I don't know if you like games as much as I do, but it doesn't matter. I was out with friends recently and they were all discussing work. My friend is one of our company who doesn't have a job, and he told me that he started earning from games. I'm planning to try it too but I'd like your opinion first?

Yes, it is possible to earn through DMing--you can find a couple articles on various news sites about folks who have turned their DMing into a rather lucrative side hustle.  Additionally, if you head over to the Looking for Players & Groups section of these forums, you will find a number of threads advertising services as a paid DM--you'll also find a number of such threads with 0 responses after several days, indicating how difficult it can be to actually get players to pay for your D&D game.  

When someone is paying for services, they are going to expect a rather high quality--things like beautiful maps on a VTT or a great selection of miniatures.  Storytelling which exceeds "runs an adventure straight out of the book."  Etc.  I have seen a number of threads here on this forum where folks have said their paid game fell apart in a session or two because the DM did not meet the players' expectations as to value, so it is definitely something one should be aware of if they intend to go down this path.

The alternative to charging to DM while still making money with D&D is to become a successful Actual Play show... whether through video or something more like a podcast. Unfortunately there's a LOT of competition, but that's another avenue if working as a paid DM isn't appealing.

Personally, I feel I should charge to play. I'm an *excellent* player, the kind your campaign really can't do without ;-)

While paid dm-ing is (kind of?) a thing, you're more likely to make some money publishing third party content. There's more of a market for such content than there is for paid dm-ing, and if you're already dm-ing, odds are you've already worked up some homebrew campaigns/content for your own game that you can tidy up and post online.

I'd look into whether you're happy with cost-benefit side of it.

The hobby is expensive anyway, you may well end up having to pay for services (table at a FLGS, subscription for a VTT, minis, etc). Then you want to add onto that your own compensation...and you're asking a lot of money for players to sink in. Just being a player costs me about £10 a session at my FLGS (with a couple of drinks etc). Plus there are the books and other needs like minis, dice etc (even if you provide them, I'm going to end up paying you for then, essentially). Then on top of that, you want me to pay another, say, £5 for your services?

I'm not saying it's terrible or anything...but I've got a ceiling as to how much I'll pay to play D&D, and you have to judge whether you can sneak in your wages too. Especially when there are often people willing to do it for free.

It's possible. People do it. I'm just saying that it's probably only no-brainer if you've already gone full on into the game and have all the resources regardless (books, minis, subs, etc) and you're just recouping some of the costs rather than trying to derive profit after starting from nothing. Just look at what it'll cost you to get to that position, how much you'll make, then see if that's enough.

Quote from BlackestMoon >>

I don't know if you like games as much as I do, but it doesn't matter. I was out with friends recently and they were all discussing work. My friend is one of our company who doesn't have a job, and he told me that he started earning from games. I'm planning to try it too but I'd like your opinion first?

While there are a substantial number of people who make small amounts of money in RPGs, the number of people who make enough money that they can actually live on their earnings is much smaller, and pretty much no-one starts out making enough money to pay the bills.

So, if you think that's something you'd like to do with your life... I recommend finding a regular job that will pay your bills, and starting up your RPG business as a side job. If it takes off, quit your regular job.

To add to what some of the comments here are saying... if you are going to charge for a game, invest in playing in a paid for game first to see what the player expectations are, and to get an idea of what is going to be required as far as the amount of work you're going to have to put in. Do some searching around for a half-way decent DM, spend some money as an investment playing in their game, and who knows... you might be competition, but maybe they will take you under their wing and teach you the ropes of being pay-to-play. At the very least, you'll know what you're getting into before actually trying it out for yourself. "Start Playing Games" is a site that advertises paid D&D games. Might be a good place to start.

I've looked into it myself as I have often though about it as a way to earn some extra gas money, but it seems even celebrity DM's run games only to supplement whatever else they are doing (ie. youtubers like Ginny D and DM's Lair) because it doesn't bring in enough to pay the bills, and the games are usually attached to some kind of gimmick, such as getting to play D&D in an actual castle or some shit.

Another suggestion - if you're running games and want to make a couple of bucks, maybe try a tip system and see how it works out. Players don't have to pay to play, but instead you give them the option of being able to leave a tip through some cash app or something. If it covers the cost of your D&D Beyond & VTT subscription for instance, then you're already ahead. If I were to charge as a DM I think this would be the way I would go, and honestly I would only be looking to cover my expenses for the bells and whistles. Maybe I'd find someone who can create plushies or artwork of player's characters that I can offer as extras or something if I make more than that, idk.

The future of it as a career is also something to consider. Paid DM'ing seems to be a common thing now due to there being so few DM's compared to players. Sometimes it feels like there are thousands of players per every one DM out there... but who knows what's going to happen when the next generation of AI starts running D&D games at a serious level. From what I've seen, it might only be another year or two before paying to play is a thing of the past because you have an army of AI DM's running games, and the monetization is all from Beyond subs & character cosmetics.

In any case, good luck!

Quote from multiversegm16462 >>

I would definitely echo everything Caerwyn_Glyndwr said.

Also, I would suggest establishing yourself to the community as a GM worthy of payment before asking for it.  Run some games one-shots and maybe a short-term campaign, with a variety of players.  Then leave those players eager to play in your next game.  At that point, suggest payment.

There is a stigma among those in the hobby when it comes to GMs asking to be paid, though.  I'm one of those who detest the practice, but if someone can successfully make a go of it then they've figured out the code.

cool, thanks for the advice

Thanks for the comments and all the advice. They are really useful for me and now I think about it, in an hour I will ask a friend what game he plays and tell you too)