Advice on a car related hobby/side-gig
Discussion
So I f
king hate my job.
A daily toil of mid-level management, Tesco meal-deals, insufferable buzz words and corporate lollygagging.
It pays well and at the moment, that's all that keeps me going. But I cannot see myself doing another 30 plus years in the Stanley Parable for much longer.
I've recently begun re-watching episodes of Top Gear/The Grand Tour and sit there dreaming of a world where one could possibly make a career of giving their honest feedback on cars, travelling the world and generally living out their passions to bring in a salary. As I'm sure we all have.
I've had countless hours, reading and learning the intricacies of starting a YouTube channel. Learning about cameras, presentation, video editing and the list goes on. Just as something to do in the spare time, in the hope that one day, it provides enough income to give my crudely-written notice on a piece of Andrex's finest.
I would say, I'm more comfortable with the written word, having not really had any experience in talking to a camera. Not afraid as such, just more worried I'd come across like a jittery aunt at a wedding.
But here's where the leap stops me.
Are people all that interested in these types of content nowadays? Sure, the written word is lagging far behind and to be honest, I don't particularly foresee much hope in a blog. But moreover (and somewhat more importantly) with the automobile shifting toward electronic technologies now, are people that fussed about seeing reviews for them? Or seeing any value/entertainment in these type of content anymore?
I'd love to pursue my passion with such outlets, and perhaps yes, I am thinking about it the wrong way and should just do it. But there will be a little niggle in the back of my mind thinking 'would this ever grow, or has the audience for this reached it's peak a long time ago?'
king hate my job.A daily toil of mid-level management, Tesco meal-deals, insufferable buzz words and corporate lollygagging.
It pays well and at the moment, that's all that keeps me going. But I cannot see myself doing another 30 plus years in the Stanley Parable for much longer.
I've recently begun re-watching episodes of Top Gear/The Grand Tour and sit there dreaming of a world where one could possibly make a career of giving their honest feedback on cars, travelling the world and generally living out their passions to bring in a salary. As I'm sure we all have.
I've had countless hours, reading and learning the intricacies of starting a YouTube channel. Learning about cameras, presentation, video editing and the list goes on. Just as something to do in the spare time, in the hope that one day, it provides enough income to give my crudely-written notice on a piece of Andrex's finest.
I would say, I'm more comfortable with the written word, having not really had any experience in talking to a camera. Not afraid as such, just more worried I'd come across like a jittery aunt at a wedding.
But here's where the leap stops me.
Are people all that interested in these types of content nowadays? Sure, the written word is lagging far behind and to be honest, I don't particularly foresee much hope in a blog. But moreover (and somewhat more importantly) with the automobile shifting toward electronic technologies now, are people that fussed about seeing reviews for them? Or seeing any value/entertainment in these type of content anymore?
I'd love to pursue my passion with such outlets, and perhaps yes, I am thinking about it the wrong way and should just do it. But there will be a little niggle in the back of my mind thinking 'would this ever grow, or has the audience for this reached it's peak a long time ago?'
My 2 pence on this, is unfortunately this sector has more or less died. There's little in the way of fresh motoring content these days, especially as all youtubers are essentially the same these days. I too have looked at old Top Gears and ended up in dream land. Alas, it remains a dream for me.
I wish you well and hope you succeed if you do have a go at it. Good luck OP.
I wish you well and hope you succeed if you do have a go at it. Good luck OP.
I predominately watch YouTube now over commercial tv. Youtube has some mediocre channels, but also some incredibly polished ones where their videos are actually better than your average bbc documentary.
However the common link to all the content we watch is that the presenter is engaging and has ‘something’. I discuss this with my wife a lot - why do we watch some travel based channels where I’m not really interested in the actual content, but love watching the couple presenting?
I’d say try it - practise - one other common theme to the content we watch is if you rewind three years, the channels first videos now seem really bad, but they improved with time in front of the camera. Practise makes perfect and over time your personality will come out. Your content doesn’t have to be unique - but your way of telling the story does. Best of luck!!
However the common link to all the content we watch is that the presenter is engaging and has ‘something’. I discuss this with my wife a lot - why do we watch some travel based channels where I’m not really interested in the actual content, but love watching the couple presenting?
