So, I got an interesting proposal which has me in two minds and I would really appreciate the thoughts of other DMs.
I recently got approach by a player who was in a group that I ran a few years back. They'd asked if I'd be up for DMing a group that they had put together. I said no because I'm already DMing two groups and a third would be a bit much. The said player came back with the interesting offer. They offered to pay me. This shocked me a bit.
Basically, it seems like the play group were paying a so called professional DM (how long has that been a thing?) and said DM was in my former player's words 'so bad that they shouldn't be DMing let alone charging for it. Said player then said that the most fun group that he's played in was the game I ran. It was very flattering to think that they thought I was as good as those who apparently DM for a living or side hustle.
Now, don't misunderstand I have and do know people that ask for a contribution toward the various DM tools out there (VTTs, D&D Beyond, Mapmaking software etc). I've considered it myself and it's why I started publishing my stuff and have a plan to get it out there so that maybe it might help contribute towards those costs. DMing as a paid thing though...that is an entirely different ball game. I'm not sure if it's a good idea.
I love being a DM and I like to think I'm okay at it. I have trodden the road of making a hobby a profession previously with acting though. I acted as my day job for over ten years after first starting out in amateur dramatics. All this way down the road and I'd never dream of setting foot on stage again because my love for acting was wiped out by the politics of going professional. I really don't want that to happen with TTRPGs.
I also don't know what kind of expectations are made of paid DMs. How does it work? What are you expected to do beyond just 'normal' DMing? Being honest, making the equivalent of £15 per hour for a four-hour session is attractive...particularly as I'm only supply teaching at the moment and income is variable. Where would I start though? Do you just run the game as normal? What happens when someone can't make a session? What happens if a player is disruptive and needs to be removed?
I have done some research and considered what I could find out there. So I'm not entirely naive. I was frankly surprised to see just how well developed Professional DMing has become. I'm not that person at the moment though. Which means I would really appreciate the advice of anyone who has been in my situation. Or the advice of anyone who is currently a hobby DM.
My personal position on this one, putting myself in your shoes:
If you can't commit to a set day of the week, it will probably fall flat. You want to enjoy it and run it all the way through, so first make sure you can commit to something like that.
If you are concerned that it will affect your other 2 games (or that by running 3 you will stretch yourself too thin) then you need to consider shelving one game in favour of the paid one, or declining the paid one.
As for what is expected - aside from being able to DM and keep the game in line (which may involve telling players off for going off topic or using phones), you will probably be expected to keep track of everything, rather than relying on players to track their own stuff. This might simply involve asking for a copy of character sheets at the end of each session, so that if one of them loses or forgets theirs, you can supply it. They will probably expect smooth improvisation, and may expect voices for characters, which you may alreay be adept at! They will also expect you to be ready for the session to begin - if session starts at 8, have everything laid out and planned to start by quarter to. Then when the players arrive or login, depending on how you play, you won't have them waiting for you to start (which they may resent if paying by the hour).
I imagine the fundamentals are the same as with any paid job - it's all about time. Turn up on it, make good use of it, don't waste it, keep track of it.
Good luck with it if you do go for it! I know there's high demand out there for good DMs, so it could prove a lucrative trade for you!
Thankfully/Sadly, at the moment I'm a qualified teacher but haven't been able to find a position for this academic year at the moment. So, I have every day of the week technically free. There'd be no harm in me setting aside a day and saying to my supply/substitute agency that I can't work on that day. Especially if I'm bringing in a small amount of extra cash. So regular day of the week is not an issue.
As to character sheets, I use Beyond for all my players anyway so there are no physical character sheets on the whole. Makes it so much easier. I've had a career as an actor to so improv and voices don't bother me too much.
Not wasting time and making good use of it are really good reminders too.
I would say do what you love, and if they want to pay you for it, so much the better.
I've been a hobby DM for something like 25 years now. I've never taken pay to DM, but I have taken pay to compose and perform music, which is a similarly creative endeavor (in fact, I find designing and running a D&D session easier, less stressful, less vulnerable). The experience with being paid for music taught me this lesson: as a creative, I have to be motivated to create, and money only motivates me when I literally cannot afford to eat. Making and performing art that I don't really believe in is worse than unfulfilling, it's draining, undermining, and terrible for my mental health.
What about your existing games? Will the quality of your work be different since you are being paid by one group and not another? Or because you care about one group and not the other? If so, will this disparity affect your standing with your friends or your mental health?
The money's nice. But £60 probably won't be changing your life. Take the money if you can get at it without causing yourself to be miserable. Otherwise, leave it on the table.
Fair question, to be honest, I already create maps and have a massive backlog of created worlds and quests that aren't out there publicly so will seem fresh to this new group.
My regular play groups won't be affected I don't think. In fact, I approached one of the groups to ask what they think and they're pushing me to take it.
As for the creative motivations I know what you mean. I can take my laptop post up in a cafe and blast out a script in no time. If I'm writing it for a commission, it all changes and it is hard to be motivated to do that.
As to the money though, £60 per week for a 15 session run is near as makes no odds £1000 that's a new laptop. Or a mobile phone bill for a year. That's not insignificant in the scheme of things.
I think you should take it as a feather in the cap that they are seeking you out, and willing to pay.
As others have mentioned, you will know best if you can handle it without stretching yourself too thin.
I don't personally charge or do paid games, but I can easily see the rationale for it, and given the amount of prep and running time, £60 per session probably works out at a fairly modest rate in the end. But key thing is whether you feel it will change the way you DM because you are getting paid. If you suddenly start thinking you can't push the party or change gears because they are paying customers, it would become problematic. I think as long as you can almost put the money thing aside and run the game in the way that have made them approach you, then you should be good to go!
