You won't go viral

mayday 2016-10-23 19:09:25 UTC #29

I'm not tryna start a fight or anything but voicing your negative opinions about something in a "salty way" is literally the definition of putting a negative spin on said thing.

tayo_rafferty 2016-10-23 19:24:19 UTC #30

@mayday A 'negative spin' is different from an opinion. I'm sure you're not trying to start a fight, please feel free to disagree that simply means you're human.

mayday 2016-10-24 22:17:05 UTC #32

Yeah, a negative spin is different, you're correct. But I feel like the opinion you're voicing puts a negative spin on people wanting attention on something they worked hard at, and vilifying people who want subscribers and are curious about how to gain them.

People want recognition. People want support. There's no "wrong reason" to make comics. Do it for yourself, do it for others... I don't think it matters as long as it makes you happy.

tayo_rafferty 2016-10-25 00:11:10 UTC #33

@mayday
I disagree. I think there are a lot of wrong reasons to make comics and they are a lot of right reasons. There is a clear difference between wanting attention and recognition and complaining about it.

Of course everyone wants an audience and all the things that come with it otherwise none of us would be on this site but there are people who complain about the fact that they don't have enough subscriber or enough attention and that is a self entitled attitude because no one deserves attention or recognition you have to earn it through hard work and perseverance, by showing your audience that you are a reliable creator, by showing that you care about the comic more than the money or popularity.

If the list of reasons you are making a comic look like this:

Money
2.Fame
3.Money again
4.Babes

Then yeah that is a great example of the wrong reason to get into comics.

Please quote me exactly where I specifically vilified any creator?

To sum up I am not talking about people who want things I am talking about people who complain about not having them and yes its normal to get upset every once in a while but almost every week I see a new post by someone with the same kind of complaints about how they don't have more subscribers.

When you don't have something you want it is a normal reaction to be upset but constantly complaining about it instead of solving the problem is redundant.

edmourabarbosa 2016-10-25 00:38:52 UTC #34

It's important to control your expectations. As many others have said, there's nothing wrong with wanting to earn money or go viral, but when that doesn't happen (and it usually don't) you can get very frustrated. The thing that was suposed to bring joy turned into a source of anxiety and disappointment.

AtaraxiaStudios 2016-10-25 01:35:46 UTC #35

Comrades.

We all have a different life purpose, different goals, and different stories. Some of you want to get more viewers, some of you don't care for viewers.

Regardless, there are practical steps one can take to get more views and subscribers.

Consider that it might not be in your best interest to be riled up about what someone else has to say about becoming famous or making money.

If your goal is getting a large following and money, then learn how to do that.

If you want to focus on improving your art and story, then work on that.

Both? Then do both. Ask for help or advice on this forum, there are a lot of nice comrades here.

Need emotional support? Comrades here for that too!

Want to take practical steps to gain views? Cross promotion :), especially if you both enjoy each others works.

Regardless if goals, we are all creators. We can respect the differences in goals, and even assist others in achieving those goals that are different from ours.

Keep up the good work, comrades. Let's enrich the world with our art

Shanny8 2016-10-25 17:12:03 UTC #36

I WISH I could get "babes" from making comics...lol- but the other 2 reasons are pretty legitimate.

youngaustin 2016-10-25 22:07:05 UTC #37

I disagree with you on almost all accounts.

tayo_rafferty 2016-10-25 23:13:32 UTC #38

@youngaustin That's because you're human. I would love to know why you disagree.

youngaustin 2016-10-25 23:31:35 UTC #39

People WILL like my comic, it WILL become successful, and I WILL make money off of it. That's why.

tayo_rafferty 2016-10-25 23:47:43 UTC #40

@youngaustin How is that relevant to anything I have stated previously?

UzukiCheverie 2016-10-26 00:05:17 UTC #41

I think what @youngaustin is reiterating is what has been stated by a few others before - the goal you work towards as a comic artist doesn't determine whether you're a "real" comic artist or not, and if you have the means to achieve your goal, you will work as hard as you can to get it. Some comic artists do what they do for self-fulfillment, others do it for profit, others do it for fame. Why should the reason matter? Yes, it can be annoying when someone shows up complaining about how they're not "famous" yet, but it would probably be equally annoying if anyone else showed up complaining about how they don't like working on their comic anymore because it's no longer fulfilling (hypothetically speaking). Believe it or not though, for some people, comic creating is a passion, for others, it's a job. Same goes for every other creative field out there, from knitting to singing to playing the piano.

I just don't think it's fair for anyone to call the shots on who is a "real" comic creator based on their goals. If they want to do it for fame, then that's their choice; whatever hardships fall on them are for them to deal with (the most common in this case being realizing that it's not that easy to become famous).

All anyone can really do is work their hardest to achieve their goal though. If they find they can't, that falls on them, having some imaginary force/person/etc. judging their situation isn't going to change it. So I agree in the sense that it's a pain in the butt what comic creators complain about not being rich/famous/popular/recognized/whatever yet; but we all face these hurdles at some point and it doesn't make them or us any less of creators. In the simplest definition, a comic creator is someone who creates comics - whether that meets your expectations or not is on you.

tayo_rafferty 2016-10-26 00:58:50 UTC #42

I agree. At no point did I call into question anyone's' legitimacy as comic creators. I am criticising people who are complaining about a lack of subscribers and/or views. I am saying that if these things (subscribers, views and money) are the prominent reasons for going into comics then you are doing it for the wrong reasons.

