This transcript was generated from the episode audio and may contain minor errors.
[Music]
What's up friends? Welcome to Side Hustle School. My name is Chris Guillebeau. Welcome as well to Throwback Thursday. This episode comes out once a week.
You would never guess what day of the week it comes out on. We just try to mix it up and make it a surprise. Well, not really actually, it comes out on Thursday. Not everything has to be mysterious. And in this episode, in this segment, we take an in-depth look at someone whose story has evolved since we first featured them.
Now, this is a fun project to work on because we get to go back through the archives, pull out all kinds of stories and say, "Hey, what's happened?" You know, you started at this point, what's going on now? So last week, let's see, last week we heard from a freelance corporate auditor who leaves his corporate gig to strike out on his own, first as a side hustle and now full-time. Today, in our latest feature, we'll hear from a Canadian dungeon master who hosts tabletop role-playing games. So, you know, before video games or kind of in tandem with video games that you play on a computer or a console, there were tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons, many others now. And they often require kind of a moderator or someone to run the game essentially for other players.
So this is usually a volunteer role, but some people have gotten pretty good at it and they've been able to charge for their services. So in this case, this guy's name is David. He's from Vancouver. His side business brings in an extra $2,000 a month. Pretty cool.
What has happened since we first met David, I think it was two or three years ago, let's hear directly from him. [Music]
In 2021, I discovered my passion for tabletop role-playing games also called TTRPGs and decided to turn my hobby into a profitable side business in Vancouver, Canada. Over the next two years, I built a thriving enterprise earning at least $2,000 a month after hours. Here's my story, detailing the timeline and sharing some lessons I've learned along the way. September, 2021.
I started by hosting free sessions in local game stores, building my reputation as a knowledgeable and engaging dungeon master. I also began networking within the local gaming community to find potential clients. November, 2021. I created a website and social media profiles to showcase my skills and services. I offered various TTRPG experiences ranging from one shots to long-term campaigns tailored to various player skill levels and interests.
January, 2022. With a growing client base, I invested in a more extensive collection of resources, including rule books, miniatures, terrain pieces, and custom maps. I also attended a game convention to hone my skills further. March, 2022. I introduced online sessions to reach a broader audience and began offering themed nights such as horror and mystery.
My reputation grew, leading to increased bookings and positive reviews. June, 2022. I partnered with local businesses such as cafes and bars to host TTRPG events. These collaborations not only provided me with new venues, but also helped the business attract new customers. September, 2022.
To celebrate my first year as a professional DM, I organized a marathon charity event. The event garnered media attention and raised funds for a local nonprofit organization. November, 2022. I introduced private coaching and workshops for aspiring DMs and players, sharing my knowledge and techniques to help others improve their TTRPG experience. January, 2023.
With consistent demand for my services, I hired a team of skilled DMs to expand my offerings and cater to various TTRPG systems and genres. March, 2023. Two years after starting my journey, I now have a successful side business earning at least $2,000 a month after hours from my day job. All right, now for some lessons learned. Building relationships is crucial.
Networking within the gaming community and collaborating with local businesses has helped me expand my client base and access new opportunities. Invest in quality resources. That collection of rule books, miniatures, and terrain pieces has allowed me to provide a more immersive and enjoyable gaming experience for my clients. Adapt to the market. Offering online sessions and themed nights enabled me to reach a wider audience and cater to the evolving interests of my clients.
Continuous improvement is key. Attending workshops and conventions has improved my skills as a DM, and offering private coaching has enabled me to share my expertise with others. There's more to come, but that's what's happened so far. My journey as a professional dungeon master has been rewarding, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my love of games with others like you. [Music]
All right, thanks so much, David, for sharing those updates with us and listeners in case you missed the reference, TTRPG, that is Tabletop Role-Playing Game.
It's a specific kind of game that David oversees in his role as a semi-professional dungeon master. On my list of side hustles that I don't have time for, but I would like to pursue if time were unlimited, which it is not. I think dungeon master is probably not at the top of the list, but it's not at the bottom either. Like if I could do like seven other things, I think dungeon master might be number six or number seven. Anyway, let me know what you think and who you'd like to see featured from our archives of more than 1,000 stories, almost more than 2,300 episodes in total.
And if you have a question or an update for us about your hustle, you know where to go. sidehustleschool.com/questions. This has been "Almost 2,300," episode 2,287. New one's coming out tomorrow. It's all completely free.
My name is Chris Guillebeau. You're listening to "Side Hustle at School." [Music]
From the "Onward Project."
