After 2 years of making YouTube videos, I’ve got a little insight as to what works and what doesn’t… at least on my channel, that is. But my data is similar to what I’ve seen on most other channels. Want to know what types of videos are popular and unpopular?
Popular
- Videos about guitar setup
- Videos about working on guitars
- Videos about specific guitars, especially the Epiphone Les Paul
- Videos explaining how to use the HX Stomp (or other piece of gear)
- Comparison/Shootout videos
Unpopular
- Recording your own music
- Marketing your music
- Performing
- Making videos
Notice anything? The creative stuff doesn’t do as well as the non-creative stuff, at least on a general guitar channel. I’ve been following a pretty good songwriting channel now for about a year, and after a year they only have a few hundred subscribers. Weird, but it fits the pattern. This leads me to conclude that the world (or perhaps just the US) is full of people who buy guitars and sometimes work on them, but aren’t interested in performing and even less in recording. Bedroom players, they’re called. No judgement here. I love to play in my home, too. But to me it’s interesting… I bet if you found every guitar owner within 10 miles of your house and did a survey, 90% of them have never done a gig and 80% have never played with another musician.
Why do I care? Because they’re missing out. It’s FUN to do that stuff, once you get used to it. Do I have any answers? Hell no. I’m just presenting information. It’d be neat to figure out a way for these bedroom players to get out and perform, though. Most of them would grow to love it.
