02 Oct Chilling Tales for Dark Nights – Financial Support Update
👉 Donate to our GoFundMe here: HelpChilling.org 🖤
👉 Become a Patron here: https://www.chillingtalesfordarknights.com/join-now/ 🎧
Friends,
First, let me begin by saying how deeply grateful I am—for your donations, for your signups in our Patrons Area, for your comments, and even just for sharing our content. Every bit of support, in whatever form it takes, matters more than words can express. Even something as simple as sharing one of our stories or helping spread the word about Evil Idol has helped us in the algorithm and lifted our spirits.
Your support has truly made the difference. It is entirely possible that Chilling Entertainment would not have survived this long without you, and I do not take that lightly. You’ve given us the morale to keep pushing forward, and you’ve allowed us to keep the lights on through some very difficult times.
That said, I want to be honest about the challenges we’re facing. Ad revenue for the months of August and September—paid out just at the beginning of this month—was exceptionally disappointing. The problem isn’t due to any single factor, but a combination of industry-wide issues. Advertisers and agencies are taking longer and longer to pay, with delays of 6–9 months becoming the norm. That means ads we ran in February didn’t get paid until just now, and in some cases we’ve waited 10–12 months. This is happening across the industry, but it leaves us in a constant bind.
Right now, we have just enough funds to cover the most pressing needs, but by mid-month, we often reach a point where our talent are left waiting weeks for payment. That’s not a good feeling, for them or for us. Some have told us they may not be able to keep working with us if this continues—and as much as it breaks my heart, our hands are tied without the resources to pay them on time.
You may have noticed staffing changes over the past year. Sadly, this is the direct result of funds being lower than expected. To make up for it, I, Craig Groshek, have stepped in personally—writing a great deal of our material (enough now to fill several books, which I’m seeking publishers for), as well as handling uploads, graphic design, editing, Patrons Area management, story casting, and production oversight myself. And while I’m proud to be able to help in this way, as you can imagine, it often means working 55–70 hour weeks—on top of my duties as a father and as a paid on-call firefighter for my Village. There are only so many hours in the day, and at times I feel almost superhuman. Other times, it leaves me stretched too thin, and when that happens, we experience delays and morale can take a hit. Mental health is important, and more than anything, it makes a difference to know that others care about what we do, and about the people who make it possible.
Your donations go directly to covering the costs of those human beings: our beloved narrators and hosts like Malcolm Blackwood, Steve Taylor, Paul J. McSorley, Drew Blood, and Erik Peabody, our talented producers Brad Parsons and Aaron Sawicki, and the authors who keep the stories flowing. We also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the countless voice talents—both longtime collaborators and new additions—whose performances make what we do possible. It’s their talent, passion, and dedication that make Chilling Tales what it is.
One clear example of what your support has already made possible: the relaunch of Evil Idol—our fan-favorite voice acting competition—for the first time in five years. That would not have been possible without the boost in morale and confidence your support has given us.
And while I’ve personally been funding my new music project with earnings from my firefighting job, that project has already begun opening doors in other industries. New people are discovering Chilling Tales through that music, and showing interest in what we’re building here. It’s proof that momentum creates more momentum.
We Know Times Are Tough
We understand these are difficult times. Everyone is struggling with stagnant wages, tough choices, inflation, and an uncertain financial future that, frankly, is scarier than anything our authors could dream up. That makes us especially grateful for the support you’ve shown. Every dollar, every share, and every comment means more than we can say.
But here’s the truth: there are more than 5,000 dedicated listeners on YouTube alone, thousands of followers across our social media, and tens of thousands of weekly listeners on our podcast feeds. If just a fraction of those people committed as little as $5 per month, our problems would be solved virtually overnight. One cannot overstate how much of a difference a large number of people can make when each person does just a little.
So if you’re sitting there thinking, “I don’t make a difference”—you do. It all adds up. If you enjoy what we do daily, weekly, or even monthly, please consider helping. Without your support, none of this exists—and there would be no reason to continue without you, our valued listeners.
How You Can Help Beyond Donations
This spooky season is our best chance to expand our reach. This is the time of year when everyone is in the mood for scary stories—and we need your help to spread the word. Please share Chilling Tales for Dark Nights with as many friends, family, and colleagues as you can. Toss a share on your social media pages, or even send a text to a friend about our channel and podcasts. Don’t forget to leave comments and upvote our videos, too—those actions help us tremendously in the algorithms. Anything you can do makes a difference.
Looking Forward
We are poised for the future. We’re planning new shows, exploring shorts for YouTube and TikTok, preparing merch and book releases—all in the hope of reaching new audiences and ensuring long-term sustainability. But right now, we need help to maintain what we have, and to keep paying the people who make this all possible.
👉 Donate to our GoFundMe here: HelpChilling.org 🖤
👉 Become a Patron here: https://www.chillingtalesfordarknights.com/join-now/ 🎧
Thank you again—for your generosity, for your patience, for your encouragement, and for simply being here with us. You are the reason we are still alive, and the reason we’ll continue to fight to keep the darkness alive. 🌙