# Patreon and long-term sustainability for the forum
**URL:** https://spiritsandcocktails.community/t/patreon-and-long-term-sustainability-for-the-forum/17
**Category:** Site Feedback
**Created:** [March 10, 2019, 6:05pm UTC](https://spiritsandcocktails.community/t/patreon-and-long-term-sustainability-for-the-forum/17 "2019-03-10T18:05:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@martin](https://spiritsandcocktails.community/u/martin)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2019, 6:05pm UTC](https://spiritsandcocktails.community/t/patreon-and-long-term-sustainability-for-the-forum/17/1 "2019-03-10T18:05:17Z")
One of the things that is built into this forum—the way I’ve configured it—is support for [Patreon](https://www.patreon.com). The plumbing is there, although it is not hooked up, yet, as of this writing.
**Background**
It costs time (quite a bit) and money (some—not gobs) to set up and maintain a resource like this.
I am not a fan of the advertising culture of the Internet. While I’ve never been all that enthusiastic about advertising in any context, I don’t actually mind it when it meets my notions of appropriateness. I could insert an entire essay in place of this sentence, but the short of it is that **there is no current advertising mechanism available that is appropriate for generating a meager revenue stream to support this site and make it “free” in the sense that, say, many Web services like Twitter or Facebook are “free”**. And I do not have the time (or desire) to create and run my own ad network right now.
The usual routine in the spirits and cocktails world is to seek sponsorship from a liquor company, because, in the Willie Sutton sense, _that’s where the money is_. I’m not entirely closed-minded to a sponsor arrangement that feels right, but this project isn’t supposed to live and die by that sort arrangement, and that sort of arrangement doesn’t tend to work long-term, anyways.
Another factor is that I believe people tend to value things they pay for differently than the things they get for “free” on-line. There’s a psychological difference, and maybe an attitudinal difference; different expectations of behavior?
**Tentative Plan**
My current intention is to link Patreon to this forum, with the following model:
- It will always be free for anyone to create an account and participate in the forum. Period.
- Patreon will be there as a way for participants to support the forum with small pledges ($1 per month)
- Those who participate significantly/substantially in the forum will be implicitly expected to support the forum through Patreon, if they can, because it’s the honest and right thing to do
- Commercial representatives who participate significantly/substantially in the forum will be implicitly expected to support the forum at a slightly higher Patreon level ($4 per month), again, because it’s the honest and right thing to do
- Patreon patrons are recognized as such (badge), and will probably enjoy some perks (TBD)
Comments, thoughts, ideas?
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### Author:  [@martin](https://spiritsandcocktails.community/u/martin)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://spiritsandcocktails.community/t/patreon-and-long-term-sustainability-for-the-forum/17/2 "2019-03-24T20:53:50Z")
Patreon is now set up!
> **[spiritsandcocktails.community is creating a place of civilized discourse for...](https://www.patreon.com/spiritsandcocktails)**
>
> Become a patron of spiritsandcocktails.community today:
> Read posts by spiritsandcocktails.community and get access to exclusive
> content and experiences on the world’s largest membership
> platform for artists and...
As of this writing, I am the sole patron, and that’s okay for now. Patronage will always be encouraged, and sometimes even suggested, but will also remain optional.
---
### Author:  [@JMF](https://spiritsandcocktails.community/u/JMF)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2019, 1:42pm UTC](https://spiritsandcocktails.community/t/patreon-and-long-term-sustainability-for-the-forum/17/3 "2019-04-15T13:42:17Z")
Can you set it up to take one annual payment, instead of monthly?
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### Author:  [@martin](https://spiritsandcocktails.community/u/martin)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2019, 2:24pm UTC](https://spiritsandcocktails.community/t/patreon-and-long-term-sustainability-for-the-forum/17/4 "2019-04-15T14:24:51Z")
> [@JMF](#):
>
> Can you set it up to take one annual payment, instead of monthly?
Not at this time. I see some discussion of the question on the Patreon support forums. I wouldn’t be surprised if some sort of one year subscription option eventually materialized.
---
### Author:  [@martin](https://spiritsandcocktails.community/u/martin)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://spiritsandcocktails.community/t/patreon-and-long-term-sustainability-for-the-forum/17/5 "2025-07-17T16:36:49Z")
Bumping this thread to remind folks that this forum is user-supported. If you find this forum valuable, particularly if your business is cocktails, please consider [supporting us on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/spiritsandcocktails).
Thank you.