I’d say try it - practise - one other common theme to the content we watch is if you rewind three years, the channels first videos now seem really bad, but they improved with time in front of the camera. Practise makes perfect and over time your personality will come out. Your content doesn’t have to be unique - but your way of telling the story does. Best of luck!!
thepritch said:
I predominately watch YouTube now over commercial tv. Youtube has some mediocre channels, but also some incredibly polished ones where their videos are actually better than your average bbc documentary.
However the common link to all the content we watch is that the presenter is engaging and has ‘something’. I discuss this with my wife a lot - why do we watch some travel based channels where I’m not really interested in the actual content, but love watching the couple presenting?
I’d say try it - practise - one other common theme to the content we watch is if you rewind three years, the channels first videos now seem really bad, but they improved with time in front of the camera. Practise makes perfect and over time your personality will come out. Your content doesn’t have to be unique - but your way of telling the story does. Best of luck!!
I think that's the rub to be honest.However the common link to all the content we watch is that the presenter is engaging and has ‘something’. I discuss this with my wife a lot - why do we watch some travel based channels where I’m not really interested in the actual content, but love watching the couple presenting?
I’d say try it - practise - one other common theme to the content we watch is if you rewind three years, the channels first videos now seem really bad, but they improved with time in front of the camera. Practise makes perfect and over time your personality will come out. Your content doesn’t have to be unique - but your way of telling the story does. Best of luck!!
Presenting is an artform and the viewer has to be engaged with the presenter, as well as the content. There's a reason the lighting-in-a-bottle method worked with JC, RH and JM. All three could present a three-hour show on corrugated plastics and it would still work.
But I often find that balance tips the other way and YouTube presenters/creators, focus too much on themselves and little about the topic.
Maybe that's it though. I just have to find the balance between the two!
Sebring440 said:
To be successful, your YouTube channel has to be different.
There are literally hundreds of these sort of channels on YouTube, as has been stated above, some are very average, some are very professional.
What would your channel offer that will bring in the subscribers?
A random location selector.There are literally hundreds of these sort of channels on YouTube, as has been stated above, some are very average, some are very professional.
What would your channel offer that will bring in the subscribers?
A random car selector.
Rent said car. Film the journey. Done.
All seriousness, the USP is the hardest part. And I agree, the sheer amount of creators on their is staggering. Yet I view some and their format is by-and-large common, yet they're making this their careers!
Sebring440 said:
To be successful, your YouTube channel has to be different.
There are literally hundreds of these sort of channels on YouTube, as has been stated above, some are very average, some are very professional.
What would your channel offer that will bring in the subscribers?
He can present it naked and smothered in honey with a wasps nest nearby?There are literally hundreds of these sort of channels on YouTube, as has been stated above, some are very average, some are very professional.
What would your channel offer that will bring in the subscribers?
Xenoous said:
My 2 pence on this, is unfortunately this sector has more or less died. There's little in the way of fresh motoring content these days, especially as all youtubers are essentially the same these days. I too have looked at old Top Gears and ended up in dream land. Alas, it remains a dream for me.
I wish you well and hope you succeed if you do have a go at it. Good luck OP.
And that's my worry.I wish you well and hope you succeed if you do have a go at it. Good luck OP.
I couldn't tell you off the top of my head who my favourite YouTuber is in this field, because they're all the same. I don't speak for all, but when I frequent YouTube, I look for specific videos. Not the content creator. There is perhaps one, through sheer audacity (RocketPoweredMohawk) that I perk up when he's posted a new video. And his content is about as far away from car reviews as you can think. In fact it's border-line offensive. And not about cars. Just his take on the ins-and-outs of the F1 world.
The rest? Doesn't grab me.
I listened to James May on the BBC the other day and his words were so profound, in that the the format of a car-show is overdue a re-think. But what this could be, is the million dollar question!
Fast and Spurious said:
Sebring440 said:
To be successful, your YouTube channel has to be different.
There are literally hundreds of these sort of channels on YouTube, as has been stated above, some are very average, some are very professional.
What would your channel offer that will bring in the subscribers?
He can present it naked and smothered in honey with a wasps nest nearby?There are literally hundreds of these sort of channels on YouTube, as has been stated above, some are very average, some are very professional.
What would your channel offer that will bring in the subscribers?
