MAJOR UPDATE: Foodbank, January Haul, NIXIE + Next Video Preview
Added 2023-01-04 01:57:47 +0000 UTCLast year was a major learning endeavour.
I learned a lot about how overzealous I can be when it comes to ideas, and why this isn't practical when trying to do something for a community. Small or large.
For context, it cost over £500 to produce those magazines consistently, and they look pretty performatively, but aren't a good use of money in terms of trying to get the food out there. I was constantly going in debt to get them produced.
Then there's the matter of game development. I went into full scale development of NIXIE starting April 2022 and only managed to sporadically keep you guys updated. Which played a big role in my lack of YouTube output, but also my lack updates here.
It's important I apologise for this, as I have a habit of overstimulating and giving myself too many tasks to complete at once. This compounded to going back to working two jobs for the sake of game development (it's expensive!) and it became really overwhelming for me.
So, what steps are being taken to improve?
1. Scale back on the size of the foodbank. The newsletter means nothing without the food. And, accepting trying to deliver monthly is difficult when managing a job, YouTube and game development.
2. Create a public social media platform (@FreeHueyFood on Twitter btw) to make things easier to manage, and share resources where I can.
3. Go back to making YouTube videos so niggas don't think I died in a game dev related car accident.
A final poll related thing I'm probably going to do for the higher tiers is asking about an alternative donation point for people who wish to make one time donations for the Foodbank since I recognise Patreon isn't everyone's jam and it's technically still tied to my YouTube channel and supporting me.
That leave everyone in the loop? Cool.
Some fun stuff before we go.
Since I've been away - it's important I show off some things I've been working on. Here are some of Fiona's animations for NIXIE. Enjoy!
I haven't just been resting on my laurels, y'know? But directing and programming a game takes forever. So, I appreciate any patience you have with me. You can follow updates on it in real-time on @NIXIE_Game on Twitter.
I subscribed for YouTube videos, where are those?
Man, I just dropped two LAST month.
But I'm getting more consistent now. I have a video planned with the ever-talented Hyphenated History discussing the dynamics between Caribbeans & Africans in the UK.
I got that fabled YuGiOh GX video in my back pocket whenever.
I have a video... idea lets say... about the apolitical perspective on Black Britain online, but I'm not 100% sold on doing it just yet. It's a bit spicy, but framed from a good place I feel. Lemme know if this feels like something I shouldn't do though.
And last, and exceptionally not least, it's Boondocks. I'm thinking of doing a proper retrospective on the series. And reviewing every comic strip saga and episode.
WHEW. Okay big update done.
If you got questions, concerns, thoughts, words, actions and slash or suggestions! Leave em' below!
Comments
I'm glad you enjoyed the lengthy update. And yeah, I think this is something that I'll hopefully be able to look back on years from now fondly. It can certainly be a lot to juggle at once though. What's interesting is while I do have an email set up for the foodbank, I mainly get feedback in person (which I actually quite prefer). Sometimes it can even be as informal as "Winter is a really cold season, esp in London. You should try giving people blankets" which is something I'm trying to get set up by the end of the month. I also work with a small community garden every now and again, and they give me feedback sometimes on what necessities people need moving forward. So while a lot of it is just going online and seeing "okay, systemically they say we need more of this" it's also asking around and getting involved in smaller communities so they can communicate what they want. Something I've learned observing is that "getting in your community" is very hyperbolised on both sides. It's simultaneously not that hard, and doesn't overtly have to be that deep (at least in terms of resources). It can literally get as simple as talking to someone in your town, or local park or workplace or whatever. Anything but huddling up at home and watching from a window seat. It's straight up just talking to people. Now as for YouTubers, offers to help have come in the past, but I tend to decline for a few reasons. The big one is that I don't want a boom in popularity - I want the growth to be gradual so I can grow with it. In conjunction, I don't always know what I'm doing. I'm always just figuring things out, and I don't want that to reflect on any channels that may or may not want to help out. And lastly, this is based in London. Most black youtubers you're thinking of are probably based somewhere in America, and will struggle to make sense of what is being done. Overseas solidarity is cool. But without building where I am, it's just asking for trouble. I've learned from experience that it's very easy to rush into things. And, I've been burned by many collaborations in the past, so I'm naturally inclined to stray away from them. I think if there are any YouTubers that want to share it, they'll probably just do it. It's what I did. I don't want to make this an influencer's PR donation pot. It's something small, sincere and made for my own conscious in what I'm doing. The documentation is simply for those who wish to learn that journey.
2023-01-04 05:19:27 +0000 UTCThank you for the update. I personally don't think you should worry that much about giving updates, you're already overworked and stressed more than enough 24/7 doing what you can to help others and survive yourself, but I do understand the stance on transparency. I'm sure your family and friends are proud of you, because what you do and juggle all at once is amazing work. I know I'd be. My only questions are how do you gauge feedback from the community? Do you get it from them in person? Do they email you? Both? Also, are there any plans to have the foodbank partner with other youtubers or do you believe that may bring in too much baggage or issues with change? There's a lot of Black YouTubers out there who seem like they'd like to help support this with you, but of course that involves a lot of variables you need to account for, especially regarding intentions and outcomes.
Bamileke
2023-01-04 03:46:16 +0000 UTC
