As someone who has been a fulltime content creator for nearly 2 years, all I can say is that be smart with your money, cause this platform is just like any other business - volatility is unavoidable. Set aside some money to savings or invest, don't go crazy with expensive purchases and... write off anything you can as a business expense :P Most other content creators in my niche, we cover a single game and have become pretty wealthy but we all know that there's a high chance this business we're doing will not survive, just like most channels on RUclips and that's why if you're well off now, then set aside some of the revenue, so you can explore other projects and pursue other business ideas if the time comes and the channel becomes irrelevant. But your channel should has a bright future :D You are excellent at talking about board games, so as long people are buying them, you're gonna be fine just like Dice Tower :D
Your decision to go full time, your candidness in your recent videos, and your transparency in this one in particular is an inspiration. Having taken that same leap myself a few years ago into entrepreneurship (but not into content creation), I understand how scary it can be, especially with a larger-than-normal family to support. But at the same time, it can be exhilarating and rewarding (assuming it works out :) I applaud you and will continue to follow you as long as you can continue to do this. You have thanked your supporters a ton recently, but I would like to thank YOU for all you do for your viewers.
The fact that you are so open when it comes to all of this is immensely impressive Alex. As someone who has watched your channel for a few years I am always so touched by how you succeed in portraying yourself as such a relatable person in this RUclips space. It is evident that you love what you do and I am extremely happy that you have taken the leap of faith to be able to do what you love to do. I am a teacher and love every single day of work. My Mondays are great, and that is saying something. It is unfortunately quite rare to be able to live your passion, but waking up (almost) every single day and looking forward to work is a blessing. To be able to find that is what it is all about. I wish you all the luck in the world on your endeavors.
Found your channel because you were talking about a game I made (Paleo), and I stayed as irregular watcher. You just appear to be an honest, humble, overall great guy, your content is not too short, not too long, just the right amount of information. I was honestly surprised how much you need to spend in the US per year, but then I looked at my expenses, doubled it for my (existing) wife and again for (non existing) children, and... ok, feels about right. Germany is similar, except we have a health care system that deserves the name. ;) I was also surprised how much money you make through youtube, thank you for your honesty!, but well deserved, you're really putting a lot of work into this, and it shows. I wish you the best of luck with this risky step, may it pay out (quite literally)!
Kudos for being open about it. It's funny how different economies work. As a molecular biologist in the Netherlands I make a little bit more than half without taxes (vs the 100k), but I don't have 5 kids and health insurance is way different. I truly hope in a few years you make double you make now😁
I think you should demand a raise :) 100k canadian dollar is about 74k Euro. So its a lot but not at much as it seems at first (thought the same when I heared his numbers the first time, bute given the big family I think its totally reasonable)
@@sebastianh.9440 I calculated US dollars;) expenses are different in the states, and working in a public hospital also does not pay very well, but I can't complain 🤫
Hey Alex, just started watching your channel consistently a few months ago. I'm excited for you. You can do it. Win one for all the board game nerds still working our desk jobs.
You clearly work very hard. The sheer amount of content you pump out alone is insane. The way your inner monologue just pours out and your ability to deliver your train of thought and your empathy for people on both sides of the fence regardless of subject is unapparelled. I have thought about trying my hand at board game content a few times.. but I see the top content creators (yourself included) and just know that I wouldn't be able to bring something that you all already don't. I cannot imagine the sheer amount of hours that you pump into making these. I honestly think that it might even make board games less fun if I went down that path. Anyways, thanks for everything you do, your blatant transparency and just being you. You're gonna go far. Quack&Co Con isn't that far off I am sure.
Thanks for sharing. Taxes are a very interesting thing and something you should probably dig into sooner rather than later in your budgeting-you can deduct for some of your expenses now (camera, games, printer), but you also have to worry about insurance, the employer's part of social security, etc. If you don't already have a tax professional to consult with you might want to go get one for at least a one-time consultation. Best of luck!
You may need to be able to deduct your board games pledges on Kickstarter or other as a business expense. I’m an accountant (but not a tax accountant). I highly recommend you hire one (tax deductible as well 😜). Looks like you are working on that so good for you. About your channel, I like you when you review or talk about games I’m planning to pledge to. So yes I do not watch all your video, however I do appreciate your insights. Please continue and I wish you the best. Thanks Thierry PS: I made a commitment to myself after watching this video to view the full RUclips ads that show in your channel (that is my small contribution to your new endeavor) 😁
I think the hardest part when being self employed is insurance/medical costs. It is kind of insane.. I am rooting for you and all creators in the space to make it big because more creators usually also means more people watching in general, which means more people to play board games with!
@@garylangford6755 Not free. Paid for by the government via Tax Revenue. As high as 45%, right? That said, I wish we did this in America. Our health care system is a huge problem.
@@georgebell1684 Totally agree. This "system" we have in our country is set up to make obtaining actual obtaining health care incredibly burdensome...denial for pre-existing conditions for the elderly seeking medicare supplemental plans is back which means that a retired person who gets cancer would be subject to paying 20% of cancer treatment out of pocket ...which means for many they would be forced to die due to inability to pay. The number of people who simply get ground down in the process of trying to get care and simply give up is staggering, I would imagine, based on my own experience. My family has the ability to spend time battling with insurance companies and doesn't give up but the notion that our "healthcare" system would build in as a feature the process of spending hours arguing with insurance companies is unthinkable. It's the kind of thing that, if recorded in history, will be looked back at as an unimaginable horror...it's the kind of hell on earth that you would think would only be real in fiction...alas, it's the situation we are in and have to fight to get out of for the next generation.
@@georgebell1684 ahh very true. Yes the top tax bracket is 45% for those who earn above 180k aud. But those people don't need to worry about healthcare 😂. Our tax rates are quiet rough actually. 32.5% between 45k to 120k AUD.
I respect your transparency and wish you the absolute best of luck with your new journey in life! I just discovered your channel not long ago and have really been enjoying your content. Looking forward to the future!
I appreciate your gratitude and optimism during this stressful time of change for you. It’s refreshing in comparison to most other things on the internet. Best of luck to you.
Appreciate you taking the time to share. It definitely is telling when one of the popular content creators make a whopping 90-100K a year... In almost any other field, the most popular craters are probably making two three or maybe four times that
This is one of those things where your discussions here are going to help someone else, possibly more, do some serious mental math to see if this makes sense in their own lives, of content creator vs separate full time job. I imagine sharing this is also cathartic to you as well.
