It’s no secret that making great TV shows about
overland exploring is why I was put on this Earth. Well, at least I think so.
This month I posted a video about a really great
4x4, that had lots of accessories attached to it. It was built as an example of
what can be done by this company. But once the video was put up on YouTube,
they weren’t happy. They felt it was a negative reflection on them that the
vehicle was now so seriously overweight and that its C of G was so high, it was
unpleasant and unsafe to drive.
From my point of view, there are two ways of
looking at it.
Firstly, the vehicle is a showcase of what can
be done. “Look at us. We can do a lot of really cool stuff.” In truth, the equipment
was not designed all to be fitted to the same vehicle. There is no surprise
that it’s so heavy. As a showcase, it looks stunning, but the beauty is skin
deep.
The other way
of looking at it is, if an experienced accessory maker does that for themselves,
then why wouldn’t they do it for a customer? And they wouldn’t. They know that
it is overweight. Hence their valid concern that it could be construed the
wrong way.
This begs the question, should they have done it
at all? Surely it would have been better to build the ‘perfect’ vehicle, and get
everything right. In this example, they lost site of the package in an effort
to show off its bits, and it sends mixed messages. It is actually an excellent
example of how too much gear can ruin a vehicle. And this is the message I was
trying to get across in the video.
I acquiesced and removed the video and replaced
it with my comments about the vehicle’s weight issues removed. I did this
because it was paid advertorial. I am ashamed to announce that it is the very
first time in over 200 4x4 videos and TV shows that I have done this.
I commented about the weight because weight
issues are important when designing an overland truck. And I wanted to share my
experiences. Because that’s what I do. But in this case, I couldn’t.
My shows have to be financed. They are not overly
expensive to produce because I do most of the work myself, but they are not
cheap either, largely because of the distance required to shoot them.
Since I made my first series in 2005, motor and
accessory manufacturers have sponsored my shows. But, as an unbreakable rule, I
will not have my work ‘passed’ before it goes on air. As a result, I have struggled
to find backers and been blacklisted my more than two motor manufacturers
because they were truly put out by a negative comment. These include Land Rover
the first Discovery-2 and its appalling traction-control that digs great holes
in the ground to get grip. And the Ford Ranger V6 auto of 2006, which remains
the worst 4x4 I’ve ever driven. These scars take a long time to heal, even
though in both cases I have reviewed their later models without any significant
criticism because they no longer deserved it.
As a result, it has become more and more
difficult to get sponsorship. This is despite my audience growing like never
before, due largely to my YouTube channel. In July this year, it was averaging
1,2 million views a year. Not high in a global sense, but exceptional when it
comes to niche interest videos. Today, the average exceeds 2,1 million views a
year – that’s 6000 a day. The growth is phenomenal. This is part because I’m
now attached to a top multi-channel network to promote the shows, and the
regular stream of videos I’ve been creating.
This growth begs a question. If I uploaded all
my shows (an additional 76 full-length episodes), not currently on YouTube, what
would happen? YouTube ad revenue is so small that it doesn’t really count. It
would just about pay to insure my 4x4. But there are two other significant
outcomes that may results.
The channel gets so big that manufacturers come
to me and ask me (not visa-versa) to use their vehicles. And then I can set the
terms. The secondly is Patreon.
Crowd funding is now commonplace and known as
much for its failures as its spectacular successes. Patreon is a crowd funding
system that will permit me to release all my previous work for all to see – for
free – and leverage a small amount from the most eager viewers. This will
enable me to produce more, better, and more exciting videos.
We released our Patreon campaign last Monday at 5pm.
By 6pm the nest day we had achieved our first modest goal of $100 per video.
This means that another 26 shows will be released on YouTube over the next six
or so months. The amazing thing is, this cost so far is being shared by only 29
people as many have chosen to pay way more than $1 for a video. They are
evidence of the magic of this system in that they have decided the value of the
content for themselves. Also, the beauty is that even those who don’t want to
pony up anything, still get to see the shows.
Our next goal is $500 dollars. Then it goes from
$1000 and the way up to $12000. To find out what is promised when that milestone
is reached, you will have to click here.
So, if you
enjoy the 4x4 shows I produce, please get involved, even in the smallest way.
Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a world of difference.
Or watch the video to find out more:
