#208 CEO & Co-Founder Patreon, Jack Conte: Crowd Surfer
Sep 16, 2024
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Jack Conte, CEO and co-founder of Patreon and former YouTube star with Pomplamoose, shares his journey from struggling with low ad revenue to creating a platform that has enabled creators to earn over $3.5 billion. He dives into the emotional complexities of success, detailing how happiness often comes from internal fulfillment rather than external validation. Jack discusses the importance of transparency in communication with creators and reflects on the delicate balance of confidence and self-doubt faced by entrepreneurs, inspiring a deeper understanding of the creator economy.
Jack Conte discusses how emotional experiences of success and failure are intertwined, stemming from internal feelings rather than external validation.
The podcast highlights the transformative impact of technology in democratizing creativity, allowing more individuals to produce high-quality content on a budget.
A focus on personal values and self-reflection is emphasized as crucial for fostering a supportive and humane work culture in creative industries.
Deep dives
Navigating Success and Failure
The emotional experience of success can often mirror that of failure, highlighting that feelings of happiness are rooted in brain chemistry rather than external circumstances. This perspective suggests that regardless of whether one's performances in art or business are celebrated or criticized, the resultant emotions will stem from within. The idea signifies that irrespective of the audience response to performances, these feelings are part of a personal internal landscape that transcends fleeting situations. Acknowledging this can lead to a more profound understanding that achieving external goals does not guarantee lasting happiness.
The Democratization of Creative Expression
Advancements in technology have significantly lowered the barriers to entry for artistic expression, enabling individuals to produce high-quality content using consumer-grade equipment. Today's creators can craft works that rival professional productions with tools as simple as smartphones and affordable recording devices. This democratization of creativity has propelled an entire generation into the artistic arena, allowing anyone with a voice or vision to express themselves without the need for expensive resources or formal backing. Such changes signal a shifting paradigm where creativity is accessible, and emerging talents can thrive on platforms that facilitate distribution.
The Evolution of Economic Models for Artists
The conversation highlights a transformative shift in how artists are compensated, moving from traditional patronage models to newer systems that emphasize direct artist payments, such as those found on platforms like Patreon. Historically, artists relied on sponsorship from wealthy patrons or institutions, but as technology evolved, many have found it increasingly difficult to sustain themselves through unit sales or traditional sales models. The advent of streaming and digital content has led to the need for new economic models that allow creators to monetize their work directly from their audience. This evolution reflects ongoing discussions about fair compensation in the creative economy as the industry adjusts to the realities of modern distribution.
Internal Reflection and Personal Values
A pivotal point of the discussion centers around the importance of self-reflection and understanding personal values when building a company or pursuing a creative career. Identifying qualities such as detail obsession, humility, and a genuine commitment to kindness are seen as essential traits for a successful and healthy work environment. This reflection encourages individuals to recognize the complexities within themselves and their work, steering away from conventional business advice that may not align with their core principles. By finding alignment with one's own values, individuals can foster a culture that not only supports creativity but also promotes a humane approach to business.
The Journey of Creation: Unforeseen Challenges
The narrative illustrates how the creative journey is often fraught with unexpected hardships that test one's resolve and passion for their work. Even amidst achievements, the reality of artistic expression includes moments of doubt, feelings of worthlessness, and recognition that success does not equate to permanent happiness. These experiences resonate deeply with creators, emphasizing that the struggle is as significant as the success itself. Acknowledging these challenges and sharing them openly contributes to a broader understanding of what it means to pursue creativity in an often turbulent landscape.
For many YouTube video creators, getting millions of views on your videos may seem like the goal. But when Jack Conte and his wife Nataly Dawn became YouTube stars through their band Pomplamoose, they didn’t automatically find gold at the end of the rainbow.
“You check your ad revenue and you make 48 bucks in ad revenue and you're like, ‘Oh my God, I'm worthless,’” Jack recalls. “And you check that dashboard every day ... and eventually you start to believe that you're worth $48 a month. That's a bad f**king feeling.”
That’s why in 2013, he co-founded the artist-funding platform Patreon, and discovered that there were a lot more creators like him out there. As of 2022, those creators have earned more than $3.5 billion from Patreon.
Chapters:
(01:06) - Barriers to entry
(03:04) - The creator economy
(08:36) - Patreon’s mission
(11:22) - Its name
(13:12) - Talking to artists
(17:26) - Detail obsession
(24:07) - “Nobody has an answer”
(27:17) - Playing empty rooms
(31:09) - Success feels like failure
(33:37) - “I’ll be happy when...”
(39:26) - Type one vs type two joy
(45:32) - Self-confidence
(48:30) - Obsession, humility, and kindness
(53:51) - Figuring out your sound
(56:18) - “I’m f**king terrified”
(01:00:33) - Pedals
(01:04:04) - Starting Patreon
(01:07:04) - Who Patreon is hiring
Mentioned in this episode: Jason Kilar, Spotify, YouTube, Pomplamoose, Google Docs, GoDaddy, LaCroix, James Freeman and Blue Bottle Coffee, Woody Allen, Medium, YCombinator, Apple and the App Store, MySpace, Matthew “The Oatmeal” Inman, AdSense, Home Depot, Skrillex and Fred Again, Matt Bunting, and Sam Yam.
