Are these Vloggers just a scam? SOL or Shmee etc???????
Discussion
dannyDC2 said:
Obviously I'd never say where it was, but I feel like it wouldn't be difficult to work out. I know there's no chance anyone would trawl through YouTube looking for targets, but I think I have the right to be cautious.
What do you lot reckon? Are other 'car vloggers' wary about where they keep their toys? I used to watch a lot of Mighty Car Mods, and those guys went for years working outside their house on a drive, even with the door number on display.
This is interesting and I know how you feel as I've been there, so have a few friends and we couldn't hack it.What do you lot reckon? Are other 'car vloggers' wary about where they keep their toys? I used to watch a lot of Mighty Car Mods, and those guys went for years working outside their house on a drive, even with the door number on display.
At the end of the day what you need to realise is if you're an internet influencer, people will want to get to know you and find you as you inspire them.
In my case, I'm a photographer, I started to garner a large Instagram audience (80,000) and people would be liking and commenting on my work. A few newspapers and online publications started to do interviews on me and I was getting invited to events or other things. I then got invited to a photography event hosted my Canon which I attended and people started to clock who I was. Loads of the people at the meet up where followers and would come and say hi, try to get me to follow them etc…
At the time I was doing photos for me, I was using Canon gear because I liked it and only went to the meet to make relationships with people at Canon and see what it was all about.
HUGE MISTAKE.
From then on people knew what I looked like, they’d see me in the street and say hi, they clocked what my personal instagram account was and tried to follow it, they'd send me emails asking for advice. Then I was at a party and a friend of mine introduced me to some people and said how I had a ton of followers etc…
It then became more about the Instagram and the numbers than about me and my photos.
My website was registered to my home and someone actually found that information and came round.
That led to me jacking it all in for about 18 months whilst I figured out what I was doing. Wether I was going to continue to be a Photographer or not. People started seeing me as an influencer rather than a photographer (different things) and I just had a bit of a meltdown.
I don’t interact online through public social channels with anyone I don’t know now. I’d take the personal space and keep it private but also be realistic and know that someone will figure out where it is and you may need to move.
The friends I talked about came off social and 'the internet' entirely and don't even have accounts or websites anymore and got themselves normal jobs where they're nobody.
A friend of mine who owns a supercar rental business has a purpose built unit in the middle of nowhere. They don’t drive the cars in and out, they go in the back of vehicle transporters so that nobody figures out whats going on because he values the privacy.
Edited by ashleyman on Tuesday 21st November 14:28
As an aside, if you're a fan of social media (or not) you'll enjoy this.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfHcpDVyFrI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfHcpDVyFrI
dannyDC2 said:
aji621 said:
yeah thats him! I love seeing his name pop up, ie i have a cold sore atm and he said this :Thats what i would do,but thats just me!and reminisce on the BOMB ASS TRIP u just came back from...RESPECT from somewhere out here in California Oldskool DA9 out! Its legal to medicate on trees out here in my home state of CALIFORNIA!"
haha best guy
Yeah it's the people like this who I love. Entertaining, and far away enough that the thought of meeting them IRL is never going to be an option. haha best guy
InitialDave said:
I don't get the fanboy angle really. I like chatting to people whose stuff I watch/read, but I never think of it as being anything other than discussing a shared interest. Maybe it's because I'm an arrogant b
d, and the concept of them being somehow my "better" doesn't enter my head, so I'm not going to be running around like a hyper preteen with my camera going "OMG I can't believe it's really him!" or whatever.
Just keep making videos on your own terms, about the things you want to. People can either watch them or not.
Nail=head! I just don't understand the fanboy angle either, for the exact reasons you've said. Maybe it is arrogance, I have no aspiration to be a big YouTuber hence never offering stickers or T shirts with my name on it. Just seems weird to me, and if anything it will attract the wrong "fanbase" if we can call it that (cringe!)d, and the concept of them being somehow my "better" doesn't enter my head, so I'm not going to be running around like a hyper preteen with my camera going "OMG I can't believe it's really him!" or whatever. Just keep making videos on your own terms, about the things you want to. People can either watch them or not.
I'd rather just piss about with my cars and make the odd video about it, long may it continue if I can get over the above. I've been thinking it for a while though. Maybe just thicker skin is required, and I'll have to explain to people that I don't want to be their friend.
If you tell people to p
s off at a track day and loose most your viewers then you still have your proper job , film making is a hobby so you can carry on regardless of it you have any viewers.Some of the others have to kiss ass because they need there channels to do well.
e30m3Mark said:
As an aside, if you're a fan of social media (or not) you'll enjoy this.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfHcpDVyFrI
For your own sake though don't watch that bodged up squashed distorted sound youtube version! Get a Netflix trial and watch it properly.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfHcpDVyFrI
ashleyman said:
dannyDC2 said:
Obviously I'd never say where it was, but I feel like it wouldn't be difficult to work out. I know there's no chance anyone would trawl through YouTube looking for targets, but I think I have the right to be cautious.
What do you lot reckon? Are other 'car vloggers' wary about where they keep their toys? I used to watch a lot of Mighty Car Mods, and those guys went for years working outside their house on a drive, even with the door number on display.
This is interesting and I know how you feel as I've been there, so have a few friends and we couldn't hack it.What do you lot reckon? Are other 'car vloggers' wary about where they keep their toys? I used to watch a lot of Mighty Car Mods, and those guys went for years working outside their house on a drive, even with the door number on display.
At the end of the day what you need to realise is if you're an internet influencer, people will want to get to know you and find you as you inspire them.
In my case, I'm a photographer, I started to garner a large Instagram audience (80,000) and people would be liking and commenting on my work. A few newspapers and online publications started to do interviews on me and I was getting invited to events or other things. I then got invited to a photography event hosted my Canon which I attended and people started to clock who I was. Loads of the people at the meet up where followers and would come and say hi, try to get me to follow them etc…
At the time I was doing photos for me, I was using Canon gear because I liked it and only went to the meet to make relationships with people at Canon and see what it was all about.
HUGE MISTAKE.
From then on people knew what I looked like, they’d see me in the street and say hi, they clocked what my personal instagram account was and tried to follow it, they'd send me emails asking for advice. Then I was at a party and a friend of mine introduced me to some people and said how I had a ton of followers etc…
It then became more about the Instagram and the numbers than about me and my photos.
My website was registered to my home and someone actually found that information and came round.
That led to me jacking it all in for about 18 months whilst I figured out what I was doing. Wether I was going to continue to be a Photographer or not. People started seeing me as an influencer rather than a photographer (different things) and I just had a bit of a meltdown.
I don’t interact online through public social channels with anyone I don’t know now. I’d take the personal space and keep it private but also be realistic and know that someone will figure out where it is and you may need to move.
The friends I talked about came off social and 'the internet' entirely and don't even have accounts or websites anymore and got themselves normal jobs where they're nobody.
A friend of mine who owns a supercar rental business has a purpose built unit in the middle of nowhere. They don’t drive the cars in and out, they go in the back of vehicle transporters so that nobody figures out whats going on because he values the privacy.
Edited by ashleyman on Tuesday 21st November 14:28
Last time anyone looked, vloggers weren't dying in their homes or cars.
Just keep clocking up the followers and bag the cash and fame.
Milk it to the max while you can.
Yipper said:
Sounds a bit melodramatic.
Last time anyone looked, vloggers weren't dying in their homes or cars.
Just keep clocking up the followers and bag the cash and fame.
Milk it to the max while you can.
I think there's a difference between milking it for all its worth and having people stalking your online presence to find out where you are. Last time anyone looked, vloggers weren't dying in their homes or cars.
Just keep clocking up the followers and bag the cash and fame.
Milk it to the max while you can.
It's good that he has the expectation it might happen. I didn't.
If you want to keep everything private then be realistic that someone may find out and tell others and ruin that for you.
Although shocked, I managed to get over my privacy invasion and get back on track with work and social and continuing stuff but other people I know couldn't handle it and they deleted themselves from being online all together,
Seen Through Glass is well in there with Ferrari.
He's constantly getting mentioned on the official FNEPR Twitter feed - https://twitter.com/FNEPR
He's constantly getting mentioned on the official FNEPR Twitter feed - https://twitter.com/FNEPR
e30m3Mark said:
Some folk clearly love all the attention and YT celebrity status and inflated sense of self importance with the hangers on. Good luck to them. Once you lose your privacy though, I doubt it's an easy thing to get back.
I've noticed a fair few reoccurring names/faces in the hangers on. Me and Adam have noticed people try to be our friend for example, then move on to another vlogger. It's bloody strange behaviour that's for sure. ashleyman said:
stuff
That's pretty deep, I get the sense that the feelings you had back then are quite similar to the ones I have now. Thanks for sharing. One of my good pals has given up on social media this year, I think if it wasn't for the 'dannydc2' side of things, I'd follow suit. Not sure I could ever get rid of my Instagram but Facebook annoys the crap out of me.
egor110 said:
In a way your in a better place than some of the other youtubers who try to make it a full time job.