Great video! I'm following approximately 30 board game channels on youtube, way too many to watch everything...but your channel is one of the few that I consistently watch pretty much every day. Thank you for all the great content! :)
You will be fine. Just fine. Your humbleness and transparency are all testaments to your character. You've got greatness inside you sir. Best wishes...can't wait to see you soar.
Completely forgot to join the patreon after you last video which is now corrected. This was a super honest video and excited for you to start this journey as a full time board game content creator it is much deserved.
I'm really glad that this new venture is already so close to what you need and I'm sure that whatever gap still there will be overcomed really quickly. I'm really excited to see what you create and offer now that this is you day job. May you find it a lot more gratifying than you ever expected! Also, kudos to your family for their support, may they benefit even more than you from your wellbeing and enjoyment of this decision! Thank you for being open about where you are and what you are doing to get to where you want to be.
Alex, I applaud everything about this video, from your transparent take on equipment to finances. As you so aptly and correctly mentioned, this hobby is very small and with its boutique nature, I'm thrilled to see folks like yourself take the leap of faith and continue to interact with this great community and continue to provide excellent content. Thank you!
Happy to know that your situation isn't that bad, I was honestly worried ;) But you deserve all the support you get, you're the best ;). Can't wait for what's to come.
You are the real deal and I watch it all weekly. You are the first creator that I feel that I consume regularly enough that it would only be right to support your time and content. I just signed up for Patreon. Also while I like Quackealope as well, I can’t trust some of it because of the paid to play content - Jessie is unable to be honest about the product and that bugs me. I’m willing to put my money invested into you because I want your honesty!!
Thanks for this, it’s useful to see a) how much a major board game creator makes b) how much it costs be a board game content creator (never thought about printing out manuals being a measurable cost) c) how much it costs to live comfortably in the USA - as a Brit it’s hard to compare wages due to the different costs we each need to pay. Either way I hope you get to a position you can feel safe to take a nice holiday once in a while
Always appreciate when content creators are open about their finances. Found this listen really interesting. Taxes are definitely going to be tricky, so I’m happy to help out in my small way over on patreon. Keep up the great content.
Really exciting transition! I'll keep supporting you as long as I can. I don't remember how many subscribers you had when I first subscribed... but it was a much smaller number. :)
Hi Alex ! I started watching to your channel about 3 months ago, and I just wanted to say kudos for all the quality work you make ! Much respect as well for the transparency (I'm from a country where talking about money is not well seen) and the carrer choice ! Keep up the good work, it's a real pleasure to watch to your videos. Greetings from France !
Just became a patreon. With a kid and us moving to a different country, it’s what I can do now. It’s not much, but I hope it helps. (I only have 1 kid, cannot imagine 6 hahaha, what a hero you are). Your channel is the first thing I watch every morning. The joy it brings me to start the day positive is tremendous. Thank you Alex 😄 Do what you love. Keep on keeping on 🤘🤘 Spread the happiness and love for this hobby!
As someone working to find and build an audience for content, it is immensely interesting and helpful when creators are open about these types of things. Thanks Alex!
Thanks for sharing, even though you definitely don't need to. The candor is very much appreciated. Hoping that you continue to have success, and with this now having more of your attention, hoping for even greater things.
Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. I think the decision that you’ve collectively made to start in this adventure is such a wonderful one for your children (and others)-that you’ve thought about all aspects of the decision along with the worth of the quality of your work life. As a subscriber for a while, and a new (small) patron I appreciate that you frame contributions as support for content. It is a very reflective of what I have heard and seen from your videos over the past year+. But I for one, and I bet I am not alone, support you as a recognition of your humanity. How much of your thinking (and rambling🤣) you share. Giving us a glimpse of how a game plays while giving us a peek of your wonderful family. Watching you snuggle your little one, all while you engage us with your wonderings, understandings, and wrestling with complicated topics of the hobby (and their larger societal context). To sum up my own rambling, I wish you the best of luck and I am very excited to see all of your continued hard work, and their accompanying successes, unfold.
Regarding around 19:00 about upset people: the kind of people that would be upset about little stuff like that would have found something else to be upset about anyway. I appreciate this video. IMO I think some of the best things for hobbyist spaces like this is for everyone to be more transparent. Information empowers everyone, the information in this video alone may be able to help someone else navigate towards working for themselves as well.
I’m a new subscriber and I’m really enjoying your content. This was a great show. Love the honesty. I wish you the best and support you the best way I can.
Props to you for being as transparent as you were in this video. Not everyone is going to be able to quit their day job and do board game content full time, but I really do believe you willingness to share will inspire others to start creating content. Best of luck as you start this full-time journey and have confidence that with that additional time to work on BoardGameCo you will grow it to a bigger audience.
I have to say, this is probably my favorite video you have done. I loved how you opened up to this, and I can absolutely see the humbleness and gratitude you express throughout it. I also wanna say congratulations for going for the dream. With having a family it must of been a very hard decision to do this, however I truly believe it will pay off in so many ways for you. So once again congratulations and I wish you the best!
Thank you for being so informative and honest. A rarity today. It looks like you're on track to be successful at this RUclips thang. :-) I am very glad for you.
There is grace in being able to talk about being grateful to others. Don't feel bad in talking about the value you bring to the table, and asking viewers to recognize its worth if they can.
I think it's refreshing to see someone talk about this this open, so thank you for that. And I don't really care how much a content creator makes. As long as I see that the person is creating quality, isn't slacking off and entertaining me regularly I think it's worth it to back that person. Even if he's already making millions. Of course if I was tight on a budget I would probably try to focus on the one that might be making (a lot) less than someone else, but at the moment that is not the case for me.
I appreciate your rawness. You are extremely insightful and in depth with your explanations. Thank you for sticking your neck out there in order for us to get a better understanding of the financial part of it all. I know we were all at least a little curious.
A very Frank and honest discussion regarding earnings from this hobby and its appreciated to hear about it and learn more. You work really hard for it mind :)
So enlightening and inspirational.. we shouldn’t be afraid to have these conversations.. being just an average joe all I hear about is mukbang, kid/video game personalities grossing millions from RUclips and to hear real number was eye opening.. especially with someone with this much talent!! Glad to see the board game industry on the rise and you at the front of the line!! For sure this is pushing me to join as a patreon (even if I live in Steelers nation ;)
Damn, that's a lot of money on dentistry! We are lucky to have the NHS over here in the UK, my daughter will be getting braces and they will be free. Anyways, I watch a lot of your videos so it's about time I subbed.
I am firmly in the camp that a good color laser printer will quickly pay for itself in greatly reduced per page costs. I am my daughter are fans of the Brother printers and she has beat one to death for 7 years of schooling and its still running great. I have the same printer which has been used less often, but i have no complaints. Finally, thanks for the openness and the transparency. Very refreshing.
Great content. It’s fun, diverse and informative. Do what you enjoy! Don’t burn yourself out. As a person who enjoys this hobby and is burned out, it’s not worth it. Tightening the belt spending time with those important to you. So important. Wish I had done that 20 years ago.
Content creaters, such as yourself, are artist. You inform, yes, but you also create content that communicate to, from and about feelings, while interpritating a part of our world (ei a boardgame, an idea, or a mechanismn in the industri). So, you deserve whatever monetization-value you get from your art, no matter the how much - you earned it, just like a musician or painter would with their respective arts. Thanks for the contents!
Great money saving tip for anyone. Color ink cartridges for printers are expensive to replace. Buy refill kits (off Amazon or other retailers) for a few bucks and do it yourself. Just buy the right set for your printer and be careful because it can be messy.
You really have to love what you do, to take the risk you are taking. I love this hobby dearly, but not enough to ever to jump off that ledge. In some places (like Toronto) the cost of living is astronomical, the fact that you have to pull income from 3-4 different sources to barely get by would be too risky for me (and we're only a family of 4) . It's a lot easier to keep your 9-5 salary job with benefits, spend some extra money on board games and play on the side, then what you are doing. Kudos to you Alex, and good luck. I'm sure this video will serve as both an eye-opener, and inspiration to many.
Ah Toronto....where 100k wouldn't get you nearly far enough. The cost of a house alone would terrify most people. And thanks...I do love what I do and I'm optimistic it will work out.
Love your videos... very informative and you even provide timestamps... i'm a Business Analyst.. i feel like you were a BA at some point.. you look at it from a client (user) perspective.
“Bold move cotton.” Is what I thought when I heard you were thinking of making this video. As someone who constantly talks about how I love your transparency … I still grew concerned about this video. I do agree some things are not for everyone to know. But… having said that. This shared trust … that is why I keep talking about the transparency to begin with. It’s why I have such faith and trust in you in return. RUclips aside, you seem like a fantastic man person and I hope things work out well for you!!
I really appreciate your openness. This helps tremendously when people are looking for careers and opportunities on what to do with your life. In America it’s very difficult for young people to make decisions with what they want to do in life because money is a big “hush hush” and people can waste years in a career that is not economically feasible for what they want in life. Freakenomics did a podcast years ago about how beneficial it would be for society if everyone was open about their income. It allows people to have more knowledge and make better decisions and negotiate salaries. When all income is unkown it gives power to the owners of the company and less power to the workers.
I also have a family of 6 and I’m the sole financial provider. It would be difficult for us to live on $100k a year. Thankfully I have a job that pays well, but even making over $100k we don’t buy new cars, we have an affordable house, and we rarely take vacations. My respect for Alex has increased after watching this video and I’m definitely going to support him on Patreon now.
I’m just mid video… I’m an orthodontist /dental surgeon in Portugal I do retainers and surgery regularly and the most surprising part of what you just said is that it would have been cheaper to fly to Portugal and stay and have the dental work done by me than there!!! Jesus!!
@@BoardGameCo Keep the good work and content as always! I wish you all the best on this next stage of your life! ...and if ever your family feels like taking a vacation to Portugal I have a big enough house (and Boardgame collection) for you! ahah =) [and if you or your kids have a dental emergency I'm sure I can handle it =)]
Thanks for the info. I appreciate your openness. I've been curious about RUclipsrs fundage in a lot of different genres. I'm currently not working, but you'll be getting a few bucks from me here and there eventually!
I've always found the concept of people not wanting to share their compensation as weird. From a young age I was always told by my parents that it's rude to share this information as well as ask someone else this information. As I entered the workforce (for a pretty toxic company), I quickly learned that this was something that the employer pushed as well. We were specifically told we were not "allowed" (I put it in quotes because they cannot legally bar you from sharing this) to discuss compensation with employees. Why did our employer not want us to share our compensation with others? Turns out they habitually underpaid people and were afraid that knowledge would bring these people to ask for raises that they most definitely deserved. Some of these people made $10k - $15k/yr less than me, but worked way harder than I did and were just as good as me at my job (arguably even better). The only reason I made more money is because I knew the right people (by chance) and had the right ammunition to ask for solid raises (knew the person who wrote the internal report used by the executives to decide how much someone is "worth" to the company). Information is power. Don't be afraid to share it.
Hey Alex, Just to throw in an idea, although maybe you've already considered it even if you didn't mention it, you could do paid rules explanation videos and depending on the game if it fits, end the rules video performing some example turns and/or explain specific edge cases or summary of rules easy to miss.
Alex, I love how open, honest and transparent you seem. At first (like early COVID days) I was like who is this random guy showing up on my suggested feed??? Now, you’re in my normal rotation of Dice Tower, Shut up and Sit Down, and Alex from BoardGameCo (along with Shelf Clutter - cause of your shoutout - and Tantrum House). All I want from board game content creators is passion, knowledge and honesty and I definitely get that here - and you offer something different than other channels (at least that I’ve seen). I definitely supported you on Patreon, entirely for the value aspect and not for pity/charity. I do wonder some things as I watch this video tho… [edit: I guess just one thing? Lol] Is there a way to manipulate ads? Like changing ad frequency? I hate ads, sure, but it’s a (monetarily) free way for viewers to support creators financially. Also, I love how you explain why you’re hesitant to take sponsorships of any kind. I think anyone who is a regular viewer knows you enough that you’re not gonna come on here and praise a bad game because they’re paying you to do so. But instead you’re worried about being silenced from having an opinion while instead just basically showing ppl how to play the game. That’s interesting and I never thought about that aspect. I’m just like, Alex.. good grief man we trust you, just take the sponsorships already! (To be fair, I don’t speak for the rest of your fans but.. I mean, cmon)
21:21 I could have sworn you said 'ninety-two hundred a year' and my jaw hit the floor. I knew CA was more expensive than OH, but not that much. Whew! Lol My expenses are about the same as yours, maybe a little more (no kids but high property & income taxes and lots of hobbies) and I've also been thinking of making this plunge. Not sure I'm up for 11 videos per week however! Much respect. 🙂
Good luck I felt this video was more about your worries over your future credibility than money. Under point 4 you expressed your worry over being conflicted depending on your funding stream. Please stay authentic that's why people support you
Hi Alex. I appreciate the position you're in and admire the step you're taking. I'm in a reasonably comparable position with podcasting - working full-time, making enough on the side to be a half-time job plus, two kids, mortgage, etc. Burning the candle at both ends though. Anyway, you've become my main go-to board game youtuber. For that I owe you a patreon subscription, I believe - as well as my thanks, my admiration, and best wishes.
writing this 8 months later so far it seems to work for you and I am very happy for you it does . one of the reason I like your channel and the few others I watch is that you are very honest . explaining your situation helps to get a good idea where you stand with your ratings versus other channels who do no longer feel honest . at one time I mostly watch one channel and trusted the reviews but over time I more and more got the feeling that games where highly rated based on sponsoring and popularity and not really that good . I trusted that channel and bought some of the games only to find out they where clearly overrated . I will never again watch that channel as I lost complete trust . so I am realy glad that you and the few other channels excist as it really helps to find out enough about a game befor buying it .
Excellent video, Alex. I’ve always been impressed by the level of thoughtful analysis you bring to every game or topic you cover. I’m so impressed and heartened to hear you’ve made the switch to what you want to do. Please keep doing what you do and I’ll co to us to watch. Now I’m headed over to your Patreon :)
Now that I listened to the video. Thanks for giving us the advice. Cause I was thinking of doing what you are doing. But my day job cannot be overcome with creating content on RUclips. 50k-70k Would cut my income by more then half. And I have a family of 3 kids to support. I am going to increase my patreon pledge level, I really appreciate your economic viewpoints and honesty. You have always come at this hobby from an economic view point and it really helps. For example: I buy too many games and find that some games only get to the table once or I cannot find a group to play them and need to sell them. Luckily with your help many have been sold at a profit. Ohh very important. Start keeping spreadsheets. Or use quick books and start uploading receipts.
Thanks for this and all the other great content you create. I realize we aren't entitled to know about the financial side of things, but I always find that kind of information interesting, so thanks for the peek behind the curtain. I am glad you are ok and doing something you love, and hope you end up being even more successful than you could dream.
Last year I made $256K as a content creator (other account and not this genre). Only 3.7K was from youtube, (ad revenue doesn't pay very well). 34K was from patreon. The real money is in product sales, which accounts for over 217K, Every video has at least 1 product link in it. I don't necessarily push sales in the video, but it's there for those who want to buy & many do. If you look for or develop some product(s) of your own that may interest viewers to offer, and the money gap will go away.
Great advice! In other genres I watch the content creators often say that their money comes from some random side product they offer, not ad revenue. It doesn't need to be intrusive, just something extra for those who want it. I have seen various types of swag, books, cookbooks, etc.
@@BoardGameCo Make sure that whatever you link is youtube merchant approved to be able to put links directly into videos, both cards & end screens. It's the single biggest reason I earn so much from youtube. Description links are ok, but nothing beats having links in the videos themselves. If you have a website for your boardgameco business, you can get it easily approved and enjoy a substantial increase in sales. Best of luck!
i have just switched my whole channel to zv-1 btw ive been pretty pleased with it so far although i have had to learn photography at the same time as i switched from my phone its slowed me down but i have found the sony lav mic system i use with it a game changer and will be getting its true test at UKGE for the mics... i appreciate the chat about money as its something i have realised i need to start thinking about since upgrading gear as right now all it takes is one thing to break down and thats it. i never liked the idea of charging monthly and so far just use a buymeacoffee but the idea of a go fundme is becoming more appealing... great video! Stay Hexy!
what an excellent video! I think I speak for everyone when I say were all pulling for you and wish you tremendously successful in this venture. on a side note, Cleveland Ohio is a great place to visit and I'm grateful to say I had a number of friends who live in that part of the country. from what I can tell it's a wonderful place to raise a family and the down to earth people. also a passionate sports fan base there.
From an IT Support background, and my previous job supporting thousands of printers at a University: Buy HP or Xerox, they have the least problems (in that order). Go for the larger models, MFP can be very useful (we use scan to email constantly). Get laser, don't do inkjet or wax. We recently had to get one, bought a Xerox WorkCentre MFP from Costco for a decent price. Got the model without wifi, as the wifi dongle can be bought and plugged in for cheaper than the models with built-in wifi often.
What an absolute legend, can't say enough good things about being this open
Thank you 💓
The fact that u are open enough to talk about money makes me respect u for life bro.
Thank you Rich
Appreciate you and your openness in this awkward/messy conversation friend. So excited & respect for you and diving in this venture head first.
Thanks Alison, appreciate it!
As someone who has been a fulltime content creator for nearly 2 years, all I can say is that be smart with your money, cause this platform is just like any other business - volatility is unavoidable. Set aside some money to savings or invest, don't go crazy with expensive purchases and... write off anything you can as a business expense :P Most other content creators in my niche, we cover a single game and have become pretty wealthy but we all know that there's a high chance this business we're doing will not survive, just like most channels on RUclips and that's why if you're well off now, then set aside some of the revenue, so you can explore other projects and pursue other business ideas if the time comes and the channel becomes irrelevant.
But your channel should has a bright future :D You are excellent at talking about board games, so as long people are buying them, you're gonna be fine just like Dice Tower :D
Didn’t expect to see the Gacha Gamer here :)
Your decision to go full time, your candidness in your recent videos, and your transparency in this one in particular is an inspiration. Having taken that same leap myself a few years ago into entrepreneurship (but not into content creation), I understand how scary it can be, especially with a larger-than-normal family to support. But at the same time, it can be exhilarating and rewarding (assuming it works out :) I applaud you and will continue to follow you as long as you can continue to do this. You have thanked your supporters a ton recently, but I would like to thank YOU for all you do for your viewers.
The fact that you are so open when it comes to all of this is immensely impressive Alex. As someone who has watched your channel for a few years I am always so touched by how you succeed in portraying yourself as such a relatable person in this RUclips space. It is evident that you love what you do and I am extremely happy that you have taken the leap of faith to be able to do what you love to do. I am a teacher and love every single day of work. My Mondays are great, and that is saying something. It is unfortunately quite rare to be able to live your passion, but waking up (almost) every single day and looking forward to work is a blessing. To be able to find that is what it is all about. I wish you all the luck in the world on your endeavors.
Thanks Niclas, these kind of replies tend to mean the most to me.
Found your channel because you were talking about a game I made (Paleo), and I stayed as irregular watcher.
You just appear to be an honest, humble, overall great guy, your content is not too short, not too long, just the right amount of information.
I was honestly surprised how much you need to spend in the US per year, but then I looked at my expenses, doubled it for my (existing) wife and again for (non existing) children, and... ok, feels about right. Germany is similar, except we have a health care system that deserves the name. ;)
I was also surprised how much money you make through youtube, thank you for your honesty!, but well deserved, you're really putting a lot of work into this, and it shows.
