I do. If you're upset about how I've represented the community in the past please contact me personally or if warranted please feel free to open a separate thread. I'd prefer to keep this thread free from personal attacks or drama. Thanks for understanding.
What will I do? I'll keep doing what I've been doing but without dipping into the red if nothing else. In the last 7 months I've attended 7 different events but my expense deficit was growing at a rate that was untenable without changes as it was. Suddenly being laid off makes that pressure even more unbearable, but with your help I'll continue to represent TAS content at AGDQ / SGDQ / GDQx, RPG Limit Break, ESA, MAGFest / MAGWest, and other charity events including events from the TASBot community like BBCB and DTCD as I am able.
So, will you consider supporting me at
Patreon.com/dwangoAC even if it's only a small pledge per month? TAS content at charity events in 2019 has helped raise over $280k and I'd love to see it continue to grow. Anything you can do to help me support that while also supporting my kids would be amazing. Thanks!
