THE SHOP, LIVESTREAMING, AND US! // IMPORTANT UPDATES
Happy Saturday, Habgoblins! Y’all been feeling the weather? Spring is upon us, it seems and I’m ready to bust my shorts out, haha! This blog will cover some info on the future of livestreaming for Habtoons and The Shop.
A BREAK FROM STREAMING
You probably noticed I have not gone live this week and if you’re not following me on my socials, you may have been confused. I’m not quitting streaming on either YouTube, Twitch, or TikTok. What I am doing is taking a short break. I need it.
Around the middle of the pandemic, I picked up livestreaming which I never thought would be possible. It wasn’t even something I had ever considered doing and eventually, I fell in LOVE with it. Livestreaming had been a great way to keep myself occupied during lockdown and meet new people. It also turned out to be a great way to make an income, 2020-2021 was a great time for my Twitch channel! Unfortunately, due to some missteps, drama, and my lack of foresight in building a strong community, all of that dwindled. It is what it is.
Since then, I’ve tried just about everything to reignite the magic the permeated through my burgeoning livestream career. Nothing’s really sticking, and it’s been affecting my mental health. I’ve “rage quit” a few streams where nobody showed up for the first 45-60 minutes. I’d get so hype with topics to discuss, new art, or ideas I’d want to share only to sit there talking to myself the entire time. I tried daily streams, morning streams, night streams, pop-up streams, you name it, I’ve done it and to no avail, the channel wasn’t seeing growth. You can imagine how frustrating that can be.
I also got sick of “just playing games”, I’m not a gaming channel and I resented the way I approached Twitch without incorporating more of my artistic career at the forefront. Just sitting there playing games has become boring to me and I’d much rather just talk or work on art projects. With gaming, you either have to be a total expert at the game (like I am with Mass Effect) or jump on whatever how new trending game has everyone going wild, which is MAD expensive to do. All of this was driving me crazy.
So, I’m taking an extended break to reevaluate how I want livestreaming to serve the Habtoons/Hab Oh brand, how I’d want to build a new community around it, and how I continue to broadcast without draining my soul. I know that last part sounds dramatic but who would I be if I wasn’t extra? Haha!
I don’t know when I’ll be back in full capacity BUT you will be the first to know when we’re back on and poppin. In the meantime, you can always check out my YouTube Channel where I’ve transitioned into creating short video essays, art timelapses, and animation.
THE HABTOONS SHOP, SOFT RELAUNCH
Just like with livestreaming, the shop has seen a decline too. To be frank, I wasn’t feeling the apparel as much as I originally thought I would. And, as a whole, I was starting to feel that the merch itself had no personality or direction. I spent some time with everyone’s favorite mod, Cocoqueenie, over the week discussing what needs to change. Shoutouts to Coco, for real, our conversations gave me great insight in what I need to do next.
I want to create designs and merch that really speak to YOU. Not just slapping an illustration on a crewneck and calling it a day. While some folks don’t mind that, I just don’t like the idea of being another run of the mill brand in that way. As of right now, all merch on the shop is DOWN until I come up with fun designs I wouldn’t mind wearing on my own body, let alone the rest of y’all.
The Habtoons Shop isn’t entirely offline though as I’m offering new and returning Art Prints, Phone Wallpapers, and E-Books. Prints will now have a standardized size and price. For our Patreon Members, there is a Flash Sale Code available to you now, with the sale ending on Monday.
PATREON IS BETTER THAN EVER
I’ve been spamming the mess out of my Patrons this week with new art, phone wallpapers, and other goodies. I know their emails been going crazy and I am not sorry, haha! There’s plenty more on the way and I am incredibly grateful for your continued support of the Habtoons Brand, keep an eye out this coming week for a very special announcement.
The Founding Habgoblins List
You can be part of this wonderfully expanding list of folks by signing up for the Habtoons Patreon for just $1. The new and improved $1 Membership Tiers offers amazing benefits for those who would love to support but may not have the funds for higher tiers. Here are six (6) reasons I’m sure will convince you:
1. The first 500 people to sign-up for the $1/Month Tier ($12/year) are locked-in for a Lifetime, gain Founding Member/VIP Status on my website (The Hall of Habgoblins), and the added benefit of a rewards from higher tiers. Quite a steal!
2. You get EXTRA art & content, we’re talking EXCLUSIVES.
3. Ain’t NOBODY on the internet creating to the quality, depth and detail I am. My art style, stories, and opinions are unique!
4. Equipment Maintenance, Software, Art Materials/Supplies, and Printing Costs are EXPENSIVE.
5. I’m a one-man team. All the art, livestreams, videos, editing, research/development, filming, animating is all done by ME (among other things).
6. The preservation of Black Culture & Stories without the quality being diluted by outside forces that would seek to alter or censor the narratives we need and deserve.
So, what are you waiting for? Join Us Today! Click Here To Become a Habtoons Patreon!