Hey Ginny Di! Thank you for making this video. A lot of what you said are the same thoughts I have about being a content creator. Definitely feel I am the only one I can rely on even though I been trying a group approach. Hope this gets to you, I also enjoy digging into the business side of youtube, so hopefully you are open to a conversation and perhaps working together in the future - Hector
“And I’ve even been accused of just being a pretty girl who just reads off the teleprompter… And I am that but I’m also the one who writes the stuff on the teleprompter” This had me laughing out loud lmao
The "pretty girl who reads a teleprompter" joke got a good snort laugh out of me. You're super talented and i hope you remember to be proud of what you have built almost completely by yourself. You're the real deal and its awesome to see you doing well.
Agreed. It didn’t even come across in the slightest as arrogance either. Which made it even cuter. Just an innocent comment. Love that she’s successful!
@@CliffEdge87 w2 means simple. Income decides the refund then subtract your deductions and see if the standard or itemized refund is bigger. I'm talking personal taxes. Businesses should pay CPAs but personal taxes should be free.
Incredibly insightful video! You did an amazing job describing the pros and cons of this weird fun scary dream job ❤️ Also I guess I should start making merch
@@jdeveau6718 This is going to be an Oglaf collection on steroids. (Including helpful survival tips concerning D&D rations, encumbrance and marching distance)
Hey there, Ginny: as an old, grey-bearded gamer geek from the 80s, I can definitely say you're doing a great job! The future of our hobby is in good hands with you and this new generation of TTRPGers!
@@captaincrispy2184 Individuals vary widely. I am also in the OP's demographic, and when I hear "gatekeeping", I picture the young "angry nerd" of today's gamer culture.
High-five! Elder nerds represent! Back in high school in the late 70s/early 80s, I was part of the Wargaming Club and ran both a _Chivalry & Sorcery_ and _Traveller_ campaign. Did you ever play _Superhero 2044_ or the original _Bunnies and Burrows?_
@@captaincrispy2184 I literally have a grey beard, and I've played D&D since the 80's. There's nothing I want more than more people playing TTRPGs, more diverse players involved, more diversity in content, more culturally sensitive content, and fewer gates. The gatekeepers are always loud, but they're not always many.
@@captaincrispy2184 sadly not entirely but the ones who are tend to take up way more vocal space than those of us in the "greybeard" demographic who are happy to see our hobby grow and be more inclusive, to see more people playing and enjoying games and to see the younger generation waving the gaming banner high.
As someone who used to be self employed (and a fellow English major!) +1 to “I have a CPA and taxes are still a nightmare.” Now that I’m not self-employed I STILL have a CPA, because I got spoiled. 😅
As a fellow ADHDer who is self-employed, I related so much to what you said here! Thank you for sharing your process, I know it can be a vulnerable thing to share.
Your "Candid Ginny" cosplay is spot on. Well done. Whatever content you put out on whatever schedule you decide, I will watch and enjoy. I love the songs, love the cosplay, love the DnD talk, but most of all, I am here for the puns.
As an Author I just love your videos. I understand how you just want to unplug after you post. I don't watch to see how many books I sell. I just write and hope they sell. Keep up the great work. You always have made my day better by what you post. I don't play D& D anymore but I enjoy people having fun and creating characters.
The way you explain some concepts really just clicks for me. So, I appreciate you making videos that may be a topic that is already discussed. Thank you!
Just commenting to say I'm impressed with this inside view. I've watched a number of "behind the scenes" videos over the years and this one felt more genuine then most. Being so open with your revenue streams and struggles with work/life balance was enlightening so thank you for sharing.
This was really insightful. Especially the part about how you were making videos for years before you took off. A lot of people get discouraged by not taking off and becoming famous when often perseverance (and the improvement that comes with regular practice) are what they need.
Ginny, love your content. You pulled me in with your Jester Cosplay and the videos revolving around her and I just stayed for the entertainment value and once you started playing and becoming a DM I just kept watching because you're so down to earth. I really enjoy the videos with your original characters, especially the Orc who's name escapes me rn. Keep up the good work and take care of yourself.
Note to sponsors: Whether or not we're interested in your product or service, we watch the commercials on this channel because Ginny Di makes it fun to watch. On other YT channels everybody just skips ahead instead of watching someone plug your company in the middle of the video we came to watch.
What people don't understand is that doing this is never a fast process unless you blow up on YT, and that's a very rare thing at best. Running a small business takes time, effort, and passion. It's long hours, it's unpaid work, it's struggling for money, and it's hard work. I've met so many people over the years that wanted their hobby to become a million dollar idea and fail because they thought it'd be easy and fast.
Wow this is fabulous 👌 ❤ I have never seen anyone talk so honestly and plainly about this subject. Money and income are such a taboo subject it's so refreshing to hear someone true experiences, and to be generous enough to tell others how to do it. I'm a self employed antique restorer, so I get some of this, but the small details of how to run a you tube channel are fascinating. Great job GD. 👏
Hearing that you have a background in english and marketing doesn't surprise me in the slightest. I've always thought that your videos were so well scripted and well storyboarded(thats totally not the term but like- how the video is sorted/paced/laid out) and well worded and you market yourself so well!!!! You always word things so eloquently with depth and nuance, and yet at the same time there's a level of simplicity so it's easily understood and everything is said with a pacing that it can keep my attention! (well- almost, I have adhd too, but no one can fully keep my attention not even myself lol). And the writing of the bits/humor and comedic timing really does it for me too lmfao. And the way you incoporate another suggested video into the topic of the current video and put so much effort into the sponsors is really cool!! You just have a fun humble confidence/down to earth vibe that is just very nice. Always a pleasure to watch your content, even with well-discussed topics that you feel like you may have little to contribute to, hearing it come from you in a video like this always hits different and is in and of itself a great contribution to whatever the topic may be, on top of the nuanced perspective you add. It's always a good day when a new Ginny video drops :3 (PS, it sucks and also is unsurprising to hear how little you make off of music, my close friend who makes music shares the same sentiment. For how important music is, artists got it way too rough ;~;)
Thank you for all that you do. I think one of the most admirable things is that you're unashamedly yourself in every video you put out. It's stuff like "I do the music thing for me" that really displays your genuineness, and people really resonate with that. You even went to bat for this community during the whole crazy license thing back in January. We don't deserve a personality like you.