If you tell people to ps off at a track day and loose most your viewers then you still have your proper job , film making is a hobby so you can carry on regardless of it you have any viewers.
Some of the others have to kiss ass because they need there channels to do well.
If you tell people to p
s off at a track day and loose most your viewers then you still have your proper job , film making is a hobby so you can carry on regardless of it you have any viewers.Some of the others have to kiss ass because they need there channels to do well.
jon- said:
I guess the problem is you can get weirdos whatever your level of "fame". It sounds like some of you have been unlucky, or more to the point lucky that you have a hardcore faithful audience. You must be doing something right.
Both fair points. I'd hate for it to be a full time job. I'll keep making the media, and leave the social part to the rest. Beefmeister said:
Another keyboard warrior. Fantastic.
Of course I know that. We all know Tom won’t be keeping the Aventador for long, so does he. So yes Lambo Pangbourne probably know that too and may even have a buyer lined up. But that was the case with his 720S too and he got burned so nothing can be banked on.
My issue is that the poster I quoted stated it as fact when it is far from that.
Mr Sensitive, how have you lasted on the internet this long? Of course I know that. We all know Tom won’t be keeping the Aventador for long, so does he. So yes Lambo Pangbourne probably know that too and may even have a buyer lined up. But that was the case with his 720S too and he got burned so nothing can be banked on.
My issue is that the poster I quoted stated it as fact when it is far from that.
Aww it warms my heart that you all keep wanting to comment about me. Feels like I’ve got real life internet friends. Anyone want a hug?
Anyway, there were a lot of people at the new Aston Vantage launch last night wondering who the compere was - Mr JWW!
He’s certainly done well to become more ‘mainstream’ with his Formula E coverage and GQ column and now this - quite a big deal to be picked to compere the biggest launch in Aston’s recent history.
Anyway, there were a lot of people at the new Aston Vantage launch last night wondering who the compere was - Mr JWW!
He’s certainly done well to become more ‘mainstream’ with his Formula E coverage and GQ column and now this - quite a big deal to be picked to compere the biggest launch in Aston’s recent history.
I had a youtube channel for a specific era and genre of music, it had tens of thousands of subscribers and millions of views.
As someone above mentioned, I had tons of people adding me on facebook and it just became a load of hassle.
Then some other DJ's tried to corner the market and it all got rather personal.
To cut a long story short, it ended up with people (including me) getting personal threats from fake accounts on youtube and facebook. Messages saying we're coming to your house etc, and yes, they did and had worked out where we lived.
One even said he had been sat outside for a few hours and then changed his mind.
I still have all of those messages saved just incase.
In the end all of the enjoyment had gone and I just deleted the whole channel. Best thing I ever did TBH.
Regarding the whole interviewing and meeting people thing, I also did a campaign via gofundme for a musician that got sampled millions of times yet never received any money. It went viral and ended up being HUGE.
It was bigger than I ever imagined, covered everywhere. BBC news website, BBC world service feature, NME, Rolling Stone, etc etc. They all wanted interviews, phone calls, everything. I just wasn't interested in any of it and didn't do a single one.
I got my best mate on board who was happy to do all the public stuff.
I've since removed hundreds of people on my facebook account and now just keep it to friends and family.
I've recently been thinking about just closing the whole thing down as I find myself using it less and less as time goes on.
As someone above mentioned, I had tons of people adding me on facebook and it just became a load of hassle.
Then some other DJ's tried to corner the market and it all got rather personal.
To cut a long story short, it ended up with people (including me) getting personal threats from fake accounts on youtube and facebook. Messages saying we're coming to your house etc, and yes, they did and had worked out where we lived.
One even said he had been sat outside for a few hours and then changed his mind.
I still have all of those messages saved just incase.
In the end all of the enjoyment had gone and I just deleted the whole channel. Best thing I ever did TBH.
Regarding the whole interviewing and meeting people thing, I also did a campaign via gofundme for a musician that got sampled millions of times yet never received any money. It went viral and ended up being HUGE.
It was bigger than I ever imagined, covered everywhere. BBC news website, BBC world service feature, NME, Rolling Stone, etc etc. They all wanted interviews, phone calls, everything. I just wasn't interested in any of it and didn't do a single one.
I got my best mate on board who was happy to do all the public stuff.
I've since removed hundreds of people on my facebook account and now just keep it to friends and family.
I've recently been thinking about just closing the whole thing down as I find myself using it less and less as time goes on.
