Experiment and deepen fan connection

As Midnight Burger has grown, Joe and the team have experimented with a lot of formats. Animated episodes. Mini-series. Limited runs. Even a graphic novel. Trying new things is part of the fun.

But one experiment stood out more than the rest: live shows.

Live events can change the relationship

Joe admits they did not expect much when they planned their first live show. Then the event sold even better than expected. The response was immediate and clear.

When something happens in real time, especially in the physical world, it deepens the community connection in a way that’s harder to do with digital experiences. Fans are no longer anonymous listeners, they are participants sharing in an ephemeral moment that does not exist outside the theater of live show.

You do not have to do everything

The point is not that every creator should suddenly add animated episodes, books, and tours. It’s that expanding the way fans experience your work can strengthen your community far more than adding another file behind a paywall.

Why this works on Patreon

For Midnight Burger, live shows became another way members felt closer to the podcast. Whether virtual or in-person, events like these help transform membership into belonging.

They also remind fans that they are supporting real people making real work, together in community with other fans.

🧭 Review your action plan

Review the Build your community checklist section and think about one experiment you might run this month to foster community with your members.

(If you need a copy of the action plan, you can download it at the bottom of the welcome post)

Next up: we’ll wrap things up and share out some next steps.

📌 How helpful was this material? Click to let us know: 👍 | 👎