I never even thought about making this a full-time career when I started in 2016. I just wanted a fun hobby/passion as a way to continue creating and maintain that spark that Sports Broadcasting gave me. I think it's a very sustainable career, if you're willing to put in the work and research it would take to make it happen.
1. Tell us about your background and journey.
I was always really inquisitive as a child. It's no surprise that I ended up studying Journalism at Rutgers University in my home state of New Jersey. My focus at the time was becoming a professional sports broadcaster, and I chased that dream for almost a decade.
I worked on both radio and television, covering every sport imaginable, from football, baseball, and basketball to field hockey and even wrestling (once)! I guess you could say, this prepared me for a future in social media/content creation.
2. When did you first decide you wanted to become a Travel Vlogger and How did you start?
I hit a wall with my broadcasting career in 2015, and decided to take some time away to see if I really missed it or not. I didn't. But I felt a real creative void in my life. In the Spring of 2016, I discovered a YouTuber named "Casey Neistat" who was making daily vlogs about his travels and life in NYC.
Naturally, I thought this would be super easy to replicate (spoiler: it wasn't) and document my journey moving to Spain for the summer. My first videos in 2016 were all about Spain, and then some other European travels, eventually transitioning to mostly covering my home of New York City.
3. Is Vlogging and YouTube content creation a financially sustainable career?
I never even thought about making this a full-time career when I started in 2016. I just wanted a fun hobby/passion as a way to continue creating and maintain that spark that Sports Broadcasting gave me. I think it's a very sustainable career, if you're willing to put in the work and research it would take to make it happen.
You're going to be busting your tail, shooting and editing crap videos that nobody is going to watch for a while. And if you can get over that initial hump and find a way to stand out, there's never been a better time than 2021 to make this a career. I've seen so much more opportunity this year than the first 3-4 combined.
4. Who is your favorite Vlogger and Why?
I'm a fan of "Bald and Bankrupt". I don't watch a ton of vloggers that I don't know personally, as I generally prefer to watch other types of content when I'm not creating it myself. Bald is unique, because he travels to spots that almost nobody would think to go to (Former Soviet Republics,etc.) and he keeps it entertaining.
He also does it without fancy editing, or the style of quick cuts that is so prevalent on YouTube today. It's just great content, and easy to digest. It's also so different from how I am when I travel, that it inspires me to want to push myself to explore more and talk to strangers. To really get to know the local cultures...
5. Being a Travel Vlogger, what has been the most memorable journey of your life?
As far as being on camera, while I've had nothing but amazing experiences exploring my home city of New York... one episode I shot in Puerto Rico really stands out because I met up with a viewer and we explored for a few days around the Island.
I used 5 different cameras (Big camera, point and shoot, IPhone, GoPro, and Drone) and managed to make it interesting. It also took me almost 2 days to edit, and something about doing it all myself while in a foreign place, it made me feel like I really made a difference.
The video also got tons of views, and while I'd like to say that views don't matter... the truth is it does validate us from time to time, especially if you put in a ton of work on the project. For some reason Puerto Rico really resonated with me, and I can't wait to return. That would probably be one of my favorite videos ever. Here's The Link to the Video :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9lvi5P0ma4&
6. What was the effect of lockdowns over your career?
The effect of lockdown was devastating to my YouTube channel (as it has been to many industries and people). In the span of 1-week I lost 40-50% of my views and my channel really flat-lined for a few months as interest in traveling to NYC was at a record-low.
At the same time, I pivoted my content towards more current events and "Life in NYC During COVID-19" and managed to maintain some interest. I see interest in returning to NYC by the day, as vaccines ramp up around the U.S.A and am optimistic for the entire tourism industry by the end of 2021 into 2022!
7. What piece of advice would u give to aspiring vloggers.?
I would tell them to create a list of videos they want to make first. If you have a list, you'll want to finish it and it will give you something to look forward to. Realistically it could take 6 months to a year before any of your videos even pops and your channel starts to see some traction.
Find out if long-form video creation is honestly for you. The amount of time commitment to a YouTube channel as a one-man band is intense. It takes hours to shoot, edit, and even create thumbnails and titles. There's many other mediums out there that could still scratch that video itch (TikTok for instance) and be less time restrictive.
I personally love the journey, from video concept, to planning, shooting, editing and then publishing. But it's not for everyone, and that's totally fine.
8. Which is your favorite book and why?
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle Answer: I have this book by my bed, and every time I open up a passage, it's exactly what I needed to read at that moment. He talks a lot about presence, and being in the moment. As a creator, there's no better advice than being present while editing and shooting.
In fact, I think that's one of the reasons I'm so passionate about video creation. It keeps me present while I'm working on it. I look around, for interesting details and have the viewer in mind constantly. I try to totally immerse myself in the experience.
Later on, time dissolves as I'm creating something new for the world to see from my laptop editing station. I also enjoy the passages about our egos as humans, and being someone that makes money off of views and subscriber count ,it's super important to be aware of. Thanks for having me. Stay safe everyone, and I'll see you all in NYC.
Youtuber And Travel Vlogger
Instagram id : @here.be.barr
YouTube Channel: Here Be Barr
Interviewed by : Aliza Hussain
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