Why are you such secure people?

remy

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2008
Messages
172
Reaction score
0
Location
New York
I just ordered a laptop that comes with a webcam, so I'll have my first opportunity to actually record myself and hear what I sound like. Anyway, you guys have been so helpful, and I'd love to show you the product of all your labor, but I feel like I'm too nervous to put anything on the internet of me playing! I was thinking at least I could send something to my mother, but even that is kind of scary.

At least when I play for people, it's kind of redeemable or forgettable if I screw up. If I send a bad video, they can just keep reminding themselves over and over how bad I am.

And do you ever worry that someone you know will find your videos, like a coworker? I would be very mortified if a student found mine. Not that I'm not super proud of my uking, but it's so hard for a young female professor to be taken serious anyway, so having me play a little pint sized guitar on the internet couldn't help matters, could it?

I'm not trying to argue with you, but for anyone who does post videos (and I love them! They are most of what I learn from), don't these things bother you? What are your thoughts about it?
 
Don't worry about it... who cares if other people c the vid and dont like it. You cant please everybody in the world. Just make a vid of an easy song first and realize how much fun it is. Ive made only two videos (have not uploaded yet) and had a great time editing and sharing with my close family members. Just have fun with it!

-Happy strum'n :music:
 
I just ordered a laptop that comes with a webcam, so I'll have my first opportunity to actually record myself and hear what I sound like. Anyway, you guys have been so helpful, and I'd love to show you the product of all your labor, but I feel like I'm too nervous to put anything on the internet of me playing! I was thinking at least I could send something to my mother, but even that is kind of scary.

At least when I play for people, it's kind of redeemable or forgettable if I screw up. If I send a bad video, they can just keep reminding themselves over and over how bad I am.

And do you ever worry that someone you know will find your videos, like a coworker? I would be very mortified if a student found mine. Not that I'm not super proud of my uking, but it's so hard for a young female professor to be taken serious anyway, so having me play a little pint sized guitar on the internet couldn't help matters, could it?

I'm not trying to argue with you, but for anyone who does post videos (and I love them! They are most of what I learn from), don't these things bother you? What are your thoughts about it?

i'm pretty much one step below u. i'm still saving up for a vid cam to put up vids. but i seriously can't wait. if ur proud of ur uking abilities play them for the world. ive only played for like 10 months but i play to anyone that will listen to me at work when on my break. i play for all my friends at the beach or even to strangers that just ask me to play when they see the ukulele. i'm a little bashful when it comes to the singing part i admit (not a good singer [to say the least]) but who cares.

And one of the best perks i would think about having a recording of urself is that u can just erase a mistake without n e one having to know about it.

i find that most people that don't really know much about the ukulele or people that are more accustomed to the guitar are super curious to find out how the uke works so i play it for them. don't be scared! have fun.
 
Hey, I'm a step below you.....got the camera, just too afraid to record anything.....posting it would terrify me, but I know I WILL do it soon....I hope...I think....maybe.....
 
It's definitely a process. The first one is definitely the hardest. The more you make, the easier it becomes and the better you become.

You could also do the headless videos until you are more comfortable....
 
Last edited:
And do you ever worry that someone you know will find your videos, like a coworker? I would be very mortified if a student found mine. Not that I'm not super proud of my uking, but it's so hard for a young female professor to be taken serious anyway, so having me play a little pint sized guitar on the internet couldn't help matters, could it?
I think there is a significant difference between people who work at regular companies or are self-employed, and those in public jobs such as education (more specifically, academics). Work and play used to be separable very well, but with the internets you can link different accounts, activities, pictures, addresses of one person together and find out a lot about them.

I think in your position it is wise to be suspicious about this and I would think twice before going online video-ing your musical escapades. Regardless of whether it is a mini-guitar you are playing, or not. That is the last thing you should worry about.
 
IAnd do you ever worry that someone you know will find your videos, like a coworker? I would be very mortified if a student found mine. Not that I'm not super proud of my uking, but it's so hard for a young female professor to be taken serious anyway, so having me play a little pint sized guitar on the internet couldn't help matters, could it?

Given what gets posted online these days, I'd say playing a ukulele is about as inoffensive as it gets. If you check YouTube, there is no end to the number of people learning to play music who are eager to post their fumbling attempts for the world to admire. In fact, you have to give them credit for not being too shy. It takes some courage to perform on such a large stage in light of the potential criticism they could face.

Sure a few may laugh, but others may think you're cool. Just keep your clothes on while you play and no one will have reason to take offence.
 
My rule of thumb is: If you will ever be embarrassed or ashamed of a video, or the possibility of shame exists, then DON'T UPLOAD IT!

I have a high shame tolerance. You might not be so aflicted.:)
 
.....there is no end to the number of people learning to play music who are eager to post their fumbling attempts for the world to admire.
.....
Just keep your clothes on while you play and no one will have reason to take offence.
Hmmmmmmm this sounds very familiar...
 
i just dont think about it. wen i do a video i always feel wierd because i hate being on camera. i just dont know where i should be looking, but once the videos done u already made it. so u mite as wel put it up. at least thats wat it think.
 
I think there is a significant difference between people who work at regular companies or are self-employed, and those in public jobs such as education (more specifically, academics).
.

Thanks for your comment here. You really got at what I was concerned about. I often wondered why other people don't seem bothered by posting themselves (even though they are REALLY good!), but it probably is an issue of what sort of career you have. I just don't trust the kidlets not to find some way to make me regret it.

And a lot of you are the kidlets. You guys grew up with your lives posted on myspace. Us old guys (I'm only 29 by the way) have a really different feeling about privacy than you.

Maybe I will get a disguise! Like some glasses and a mustache!
 
