Crafty Culture Clubs
Last week, a comment made by Nicole Collins brought to fore an idea that had been percolating for quite some time. In the course of discussing of the sort of work for which she is preparing her children, Mrs. Collins painted a picture of ‘weird and lumpy people’ who treat members of a highly specific interest group to a combination of online content and real-world interaction. One entrepreneur of this ilk, she continued, organized conventions (and, marvelous to say, fancy dress balls) for fans of a particular subdivision of the literary genre of fantasy romance.1
As I pondered this possibility, I made, from beans roasted by Rob Pirie, an especially tasty cup of joe. Mr. Pirie, who has earned a place of honor on Trailblazers, combines the making of videos about his anabasis through The Harvard Classics with the provision of top-shelf coffee to folks who, like me, squee at the sight of Dr. Eliot's Five Foot Shelf of well-bound books.2
Now, Gentle Reader, you may well say that there is nothing new about this. After all, bloggers and vloggers have been flogging ‘merch’ for as long as my cat can remember. If, however, my own experience can be trusted, much of memorabilia sold by internet creatives, which is both built and shipped by third-party outfits, lacks the ‘fresh from my neighbor’s garden/hand-written letter/can’t get it anywhere else’ vibe that fanfolk crave.
Mass customized merch also deprives customers of opportunities to participate in the creation of their indie experience. Thus, while the coffee cup emblazoned with a quote from David Starkey asks nothing of me, turning small-batch roasted coffee beans into a javalicious hot beverage requires me to grind, measure, and brew. (For the record, Mr. Pirie also sells ground coffee.)
AI Killed Job Security: How to Survive in a Post-AI Workforce (You Tube), starting at the 17-minute mark.