We're onto something here folks...
It’s an interesting question. What seems to be working at the moment is perceived-to-be-nice folk doing up cars. See Mat Armstrong, Dean (Saving Salvage), Chris Slix, Adam Smith, Salvage Rebuilds (Chris and the other bloke). Their subscriber numbers are growing exponentially and in the case of Dean, Chris, Adam and Chris/other bloke (sorry - don’t want to be rude to the other bloke but I can’t remember his name!) they are doing things that we’d all like to do, and indeed can do. It’s the attainability of what they’re doing that seems to appeal. You too can buy a car from Copart (or perhaps like Ratarossa from anywhere in the globe, although I find his content mildly disinteresting) and create the car of your dreams. I think if you have a modest budget that is the way to go (ignoring Mat Armstrong’s well-earned riches) but as someone posted above, perhaps we’re at saturation. People like Shmee and STG have money behind them so you probably can’t compete with them. Jayemm has worked really hard to get to where he is, but that’s probably a limited set of viewers. Harry Metcalfe has the financial clout to be really open and honest so with limited budget that space is also probably unattainable. Maybe try to emulate No 27 or Petrol Ped? But for me their uploads lack something that relates to the less cash rich.
w1bbles said:
It’s an interesting question. What seems to be working at the moment is perceived-to-be-nice folk doing up cars. See Mat Armstrong, Dean (Saving Salvage), Chris Slix, Adam Smith, Salvage Rebuilds (Chris and the other bloke). Their subscriber numbers are growing exponentially and in the case of Dean, Chris, Adam and Chris/other bloke (sorry - don’t want to be rude to the other bloke but I can’t remember his name!) they are doing things that we’d all like to do, and indeed can do. It’s the attainability of what they’re doing that seems to appeal. You too can buy a car from Copart (or perhaps like Ratarossa from anywhere in the globe, although I find his content mildly disinteresting) and create the car of your dreams. I think if you have a modest budget that is the way to go (ignoring Mat Armstrong’s well-earned riches) but as someone posted above, perhaps we’re at saturation. People like Shmee and STG have money behind them so you probably can’t compete with them. Jayemm has worked really hard to get to where he is, but that’s probably a limited set of viewers. Harry Metcalfe has the financial clout to be really open and honest so with limited budget that space is also probably unattainable. Maybe try to emulate No 27 or Petrol Ped? But for me their uploads lack something that relates to the less cash rich.
It's odd you mention Petrol Ped, as his channel was the one that prompted me to ask this very question. I stumbled upon a video of his where he reviewed a Megan RS 300 Trophy.And that's what made me think, how are these people making careers, obtaining press cars etc. Content was cookie-cut, flat. He seems an okay-ish person but nothing where I thought "I want to ingest more of his content when it crops up".
The over saturation is what's off putting about investing time in this scene. Building/restoring cars is something I would have no confidence in, nor something viewers would be interested in seeing!
There's a USP somewhere.
I might just dive in. Review my car with an interesting topic and see where it lands.
It’s very late now so I’ll keep this brief but the uploads I enjoy most are the European trips where 1,000+
Miles in a car provide both genuine insight into living with it combined with some great scenery and some adventure. How about road testing every car on the NC500? Or on the Duke’s pass? I’ll take my royalties later! Best of luck with it.
Miles in a car provide both genuine insight into living with it combined with some great scenery and some adventure. How about road testing every car on the NC500? Or on the Duke’s pass? I’ll take my royalties later! Best of luck with it.
I've written about my two consuming interests(cars/motorsport and angling ) since the 80s, and written three books . It is hugely rewarding , but don't think you'll make any money from it . I earned far more for magazine articles in the 90s than I would now , because nobody wants to pay for content and hardly anyone buys magazines or books any more. The car press is very, very difficult to break into . I'm now happy doing on line book reviews , and the website I work for is popular enough that I get free review copies but writing really needs to be seen to be its own reward
How much have you done OP ? Because the one thing needed to write well is practice , practice and more practice . You need to develop your writer's muscle and - critically - your own voice . Otherwise you'll sound like I did when I started - a bad parody of writers I admired.
How much have you done OP ? Because the one thing needed to write well is practice , practice and more practice . You need to develop your writer's muscle and - critically - your own voice . Otherwise you'll sound like I did when I started - a bad parody of writers I admired.