Ginny, I'm also a fellow Denverite and have been following you from the early days of your DnD videos and I am so happy that you are receiving the attention and credit you deserve. Thanks for making such high quality content, it has been a pleasure to watch you and the channel grow over the years, thanks for your contribution to the TTRPG community!
I really, really love what you bring to this space. Your creativity and perspective are unique and super engaging, and I value them so much. As a (very) small-time creator, I have a tiny inkling of the amount of work you put into your videos, and it’s so impressive (your channel is one of the only ones where I don’t skip sponsored content), so I hope you’ll keep being the insightful, enthusiastic, and genuinely lovely presence you are. It’s hugely appreciated.
Thanks for a very in-depth and insightful video about your job and how all the pieces (like how you get paid) line up. And as a Patreon, I am glad to be a (however small) part of that.
Well done for making it, so many people dream about their dream job so much they forget to work towards it. You've put the work in and deserve where you've got to
As someone who wants to play music and do free-lance for a living, hearing your perspective on how you managed to do this is awesome! Thank you for sharing 💛
4:00 I consume a *lot* of d&d content, and for me, you're in the top 3 more useful D&D-tubers, and the #1 D&D-tuber whose content I send to my players. It doesn't matter if it's been said before, you often have insights I don't find other places, and is very valuable to me as a DM. 🙂
Data point of one, but I think these videos are so interesting! I also really enjoyed your Day in the Life video from a few years back and would love to see how the way you manage tasks/structure your time has evolved since then! It is fascinating to have some insight into your process!
Being glued to the little things like watching the numbers go up and reading the comments, especially the ones that take something out of you, that really hit home for me. I could never be a TH-camr for that reason. Every video I'd be looking for every little piece of feedback - I do it on other social media already. It sucks. It's stupid to say, "Don't sweat it Ginny, don't let it get to you!" But just know that a lot of us get lost in that, and it just takes building some healthy counter-habits to pull you out of that rabbit hole. We are rooting for you though. Keep up the great work!
Cool to see you doing this as a video! My wife and I are streaming, YouTubing, and editing in hopes of reaching the point of full time artistry ourselves! With DnD, cosplay, and all the other ideas we have! Thank you for making this!
The timing of this video is.. kind of amazing. I finally took the step about two months ago and started my tabletop RPG channel, something I had been wanting to do for a long while. I'm nowhere near even considering making this a full-time job, just having fun with it, but hearing how it happened for you, what your production workflow is like, and that the editing at 2 am thing never really goes away haha, is really insightful and encouraging. Thank you so much! ALTHOUGH. How do you write a script so quickly??? I take forever!!! Please I hope that becomes easier with practice hahaha
It definitely gets easier with practice! I have a template, sort of a "worksheet" that I fill out before I script any video, with questions like "who is this video for?" and "what will viewers see in the first 10 seconds to convince them to keep watching?" That really helps me get a feel for the shape and the purpose of the video before I start outlining. Also, someone once mentioned that if your video has more than 3 tips in it, it's probably too much information, so when I feel a script starting to spiral into covering too much content, I try to cut it down (and sometimes put the stuff I cut into another document for a separate video later). Hope that helps a little!
@@GinnyDi Thank you for the reply! Ooooh having a template with questions like that sounds awesome, especially since what I have most issue with is structuring my thoughts at the beginning, when trying to figure out the outline for the script. A big mess of ideas that needs making sense of. I'll try implementing this in the process for my next video! Thank you!
A great video, as always, Ginny! I really appreciate this insight into what this job looks like for you on your end, I think it’s really inspiring to other content creators 😊
Your sponsership skits are totaly worth the extra effort! Yours are the only ones that I actually pay attention to. (I have actually bought some of the stuff you recommended.)
Ginny you are a fantastic content creator and I always eagerly await your videos. My whole d&d group loves you and have taken a LOT of inspiration from your ideas shared with the community. You have made a lasting impression on the entirety of TTRPGs that will echo for a very long time in those you inspire.
I think you're brilliant and would love to see your business grow and thrive. Doing what you need to do to avoid burnout is always a smart thing for any creative person to do. Keep up the amazing/fun/good/creative/introspective/inspirational work!
I came across your videos a few weeks ago, I'm just getting into dnd. My partner is DMing for us. Your videos have been a great help for me as a newcomer to the dnd world, I'm not great at 'getting into character'. I love all your cosplay characters and tips & tricks videos. You do amazing content. ❤ Don't listen to trolls. I couldn't do your jobs and the trolls are just jealous that they don't have your job.
Thank you for this lovely look into your business behind the scenes! You were candid and vulnerable and I really value seeing that in successful creators online. This was great!
Thanks for taking us behind the curtain to see the great and all-powerful Oz side of your personality. I found it very interesting. Much respect for being yourself and pulling all of this together in such a successful venture. Wishing you continued success.
You're one of my absolute favorite content creators, and I watch every video you put out. Thank you so much for this video, and all the others you've posted over your career!
I found your content on youtube a few years ago while looking for roleplaying tips. Your video was one of the coolest things I've seen at the time on the subject. From that time until now, I've seen you make more and more awesome collaborations and content, and I'm kind of proud that I got to know you so early. I wish you success in everything you do. A hug from Brazil.
