Before the growth of the merchant class, nobility used their money, power, and influence to promote ideas through the use of patronage. If they favored an artist, philosopher, musician, writers, orator, scientist or even a jester, they would patronize them and in this way their ideas would flourish. The patrons, who were often egotistical, would take credit for the ideas and would circulate them to further their own fame.

After the growth of the merchant class, nobility lost sole control over money, power and influence and patronage was partially replaced with commerce. Artists, philosophers, musicians, writers, orators, scientists and even jesters were forced to please many people instead of just one in order to survive. Spreading their creative ideas became much harder because they did not have the money, power, or influence of the nobility.

With the advent of marketing artists, philosophers, musicians, writers, orators, scientists, and even jesters were forced to associate with advertisers, distributors, branders, promoters and other middlemen in order to reach an audience. In essence these marketers became the new patrons.

In modern times artists, philosophers, musicians, writers, orators, scientists, and even jesters have found more direct routes to spread ideas without the use of middlemen. In modern terms the cost of marketing comes in two forms. We will explain these two forms, but first, a definition of patronize:

pa·tron·ize; verb

• 1. To act as a patron (support or sponsor.)

• 2. To treat condescendingly.

We at Quit Your Job Day appreciate your patronage, regardless of its type.

The first type of cost in marketing an idea is monetary. Spreading ideas costs money for stickers, servers, flyers, posters, t-shirts, brochures, bullhorns, and the time of artists, philosophers, musicians, writers, orators, scientists, and yes... even jesters.

The second type of cost in marketing ideas is editorial. Ideas are not always captivating, enlightening, enthralling, intriguing, informative, or even funny. Spreading ideas sometimes means those ideas must change at the cost of content.