Would You Watch My YouTube Channel?

Hello! I have been MIA here for about two months now, but that's because I was working on an online show. (Here's to still doing some kind of work in my field.) But I wanted to come here and ramble a bit about something that has been on my mind for well...years.

I grew up on YouTube. I learned to do makeup on YouTube. I broadened my fashion sense through YouTube. I watched countless bootlegs of shows on YouTube. I watched vine compilations (when vine was wrongfully stripped from us) on YouTube. The point is, YouTube has played a big role in my life, and I think this can be said for a large portion of my generation as well. And although I've spent years on the website, I have never actively contributed to it.

I started a channel with my friend Caitlin, sort of as a joke, when we were around 12. It was called December Apples (RIP) and we did a bunch of friend tags and silly shit like that. It is gone now, do not go searching for it... or should I say, please don't search for it, because we never deleted it but we can't find the videos anywhere and we are terrified that they will resurface one day.

As I got older though, I refined my YouTube subscriptions to mostly beauty and lifestyle vloggers. As much as I have created my own distinct style, I can attribute much of my inspiration to women like Michelle Phan, Victoria from Inthefrow, Allana Davison, Julia Adams, and Zoe Sugg. I have studied their content unintentionally for years now. And I can't help but feel like I want to take a shot at it?

I'm an oversharer in real life, why not also on the internet? God, that made me cringe. See that's part of the problem with me, I kinda feel weird starting a channel? Like embarrassed to a certain extent? I know that is silly and I should just pursue things that I want to pursue without worrying about what others think, but at the same time, a channel needs viewers...

Isolation is another reason this is on my mind. Living out here on Long Island during quarantine, away from all of my friends, has not been ideal. I am 100% an extrovert and I am SUFFERING. I have found myself posting on social media platforms more than ever just for a semblance of interaction with others. Hell, I even made this blog in quarantine to get out of my own head and connect with people, so the thought of creating a small community on YouTube is really appealing to me.

There's also the documenting your life aspect that I have always envied. I am not the type of person to break out a camera at important events. I'm definitely the type that values experiencing more than documenting, but I'm also nostalgic as hell. Sooo maybe if I force myself to start documenting just a bit more, my older self will thank me?

Vlogging has certainly become the default for modern YouTube content creators; it seems like that is what YouTube audiences prefer nowadays. I have recently been obsessed with Nayna Florence's and Moya Mawhinney's calming, laidback, effortless, day-in-my-life style videos. Watching them makes me feel as though I could totally start creating content. And then add Kelly Stamps, whose dry humor and chaotic energy has skyrocketed her to YouTube stardom. She has made a slew of videos on why everyone should be starting their own channels.

The thing is, YouTube is without a doubt an oversaturated market. BUT I feel as though my journey with stage acting, combined with my love of natural/clean beauty and lifestyle alternatives, my eclectic fashion sense, and my struggling postgraduate status might make for some different, intriguing content? I feel like there might be a space for me in the market.

I don't know. I keep doubting that I could stick to a schedule and I keep putting off filming my first video because I don't have a Canon vlog camera, but what do you guys think? Would you like to see videos from me?

Because honestly, this is something I think I want to embark on. I've considered everything from makeup tutorials, to vlogs of auditioning and taking class in Manhattan, to college and post-grad advice, to lookbooks, to my vocal journey, to clean beauty suggestions/empties. I have a lot of ideas, I just need the impetus to bring them to fruition.

If I'm being totally honest, I also could use the extra income from working remotely. I feel like I watch so much YouTube that I'm LOSING money by not having a channel. Acting is tough in that you don't make money for a really long time (which shouldn't be the case but we live in a country that doesn't subsidize or support the arts). So actors have to take jobs in flexible industries because they need to support themselves while looking for performance opportunities, but they also need to be able to take off and do shows for months at a time once they book said opportunities. Working for myself and producing YouTube content would give me that flexibility in time and location.

Sooooooo wanna fuck around and.........like and subscribe?

xoxo

Nicki