I wish you the best of luck with this risky step, may it pay out (quite literally)!
Kudos for being open about it. It's funny how different economies work. As a molecular biologist in the Netherlands I make a little bit more than half without taxes (vs the 100k), but I don't have 5 kids and health insurance is way different. I truly hope in a few years you make double you make now😁
Thanks Riha :)
Not sure if the this is recognized in the Netherlands or not, but next week here in the US is national lab week, so happy early lab week to you. 😊
@@mdeezey1849 haha thanks, I'll take it 😁
I think you should demand a raise :) 100k canadian dollar is about 74k Euro. So its a lot but not at much as it seems at first (thought the same when I heared his numbers the first time, bute given the big family I think its totally reasonable)
@@sebastianh.9440 I calculated US dollars;) expenses are different in the states, and working in a public hospital also does not pay very well, but I can't complain 🤫
Hey Alex, just started watching your channel consistently a few months ago. I'm excited for you. You can do it. Win one for all the board game nerds still working our desk jobs.
You clearly work very hard. The sheer amount of content you pump out alone is insane. The way your inner monologue just pours out and your ability to deliver your train of thought and your empathy for people on both sides of the fence regardless of subject is unapparelled. I have thought about trying my hand at board game content a few times.. but I see the top content creators (yourself included) and just know that I wouldn't be able to bring something that you all already don't. I cannot imagine the sheer amount of hours that you pump into making these. I honestly think that it might even make board games less fun if I went down that path. Anyways, thanks for everything you do, your blatant transparency and just being you. You're gonna go far. Quack&Co Con isn't that far off I am sure.
Thank you Yeti, I tremendously appreciate it.
Thanks for sharing. Taxes are a very interesting thing and something you should probably dig into sooner rather than later in your budgeting-you can deduct for some of your expenses now (camera, games, printer), but you also have to worry about insurance, the employer's part of social security, etc. If you don't already have a tax professional to consult with you might want to go get one for at least a one-time consultation. Best of luck!
Yep, I'm working with a new one shortly
You may need to be able to deduct your board games pledges on Kickstarter or other as a business expense. I’m an accountant (but not a tax accountant). I highly recommend you hire one (tax deductible as well 😜). Looks like you are working on that so good for you.
About your channel, I like you when you review or talk about games I’m planning to pledge to. So yes I do not watch all your video, however I do appreciate your insights. Please continue and I wish you the best.
Thanks
Thierry
PS: I made a commitment to myself after watching this video to view the full RUclips ads that show in your channel (that is my small contribution to your new endeavor) 😁
I think the hardest part when being self employed is insurance/medical costs. It is kind of insane.. I am rooting for you and all creators in the space to make it big because more creators usually also means more people watching in general, which means more people to play board games with!
Thanks, medical we have independently already. But yes, figuring this all out will be a mess.
That's rough. In Australia we have free healthcare which everyone takes for granted
@@garylangford6755 Not free. Paid for by the government via Tax Revenue. As high as 45%, right?
That said, I wish we did this in America. Our health care system is a huge problem.
@@georgebell1684 Totally agree. This "system" we have in our country is set up to make obtaining actual obtaining health care incredibly burdensome...denial for pre-existing conditions for the elderly seeking medicare supplemental plans is back which means that a retired person who gets cancer would be subject to paying 20% of cancer treatment out of pocket ...which means for many they would be forced to die due to inability to pay. The number of people who simply get ground down in the process of trying to get care and simply give up is staggering, I would imagine, based on my own experience. My family has the ability to spend time battling with insurance companies and doesn't give up but the notion that our "healthcare" system would build in as a feature the process of spending hours arguing with insurance companies is unthinkable. It's the kind of thing that, if recorded in history, will be looked back at as an unimaginable horror...it's the kind of hell on earth that you would think would only be real in fiction...alas, it's the situation we are in and have to fight to get out of for the next generation.
@@georgebell1684 ahh very true. Yes the top tax bracket is 45% for those who earn above 180k aud. But those people don't need to worry about healthcare 😂.
Our tax rates are quiet rough actually. 32.5% between 45k to 120k AUD.
I respect your transparency and wish you the absolute best of luck with your new journey in life! I just discovered your channel not long ago and have really been enjoying your content. Looking forward to the future!
Thank you!
That you for such a great inside look at the world of being a RUclips content maker. You've answered many of my unasked questions.
Appreciate the transparency. You are amazing!
Thank you :)
I appreciate your gratitude and optimism during this stressful time of change for you. It’s refreshing in comparison to most other things on the internet. Best of luck to you.
Appreciate you taking the time to share. It definitely is telling when one of the popular content creators make a whopping 90-100K a year...
In almost any other field, the most popular craters are probably making two three or maybe four times that
Also to be clear, that's including other revenue outside youtube. RUclips, Patreon and Sponsorships are closer to 60-70k
This is one of those things where your discussions here are going to help someone else, possibly more, do some serious mental math to see if this makes sense in their own lives, of content creator vs separate full time job. I imagine sharing this is also cathartic to you as well.
Thanks :) and yep....talking in general is a good thing.
Great video! I'm following approximately 30 board game channels on youtube, way too many to watch everything...but your channel is one of the few that I consistently watch pretty much every day. Thank you for all the great content! :)
After watching from the beginning I finally created a Patreon account and subbed! Keep up the good work man!
Thank you for everything you do! Can’t wait to see where you take the channel as you move forward
Thanks Ashley.
You will be fine. Just fine. Your humbleness and transparency are all testaments to your character. You've got greatness inside you sir. Best wishes...can't wait to see you soar.
Thanks for the update and sharing. Hope things continue on an uphill trend!
Thank you John!
I'm so proud you have made the leap! Well done sir! I am super excited to see what the next year has in store for you. Cheers
Thanks Nicole!
Completely forgot to join the patreon after you last video which is now corrected. This was a super honest video and excited for you to start this journey as a full time board game content creator it is much deserved.
Thank you Beorn!
I'm really glad that this new venture is already so close to what you need and I'm sure that whatever gap still there will be overcomed really quickly. I'm really excited to see what you create and offer now that this is you day job. May you find it a lot more gratifying than you ever expected! Also, kudos to your family for their support, may they benefit even more than you from your wellbeing and enjoyment of this decision! Thank you for being open about where you are and what you are doing to get to where you want to be.
Thanks Vrarimor, I really appreciate it.
Alex, I applaud everything about this video, from your transparent take on equipment to finances. As you so aptly and correctly mentioned, this hobby is very small and with its boutique nature, I'm thrilled to see folks like yourself take the leap of faith and continue to interact with this great community and continue to provide excellent content. Thank you!