Thank you for posting this to give some insight into what’s required for a successful content creator. Also kudos in the diversification of income - a lot of people still have this conception that the “TH-cam money just flows in” but it’s moreso about the hustle and using TH-cam to grow the other avenues.
This is one of the most relatable videos I think I've ever seen of yours (which is saying a lot being I relate to most of them). Especially the part about feeling more like a product of the community instead of a part of it. I think you're doing an amazing job of it and wish you all the unplugged time you need on a regular basis. :D
Thank you for the glimpse into what is involved. Not sure how I found your channel, but it's been a wonderful trip since then, with lots of good information that's been helpful for my own gaming. Cheers!
Thank you for putting this out there. You are one of the people who inspired me to start my own channel and get into cosplay and feel confident about it. You taught me how to body paint and make a tail and where to get colored tights. I have really appreciated your content over the years and hope to eventually get more of my own cosplay/roleplay content out. You made me feel like it was possible to share about passions in a really creative outlet with others.
9:02 Wait, that makes so much sense! I’ve always wondered why it takes me so long to make another video after putting one out, OH MY GOD! I am definitely stealing your advice, THANK YOU!
So many memories of Denver! Back in 1982-83 I went to school tech on Lowry AFB (now closed). At the time we had a group of about 10 friends who came together through 1e AD&D and played every weekend non-stop (except for occasional sleep and a mandatory pause on Saturday morning for 1 hour to watch original Star Trek) from after school at midnight on Friday until about 6am on Monday to have time to get ready for class for the week. In between school and gaming we pretty much spent most of our time together as a whole group or at least several at a time. Learned to ski at A Basin, hiked Red Rocks, and hit Ogden Theater (I hear it was almost torn down and is a music venue now) every so often for RHPS, too many bars to remember... SO many things. Probably one of the best years of my life.
I resonate with this so much. Especially the “having no drive after you release a video” part. Thanks for illuminating the realities of a TH-cam content creator and making this video, Ginny! ❤
I love your channel so much Ginny Di. Your videos are always so much to fun to watch and relaxing. I really like your channel because your managed to create a unique type of dnd Contant on TH-cam. It’s softer in way. Theirs the Dungeon Dudes, DnD shorts, Pack Tactics, and all of those are optimizing channels, but your channel focuses on role-play, storytelling, cool homebrew books, and it’s kind of awesome to just have someone talk about ideas instead of numbers and options. And your vibe is immaculate 👌. Thank you for all the wonderful content you’ve made. It’s improved my D&D games, and sometimes, even my games ❤️
Thank you for this highly personal and honest behind-the-scenes look, Ginny; it's not like we couldn't already see the hard work that goes into your videos while watching them on TH-cam, but to get extra insight into the process just gives it all even more depth. You are amazing and I love the content you create! Very inspiring. It has helped me further develop my D&D characters (I started playing again last year after a break of almost a decade... I'm the same age as you, btw), AND has helped me find some hand-holds with regard to DMing, something I would like to try for the first time sometime soon. From a fellow neurodivergent: thank you and keep kicking ass!
I don't work right now, but I definitely feel that analogy about the dad who keeps missing his son's baseball games. I overwork myself a ton, but I always appreciate the videos you put out to prove that people can push themselves to what they want in life. This video means a lot to me, and I'm sure it means a lot to you too!
Thank you Ginny for this explanation of how content creation is not only a real time job but a full blown self-employed business. I appreciate that you neither sugar coated it nor discouraged people who might just be starting. I appreciate what you said about being able to keep your home game from separate from your content. I am a software engineer who several times has been offered opportunities to work on games and game-related software. I turned them down because I know I cannot keep that separation, and do not want to make my fun into work. Kudos to you for being able to do that.
The 'pretty girl' bit had me in fits! Also, while the YT algo had me seeing some of your D&D vids previously, the refreshing honesty and take of this one got you a new YT Sub. My fav PC gaming streamer is very clear about his never taking for granted what he gets to do.
You expressed a lot of what being a creator on this platform is like. It's awesome, but also a struggle. Juggling sponsorships, filming, scripting, and editing is a huge time commitment. You've done an awesome job growing your channel!
Had no idea you were here in Denver! As a fellow DM with ADHD (and musician, and writer, and you get the point) you have definitely been the most fun to watch, and among the most helpful content creators. We love you and "BOO!" I say to the nay-sayers. Keep it up. And to be sure, your sponsorship content rarely feels like a commercial. You do such a great job convincing your alter-egos that they need to buy products! WAY more fun and convincing than a simple testimonial.
Loved your story on Colorado Public Radio too! As someone who owns a business with my life partner I understand the fear of going it on your own. Finances & taxes do suck! But the rewards of working for yourself & doing what you enjoy & are good at rather than punching a clock for someone else is hard to quantify. I know I will never go back to that. My son & daughter have ADHD too, so I feel that stess too. Keep doing what you are doing & keep doing things for yourself!
"Procrastivity" is so real. I can't count how many times I've needed to do something important and my brain goes, "Hey, you know what would be a great idea right now? Vacuuming your room!"
Awesome vid, Ginny! Totally understand keeping your home games separate - I’ve never wanted to stream video games or turn my home games into live plays specifically because I don’t want them to be work, I want them to be fun for me (and the people I play with). It’s important to keep that separation!
I wanna say thanks for this vid, Ginny. I'm on my way to becoming a content creator, and seeing behind the camera, the difficulties, the percentages, everything does really help.
"I don't always get to be a part of the community" OMG I thought I was alone in feeling like this... Thank you for sharing your experience and kinda normalizing (not sure that's the right word but I'm going with it) this kind of conversation. I think it's really important to share exactly how hard being a creator is to set expectations for those who will be stepping into trying to create full time.