It seems that people who have a way with words can still gain an audience on a platform like Twitter but I suspect you have to be able to use the site constantly to be able to join in threads or react in a timely manner.
Youtube at least has zero barriers to entry, you can just film something on your telephone - and if your content is interesting then you can build an audience.
There seem to be plenty of 'semi professional' youtubers who have a day job for 3 or 4 days a week and Youtube for the weekends and other days.
All you need is to have an interesting enough life or enough contacts to make a video once or twice a week without fail.
Youtube at least has zero barriers to entry, you can just film something on your telephone - and if your content is interesting then you can build an audience.
There seem to be plenty of 'semi professional' youtubers who have a day job for 3 or 4 days a week and Youtube for the weekends and other days.
All you need is to have an interesting enough life or enough contacts to make a video once or twice a week without fail.
w1bbles said:
It’s an interesting question. What seems to be working at the moment is perceived-to-be-nice folk doing up cars. See Mat Armstrong, Dean (Saving Salvage), Chris Slix, Adam Smith, Salvage Rebuilds (Chris and the other bloke). Their subscriber numbers are growing exponentially and in the case of Dean, Chris, Adam and Chris/other bloke (sorry - don’t want to be rude to the other bloke but I can’t remember his name!) they are doing things that we’d all like to do, and indeed can do. It’s the attainability of what they’re doing that seems to appeal. You too can buy a car from Copart (or perhaps like Ratarossa from anywhere in the globe, although I find his content mildly disinteresting) and create the car of your dreams. I think if you have a modest budget that is the way to go (ignoring Mat Armstrong’s well-earned riches) but as someone posted above, perhaps we’re at saturation. People like Shmee and STG have money behind them so you probably can’t compete with them. Jayemm has worked really hard to get to where he is, but that’s probably a limited set of viewers. Harry Metcalfe has the financial clout to be really open and honest so with limited budget that space is also probably unattainable. Maybe try to emulate No 27 or Petrol Ped? But for me their uploads lack something that relates to the less cash rich.
Are the guys mentioned above, like MA but with a smaller budget lol? Because that's what I was thinking along the lines of. I love the MA videos, but they're of course unobtainable for us mere mortals... so I'd like to see the same but with <£10k budgets or at least <£50k. But maybe that's been done too, I'll have to check them out.I think one important point to remember is this:
I've watched 100's if not 1000's of hours of motoring Youtube content with zero cost to me. i get enough of a fix of motoring news from free content on Autocar/Car magazine/ Evo without spending a penny. Using a decent Ad blocker i don't even get affected by sponsorship adverts every 5 minutes either.
If i did want to read more, then i'd subscribe to most of those magazines via Readly at £7.99/month. That's what your competing against to a degree.
Driving advertising or sponsorship revenue from your online content is something that would happen over a significant time period. You need to establish credibility, saleability and audience size to a level where advertisers would come to you.
I've dropped all my car magazine subscriptions now for years - last one was Octane about 2 years ago.
Only car content i pay for is The Intercooler, which is excellent. It's £50 a year and the amount of content is increasing over time.
https://www.the-intercooler.com/ . Website and mobile app subscription.
So out of all the motoring material out there, there is only one site i'd happily pay for. It's a tough game. Good luck.
I've watched 100's if not 1000's of hours of motoring Youtube content with zero cost to me. i get enough of a fix of motoring news from free content on Autocar/Car magazine/ Evo without spending a penny. Using a decent Ad blocker i don't even get affected by sponsorship adverts every 5 minutes either.
If i did want to read more, then i'd subscribe to most of those magazines via Readly at £7.99/month. That's what your competing against to a degree.
Driving advertising or sponsorship revenue from your online content is something that would happen over a significant time period. You need to establish credibility, saleability and audience size to a level where advertisers would come to you.
I've dropped all my car magazine subscriptions now for years - last one was Octane about 2 years ago.
Only car content i pay for is The Intercooler, which is excellent. It's £50 a year and the amount of content is increasing over time.
https://www.the-intercooler.com/ . Website and mobile app subscription.
So out of all the motoring material out there, there is only one site i'd happily pay for. It's a tough game. Good luck.
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