Thank you Joseph!
Happy to know that your situation isn't that bad, I was honestly worried ;) But you deserve all the support you get, you're the best ;). Can't wait for what's to come.
Thanks Pierre!
You are the real deal and I watch it all weekly. You are the first creator that I feel that I consume regularly enough that it would only be right to support your time and content. I just signed up for Patreon. Also while I like Quackealope as well, I can’t trust some of it because of the paid to play content - Jessie is unable to be honest about the product and that bugs me. I’m willing to put my money invested into you because I want your honesty!!
Thank you! I appreciate it greatly.
So well deserved my friend! Keep it up!
Thanks for this, it’s useful to see
a) how much a major board game creator makes
b) how much it costs be a board game content creator (never thought about printing out manuals being a measurable cost)
c) how much it costs to live comfortably in the USA - as a Brit it’s hard to compare wages due to the different costs we each need to pay.
Either way I hope you get to a position you can feel safe to take a nice holiday once in a while
Thank you Andrew
Always appreciate when content creators are open about their finances. Found this listen really interesting. Taxes are definitely going to be tricky, so I’m happy to help out in my small way over on patreon. Keep up the great content.
Thank you Bill, and ya, taxes are going to be the tricky part to plan around.
Found your channel because of this video, I appreciate you bringing in some data and providing so much info!
This is one of your best videos. Thank you.
Thank you Muriel.
Really exciting transition! I'll keep supporting you as long as I can. I don't remember how many subscribers you had when I first subscribed... but it was a much smaller number. :)
It's been a long journey :)
Hi Alex ! I started watching to your channel about 3 months ago, and I just wanted to say kudos for all the quality work you make ! Much respect as well for the transparency (I'm from a country where talking about money is not well seen) and the carrer choice ! Keep up the good work, it's a real pleasure to watch to your videos. Greetings from France !
We appreciate you! Love the channel, ty for your love of games. Ty for your honesty
Thank you :)
Just became a patreon.
With a kid and us moving to a different country, it’s what I can do now. It’s not much, but I hope it helps. (I only have 1 kid, cannot imagine 6 hahaha, what a hero you are).
Your channel is the first thing I watch every morning. The joy it brings me to start the day positive is tremendous. Thank you Alex 😄
Do what you love. Keep on keeping on 🤘🤘
Spread the happiness and love for this hobby!
As someone working to find and build an audience for content, it is immensely interesting and helpful when creators are open about these types of things. Thanks Alex!
Glad it was useful, and good luck!
A board game asmr channel I was thinking of making, damn you beat me to it.
Very interesting and something I always wondered. Thank you for sharing!!
Happy to :)
Hey Alex, I appreciate your honesty and transparency. I'm excited for the opportunities that lie ahead of you!
Thank you!
Thank you love your videos been watching you for a while my first time leaving a comment !
Thanks for sharing, even though you definitely don't need to. The candor is very much appreciated. Hoping that you continue to have success, and with this now having more of your attention, hoping for even greater things.
Thank you Richard.
Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. I think the decision that you’ve collectively made to start in this adventure is such a wonderful one for your children (and others)-that you’ve thought about all aspects of the decision along with the worth of the quality of your work life. As a subscriber for a while, and a new (small) patron I appreciate that you frame contributions as support for content. It is a very reflective of what I have heard and seen from your videos over the past year+. But I for one, and I bet I am not alone, support you as a recognition of your humanity. How much of your thinking (and rambling🤣) you share. Giving us a glimpse of how a game plays while giving us a peek of your wonderful family. Watching you snuggle your little one, all while you engage us with your wonderings, understandings, and wrestling with complicated topics of the hobby (and their larger societal context). To sum up my own rambling, I wish you the best of luck and I am very excited to see all of your continued hard work, and their accompanying successes, unfold.
Love your channel and I'm excited to see what you can do in this space full time. I hope selfishly I get to play some more games with you as well.
I'm down every week now :)
Regarding around 19:00 about upset people: the kind of people that would be upset about little stuff like that would have found something else to be upset about anyway. I appreciate this video. IMO I think some of the best things for hobbyist spaces like this is for everyone to be more transparent. Information empowers everyone, the information in this video alone may be able to help someone else navigate towards working for themselves as well.
As always, I am a huge fan of your sincerity and authenticity.
Thanks Cobi.
I’m a new subscriber and I’m really enjoying your content. This was a great show. Love the honesty. I wish you the best and support you the best way I can.
Thanks Steve
Good for you! I hope up can keep doing this!
Props to you for being as transparent as you were in this video. Not everyone is going to be able to quit their day job and do board game content full time, but I really do believe you willingness to share will inspire others to start creating content. Best of luck as you start this full-time journey and have confidence that with that additional time to work on BoardGameCo you will grow it to a bigger audience.
I have to say, this is probably my favorite video you have done. I loved how you opened up to this, and I can absolutely see the humbleness and gratitude you express throughout it.
I also wanna say congratulations for going for the dream. With having a family it must of been a very hard decision to do this, however I truly believe it will pay off in so many ways for you. So once again congratulations and I wish you the best!
This is a great video! Looking forward to your future content!
Thank you for being so informative and honest. A rarity today.
It looks like you're on track to be successful at this RUclips thang. :-) I am very glad for you.
There is grace in being able to talk about being grateful to others. Don't feel bad in talking about the value you bring to the table, and asking viewers to recognize its worth if they can.
I think it's refreshing to see someone talk about this this open, so thank you for that. And I don't really care how much a content creator makes. As long as I see that the person is creating quality, isn't slacking off and entertaining me regularly I think it's worth it to back that person. Even if he's already making millions. Of course if I was tight on a budget I would probably try to focus on the one that might be making (a lot) less than someone else, but at the moment that is not the case for me.
I appreciate your rawness. You are extremely insightful and in depth with your explanations. Thank you for sticking your neck out there in order for us to get a better understanding of the financial part of it all. I know we were all at least a little curious.
A very Frank and honest discussion regarding earnings from this hobby and its appreciated to hear about it and learn more.
You work really hard for it mind :)
Thank you!
If someone has RUclips Premium, and doesn't see ads, how does that affect you ad revenue when they watch your content?
So enlightening and inspirational.. we shouldn’t be afraid to have these conversations.. being just an average joe all I hear about is mukbang, kid/video game personalities grossing millions from RUclips and to hear real number was eye opening.. especially with someone with this much talent!! Glad to see the board game industry on the rise and you at the front of the line!! For sure this is pushing me to join as a patreon (even if I live in Steelers nation ;)
big respect for this kind of video
Thank you.