Thanks for this really grounded and humble look into being a content creator. I think a lot of people see the really well-known personalities and expect the same success right away, but it is important to remember it takes time and a lot of work to get there. Thanks for sharing about the realities of your journey so far and thanks for not giving up in those early years!
This is awesome! Thank you so much for the realism, authenticity and openness with all this. I’m a big fan and a small business owner and it helped so much hearing the same fears concerns and hyper focuses
Fantastic and enlightening, thanks for this video, Ginny. I definitely relate hard to so much of what you have said. Good to remind myself what other creators go through as well, even huge, successful ones like yourself.
Thank you for so candidly talking about your work! You provide an honest picture of what you do, what you did to get here, and what someone else might do to follow a similar path. Very informative.
You're always doing a great job Ginny, and I respect you for keeping things real like with the whole D&D license problems at the start of the year. Initially you where 'that funny Jester cosplayer' to me who did a spot on impression, but over time I explored more of your content and I honestly like your happy upbeat attitude in your videos. Like you're our friend excited to share something you're passionate about with us, it's really something that can brighten someone's day when they'd really appreciate seeing a friendly face. Reminds me a little of reading my favourite book, Harpo Speaks! In which Harpo Marx also talks to the reader as if you're his friend, telling many interesting stories of both stuff he did and people he met who he found interesting. And it also showed he did a lot of hard work, success didn't come easy to him and his brothers. People have also underestimated the work he did, he never spoke a word in character after all. Just seen as a funny guy. But he did work a lot on his whole act. In a way, youtubers are the vaudeville performers of today. It's a book I can really recommend by the way, it's pretty interesting to see pretty much the first half of last century through the eyes of someone who was ahead of his time, who was not racist or sexist, and who was a great listener, not someone with an ego. Also the guy did crazier things in real life than in his movies. Managed to get arrested under charges of vagrancy, trespassing on private property and impersonating himself while dressed as Kaiser Wilhelm. Was also part of the Algonquin round table. Keep up the good work Ginny, I also really loved how you and the Dungeon Dudes made fun of yourselves for April Fools, people who can laugh at themselves tend to be the best people.
Thank's for doing what you do. Love your videos. My wife and I started playing D&D 5 or so years ago and we have used your content a lot, especially for roleplaying advise. I would imagine dealing with the toxic online environment can be a big challenge. People are so mean online, and it seems to be getting worse all the time. Hang in there and don't let the turkeys get you down.
This was such a cool peak behind the curtain of what you do! I honestly have been thinking about trying to start a D&D Channel but I just don't know how to go about that, so this has given me some ideas. Thanks!
We love hearing about the raw truths of being a D&D content creator! Thank you for sharing all these wonderful, behind the scene details. Keep at it, we can't wait to see what you do next!
Thanks for this - an interesting video, and well timed for my part. I am taking those baby steps down the same path - a channel talking D&D... watching the views, agonizing over the growth rate... trying to find that balance of material that will interest people AND I want to discuss. Makes one want to scream at times.
I appreciate you taking the time to open up about your career and process. This was very encouraging. I hope you make more content like this when you can!
Thanks for this. I do TH-cam for my students (and occasionally some D&D fun stuff). My kids keep asking if I can be a professional, and you show how much work it is. I admire what you do. You are awesome!
I have basically 0 interest in DnD, both because I don't like that type of RPG and because of WotC, but I still follow you because you have a lot of content that is applicable outside of DnD and your perky personality is just kind of a positive boost.
Work-life balance seems to be such a huge pitfall for self-employed creators. A friend of mine I met through work's wife became a successful professional cosplayer and was able make that her full-time job. My friend still has a day job, but then he comes home and basically works her job with her. It has consumed their lives and we never see them any longer. Any time we invite them to things they're always too busy preparing for some event or going to come convention.
Join the party on Patreon! patreon.com/ginnydi We have a neat little community there and we'd love to have you join us!
Ginny, stop reading comments and turn off TH-cam today. ;)
Hey Ginny Di! Thank you for making this video. A lot of what you said are the same thoughts I have about being a content creator. Definitely feel I am the only one I can rely on even though I been trying a group approach. Hope this gets to you, I also enjoy digging into the business side of youtube, so hopefully you are open to a conversation and perhaps working together in the future - Hector
Yay! G n' Di!
Are you not tempted to throw in an occasional ONE-SHOT onto the channel.
I just joined, should have done it a while ago. I am not a huge discord guy, is that key to getting the most out of it?
“And I’ve even been accused of just being a pretty girl who just reads off the teleprompter…
And I am that but I’m also the one who writes the stuff on the teleprompter”
This had me laughing out loud lmao
Perfect delivery 😂
I personally liked the, "NO! This is NOT a good time to update your website." 😂 Yup, been there.
The "pretty girl who reads a teleprompter" joke got a good snort laugh out of me. You're super talented and i hope you remember to be proud of what you have built almost completely by yourself. You're the real deal and its awesome to see you doing well.
Agreed. It didn’t even come across in the slightest as arrogance either. Which made it even cuter. Just an innocent comment. Love that she’s successful!
I am a CPA and even I have a CPA. My CPA is my dad and he does my taxes for me because I specialize in auditing, not tax. Lol.
Auditor here too, although it's my brother-in-law who's my tax guy.
Lol your a w2 employee? Those taxes should be simple. Even with itemized deductions it should be read the instructions and fill boxes.
@SavantApostle I mean, that's a great assumption from not a lot of data.
I'm my own tax guy but I never finished my CPA
@@CliffEdge87 w2 means simple. Income decides the refund then subtract your deductions and see if the standard or itemized refund is bigger. I'm talking personal taxes. Businesses should pay CPAs but personal taxes should be free.