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So, I got an interesting proposal which has me in two minds and I would really appreciate the thoughts of other DMs.
I recently got approach by a player who was in a group that I ran a few years back. They'd asked if I'd be up for DMing a group that they had put together. I said no because I'm already DMing two groups and a third would be a bit much. The said player came back with the interesting offer. They offered to pay me. This shocked me a bit.
Basically, it seems like the play group were paying a so called professional DM (how long has that been a thing?) and said DM was in my former player's words 'so bad that they shouldn't be DMing let alone charging for it. Said player then said that the most fun group that he's played in was the game I ran. It was very flattering to think that they thought I was as good as those who apparently DM for a living or side hustle.
Now, don't misunderstand I have and do know people that ask for a contribution toward the various DM tools out there (VTTs, D&D Beyond, Mapmaking software etc). I've considered it myself and it's why I started publishing my stuff and have a plan to get it out there so that maybe it might help contribute towards those costs. DMing as a paid thing though...that is an entirely different ball game. I'm not sure if it's a good idea.
I love being a DM and I like to think I'm okay at it. I have trodden the road of making a hobby a profession previously with acting though. I acted as my day job for over ten years after first starting out in amateur dramatics. All this way down the road and I'd never dream of setting foot on stage again because my love for acting was wiped out by the politics of going professional. I really don't want that to happen with TTRPGs.
I also don't know what kind of expectations are made of paid DMs. How does it work? What are you expected to do beyond just 'normal' DMing? Being honest, making the equivalent of £15 per hour for a four-hour session is attractive...particularly as I'm only supply teaching at the moment and income is variable. Where would I start though? Do you just run the game as normal? What happens when someone can't make a session? What happens if a player is disruptive and needs to be removed?
I have done some research and considered what I could find out there. So I'm not entirely naive. I was frankly surprised to see just how well developed Professional DMing has become. I'm not that person at the moment though. Which means I would really appreciate the advice of anyone who has been in my situation. Or the advice of anyone who is currently a hobby DM.
Would you take the offer?
Am I silly to have these concerns?
Thanks in advance all.
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
My personal position on this one, putting myself in your shoes:
As for what is expected - aside from being able to DM and keep the game in line (which may involve telling players off for going off topic or using phones), you will probably be expected to keep track of everything, rather than relying on players to track their own stuff. This might simply involve asking for a copy of character sheets at the end of each session, so that if one of them loses or forgets theirs, you can supply it. They will probably expect smooth improvisation, and may expect voices for characters, which you may alreay be adept at! They will also expect you to be ready for the session to begin - if session starts at 8, have everything laid out and planned to start by quarter to. Then when the players arrive or login, depending on how you play, you won't have them waiting for you to start (which they may resent if paying by the hour).
I imagine the fundamentals are the same as with any paid job - it's all about time. Turn up on it, make good use of it, don't waste it, keep track of it.
Good luck with it if you do go for it! I know there's high demand out there for good DMs, so it could prove a lucrative trade for you!
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Thanks for this.
Thankfully/Sadly, at the moment I'm a qualified teacher but haven't been able to find a position for this academic year at the moment. So, I have every day of the week technically free. There'd be no harm in me setting aside a day and saying to my supply/substitute agency that I can't work on that day. Especially if I'm bringing in a small amount of extra cash. So regular day of the week is not an issue.
As to character sheets, I use Beyond for all my players anyway so there are no physical character sheets on the whole. Makes it so much easier. I've had a career as an actor to so improv and voices don't bother me too much.
Not wasting time and making good use of it are really good reminders too.
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
I would say do what you love, and if they want to pay you for it, so much the better.
I've been a hobby DM for something like 25 years now. I've never taken pay to DM, but I have taken pay to compose and perform music, which is a similarly creative endeavor (in fact, I find designing and running a D&D session easier, less stressful, less vulnerable). The experience with being paid for music taught me this lesson: as a creative, I have to be motivated to create, and money only motivates me when I literally cannot afford to eat. Making and performing art that I don't really believe in is worse than unfulfilling, it's draining, undermining, and terrible for my mental health.
What about your existing games? Will the quality of your work be different since you are being paid by one group and not another? Or because you care about one group and not the other? If so, will this disparity affect your standing with your friends or your mental health?
The money's nice. But £60 probably won't be changing your life. Take the money if you can get at it without causing yourself to be miserable. Otherwise, leave it on the table.
Fair question, to be honest, I already create maps and have a massive backlog of created worlds and quests that aren't out there publicly so will seem fresh to this new group.
My regular play groups won't be affected I don't think. In fact, I approached one of the groups to ask what they think and they're pushing me to take it.
As for the creative motivations I know what you mean. I can take my laptop post up in a cafe and blast out a script in no time. If I'm writing it for a commission, it all changes and it is hard to be motivated to do that.
As to the money though, £60 per week for a 15 session run is near as makes no odds £1000 that's a new laptop. Or a mobile phone bill for a year. That's not insignificant in the scheme of things.
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
I think you should take it as a feather in the cap that they are seeking you out, and willing to pay.
As others have mentioned, you will know best if you can handle it without stretching yourself too thin.
I don't personally charge or do paid games, but I can easily see the rationale for it, and given the amount of prep and running time, £60 per session probably works out at a fairly modest rate in the end. But key thing is whether you feel it will change the way you DM because you are getting paid. If you suddenly start thinking you can't push the party or change gears because they are paying customers, it would become problematic. I think as long as you can almost put the money thing aside and run the game in the way that have made them approach you, then you should be good to go!