Putting yourself out there
Being in front of the camera can be daunting, right? Here’s how to do it
We are into the thick of interviewing sign-ups for the MCN Accelerator programme (seriously, if you don’t already know what this is, I will scream ‘geT sUpercHarGed’ in your ears- ok sorry I mean, click through!), and I noticed that there are many candidates who have yet to start their YouTube channel. That’s totally fine (watch us answer some FAQs!), but you should at least show what you do on other platforms. For example, TikTok is a great way to show us your personality. And at the very least, you could show us your public Instagram profile. Unfortunately, there are many candidates that we can’t even catch a glimpse of how they look or what content they make as their social media accounts are private.
The thing is, I get it. Having a public Instagram profile, making a TikTok or even a 10 minute YouTube video, can be daunting. But if you are serious about being a content creator, you have to take the first step. Putting yourself out there. I could go on about what makes a content creator, but I’m very sure my colleagues Sherri, Javier, and the rest of the team, have covered it all. So let’s go back to the basics of ‘going public’. Whether or not your face appears on your content, it still has to be on a platform somewhere that’s accessible to all. Duh, right? Yes, Duh, but it’s often easier said than done.
And my advice? You just gotta not give an f- and do it!
A year and a half ago, I signed up for this job as a content producer, and that involved me producing content with myself in it. I would say I am comfortable in front of the camera, but still, putting out a 10-minute video can be nerve-wracking. Will people laugh at the way I speak? Am I not engaging enough to watch? Thousands of thoughts come to mind. But you know what? Everyone starts somewhere. Nobody starts out with a perfectly polished piece of content. Okay, maybe some, but most don’t! I don’t have to give you names, but I’m sure you know of the ‘embarrassing’ first videos of our top YouTubers. Shabby camera, funny hair, whack content. But they are where they are today because they took the leap of faith to put themselves out there.
Practice talking to yourself in the mirror or practice acting to your closest friends. When you think you’re ready, grab a camera and do a test run. If you don’t like what you see, do it again. Find your way to make it more comfortable for yourself to speak in front of an ‘audience’, then practice practice practice. And when you finally have your piece of raw content. It’s best not to be a perfectionist about it. Not implying that you should upload crappy content, but made an oopsie while talking? Could’ve used a better angle? Didn’t look your best? Do what you can in post-production and just move on! I can assure you, the more you do it and the more you practice, the better you will be at your craft. And the faster you will be at it too. YouTube’s all about the ‘authenticity’ innit? You‘ll be surprised — when you’ve built your community, they might just appreciate seeing your growth.
And most importantly, ignore the judgment. There will always be naysayers, and that’s something you have to be very clear about before you sign up for this job. Not everyone will love what you do, it is the way it is, but if they have nothing constructive to say, they’re just hating. Haters are gonna hate and you will never be able to change their mind. So, concentrate on the ones who actually matter — the people who appreciate what you do. Take their feedback, do better, give it back to them, and those are going to be your first steps to building a dedicated community.
After making weekly videos for the past 1.5 years, turning on a camera and talking to it is second nature to me. So really, we are always our harshest critics, sometimes you just gotta not give an f- and just do it!