Incredibly insightful video! You did an amazing job describing the pros and cons of this weird fun scary dream job ❤️ Also I guess I should start making merch
Anxiously awaiting the BobWorldBuilder 2024 pinup calendar!
dude, yes please!
@@clellieirwin2155 Almost did spit take. I want to see Bob spoof a pinup calendar.
@@jdeveau6718 This is going to be an Oglaf collection on steroids. (Including helpful survival tips concerning D&D rations, encumbrance and marching distance)
Bob, You could sell GM masterclass.
Hey there, Ginny: as an old, grey-bearded gamer geek from the 80s, I can definitely say you're doing a great job! The future of our hobby is in good hands with you and this new generation of TTRPGers!
When I think of grey-bearded gamer geeks from the 80s, I usually associate them with heavy gatekeeping. Am I wrong about that entirely?
@@captaincrispy2184 Individuals vary widely. I am also in the OP's demographic, and when I hear "gatekeeping", I picture the young "angry nerd" of today's gamer culture.
High-five! Elder nerds represent! Back in high school in the late 70s/early 80s, I was part of the Wargaming Club and ran both a _Chivalry & Sorcery_ and _Traveller_ campaign. Did you ever play _Superhero 2044_ or the original _Bunnies and Burrows?_
@@captaincrispy2184 I literally have a grey beard, and I've played D&D since the 80's. There's nothing I want more than more people playing TTRPGs, more diverse players involved, more diversity in content, more culturally sensitive content, and fewer gates. The gatekeepers are always loud, but they're not always many.
@@captaincrispy2184 sadly not entirely but the ones who are tend to take up way more vocal space than those of us in the "greybeard" demographic who are happy to see our hobby grow and be more inclusive, to see more people playing and enjoying games and to see the younger generation waving the gaming banner high.
As someone who used to be self employed (and a fellow English major!) +1 to “I have a CPA and taxes are still a nightmare.” Now that I’m not self-employed I STILL have a CPA, because I got spoiled. 😅
As a hobby only creator who has sometimes toyed with the idea of trying to pursue more, I really appreciate your insight and authenticity!
As a fellow ADHDer who is self-employed, I related so much to what you said here! Thank you for sharing your process, I know it can be a vulnerable thing to share.
Your "Candid Ginny" cosplay is spot on. Well done.
Whatever content you put out on whatever schedule you decide, I will watch and enjoy. I love the songs, love the cosplay, love the DnD talk, but most of all, I am here for the puns.
If you're checking the comments again: you did nothing wrong, it's a great video. (As usual)
Have a great day.
As an Author I just love your videos. I understand how you just want to unplug after you post. I don't watch to see how many books I sell. I just write and hope they sell. Keep up the great work. You always have made my day better by what you post. I don't play D& D anymore but I enjoy people having fun and creating characters.
The way you explain some concepts really just clicks for me. So, I appreciate you making videos that may be a topic that is already discussed. Thank you!
"This video needs to be done, so I'll stay up till 2am editing it"
This spoke to my soul 😂
Just commenting to say I'm impressed with this inside view. I've watched a number of "behind the scenes" videos over the years and this one felt more genuine then most. Being so open with your revenue streams and struggles with work/life balance was enlightening so thank you for sharing.
This was really insightful. Especially the part about how you were making videos for years before you took off. A lot of people get discouraged by not taking off and becoming famous when often perseverance (and the improvement that comes with regular practice) are what they need.
Ginny, love your content. You pulled me in with your Jester Cosplay and the videos revolving around her and I just stayed for the entertainment value and once you started playing and becoming a DM I just kept watching because you're so down to earth. I really enjoy the videos with your original characters, especially the Orc who's name escapes me rn. Keep up the good work and take care of yourself.
Nakrasha
@@julzbehr6696 thank you.
Note to sponsors: Whether or not we're interested in your product or service, we watch the commercials on this channel because Ginny Di makes it fun to watch. On other YT channels everybody just skips ahead instead of watching someone plug your company in the middle of the video we came to watch.
this I love to watch ads on this channel
What people don't understand is that doing this is never a fast process unless you blow up on YT, and that's a very rare thing at best. Running a small business takes time, effort, and passion. It's long hours, it's unpaid work, it's struggling for money, and it's hard work. I've met so many people over the years that wanted their hobby to become a million dollar idea and fail because they thought it'd be easy and fast.
Wow this is fabulous 👌 ❤
I have never seen anyone talk so honestly and plainly about this subject. Money and income are such a taboo subject it's so refreshing to hear someone true experiences, and to be generous enough to tell others how to do it.
I'm a self employed antique restorer, so I get some of this, but the small details of how to run a you tube channel are fascinating. Great job GD. 👏
Hearing that you have a background in english and marketing doesn't surprise me in the slightest. I've always thought that your videos were so well scripted and well storyboarded(thats totally not the term but like- how the video is sorted/paced/laid out) and well worded and you market yourself so well!!!!
You always word things so eloquently with depth and nuance, and yet at the same time there's a level of simplicity so it's easily understood and everything is said with a pacing that it can keep my attention! (well- almost, I have adhd too, but no one can fully keep my attention not even myself lol). And the writing of the bits/humor and comedic timing really does it for me too lmfao.
And the way you incoporate another suggested video into the topic of the current video and put so much effort into the sponsors is really cool!! You just have a fun humble confidence/down to earth vibe that is just very nice. Always a pleasure to watch your content, even with well-discussed topics that you feel like you may have little to contribute to, hearing it come from you in a video like this always hits different and is in and of itself a great contribution to whatever the topic may be, on top of the nuanced perspective you add. It's always a good day when a new Ginny video drops :3
(PS, it sucks and also is unsurprising to hear how little you make off of music, my close friend who makes music shares the same sentiment. For how important music is, artists got it way too rough ;~;)
Thank you for all that you do. I think one of the most admirable things is that you're unashamedly yourself in every video you put out. It's stuff like "I do the music thing for me" that really displays your genuineness, and people really resonate with that. You even went to bat for this community during the whole crazy license thing back in January.
