Being a Watch YouTuber PROS / CONS

Niche content is hard. Watches are niche content. It is round or rectangle, it tells time and sometimes other things, it can or can't get submerged in water, it will or won't look good at your cousin's wedding, etc.

When you produce any content of any kind, either video or print, you will hear disproportionately from critics, the keyboard snipers.  Your fans, family, and allies will stay mostly silent so it will appear that you are constantly being heckled and that your act is bombing.

We need more voices and opinions out there, not fewer. Keeping doing it.  If you ever sell out, sell out gloriously, name a child Hans or something, go big.

I might have judge your channel abruptly…I will give it a go with an open mind…🍻🤝

Thanks for the perspective, it's easy to sit in the cheap seats and criticize, but it takes courage, and discipline to sit down and make content. 

I've heard a couple of other YouTubers mention that they pretty much only accept watches that they expect they will like, so clearly the review will be generally positive, and a bit biased. If I had a channel I'd also be looking for things that interest me, and avoid things I know I am unlikely to enjoy. 

As much as some people complain that watch reviewers are too positive, or too easy on brands they like, I doubt many would watch a channel that just bashes everything... The likelihood of their favourite brand/watch getting bashed would be too high. 😉

Thank for doing what you do. 

I appreciate your reviews, and have watched a few of them.  I understand the approach that you take with your reviews, and I'm sure that a fair bit of folks love the way that you approach them.  Respectfully, I find your reviews to be a bit too -- loud and manic for my tastes.  I guess I'm just an old fuddy duddy at this point.

Haha, I am a subscriber and I like your unique way of Watch review. Keep up the good work.

It can't be easy being a watch reviewer, because your content is ultimately determined by somebody else, and many watch enthusiasts are somewhat opinionated. So in that regard, I'm certainly grateful for online reviewers.

You're the man, Russ! Keep doing what you are doing and your channel will grow rapidly. Best of luck my friend!

ps. You above Squale is a keeper 👌🏼

Love your content Russ.  Keep up the good work mate.😃

You are the reason I am here on WatchCrunch - keep up the good work!

Because of this post I checked out your channel and watched your video on the King Seiko, and I must say your videos are very amusing! Keep it up 💪

I completely appreciate your zany style and wacky skits, etc. It’s a nice contrast among watch YouTube channels. I’ve never specifically looked forward to hearing what a reviewer says about a caseback or bezel until I found your channel! 

You are absolutely biased and mad….that’s why I pay attention to your “what the wife said” section. 😀

Russell!!! You're the best my friend!! So glad you started your channel and so happy for your continued success! Keep going! 👊

appreciated what you re doing. keep up the good work and be yourself 👍

Brilliantly said comment my friend. Thank you very much . It’s a fine line Sometimes!;) 

Thank you for sharing your experience. It must be tough to come up with, and create, all content for your channel. I’m not a subscriber but I have seen  many of your posts. Your style is a bit overwhelming for me. However, if I’m inte right mood, I find them terrific. What you got is your own style and that is great. In a positive way, you stand out doing your own thing. Your passion for watches shines through your videos. I always felt your opinions beeing genuine in your reviews. In the long run that is a slippery slope to keep it that way. I suspect it must be a challenge to stay objective when any Youtuber  want to take ”the next step” with their channel. But for the moment you feels solid.

Must ad that I really appreciated your SOTC presentation on TGVs channel. You made a very genuine and sincere impression. 

What is the weirdest sponsor request you have gotten?

Great entertainment! I'd watch more of your videos, but I can only watch them when my wife is not around. She complains more about your style than she does Nico - too manic for her taste.

Keep on keeping on.

Thanks!

You definitely bring the entertainment to your YT channel.  

I was a car nut before I was a watch nut.  One of the successes of Top Gear is that it wasn't a car focused show; it was a SHOW that always included cars.  It really was about being a fun show first and the cars were there for the ride (irony).  So you didn't necessarily have to be a car enthusiast to be entertained by the show.

What's great about your videos is I feel like they are entertaining even if you aren't as watch obsessed as the members of this forum.  And as a non-YouTuber I can only imagine the amount of work and editing it takes to put all the segments together.  It really is a creative approach you've taken.  

Not that the other YT channels with their different styles are easier to produce or interesting in their own way (TGV is part history channel lesson, part watch review and definitely helped really develop my appreciation of these small wrist worn machines).  

So no pressure but we're expecting more fun videos from you. 🙂

I decided to include a Casio in this post because seems appropriate.  

I don't think there is a more difficult space to play in than the watch community. You have very vociferous echo chambers with entrenched battle lines drawn up (Rolex vs Omega vs Grand Seiko). You have enormously high prices being paid for antiques and speciality watches. Sometimes, people are making important choices with their life savings, marking significant events in their lives. So the stakes (social and financial) can get pretty high. And with the internet being a place of manufactured conspiracy and outrage, you have to tread carefully (remember Adrian's announcement that Zenith was copying Rolex).

I think you do a pretty good job of making light of it all, and you're very much needed. Keep up the good work!!

I don’t think it’s push back against you tubers as such, it’s more a public jadedness with influencers.

I can imagine it’s a bit of a tightrope balancing integrity and reward. 
Looking at your channel I can tell beneath the craziness you have enough of a moral compass to navigate the murky waters. Love the channel, it has a dose of 80s childhood TV nostalgia that brings me right back. Plus  “what the wife said” cracks me up every time.

I tend to avoid channels where the hosts are all on the corporate bandwagon. You can tell when your YT feed suddenly has 20 videos on the new Tudor Ranger or some other launch event. 
 

I can‘t find the video, but either on Jenni Elle’s or her husband‘s channel they had a good discussion on the whole influencer thing and why don’t really attend events much and they would only attend events if they paid their own way. I can see why it must be tempting and can see the dangers of being left out in the cold for the same influencers if they don’t play along.

Anyway, that’s why some you tubers get  the cynical eye. Still might watch them occasionally and appreciate the effort creators put in.

Love your content @MWC2020I appreciate the massive amount of thought and time that must go into your production. In the broader context of videos about tech and obsessions, your content stands out--it should be appreciated by people who don't care about watches. Reminds me a wee bit of Peter McKinnon, to be honest, in your energy and creativity. I think that if you wanted, you could branch out beyond watches.

IDGuy is a really good watch channel if you like design and history.

Russell your content is a breath of fresh air , thank you very much for all the time and effort you have put into everything. Particularly in the lock down, like me it got many of us through the hard times. Keep fighting the good fight mate. Keep it real and they will follow. Good Luck going forward.

Man, when we first saw your videos it was evident that you’d be hugely popular. Such an entertaining and unique spin on watch content. The community needed that, and we still do. It’s hard enough to consistently produce compelling, straight forward watch review videos, and you kick that up into overdrive with your production style! Look forward to your continued evolution!!!

I always been a Casio and G shock person. your reviews are  honest and fun to watch. Hey nobody is perfect out there and there will always be haters out there. But for sure most of us here thank you for what you do. Keep up the collection mate.

I miss those vids where Paul Pluta would profusely swear and absolutely roast a subscriber's collection. Was a good laugh.

I am a fan. I just like the off the cuff love of a great watch vibe. Bias... well.... who isn't? I like the energy and the passion. I'll watch someone review a watch I'd never buy just to see why they love that piece. I've even been influenced to at least try a watch on I never considered.  If they make something off of a review it's OK. Watches are luxury items = they all cost something & somebody has to get paid

Thanks! MWC2020 -I followed you into this WatchCrunch arena after you mentioned it on YT-very happy I did-it’s a great support group for this harmless (I hope) addiction.