Having loads of subscribers and views and validation will never fulfil anyone as an artist even though I'm sure there are people who truly feel they will be fulfilled "if they can just make it".

So to clarify I am not talking about whether anyone is a "real artist" I am talking about self entitled attitudes and going into comics for the wrong reasons, as well as (in a small part) false/unrealistic expectations.

I am not trying to discourage people from being creative
I don't think there's anything wrong with:
- wanting to make a living from your comic
- wanting an audience
- wanting feedback
- wanting to be a famous artist
- wanting recognition

The problem is when someone has such high expectations and they tell them self "well I am so talented that there's no reason I shouldn't be popular in no time". Or "I worked so hard on X series for Y hours that I deserve some darn recognition." Then they go in the forums and say "guys I have worked on series X for Z months and I don't understand why my cup doesn't runneth over with subscribers. So unfair!" When there're hundreds of thousands (probably millions) of talented artists working all over the internet without so much as a sigh of frustration (I'm using hyperbole here).

Do you really not see the difference between wanting those things and assuming they will happen? To me the difference is expectations and how they are being managed.

UzukiCheverie 2016-10-26 02:19:08 UTC #43

And that's exactly why I said what I said.

Whether it's saying someone isn't a real creator or saying that they're a creator for the wrong reasons, what else are you gonna do? Sit there and go "YOU'RE IN COMICS FOR THE WRONG REASONS"? Yeah, maybe they are, so what difference does that actually make? It can be annoying, but there are far worse things in the world (there are also anti-vaxxer's, Trump supporters... things that are far worse than creators going into this line of work for what we might deem the "wrong reasons").

And who are we to judge? Maybe making lots of money doing something like comics is a dream for some people. Maybe they want to be able to sit back and make thousands of dollars off their work. There are far more get-rich-quick schemes out there they could go with that don't require as much effort as creating a comic (which is a lot). If this is the way they want to make money, and if that's fulfillment to them, by all means. Again, they might complain, but how is that any different than me going up to you and whining about how my comic isn't fun to do anymore? I'm still complaining on the same grounds - I'm suddenly faced with a hurdle I need to jump. Some people actually do get their own personal fulfillment from sub counts, followers, likes, views, money, etc. Whatever floats their boat.

So yeah, I still agree with you here:

The problem is when someone has such high expectations and they tell them self "well I am so talented that there's no reason I shouldn't be popular in no time". Or "I worked so hard on X series for Y hours that I deserve some darn recognition." Then they go in the forums and say "guys I have worked on series X for Z months and I don't understand why my cup doesn't runneth over with subscribers. So unfair!" When there're hundreds of thousands (probably millions) of talented artists working all over the internet without so much as a sigh of frustration (I'm using hyperbole here).

But that's just a thing that happens in every creative field/business outlet/etc. There are always going to be complainers/whiners/etc. You can either complain about them, challenge them (which would just be pointless, what do you get out of starting fights on the internet besides more rage and anger lol?, or ignore them and continue on about your day.

Just one of those facts of life that's better off for everyone to ignore and not care about IMO /shrugs Honestly, if anyone were to get so antsy about it, it would say more about them and their own insecurities regarding their own work vs. the people who complain.

You think that's bad? Check out the teenagers who are burning themselves alive for views and followers on Youtube/Vine

tayo_rafferty 2016-10-26 13:19:57 UTC #44

I respect your opinion, honestly.

^This is a bit reductive because I feel like people say this a lot and it can essential be said for any argument.

^That scares me and yet it is a perfect analogy for this millennial obsession with validation.

UzukiCheverie 2016-10-26 15:40:34 UTC #45

lol this has nothing to do with "millenials", if they had youtube and the Internet back in the 70's I can assure you we'd be seeing crazy shit from that generation too Social media does weird things to people.

And just like any argument where that sentiment can be used, is it really worth stressing over? At least something like people complaining about not having enough views/subs/etc? I just don't see the value in wasting energy and worry and stress over that sort of thing, unless it somehow invalidates your own efforts.

nerosmoke 2016-10-26 19:04:09 UTC #46

Someone is butt hurt. there are a number of comics that have billions of views and make money.

TACOBERTO 2016-10-26 23:07:37 UTC #47

Eh, I'm having fun with it. I like validation though, but that's more of a personal issue outside of comics

nketchen 2016-11-05 19:01:55 UTC #48

I like brazillians. If your comic gets brazillians of views, you'll be famous.

Vikiro_Hop 2016-11-05 22:18:44 UTC #49

This thread could have been a bit more interesting, a lot of talking in circles and backtracking. At the end of the day you are not entitled to viewership, its something that is earned. Some have it easier than others some win the fucking lottery.

When its all said and done I think the most important thing to keep in mind is to not have one dream project that is going to put you on the map. Think of each project as a challenge and an opportunity to evolve and if you gain more of a viewership with each one think of that as a healthy positive. When you do break and you see what your viewers like and want out of you try to incorporate that into a long term project.
But that is just my philosophy.

In the world of art I think the only weakness is a closed mind, and the only crime is being boring.