Enhancing Our Community at Selfvation: Balancing Free and Paid Events

At Selfvation, we are not just a car community—we are a family. Every member, whether they've been with us from the start or just joined, plays a vital role in shaping the culture and direction of this movement.

A Productive Conversation

Recently, an important conversation unfolded in our General Selfvation Chat. Members shared concerns, feedback, and insights about the balance between free and paid events. This discussion was one of the most productive conversations we’ve ever had. It revealed a critical issue: there’s a gap between what we are doing and how it’s being perceived. Many members felt that paid events were being pushed too heavily, while others were unsure of the exact purpose behind subscriptions.

While Selfvation has always been about supporting the community, it became clear that we needed to adjust our messaging to make our vision more obvious. This blog will break down the concerns raised, the explanations given, and how we plan to move forward based on your feedback.

Perceptions of Paid Events

One point raised was that some members felt Selfvation was focusing more on paid events than free ones. Branden, a long-time supporter, expressed this concern:

“From the outside, it does just genuinely look like a cash grab or a ‘Oh, you’re not paying me, you’re not good enough’ type of deal. Which I know it’s not.”

Similarly, Robert said:

“I’m pretty sure I speak for a lot of us when I say it doesn’t feel right to know about stuff going on we can’t be involved in.”

This feedback was invaluable. It helped us realize that while our actions support the entire community, our messaging hasn’t always made that clear. To provide more clarity, Adam, an admin, broke down how we actually balance free and paid events:

“In February, I promoted the heck out of Cars and Coffee, which was free. In March, I promoted Terminal Takeover, which is not free. But also, people who don’t want to attend Terminal Takeover can still go to Cars and Coffee. In April, we go back to Street Techniques, which is not free, but then Cars and Coffee is free again.”

This explanation showed that Selfvation balances both types of events. However, if our community members feel free events are being overlooked, we must adjust our approach.

Moving forward, we will ensure our promotions spotlight both free and paid opportunities equally. The goal has never been to push anyone into a paid event—it has always been about creating opportunities for everyone.

Subscriber-Only Events: How Should We Advertise Them?

Another point of discussion focused on how we promote subscriber-only events. Branden suggested:

“Only promote the subscription events in the subscriber chat. Not to be sneaky or anything about it, but if it’s a private event, why is there a need to promote it to the public?”

This raised an important question and sparked a debate. The original intention of promoting subscriber-only events in public was never to exclude people; it was to showcase the value of subscriptions.

After listening to your feedback, we recognize that how these events were presented may have unintentionally excluded some members.

Our new approach will be:

• ✅ Subscriber-only events will primarily be promoted within the subscriber chat and forums.

• ✅ We will still mention these events publicly, but in a way that educates rather than excludes.

• ✅ We will clarify what members receive with a subscription while emphasizing that being a subscriber is optional.

  
  

We never want any members to feel left out just because they don’t subscribe. Yet, we want to be transparent about the perks for those who choose to support the community financially.

Is This a Perception Issue?

One insightful comment in the discussion came from Andrew:

“I’m not so sure it’s about what’s ACTUALLY HAPPENING. I think this is more of a perception issue.”

This statement perfectly captured the essence of our predicament. Selfvation remains the same community that prioritizes free events, supports local businesses, and welcomes everyone. The difference now is that we have introduced options for those who wish to contribute more in exchange for added benefits. However, offering an optional subscription doesn’t change that Selfvation is free to join.

Our job now is to fix the messaging so that the reality of our initiatives aligns with community perception.

Understanding the Value of Subscriptions

While many in the chat understood the need for subscriptions, it’s crucial to clarify their purpose. Kimmy put it succinctly:

“I mean, even then, some events being paid makes sense. I feel like right now, only paid events are happening because it’s still kind of chilly out.”

Anthony added:

“Setting up events isn’t easy for sure. Gotta be careful cross-posting when other stuff happens because it can make other organizers upset. It’s touchy.”

Selfvation subscriptions exist so we can continue growing without solely relying on out-of-pocket expenses. The money from subscriptions allows us to:

• ✅ Host exclusive experiences for those seeking something more.

• ✅ Support local businesses through promotions and partnerships.

• ✅ Invest in better events with professional media coverage, entertainment, and organization.

  
  

Importantly, we have even paid for off-duty police presence at other community events that weren’t our own!

While we will always provide free options, the added perks make the subscriber model valuable.

A Community-Led Conversation That Strengthened Us

By the end of this discussion, something incredible happened. What started as a conversation about concerns transformed into one of the biggest moments of collective growth in Selfvation’s history.

I said this in the chat, and I’ll reiterate it here:

“Honestly, I’m calling this a win. There are nine car enthusiasts in one chat talking about how to better the car community for everyone. Usually, when things get this serious, there are only three of us at a table or in a chat. The more help, the better. The more we unite with the same intentions, the faster we fulfill our goals.”

This perspective highlights what sets Selfvation apart. Instead of arguing or turning against one another, we collaborated to find solutions.

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing—a thriving, inclusive, and exciting car community. This dialogue demonstrated just how much people care about Selfvation, and that’s something for which I will always be grateful.

The Path Forward

To summarize our commitment:

• ✅ We will adjust our messaging to ensure both free and paid events gain equal visibility.

• ✅ Subscriber-only events will be promoted to educate rather than exclude.

• ✅ We will continue to listen, adapt, and improve based on community feedback.

  
  

Thank you to Branden, Robert, Adam, Kimmy, Andrew, Matt, Anthony, and everyone else who participated in this conversation. Your voices matter and Selfvation has grown stronger because of you.

Let’s keep moving forward—together.

— Angel

Founder, Selfvation