Contained in the Thoughts of a Patron

Ever since Stefan Frandsen was a child, he was obsessive about know-how. Computer systems had been primitive 40 years in the past, when Frandsen was born, however his household all the time appeared to have the newest PC. This isn’t stunning, contemplating Frandsen’s father, who was equally, if no more, fascinated by what computer systems might do. Know-how was simply within the household DNA.

As a teen, Frandsen spent whole days taking part in video games on the pc. When he wasn’t within the throes of Pac Man, he was utilizing chat traces or browsing the World Extensive Internet to study much more about how the know-how he was utilizing labored. His fascination carried him via highschool, faculty, and into his profession in software program growth.

Frandsen would be the first to let you know he’s not a programmer—neither is he a developer. (He tried his hand at HTML coding as soon as, however “it simply didn’t sit effectively for me,” he stated.) Frandsen is a venture supervisor, appearing extra just like the architect for technological methods and merchandise. He loves know-how, however he doesn’t essentially wish to construct it—he’d slightly fiddle with, study what it may well do, and perceive the way it works. Like his father, Frandsen all the time has the newest devices, whether or not that’s a brand new good cellphone, laptop, or online game. “You title it and I attempt to play with it,” he tells me, including that he has just a few of his personal servers at house, as if it had been a secret. “I wish to experiment with issues, making use of new concepts from totally different individuals.”

When YouTube and Twitch debuted just a few years again, Frandsen bought hooked instantly. After watching some random how-to video at some point, a suggestion for the same vlog got here up on his display screen. He clicked and instantly discovered himself entranced by Tek Syndicate. Within the video, a few guys gave their viewers a every day rundown of stories and controversy within the tech and gaming house. This was precisely what Frandsen was in search of—these had been individuals like him, who cherished know-how and needed to remain up-to-date with the newest goings on within the quickly advancing world. Frandsen began watching the vlog nearly every day.

Sooner or later, Frandsen observed there had been some kind of disagreement between Tek Syndicate’s founders, Logan and Wendell. Finally, they break up up, and after they did, Wendell launched a brand new, equally nerdy entity known as Level1Techs. The vlog nonetheless continues to cowl know-how and the way it shapes the world round us. Following Wendell to Level1Techs was a no brainer for Frandsen—he nonetheless bought the identical content material he cherished frequently. Nevertheless it wasn’t for each gamer and tech nerd in the neighborhood. 1000’s of subscribers selected to not make the change, and Frandsen observed the viewers getting smaller.

The turnover on his beloved vlog made Frandsen suppose: he spent a lot time watching their movies, possibly it was time for him to point out his help too. “All of them have common day jobs,” Frandsen explains to me. “They’re doing this on the facet.” Frandsen, together with just a few different loyal supporters, began bugging Wendell about organising a Patreon web page, saying, “We wanna help you, we simply don’t know the way.” Inside no time, Level1Techs was on Patreon.

Frandsen donates $101 per thirty days. To Frandsen, the time he spends with Level1Techs—anyplace from seven to 10 hours every week—is well worth the cash he places into it. “I used to have DirectTV,” he says. “And after I minimize that twine, I began watching YouTube as a substitute, and that was free.” Now Patreon is simply one other month-to-month expense Frandsen components into his price range. “In addition to,” he provides, “I solely have so many hours in every week for media consumption—as a substitute of watching films, I watch Level1Techs.”

“I solely have so many hours in every week for media consumption—as a substitute of watching films, I watch Level1Techs.”

The rewards had been additionally interesting. “The graphic designer on their group hand-draws little photos for patrons,” Frandsen tells me. “And so now I’ve these private photographs they drew for me that I’ve framed.” However the actual perk, for Frandsen, was the newfound accessibility he has to the individuals making the content material he loves. “I get to work together with them in a manner that I wouldn’t elsewhere,” he says. “I really feel like I do know them personally and what it takes to do what they do.” Frandsen loves getting behind-the-scenes photos and early entry to movies. He additionally participates in a live-streamed Q&A with the founders on a month-to-month foundation. “Regardless that my contribution is small I do know I helped make it occur,” he says.

For Frandsen, there’s a “feel-good issue” to being a patron too. “I get the data that I’m serving to somebody with one thing they’re enthusiastic about it,” Frandsen says. “I like seeing what they will do with my cash.” To date, Level1Techs has lived as much as its expectations. In reality, it brings Frandsen a lot pleasure that a part of him desires to strive being a creator himself. “My girlfriend and I’ve talked about organising a vlog on YouTube or Twitch,” he says. “However with the effort and time that goes into it, together with a full-time job, I don’t know the way individuals do it….I feel I give to them within the hope that at some point, it’s going to come again to me.”