We don't deserve a personality like you.
Ginny, I'm also a fellow Denverite and have been following you from the early days of your DnD videos and I am so happy that you are receiving the attention and credit you deserve. Thanks for making such high quality content, it has been a pleasure to watch you and the channel grow over the years, thanks for your contribution to the TTRPG community!
I really, really love what you bring to this space. Your creativity and perspective are unique and super engaging, and I value them so much. As a (very) small-time creator, I have a tiny inkling of the amount of work you put into your videos, and it’s so impressive (your channel is one of the only ones where I don’t skip sponsored content), so I hope you’ll keep being the insightful, enthusiastic, and genuinely lovely presence you are. It’s hugely appreciated.
Thanks for a very in-depth and insightful video about your job and how all the pieces (like how you get paid) line up. And as a Patreon, I am glad to be a (however small) part of that.
Well done for making it, so many people dream about their dream job so much they forget to work towards it. You've put the work in and deserve where you've got to
As someone who wants to play music and do free-lance for a living, hearing your perspective on how you managed to do this is awesome! Thank you for sharing 💛
4:00 I consume a *lot* of d&d content, and for me, you're in the top 3 more useful D&D-tubers, and the #1 D&D-tuber whose content I send to my players.
It doesn't matter if it's been said before, you often have insights I don't find other places, and is very valuable to me as a DM. 🙂
Would you mind plugging the other two for my reference? I'm looking for new content.
@@michaelbenson5677 Definitely Matt Colville, and then probably MonarchsFactory or WebDM
Data point of one, but I think these videos are so interesting! I also really enjoyed your Day in the Life video from a few years back and would love to see how the way you manage tasks/structure your time has evolved since then! It is fascinating to have some insight into your process!
Being glued to the little things like watching the numbers go up and reading the comments, especially the ones that take something out of you, that really hit home for me. I could never be a TH-camr for that reason. Every video I'd be looking for every little piece of feedback - I do it on other social media already. It sucks. It's stupid to say, "Don't sweat it Ginny, don't let it get to you!" But just know that a lot of us get lost in that, and it just takes building some healthy counter-habits to pull you out of that rabbit hole. We are rooting for you though. Keep up the great work!
What a fantastic video! In January, I got to be a full time editor for a D&D content creator and it's a blast! Signing up for the Patreon now!
Cool to see you doing this as a video! My wife and I are streaming, YouTubing, and editing in hopes of reaching the point of full time artistry ourselves! With DnD, cosplay, and all the other ideas we have! Thank you for making this!
The timing of this video is.. kind of amazing. I finally took the step about two months ago and started my tabletop RPG channel, something I had been wanting to do for a long while. I'm nowhere near even considering making this a full-time job, just having fun with it, but hearing how it happened for you, what your production workflow is like, and that the editing at 2 am thing never really goes away haha, is really insightful and encouraging. Thank you so much! ALTHOUGH. How do you write a script so quickly??? I take forever!!! Please I hope that becomes easier with practice hahaha
Got a sub out of it..
It definitely gets easier with practice! I have a template, sort of a "worksheet" that I fill out before I script any video, with questions like "who is this video for?" and "what will viewers see in the first 10 seconds to convince them to keep watching?" That really helps me get a feel for the shape and the purpose of the video before I start outlining. Also, someone once mentioned that if your video has more than 3 tips in it, it's probably too much information, so when I feel a script starting to spiral into covering too much content, I try to cut it down (and sometimes put the stuff I cut into another document for a separate video later). Hope that helps a little!
@@GinnyDi Thank you for the reply! Ooooh having a template with questions like that sounds awesome, especially since what I have most issue with is structuring my thoughts at the beginning, when trying to figure out the outline for the script. A big mess of ideas that needs making sense of. I'll try implementing this in the process for my next video! Thank you!
Giving you another subscriber to help out! Good luck!
A great video, as always, Ginny! I really appreciate this insight into what this job looks like for you on your end, I think it’s really inspiring to other content creators 😊
Your sponsership skits are totaly worth the extra effort! Yours are the only ones that I actually pay attention to. (I have actually bought some of the stuff you recommended.)
Ginny you are a fantastic content creator and I always eagerly await your videos. My whole d&d group loves you and have taken a LOT of inspiration from your ideas shared with the community. You have made a lasting impression on the entirety of TTRPGs that will echo for a very long time in those you inspire.
I'm so glad you're making sure to take time for yourself to reduce the risk of burnout.
You keep posting vids and I'll keep watching them!
I love that point at ~9:30 about this not being a job someone offers you. That's very insightful and such a great way to put that.
I think you're brilliant and would love to see your business grow and thrive. Doing what you need to do to avoid burnout is always a smart thing for any creative person to do. Keep up the amazing/fun/good/creative/introspective/inspirational work!
I came across your videos a few weeks ago, I'm just getting into dnd. My partner is DMing for us. Your videos have been a great help for me as a newcomer to the dnd world, I'm not great at 'getting into character'. I love all your cosplay characters and tips & tricks videos. You do amazing content. ❤
Don't listen to trolls. I couldn't do your jobs and the trolls are just jealous that they don't have your job.
Thank you for this lovely look into your business behind the scenes! You were candid and vulnerable and I really value seeing that in successful creators online. This was great!
Thanks for taking us behind the curtain to see the great and all-powerful Oz side of your personality. I found it very interesting. Much respect for being yourself and pulling all of this together in such a successful venture. Wishing you continued success.