Damn, that's a lot of money on dentistry!
We are lucky to have the NHS over here in the UK, my daughter will be getting braces and they will be free.
Anyways, I watch a lot of your videos so it's about time I subbed.
Appreciate it :) And yes....it is a lot. The joys of the US.
Thank you for this genuine video Alex! Love you man! 😊
Appreciate it
I am firmly in the camp that a good color laser printer will quickly pay for itself in greatly reduced per page costs. I am my daughter are fans of the Brother printers and she has beat one to death for 7 years of schooling and its still running great. I have the same printer which has been used less often, but i have no complaints.
Finally, thanks for the openness and the transparency. Very refreshing.
Great content. It’s fun, diverse and informative. Do what you enjoy! Don’t burn yourself out. As a person who enjoys this hobby and is burned out, it’s not worth it. Tightening the belt spending time with those important to you. So important. Wish I had done that 20 years ago.
Content creaters, such as yourself, are artist. You inform, yes, but you also create content that communicate to, from and about feelings, while interpritating a part of our world (ei a boardgame, an idea, or a mechanismn in the industri). So, you deserve whatever monetization-value you get from your art, no matter the how much - you earned it, just like a musician or painter would with their respective arts.
Thanks for the contents!
Alex tackles the topics no one else in the board game spare dares to!
For bette or for worse :)
Thanks for the transparency. I was always curious how much are publishers paying for a sponsored runthrough.
It ranges by publisher and content creator, there's a large range.
Great money saving tip for anyone. Color ink cartridges for printers are expensive to replace. Buy refill kits (off Amazon or other retailers) for a few bucks and do it yourself. Just buy the right set for your printer and be careful because it can be messy.
Thanks :)
Just became a patreon supporter. Should've done it a while ago. Thanks for all of your hard work and congrats on being able to quit your day job!
You really have to love what you do, to take the risk you are taking. I love this hobby dearly, but not enough to ever to jump off that ledge. In some places (like Toronto) the cost of living is astronomical, the fact that you have to pull income from 3-4 different sources to barely get by would be too risky for me (and we're only a family of 4) . It's a lot easier to keep your 9-5 salary job with benefits, spend some extra money on board games and play on the side, then what you are doing. Kudos to you Alex, and good luck. I'm sure this video will serve as both an eye-opener, and inspiration to many.
Ah Toronto....where 100k wouldn't get you nearly far enough. The cost of a house alone would terrify most people.
And thanks...I do love what I do and I'm optimistic it will work out.
It requires a lot of courage to open your heart like that 👏🏻👏🏻 hope everything going fine for you
Thank you
Look into the Epson Eco Tank. You won’t regret it. You’ll save a TON in ink.
That's the one I have picked out :)
Love your videos... very informative and you even provide timestamps... i'm a Business Analyst.. i feel like you were a BA at some point.. you look at it from a client (user) perspective.
Yep, in my prior jobs analytics and data were huge aspects
“Bold move cotton.” Is what I thought when I heard you were thinking of making this video. As someone who constantly talks about how I love your transparency … I still grew concerned about this video. I do agree some things are not for everyone to know. But… having said that. This shared trust … that is why I keep talking about the transparency to begin with. It’s why I have such faith and trust in you in return. RUclips aside, you seem like a fantastic man person and I hope things work out well for you!!
Thank you Bryan....this is definitely one of those videos that even when done, I debated whether to post it.
@@BoardGameCo I’m glad you ignored that I wrote “man person” 😂 🤦♂️
I really appreciate your openness.
This helps tremendously when people are looking for careers and opportunities on what to do with your life.
In America it’s very difficult for young people to make decisions with what they want to do in life because money is a big “hush hush” and people can waste years in a career that is not economically feasible for what they want in life.
Freakenomics did a podcast years ago about how beneficial it would be for society if everyone was open about their income. It allows people to have more knowledge and make better decisions and negotiate salaries.
When all income is unkown it gives power to the owners of the company and less power to the workers.
I wanted to say the same thing but you beat me to it lol. Fully agree with you.
Very interesting video, keep it up. Family of 6 for me too and yes expenses can really vary. Wish you great success going forward.
I also have a family of 6 and I’m the sole financial provider. It would be difficult for us to live on $100k a year. Thankfully I have a job that pays well, but even making over $100k we don’t buy new cars, we have an affordable house, and we rarely take vacations. My respect for Alex has increased after watching this video and I’m definitely going to support him on Patreon now.
Excited for your journey.
Likewise :)
We 'love' you too, Alex!!!
:)
Well done for doing this
Thank you!
I’m just mid video… I’m an orthodontist /dental surgeon in Portugal I do retainers and surgery regularly and the most surprising part of what you just said is that it would have been cheaper to fly to Portugal and stay and have the dental work done by me than there!!! Jesus!!
Bem dito! És de que zona?
@ Leiria
Lol totally fair...and yes, dental costs here are mad.
@@BoardGameCo Keep the good work and content as always! I wish you all the best on this next stage of your life! ...and if ever your family feels like taking a vacation to Portugal I have a big enough house (and Boardgame collection) for you! ahah =) [and if you or your kids have a dental emergency I'm sure I can handle it =)]
Probably true, but you also have to factor in that these expenses are tax deductible (if done right), so you have to drop 15-30% for the real cost.
Thanks for the info. I appreciate your openness. I've been curious about RUclipsrs fundage in a lot of different genres. I'm currently not working, but you'll be getting a few bucks from me here and there eventually!
Thank you!
Have you thought about making a Discord Server? Give your patreon members a special role. You could grow a community.
I've always found the concept of people not wanting to share their compensation as weird.
From a young age I was always told by my parents that it's rude to share this information as well as ask someone else this information. As I entered the workforce (for a pretty toxic company), I quickly learned that this was something that the employer pushed as well. We were specifically told we were not "allowed" (I put it in quotes because they cannot legally bar you from sharing this) to discuss compensation with employees. Why did our employer not want us to share our compensation with others?
Turns out they habitually underpaid people and were afraid that knowledge would bring these people to ask for raises that they most definitely deserved. Some of these people made $10k - $15k/yr less than me, but worked way harder than I did and were just as good as me at my job (arguably even better). The only reason I made more money is because I knew the right people (by chance) and had the right ammunition to ask for solid raises (knew the person who wrote the internal report used by the executives to decide how much someone is "worth" to the company).
Information is power. Don't be afraid to share it.
