Tag: youtube

Episode 71: Growing a D&D Brand with Nerdarchy

Episode 71: Growing a D&D Brand with Nerdarchy

Posted on by Tim Ludy

Greetings Entreprenerds!

My guests this week are Dave and Ted from Nerdarchy, a multiplatform content creator focused on Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop roleplaying games. They have over 3,300 videos on YouTube with advice, guides, reviews and other D&D related content. They also provide content through Patreon, blog posts, Nerdarchy merchandise, adventures and supplements, and last year fully funded their first Kickstarter for Out of the Box: Encounters for 5th Edition.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • 4:00 How Nerdarchy got started
  • 8:30 Creating an efficient production schedule
  • 12:30 Benefits of outlining videos
  • 14:00 Growing Nerdarchy into new channels
  • 19:00 Launching a successful Kickstarter for Out of the Box Encounters
  • 24:00 Organizing Nerdarchy the Convention and postponing to 2021
  • 29:00 Future plans for Nerdarchy
  • 31:00 Engaging with fans at conventions
  • 35:00 Building collaborations
  • 43:00 Importance of starting a business you are passionate about

Be sure to check out Nerdarchy at Nerdarchy.com and follow them on Youtube at Nerdarchy and Nerdarchy Live.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 66: Creating a Cosplay Book with Zonbi’s Workshop

Episode 66: Creating a Cosplay Book with Zonbi’s Workshop

Posted on by Tim Ludy

Greetings Entreprenerds!

My guest this week is Grace Herbert from Zonbi’s Workshop, cosplayer, YouTuber, and author of “The Cosplay Handbook: A Book of Costume and Prop Making Techniques”. Zonbi shares her experience from nearly 15 years of prop and costume making in over 150 YouTube tutorials. She was also a contestant on SyFy’s Cosplay Melee along with former guests KnowOne’s Designs and Marty LeGrow.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • 3:00 How Zonbi got started in cosplay and YouTube
  • 5:00 Monetizing a cosplay brand
  • 8:00 Writing “The Cosplay Handbook”
  • 10:00 The book publishing process
  • 15:00 Growing the Zonbi YouTube Channel
  • 20:30 Engaging with the cosplay community
  • 22:00 Filming SyFy’s Cosplay Melee
  • 28:00 Promoting Zonbi’s Workshop

Head to Zonbisworkshop.com to learn more and follow Zonbi’s Workshop on YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 61: Monetizing a YouTube Channel with How to Be a Great GM

Episode 61: Monetizing a YouTube Channel with How to Be a Great GM

Posted on by Tim Ludy

Greetings Entreprenerds!

My guest this week is Guy Sclanders, the host of How to Be a Great GM, a YouTube channel focusing on providing GM tips, guides and insights to improve roleplaying sessions as a game master and player character. He is also the Host and Dungeon Master for Wizards of the Coast’s live play Dungeons and Dragons show Descent Into Avernus Blood War and Ghosts of Saltmarsh Call of the Kraken. His second book, The Complete Guide to Nautical Campaigns, just completed its Kickstarter run at 259% funding.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

In this episode we discuss:

  • 3:00 How long it took to see success with YouTube
  • 9:00 Making YouTube a full-time job
  • 12:00 The Complete Guide to Creating Epic Campaigns and The Complete Guide to Nautical Campaigns books
  • 16:30 Launching a book through Kickstarter
  • 32:00 Evaluating and refocusing their projects
  • 37:00 Importance of doing what you love
  • 43:00 What monetization strategies haven’t worked
  • 56:00 Getting in front of new audiences
  • 1:01:00 Competition in the new YouTube space
  • 1:06:00 Best starting video and audio equipment
  • 1:11:00 Only create things you would buy

Be sure to follow How to Be a Great GM on YouTube and find Guy everywhere else at GreatGameMaster.com

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 59: Building a Cosplay Prop and Costume Business with Givewave Studios

Episode 59: Building a Cosplay Prop and Costume Business with Givewave Studios

Posted on by Tim Ludy

Greetings Entreprenerds!