I love the transparency. I always want to peek behind the curtain of all of my favorite content creators so i really enjoyed this video :)
You're one of my absolute favorite content creators, and I watch every video you put out. Thank you so much for this video, and all the others you've posted over your career!
Thanks for the interesting inside look! I'm happy to hear it's such a good job for you.
I found your content on youtube a few years ago while looking for roleplaying tips. Your video was one of the coolest things I've seen at the time on the subject. From that time until now, I've seen you make more and more awesome collaborations and content, and I'm kind of proud that I got to know you so early. I wish you success in everything you do. A hug from Brazil.
You have been such an upbeat inspiration for years. Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions!
You are amazing. The gaming content that you do is truly important. I wish there was someone like you when I was learning to run games.
Thank you for being so transparent, it’s really informative and super generous for you to have shared!
Thank you for posting this to give some insight into what’s required for a successful content creator. Also kudos in the diversification of income - a lot of people still have this conception that the “TH-cam money just flows in” but it’s moreso about the hustle and using TH-cam to grow the other avenues.
This is one of the most relatable videos I think I've ever seen of yours (which is saying a lot being I relate to most of them). Especially the part about feeling more like a product of the community instead of a part of it. I think you're doing an amazing job of it and wish you all the unplugged time you need on a regular basis. :D
Thanks Deven!! 💚
I love behind the scenes insight videos like this. Vlogs are some of my favs too. I appreciate the honestly and openness you gave us!
Great video as per usual, thanks for being the main person who got me into DnD and explaining it so well :)
Thank you for the glimpse into what is involved. Not sure how I found your channel, but it's been a wonderful trip since then, with lots of good information that's been helpful for my own gaming. Cheers!
Thank you for putting this out there. You are one of the people who inspired me to start my own channel and get into cosplay and feel confident about it. You taught me how to body paint and make a tail and where to get colored tights. I have really appreciated your content over the years and hope to eventually get more of my own cosplay/roleplay content out. You made me feel like it was possible to share about passions in a really creative outlet with others.
Really loved you shareing this. Glad you find joy in your work and can combine your passion and your job!
9:02 Wait, that makes so much sense! I’ve always wondered why it takes me so long to make another video after putting one out, OH MY GOD! I am definitely stealing your advice, THANK YOU!
So many memories of Denver! Back in 1982-83 I went to school tech on Lowry AFB (now closed). At the time we had a group of about 10 friends who came together through 1e AD&D and played every weekend non-stop (except for occasional sleep and a mandatory pause on Saturday morning for 1 hour to watch original Star Trek) from after school at midnight on Friday until about 6am on Monday to have time to get ready for class for the week. In between school and gaming we pretty much spent most of our time together as a whole group or at least several at a time. Learned to ski at A Basin, hiked Red Rocks, and hit Ogden Theater (I hear it was almost torn down and is a music venue now) every so often for RHPS, too many bars to remember... SO many things. Probably one of the best years of my life.
I resonate with this so much. Especially the “having no drive after you release a video” part. Thanks for illuminating the realities of a TH-cam content creator and making this video, Ginny! ❤
loved the insight to what it is like being a content creator.
Having a team can definitely be a huge help to saying "Hell yeah" to more things, mad respect for you being able to do so much on your own!
I love your channel so much Ginny Di. Your videos are always so much to fun to watch and relaxing. I really like your channel because your managed to create a unique type of dnd Contant on TH-cam. It’s softer in way. Theirs the Dungeon Dudes, DnD shorts, Pack Tactics, and all of those are optimizing channels, but your channel focuses on role-play, storytelling, cool homebrew books, and it’s kind of awesome to just have someone talk about ideas instead of numbers and options. And your vibe is immaculate 👌. Thank you for all the wonderful content you’ve made. It’s improved my D&D games, and sometimes, even my games ❤️
Thank you for this highly personal and honest behind-the-scenes look, Ginny; it's not like we couldn't already see the hard work that goes into your videos while watching them on TH-cam, but to get extra insight into the process just gives it all even more depth. You are amazing and I love the content you create! Very inspiring. It has helped me further develop my D&D characters (I started playing again last year after a break of almost a decade... I'm the same age as you, btw), AND has helped me find some hand-holds with regard to DMing, something I would like to try for the first time sometime soon. From a fellow neurodivergent: thank you and keep kicking ass!
I don't work right now, but I definitely feel that analogy about the dad who keeps missing his son's baseball games. I overwork myself a ton, but I always appreciate the videos you put out to prove that people can push themselves to what they want in life. This video means a lot to me, and I'm sure it means a lot to you too!
Thank you Ginny for this explanation of how content creation is not only a real time job but a full blown self-employed business. I appreciate that you neither sugar coated it nor discouraged people who might just be starting. I appreciate what you said about being able to keep your home game from separate from your content. I am a software engineer who several times has been offered opportunities to work on games and game-related software. I turned them down because I know I cannot keep that separation, and do not want to make my fun into work. Kudos to you for being able to do that.
Thank you for sharing this glimpse into your world. Really fascinating stuff.
The 'pretty girl' bit had me in fits!
Also, while the YT algo had me seeing some of your D&D vids previously, the refreshing honesty and take of this one got you a new YT Sub.
My fav PC gaming streamer is very clear about his never taking for granted what he gets to do.
You expressed a lot of what being a creator on this platform is like. It's awesome, but also a struggle. Juggling sponsorships, filming, scripting, and editing is a huge time commitment. You've done an awesome job growing your channel!