Hey Alex,
Just to throw in an idea, although maybe you've already considered it even if you didn't mention it, you could do paid rules explanation videos and depending on the game if it fits, end the rules video performing some example turns and/or explain specific edge cases or summary of rules easy to miss.
Alex, I love how open, honest and transparent you seem. At first (like early COVID days) I was like who is this random guy showing up on my suggested feed??? Now, you’re in my normal rotation of Dice Tower, Shut up and Sit Down, and Alex from BoardGameCo (along with Shelf Clutter - cause of your shoutout - and Tantrum House). All I want from board game content creators is passion, knowledge and honesty and I definitely get that here - and you offer something different than other channels (at least that I’ve seen). I definitely supported you on Patreon, entirely for the value aspect and not for pity/charity.
I do wonder some things as I watch this video tho… [edit: I guess just one thing? Lol]
Is there a way to manipulate ads? Like changing ad frequency? I hate ads, sure, but it’s a (monetarily) free way for viewers to support creators financially.
Also, I love how you explain why you’re hesitant to take sponsorships of any kind. I think anyone who is a regular viewer knows you enough that you’re not gonna come on here and praise a bad game because they’re paying you to do so. But instead you’re worried about being silenced from having an opinion while instead just basically showing ppl how to play the game. That’s interesting and I never thought about that aspect. I’m just like, Alex.. good grief man we trust you, just take the sponsorships already! (To be fair, I don’t speak for the rest of your fans but.. I mean, cmon)
21:21 I could have sworn you said 'ninety-two hundred a year' and my jaw hit the floor. I knew CA was more expensive than OH, but not that much. Whew! Lol My expenses are about the same as yours, maybe a little more (no kids but high property & income taxes and lots of hobbies) and I've also been thinking of making this plunge. Not sure I'm up for 11 videos per week however! Much respect. 🙂
Lol thanks :)
Good luck I felt this video was more about your worries over your future credibility than money. Under point 4 you expressed your worry over being conflicted depending on your funding stream. Please stay authentic that's why people support you
I plan to. Thanks Cecil.
Good open insight Alex, think people on the outside would be shocked how little we make as content creators
Yep
Hi Alex. I appreciate the position you're in and admire the step you're taking. I'm in a reasonably comparable position with podcasting - working full-time, making enough on the side to be a half-time job plus, two kids, mortgage, etc. Burning the candle at both ends though.
Anyway, you've become my main go-to board game youtuber. For that I owe you a patreon subscription, I believe - as well as my thanks, my admiration, and best wishes.
writing this 8 months later so far it seems to work for you and I am very happy for you it does . one of the reason I like your channel and the few others I watch is that you are very honest . explaining your situation helps to get a good idea where you stand with your ratings versus other channels who do no longer feel honest . at one time I mostly watch one channel and trusted the reviews but over time I more and more got the feeling that games where highly rated based on sponsoring and popularity and not really that good . I trusted that channel and bought some of the games only to find out they where clearly overrated . I will never again watch that channel as I lost complete trust . so I am realy glad that you and the few other channels excist as it really helps to find out enough about a game befor buying it .
Good luck and congratulations at the same time 👍
Thank you!
Excellent video, Alex. I’ve always been impressed by the level of thoughtful analysis you bring to every game or topic you cover. I’m so impressed and heartened to hear you’ve made the switch to what you want to do. Please keep doing what you do and I’ll co to us to watch. Now I’m headed over to your Patreon :)
“Continue to watch” - darn fat texting fingers :)
Thank you !
Now that I listened to the video. Thanks for giving us the advice. Cause I was thinking of doing what you are doing. But my day job cannot be overcome with creating content on RUclips. 50k-70k
Would cut my income by more then half. And I have a family of 3 kids to support.
I am going to increase my patreon pledge level, I really appreciate your economic viewpoints and honesty. You have always come at this hobby from an economic view point and it really helps.
For example:
I buy too many games and find that some games only get to the table once or I cannot find a group to play them and need to sell them. Luckily with your help many have been sold at a profit.
Ohh very important. Start keeping spreadsheets. Or use quick books and start uploading receipts.
Best of luck to you. I know it must have been hard to make this jump.
Thanks for this and all the other great content you create. I realize we aren't entitled to know about the financial side of things, but I always find that kind of information interesting, so thanks for the peek behind the curtain. I am glad you are ok and doing something you love, and hope you end up being even more successful than you could dream.
Last year I made $256K as a content creator (other account and not this genre). Only 3.7K was from youtube, (ad revenue doesn't pay very well). 34K was from patreon. The real money is in product sales, which accounts for over 217K, Every video has at least 1 product link in it. I don't necessarily push sales in the video, but it's there for those who want to buy & many do. If you look for or develop some product(s) of your own that may interest viewers to offer, and the money gap will go away.
Great advice! In other genres I watch the content creators often say that their money comes from some random side product they offer, not ad revenue. It doesn't need to be intrusive, just something extra for those who want it. I have seen various types of swag, books, cookbooks, etc.
Thank you. There are a bunch of things in looking into but at the very least I plan on starting to put referral links into my videos more often.
@@BoardGameCo Make sure that whatever you link is youtube merchant approved to be able to put links directly into videos, both cards & end screens. It's the single biggest reason I earn so much from youtube. Description links are ok, but nothing beats having links in the videos themselves. If you have a website for your boardgameco business, you can get it easily approved and enjoy a substantial increase in sales. Best of luck!
i have just switched my whole channel to zv-1 btw ive been pretty pleased with it so far although i have had to learn photography at the same time as i switched from my phone its slowed me down but i have found the sony lav mic system i use with it a game changer and will be getting its true test at UKGE for the mics... i appreciate the chat about money as its something i have realised i need to start thinking about since upgrading gear as right now all it takes is one thing to break down and thats it. i never liked the idea of charging monthly and so far just use a buymeacoffee but the idea of a go fundme is becoming more appealing... great video! Stay Hexy!
what an excellent video! I think I speak for everyone when I say were all pulling for you and wish you tremendously successful in this venture.
on a side note, Cleveland Ohio is a great place to visit and I'm grateful to say I had a number of friends who live in that part of the country. from what I can tell it's a wonderful place to raise a family and the down to earth people. also a passionate sports fan base there.
From an IT Support background, and my previous job supporting thousands of printers at a University:
Buy HP or Xerox, they have the least problems (in that order). Go for the larger models, MFP can be very useful (we use scan to email constantly). Get laser, don't do inkjet or wax.
We recently had to get one, bought a Xerox WorkCentre MFP from Costco for a decent price. Got the model without wifi, as the wifi dongle can be bought and plugged in for cheaper than the models with built-in wifi often.
Thanks :)