To YouTube or not...a maker's question

Is what I make worth sharing online in videos?

Jul 06, 2020

This an exclusive story for Science-Fiction-Create subscribers (UPDATE: I’ve unlocked this story so anyone can now read it). As always, thanks for supporting me and my work. Liking what you see? You can show some added love by buying me a coffee here. ~JRC

Me in The Lab sporting protective eyewear - safety first, SciFiFriends.

Approx. 900 words; four minutes read time.

For this week's subscriber-only story, I thought I'd relate a quandary of mine. I’m considering creating and sharing video content as part of Science-Fiction-Create. But I don’t know for sure if this is the best next step - or even a good move at all.

As a maker, I love coming up with clever ways to create things. And occasionally I succeed - in being clever, that is. While I can publish these solutions in stories and still images, there's no substitute for a live-action how-to video. But am I YouTuber material?

Over the years, I've become a decent public speaker. And I know how to structure a talk, as well as a story. These can, in the ideal, translate into a well-scripted and choreographed online video. But there's a lot more to becoming a successful YouTuber than a good idea and a handle on storyboarding. For instance, do I have (or can I develop) the on-screen presence required? How do I keep it fun while making it real and substantive? Can I afford the time in my busy schedule to video myself while making stuff? And subsequent editing - will I have the time and skill to turn it into a decent show?

Finally, the biggest question of all: Is what I do of any real interest to others?

I've decided that I can handle the workload and am capable enough to create and edit the content. That doesn’t really concern me now. So I've begun with some improvements to The Lab to make it ready for primetime. These include enhanced lighting and adding a few much-needed tools. I've also cleaned up the space, decluttering to make working in there more efficient.

A look at The Lab - refreshed and better lit.

The new lighting system is excellent, although the steel scaffolding I built is admittedly over-engineered. This rig supports two new four-foot LED shop lights to complement the two existing ones. I can also hang video cameras and microphones from it as needed. As for the tool upgrades, these include a new multimeter, a drill press vice, and a new table saw (actually still deciding what to go with here). I've worked around not having decent examples of these for too long, so the new tools will both help with the builds as well as the videos. The right tool for the job is essential.

As for the space, it's no secret, "The Lab" is a fancy name for my garage. It's multi-use, and moving around bicycles and storage boxes can slow down my making. So I did some aggressive cleaning, recycling, and disposing to free up as much room as possible. I also rigged a nifty set of blinds to cover the open storage plan, concealing all the boxes and miscellany. These blinds - actually moving blankets - vastly improve the acoustics, another plus for any eventual filming.

The result of all this is a remarkably refreshed space.

Don’t look behind the curtain - there’s chaos back there.

While setting up the lighting scaffolding, I practiced filming myself. There is a whole art to doing a how-to well, and you can see both good and bad ones all over the internet. Giving it a shot myself was an eye-opener, for sure.

Without the proper camera stands and lighting, it was cumbersome. And I have to admit, a lot of what I shot was pretty wordy and dry. It reminded me of some of my science lectures back in the day. But it gave me an idea of what is possible.

The improvements that I made to The Lab will help with filming production value. I also feel that I can be a bit more natural on camera in the future. I'm thinking of how I speak with my son or good friends when we are together. If I can capture this "me" on video, I think it will be more enjoyable. Besides, no one wants to hear "Mr. Science" up there, droning away on the importance of proper soldering techniques.

I'll put some more practice in before I share anything, but I am encouraged.

As for the all-important premise of the YouTube Channel - I am thinking it would be a how-to show on making sci-fi film-based projects. These would show useful maker techniques while building amusing devices that replicate movie props and gadgets. This way there would always be a fantastical element to the shows - no woodshop birdhouses here. Instead, maybe a flux-capacitor from Back to the Future for your car?

I would also keep the projects real and "do-able" for the beginner makers out there. Some creators make amazing things in “how-tos,” but these projects need so many specialized tools that they are practically impossible. My plans would be well-executed and sometimes intricate, but include straightforward build options for the less-equipped makers out there. In this way, my videos could inspire people to pick up a few tools and try their hand at making. The tie-in with sci-fi culture and film would be the "hook."

Back to my original dilemma - whether to start sharing video content online or not. I'd say I am 85% in at this point. If I bailed on the idea now, the improvements and time I’ve put in thus far will still enhance my creating. So it wouldn’t be for not at this point. But I am leaning heavily towards starting the show.

What do you think? Are my ideas and builds (the little you’ve seen) YouTube material, or should I keep my mug pointed away from the camera no matter what?

If you believe I should explore this further, do you know of any how-to videos I should watch for ideas? What about projects you'd like me to tackle in a future episode?

I'd love some feedback. Please share in the comments or send me a note here.

Thanks for being a part of this. I appreciate you and your support.

Until next time, Science-Fiction-Create.

JRC

J ROBERT CLARK - MAKES

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