The on-line patron meeting went well, plus a bit...
Thanks to all my patrons who attended one (or both!) of the two on-line meetings last Saturday. Everyone was predictably nice. I think Jitsi, the video-platform thingy we used, worked decently well, so I expect I'll use it again for the next one. I'm not sure when that will be, but - fingers crossed - it will be from my new home! I still don't have a move date, but mid-November is the estimate.
This month, I researched three videos, none of which got made. Sometimes, one gets quite far with a subject before it either turns out that there isn't really a video in it (or at least not one in my style), or I fail to find out a crucial fact (or enough evidence for it) that ties the whole thing together. I'm hoping that I'll be able to salvage something from the wrecks.
For a topic to satisfy me, I usually feel that either there has to be a story with a beginning, middle, and end, and some human interest, or else there has to be a theme or central argument. I think I see more clearly now why people make list-videos. It is easy to find out twenty things that don't link up about something and just spew them out without any argument or story. Last month, I could have done "20 facts about sieges" instead of a video arguing that escalades are not as dangerous as they show in the movies. Similarly, "20 facts about Jack Renton" would have been a lot easier than swatting up on his story ('The White Headhunter') enough to be able to talk continuously about him for a hour. This partially explains why sometimes a subject for a video can show promise and then fail to satisfy me.
That written, I notice that list-videos do very well, and when I have done something of the kind (such as "Twenty-one proto-tanks and tank concepts that never made it to battle"), it has got me lots of views. That tank video was far and away the most successful recent video. I think that part of the appeal is that the viewer feels before he clicks on the video that he won't have to commit to watching the whole thing.
[As usual, you have not been charged for this text- post - I charge only for videos, and not even all of them.]
Comments (9)
I for one enjoy both your hour-long lecture videos as well as your one-minute "A Point About ____" videos. If you feel like you don't have a big story to tell, just make it a short "Point About This" video! They're great!
I regret missing it. I had obligations I couldn't shift. I hope you do this again. I have been a long time viewer and patron. I look forward to all of your videos. Keep up the good work.
When I subscribe to a YouTube channel, or become a Patron, it is because the presenter provides a unique, quality product. Lists are fine, especially if producing them is necessary to pay the bills or enable you to create the wonderful story videos that hooked me in to your channel. As long as the list videos don't become the predominant content of your channel, I think your faithful viewers will stick around. 😁
You are a natural storyteller, and it is your storytelling that makes most things you talk about interesting. Even when you made the video for the Tank Museum of your best tanks, which is essentially a list video, you still incorporated storytelling into it. And if I remember correctly you said that the museum had reported that video to be a huge success. To be perfectly honest I think there are too many list videos out there. And to me most of them give off a very clear sense of being "cheaply made to attract viewers" which is a bit off-putting. But that might just be me. Maybe I'm not very typical in this regard. I will say this, though; you've gotten where you are now by following your gut. I'm sure your instincts will guide you well henceforth.
From this Patron's POV it's about your enthusiasm, wit and research that is key. If the lists work for the YT success then more please! Your channel is unique. Whatever you decide to do going forward I think that the vast majority of us will still be there, supporting the channel.
I'd like to hear your take on the Australians fighting the Kokoda Track on New Guinea.
You maybe could've got more views on the tank video if the title were: "TWENTY ONE UNBELIEVABLE PROTOYPE ***TANKS***!! YOU'LL NEVER GUESS NUMBER 21!!!1! GONE SEXUAL!!!" Those seem to get a lot of views but I don't think we're that sort of audience. Keep up what you're doing!
Lol.. I almost spat out my drink at "gone sexual".
The internet does seem to like lists