My guest this week is Castro Yves from Givewave Studios, a prop and costume making studio offering tutorials, patterns, kits and commissions. His work has won cosplay contests and he is the Cosplay Shop Captain at Lowell Makes, a collaborative maker space in Lowell, MA.

You can find Castro in Episode 57: Fan Expo Boston Panel – Turn Your Geeky Passion Into An Entreprenerd Business

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

In this episode we discuss:

  • 5:00 Getting started in cosplay
  • 10:00 Tips for pricing work
  • 14:00 Lowell Makes studio space
  • 22:00 Marketing and finding new clients
  • 26:00 Offering different product tiers for different budgets and needs
  • 30:00 Creating cosplay tutorials for YouTube
  • 37:30 Future plans for Givewave Studios
  • 41:00 Don’t be discouraged because someone has done something before you

Be sure to follow Givewave Studios on Instagram and YouTube and check out his shop at GivewaveStudios.com If you’re in the Lowell or Boston area, come by Cosplay Fridays every Friday 6pm-2am at Lowell Makes.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 57: Fan Expo Boston Panel – Turn Your Geeky Passion Into an Entreprenerd Business

Episode 57: Fan Expo Boston Panel – Turn Your Geeky Passion Into an Entreprenerd Business

Posted on by Tim Ludy

Greetings entreprenerds!

If you missed our panel at Fan Expo Boston last weekend, we have the recording for everyone to get some great info on building their geek brand!

Why was Wayne Enterprises so successful? How did Ollivander make fine wands since 382 BC? If you’ve ever wanted to start a business, blog, podcast or other brand around your nerdy passion, this is the panel for you! Our group of geeky entrepreneurs will share the marketing, social media and branding tips needed to turn your geeky passion into a real business.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

Check out all our Boston Comic Con panelists:

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 39: Red Hood The Fan Series

Posted on by Tim Ludy

Greetings Entreprenerds!

My guest this week is Ian Lang, the co-creator and star of Red Hood: The Fan Series. Ian’s CD828 Studios and Tim Kou’s Method 2 Madness Films are co-producing the show featuring Red Hood in an original story with an original villain. Jason Todd will be joined by other members of the Bat-family including Nightwing, Damien Wayne, and Red Robin.

The first episode will premiere on YouTube on May 18th and you can follow them now for trailers and behind the scenes features.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

 

In this episode we discuss:

  • 3:00 How Red Hood: The Fan Series got started
  • 12:00 Why they decided to fund the series themselves vs crowdfunding
  • 15:45 Cosplaying and building the costumes for the series
  • 21:30 How the series was filmed
  • 25:00 How the fights were choreographed and filmed
  • 29:15 Promoting the web series and building an audience on social media and at conventions
  • 38:30 Cosplay and promoting the series at C2E2 2018
  • 49:30 Tackle your passion project, even if it fails

Be sure to follow Red Hood: The Fan Series on YouTube so you can see the first episode when it comes out May 18th and follow them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Also make sure to follow @CD828Studios and @Method2MadnessFilms for more updates on this and future projects.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 30: Late to the Party

Posted on by Tim Ludy

episode 30: late to the party

Greetings EntrepreNerds!

My guests this week are Robert and Vanessa from Late to the Party, a fellowship of movie fans that came together through time and space to get in on the online “party” through reaction videos, discussions, reviews and vlogs.

After creating reaction videos for the Collider Movie Trivia Schmoedown they became part of the competition and have competed multiple times. They recently won the Biggest Upset of 2017 in the 2017 Movie Trivia Schmoedown Awards.

Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, or YouTube…that’s right, this podcast is also special because it is the first episode available on YouTube!