I've had a couple of instances where posting videos turned out really bad for myself.

1. I posted a song I wrote years ago and somehow my aunty saw it and started up the old coconut wireless and told everybody I was depressed.

2. I posted a song about the fake ass business people in downtown honolulu, my boss (at the time) saw it and asked if I wrote the song about the company.

Maybe I should think more before I post videos... but you know what, I do it because that's who I am. Music is a form of self expression.
 
It's definitely a process. The first one is definitely the hardest. The more you make, the easier it becomes and the better you become.

You could also do the headless videos until you are more comfortable....

Yeah, better wait awhile before you follow deach's example and do a naked uke video in the tub.....That takes real ba..., I mean courage!!:bowdown:
 
Exactly, Rayan! For my catholic parents in the midwest to see one of the songs I'm working on (you know, Elliot Smith, TMF, etc.) I'd have to change all the words. I learned some happy songs on their behalf, but that's not what I primarily practice when I come home after a long day or when I'm nursing a broken heart. Music can be such an intimate thing, I guess, even if you're just doing covers.
 
it was a real process for me. not that i think im any good at it right now, but if you follow my vids from beginning to end, you will see the prgress ive made in terms of coming out of my shell and just getting used to having enough cohones to post something.

im not expert, but if i may give some advice...
1. concentrate on just making the video with no intention of posting it
2. you will know when youve made a video that you feel is post worthy.
3. when youve got one... just dive in.
4. if it turns out that its something you wish you didnt want to post, then just delete it.
 
Yeah, better wait awhile before you follow deach's example and do a naked uke video in the tub.....That takes real ba..., I mean courage!!:bowdown:


Wait, why was I not informed about the Deach naked in the tub video? I feel SO out of the loop now. I would have been all over that, like 20 times more enthralled than any of the rest of you, so I should've been told about it :(
 
I've had a couple of instances where posting videos turned out really bad for myself.

1. I posted a song I wrote years ago and somehow my aunty saw it and started up the old coconut wireless and told everybody I was depressed.

2. I posted a song about the fake ass business people in downtown honolulu, my boss (at the time) saw it and asked if I wrote the song about the company.

Maybe I should think more before I post videos... but you know what, I do it because that's who I am. Music is a form of self expression.

Wow, that is an unusal amount of trouble for a couple of YouTube videos! These are definitely exceptions to the norm. I was kind of under the assumption that most people me and Rayan's age have aunts who aren't quite the YouTube types... :D Anyway, probably you're ok if you keep it anonymous. The odds of someone finding you are slim if you don't post a real name. I hate to say it Rayan, but a quick Google search rang up a video where you play, as you put it, an "emo" song, which I assume is the one your aunty didn't like! She probably found it because you go by your real name online. Now that can be ok if you want people to find you, say, if you're a professional or semi-professional musician who likes to network. But if you want to keep your identity quiet, using a username makes you safely anonymous. If someone is searching for Remy, they're a lot more likely to find the little guy in your avatar than you, let alone have any way of knowing there's a connection.

On a related note--pro tip for YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook users--lots of employers do look up your accounts to check on you before they decide to hire you! Job hunters should not have pictures of themselves doing beer bongs at last week's party all over their profiles! Know what comes up when you Google yourself!
 
Wow, that is an unusal amount of trouble for a couple of YouTube videos! These are definitely exceptions to the norm. I was kind of under the assumption that most people me and Rayan's age have aunts who aren't quite the YouTube types... :D Anyway, probably you're ok if you keep it anonymous. The odds of someone finding you are slim if you don't post a real name. I hate to say it Rayan, but a quick Google search rang up a video where you play, as you put it, an "emo" song, which I assume is the one your aunty didn't like! She probably found it because you go by your real name online. Now that can be ok if you want people to find you, say, if you're a professional or semi-professional musician who likes to network. But if you want to keep your identity quiet, using a username makes you safely anonymous. If someone is searching for Remy, they're a lot more likely to find the little guy in your avatar than you, let alone have any way of knowing there's a connection.

On a related note--pro tip for YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook users--lots of employers do look up your accounts to check on you before they decide to hire you! Job hunters should not have pictures of themselves doing beer bongs at last week's party all over their profiles! Know what comes up when you Google yourself!

The thing is, most of my online accounts are nick names. Rayan is not how you spell my legal name, it's just a nickname my friends call me because of how a friend's mom used to say my name. My last name is kind of well known on Kauai because every single one of my uncles and my dad are entrepreneurs and some are rather large businesses on the island. I've been scolded numerous times about being so public online but meh, I think I'm doing more good than bad with my online activities.
 
The thing is, most of my online accounts are nick names. Rayan is not how you spell my legal name, it's just a nickname my friends call me because of how a friend's mom used to say my name. My last name is kind of well known on Kauai because every single one of my uncles and my dad are entrepreneurs and some are rather large businesses on the island. I've been scolded numerous times about being so public online but meh, I think I'm doing more good than bad with my online activities.

My wife is professional body builder. Google "deach" and you'll see her. She scolds me for putting up ukulele videos and watering down her search results.




*for all the newbies, I'm just kidding.
 
And do you ever worry that someone you know will find your videos, like a coworker?

YES!

But I try to remind myself that if they find my videos they had to have searched for ukulele or some such- which means that they have to have some kind of interest in it.

I posted one video that ended up getting about 500 hits in a few hours (the tornado video) I had posted that vid for my brother/ family who wanted to see what the street looked like post storm- as the only way to get on the street was to be driven there in a police escorted van. But when all these other people started watching it, I changed it to private for a few months (till a neighbor asked me to put it back up)

You can always move videos to private/ take them down.
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom