I’m a
collector of hobbies, meaning that I prefer doing things with my spare time
other than staring at a TV. That doesn’t
mean I don’t watch the tube, but I have a rule.
I do my best to watch only when I’m doing something else. I can cook, clean, work in the shop, drive,
and handle similar mundane tasks with something on in the background, even if it's just listening to XM or a podcast. This doesn’t apply to movie night with the
bride or a solid first-run show, but it helps make the medicine go down. With other options like audio books, there’s plenty of background chatter to keep awake on the interstate.
YouTube has become it’s very own media
platform. Users establish their own
channels, and viewers can subscribe and stay updated with episodes. As soon as I dipped a toe into this world, I
was hooked. It has, without
exaggeration, something for everyone, and a little time invested
in learning the system will open the door to a valuable experience. I'm fortunate to have a couple of prolific YouTubers within my inner sanctum.
I’m
specifically pimping two channels because the owners of these channels send me
into the video vortex. Tim Kreitz of Tim Kreitz Adventures and Scott Green of
Bonehead Guitars are both friends who
share their interests in video for the world to see. Tim is a motovlogger (MOTOrcycle Video
bLOGGER) and Scott is a luthier, both of whom create episodes of their
experiences and share in video.
Motovlogging
is popular now, and it’s nothing more than people taking video of themselves
riding motorcycles. It seems simple enough, but the themes vary. Tim combines a bit of everything and has
drawn a crowd by visiting interesting sites around his west Texas home. He's a professional musician, graphic
artist and videographer, which is apparent in the production level of his
motovlogs. I’ve had the pleasure of
appearing in a few of his episodes, which is always an honor.
Scott
Green started building guitars a few years ago, and is designs are being
snatched up by local musicians. I have
the honor of owning the first solid-body electric design from his shop, which
is a compact bass guitar. He’s since
produced guitars for other musicians, including Tim Kreitz. Scott’s channel exemplifies what I love most about
the YouTube world. It’s honest, candid,
and extremely real. He doesn’t edit
mistakes, bad ideas, shop disasters or failures. You can watch as he finds solutions to
problems, or tosses three digits worth of wood into a trash can. After an episode or two on Bonehead Guitars,
you’ll fast understand that Scott isn’t superhuman, he’s just dedicated. His channel will inspire you to get off the sofa and create something.
Both of
these guys were fortunate enough to discover and use their own talents, and it’s
very encouraging to watch them put their ability to sea. Their channels are about accomplishing things
that most only talk about. Anyone can
become a Tim or a Scott, all you have to do is watch and learn. What they’re doing is attainable by anyone
with an idea and the willingness to devote some time to it. It’s inspired me to chop out a video or two,
but I’m not willing to put in the time to match these guys in production
level. It’s been said that I should put
some of my experiences on camera, and I’m willing to tinker with it. I’ve landed a few views and it’s been fun. The lower visual production value of channels
like mine is a bonus because they’re easy to listen to while doing other
things. If you miss something, it’s only
a click away from repeating.
I’m
footing this post with the latest editions of my two favorite YouTubers. I’m also pimping my own channel, also named
Matt’s World o’ Wonders, in the hopes that you’ll have a look at my
subscriptions and get a feel for what’s out there.
As always, give a tip of the hat to your favorite YouTube vids by clicking "like" and subscribing. You'll need an account, and that's quick and easy. Having large numbers of subscribers opens doors for serious YouTubers, so please give them a little treat for their many hours of work.