In this episode we discuss:

  • 4:20 How Late to the Party got started
  • 14:20 Tips for video lighting, filming and editing
  • 16:20 Tips for cameras and video editing software
  • 20:05 How their channel content has evolved
  • 21:20 Getting over the awkwardness of taking videos and pictures in public and at conventions
  • 27:50 Focusing their videos around the things they love the most
  • 31:20 Joining the Movie Trivia Schmoedown
  • 32:35 Being an active fan
  • 39:20 Social Networking
  • 43:20 Finding the right social networks for your audience
  • 53:20 Future plans for Late to the Party
  • 102:50 Being genuine

All the linky goodness:

Be sure to follow Late to the Party on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Stardust and everywhere else social medias are sold.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 28: Kazplay

Posted on by Tim Ludy

kazplay cosplay

Greetings Entreprenerds!

My guest this week is Laura aka Kazul from Kazplay. She is an amazing cosplayer focusing on beasts and creatures. Her Hogger cosplay was recently the Blizzcon 2017 Costume Contest Winner. She details all of her creations in helpful video and picture tutorials.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • 7:30 How Kazul chooses new projects
  • 8:20 Competing in cosplay competitions like Blizzcon and tips for first timers
  • 12:30 Turning Kazplay Into a Business
  • 17:45 Creating Cosplay Project Hashtags and Promoting Kazplay on Social
  • 23:30 Creating Quality Youtube Videos
  • 29:00 Running Cosplay Panels
  • 36:30 Monetizing Kazplay through products and patterns
  • 44:05 One piece of advice for someone just starting out

Here are the links to everything we talked about:

Be sure to check out Kazplay on Youtube, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for cosplay tutorials and information about upcoming conventions and view the items she has for sale on her Etsy.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

 

 

Episode 25: Nerdy Curiosities

Posted on by Tim Ludy

episode 25 nerdy curiositiesGreetings Entreprenerds!

My guests this week are Roni, Jaime, and Rachel from Nerdy Curiosities. After coming together through the NerdHQ community at San Diego Comic Con; Roni, Jaime, Rachel and Jen started a blog to share their nerdy interests and hobbies. The blog covers Nerdy Reports with the latest headlines in pop culture and comic conventions, Nerdy Designs with nerd fashion, accessories and cosplay, and Nerdy Eats for nerd-inspired food and drink recipes.

Their non podcast podcast, Nerds R Us, also interviews other nerds and makers.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

In this interview we talk about:

  • How Nerdy Curiosities grew from the Nerd HQ fan community
  • Challenges of organizing the non podcast podcast
  • Reaching out to guests for Nerds R Us
  • Benefits of covering Comic Cons from a fan’s perspective instead of press
  • Reporting from smaller panels at Comic Cons
  • The absence of NerdHQ at San Diego Comic Con 2017
  • How to avoid internet and real life trolls

Be sure to check out Nerdy Curiosities at NerdyCurious.com and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 21: Make Em Laugh Films and Viera Comics

Posted on by Tim Ludy

Episode 21: Make Em Laugh Films and Viera Comics

Greetings Entreprenerds!

My guests this week are Jason and Peter from Make ‘Em Laugh Films and Viera Comics. I first met Jason and Peter at Boston Comic Con last month where they interviewed me for their cosplay interview video and Peter agreed to be interviewed by me for my Boston Comic Con Recap Episode.

Make ‘Em Laugh Films is a group of YouTube stars/popular cosplayers with a simple mission…to bring you endless laughter! Their videos have been featured on IMDb, Cinema Blend, Comicbook.com, Comic Book Resources, the Richest and more! As cosplayers, they regularly attend conventions across the nation to network with likeminded people, film new videos and host panels.

Their base of operations is Viera Comics, owned by Peter. The comic book shop in Melbourne, FL hosts regular events and has gained national recognition thanks to the great work of Peter and Jason.

We talk about a lot of great topics including:

  • How they come up with ideas and film their YouTube videos
  • How to build a cosplay community
  • Attending comic conventions
  • The importance of consistency in creating YouTube content
  • Doing panels at Comic Cons
  • Much more

Here are the links to some of their videos from Boston Comic Con and their event this weekend:

Be sure to check out Make Em Laugh Films on YouTube and give them a follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and head to Viera Comics and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!