If you get a taste of TTRPG success it’s so easy to get pulled in a lot of directions. Maybe you want to try your hand at writing a supplement, or a system, or joining other games, charity events, and one-shots. You may want to create a Patreon and monetize your stream or podcast, and release bonus content for your listeners or supporters. None of these are bad things to do, but make sure you really can commit the time to it. Be very honest with yourself about how much time each piece will take and if your schedule will allow it. If not, decide if it’s worth it to bring on extra help (which may cost lots of money) to create it, or just let it go.
Video and audio editing can take a lot more time than you may think, especially as you get started if you’re learning new skills in doing it. It’s very time consuming. Make sure you account for this when planning your time involved in your production work. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but editing helps its “viewability” or it’s “listenability” when you do publish it. If you don’t have the time to invest in doing this, you may want to enlist the help of an editor, whether that’s someone on your cast or a professional who can do this for you as their job.
Questions to ask yourself when you’re determining how much to take on:
- Does this project align with my goals and values?
- Is this the best time for me to participate in an event like this? (Don’t forget about your home and “real job” lives as well!)
- What is the date, start, and end time of this event?
- If the recording runs long, do I have a buffer so I’m not running to the next thing?
- Are there things I need to do to prepare for this event?
- Do I need to create a character ahead of time?
- Is there a session zero I need to attend?
- Is this a one time or multi-session commitment?
There are a lot of ways to be involved in the community, and it’s easy to say, “Absolutely!” any time someone asks you to be involved. Take a realistic look at your schedule. If you record your podcast on Tuesdays, and do all of your own editing, do you realistically have time to play in three more streamed one shots in the same week? Don’t forget: if you’re monetizing your podcast, whether through Patreon, Ko-Fi, or some other way, you may also need to create bonus content for your audience, which is going to be an additional crunch on your time. Be sure you are able to delegate, or even say, “No,” when needed.