I too wonder what these marketing teams are thinking with having some of these Youtubers at press launches, the target demographic for these performances cars are people like me (30+ with a decent job) however 90% (I am actually repeating this from what a well known producer for these guys told me) is teenagers!
If anything when I see these videos/instagram posts, it just puts me off the car completely. Case in point the Kia Stinger.
I was actually interested in this car and found it a welcome addition to the performance market (the Hyundai genesis is superior though and we don't get it, but I digress) right up until I saw all of these posts on social media. Now I have no interest in the car at all and just reflect on it in a negative manner.
Same now goes for all Mclarens, Lamborghinis and GT models of Porches.
Obviously everyone is different in this regard, but my point I am trying to make is that all of this social marketing with these 'instafamous' people is having a negative effect on the brands. Again not pulling this out of my backside, I have heard as such from many people who again are the target demographic.
Also don't get me started on the fake subs and views, you can artificially inflate figures for specific videos for just a few pounds in order to impress brands, lots of the big guys got started this way before YouTube clamped down on it earlier this year. Like the saying goes, gotta fake it to make it right....
I really think that this is just a phase and once the companies start looking at their returns, they will return to the more traditional approach.
Oh and never forget JWW selling out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxkiuhtFJS4&t
I got into an argument with him over this, he didn't seem to care that he was shilling for a scam company.
If anything when I see these videos/instagram posts, it just puts me off the car completely. Case in point the Kia Stinger.
I was actually interested in this car and found it a welcome addition to the performance market (the Hyundai genesis is superior though and we don't get it, but I digress) right up until I saw all of these posts on social media. Now I have no interest in the car at all and just reflect on it in a negative manner.
Same now goes for all Mclarens, Lamborghinis and GT models of Porches.
Obviously everyone is different in this regard, but my point I am trying to make is that all of this social marketing with these 'instafamous' people is having a negative effect on the brands. Again not pulling this out of my backside, I have heard as such from many people who again are the target demographic.
Also don't get me started on the fake subs and views, you can artificially inflate figures for specific videos for just a few pounds in order to impress brands, lots of the big guys got started this way before YouTube clamped down on it earlier this year. Like the saying goes, gotta fake it to make it right....
I really think that this is just a phase and once the companies start looking at their returns, they will return to the more traditional approach.
Oh and never forget JWW selling out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxkiuhtFJS4&t
I got into an argument with him over this, he didn't seem to care that he was shilling for a scam company.
Beefmeister said:
Aww it warms my heart that you all keep wanting to comment about me. Feels like I’ve got real life internet friends. Anyone want a hug?
Anyway, there were a lot of people at the new Aston Vantage launch last night wondering who the compere was - Mr JWW!
He’s certainly done well to become more ‘mainstream’ with his Formula E coverage and GQ column and now this - quite a big deal to be picked to compere the biggest launch in Aston’s recent history.
Nice to see you back.Anyway, there were a lot of people at the new Aston Vantage launch last night wondering who the compere was - Mr JWW!
He’s certainly done well to become more ‘mainstream’ with his Formula E coverage and GQ column and now this - quite a big deal to be picked to compere the biggest launch in Aston’s recent history.
Mr JWW is by far and away the most marketable of all the 'Tubers so no surprise there. He's far more likely to go on to bigger and better 'mainstream' things than any of the others.
Interesting read from the ‘fame’ point of view. My channel is much smaller and not car related, but went to an event recently and had quite a few people just coming up and saying hi. Felt a bit weird, but at the same time kind of cool as they were friendly and chatty. I dread the day, if it ever came, where there were weirdos just staring/stalking as someone mentioned above. What we love though is the interactions to share our passion with others
Got to say though, we’re very careful we don’t expose where we shoot because of the security thing...
Got to say though, we’re very careful we don’t expose where we shoot because of the security thing...
e30m3Mark said:
Do you not also have to obtain permission to film at most locations?
Should do, especially when doing it commercially. Those guys videos are commercial as they're advertising / earning money from it. A bigger production and you can guarantee they'll get stopped or asked to leave but when it's just one bloke and his car filming for himself, nothing wrong with that. The amount of times I've got away with shooting commercial images on location without permits because it's just me, model and 1 client whilst everyone else is either in the van or having coffee is countless. If all 17 of us was to come down to location and hang around you can guarantee we'd be told to get lost.
Had a fax from TGE earlier, he was asking if I knew anyone who wanted to buy a Lamborghini - grey one apparently, low miles etc. I’ve rustled up a few contacts for him, one being a slightly dubious car rental establishment based in Birmingham - they have lots of cash at disposal (allegedly).
Watch this space.
Watch this space.
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