Had no idea you were here in Denver! As a fellow DM with ADHD (and musician, and writer, and you get the point) you have definitely been the most fun to watch, and among the most helpful content creators. We love you and "BOO!" I say to the nay-sayers. Keep it up. And to be sure, your sponsorship content rarely feels like a commercial. You do such a great job convincing your alter-egos that they need to buy products! WAY more fun and convincing than a simple testimonial.
You're such a cool content creator, keep going, your work is great. As an ADHDer myself I admire you're energy and passion towards your projects!
Motivation and staying focused is a big one for me as well. Your content is stellar and good on you for making a career from it.
Loved your story on Colorado Public Radio too! As someone who owns a business with my life partner I understand the fear of going it on your own. Finances & taxes do suck! But the rewards of working for yourself & doing what you enjoy & are good at rather than punching a clock for someone else is hard to quantify. I know I will never go back to that. My son & daughter have ADHD too, so I feel that stess too. Keep doing what you are doing & keep doing things for yourself!
Given how polished the videos are; I am amazed at how DIY the production is. Great work.
"Procrastivity" is so real. I can't count how many times I've needed to do something important and my brain goes, "Hey, you know what would be a great idea right now? Vacuuming your room!"
Thank you for sharing and taking a huge step into letting others see a small slice of your wonderful life. Thank you and proud of you!
Awesome vid, Ginny! Totally understand keeping your home games separate - I’ve never wanted to stream video games or turn my home games into live plays specifically because I don’t want them to be work, I want them to be fun for me (and the people I play with). It’s important to keep that separation!
I wanna say thanks for this vid, Ginny. I'm on my way to becoming a content creator, and seeing behind the camera, the difficulties, the percentages, everything does really help.
"I don't always get to be a part of the community" OMG I thought I was alone in feeling like this... Thank you for sharing your experience and kinda normalizing (not sure that's the right word but I'm going with it) this kind of conversation. I think it's really important to share exactly how hard being a creator is to set expectations for those who will be stepping into trying to create full time.
Thanks for sharing your side of this. It’s a great way to connect with us viewers. 😊
Thanks for this really grounded and humble look into being a content creator. I think a lot of people see the really well-known personalities and expect the same success right away, but it is important to remember it takes time and a lot of work to get there.
Thanks for sharing about the realities of your journey so far and thanks for not giving up in those early years!
This is awesome! Thank you so much for the realism, authenticity and openness with all this. I’m a big fan and a small business owner and it helped so much hearing the same fears concerns and hyper focuses
Fantastic and enlightening, thanks for this video, Ginny. I definitely relate hard to so much of what you have said. Good to remind myself what other creators go through as well, even huge, successful ones like yourself.
This is one of these videos that you save to remind yourself why you grind. Keep it up
Thank you for so candidly talking about your work! You provide an honest picture of what you do, what you did to get here, and what someone else might do to follow a similar path. Very informative.
You're always doing a great job Ginny, and I respect you for keeping things real like with the whole D&D license problems at the start of the year.
Initially you where 'that funny Jester cosplayer' to me who did a spot on impression, but over time I explored more of your content and I honestly like your happy upbeat attitude in your videos.
Like you're our friend excited to share something you're passionate about with us, it's really something that can brighten someone's day when they'd really appreciate seeing a friendly face.
Reminds me a little of reading my favourite book, Harpo Speaks! In which Harpo Marx also talks to the reader as if you're his friend, telling many interesting stories of both stuff he did and people he met who he found interesting. And it also showed he did a lot of hard work, success didn't come easy to him and his brothers. People have also underestimated the work he did, he never spoke a word in character after all. Just seen as a funny guy. But he did work a lot on his whole act. In a way, youtubers are the vaudeville performers of today.
It's a book I can really recommend by the way, it's pretty interesting to see pretty much the first half of last century through the eyes of someone who was ahead of his time, who was not racist or sexist, and who was a great listener, not someone with an ego. Also the guy did crazier things in real life than in his movies. Managed to get arrested under charges of vagrancy, trespassing on private property and impersonating himself while dressed as Kaiser Wilhelm.
Was also part of the Algonquin round table.
Keep up the good work Ginny, I also really loved how you and the Dungeon Dudes made fun of yourselves for April Fools, people who can laugh at themselves tend to be the best people.
Thank's for doing what you do. Love your videos. My wife and I started playing D&D 5 or so years ago and we have used your content a lot, especially for roleplaying advise. I would imagine dealing with the toxic online environment can be a big challenge. People are so mean online, and it seems to be getting worse all the time. Hang in there and don't let the turkeys get you down.
This was such a cool peak behind the curtain of what you do! I honestly have been thinking about trying to start a D&D Channel but I just don't know how to go about that, so this has given me some ideas. Thanks!
I’m writing adventures and this covers so much of the feelings I’ve been having. Thank you! Just nice to know others fight the good fight too.
Thanks for sharing your time and talent with the world! Always look forward to the next Ginny Di video that appears in my feed.
This is the highest production q&a video I’ve seen and honestly I shouldn’t be surprised.
We love hearing about the raw truths of being a D&D content creator! Thank you for sharing all these wonderful, behind the scene details. Keep at it, we can't wait to see what you do next!
Thank you for this peek behind the curtain! I'm working on building my own channel and this was very encouraging.
Thanks for this - an interesting video, and well timed for my part. I am taking those baby steps down the same path - a channel talking D&D... watching the views, agonizing over the growth rate... trying to find that balance of material that will interest people AND I want to discuss. Makes one want to scream at times.
I appreciate you taking the time to open up about your career and process. This was very encouraging. I hope you make more content like this when you can!
Thank you so much for being so Transparent! I love how genuine you are!
Good for you Ginny! Love your content!
Thanks for this. I do TH-cam for my students (and occasionally some D&D fun stuff). My kids keep asking if I can be a professional, and you show how much work it is. I admire what you do. You are awesome!
I have basically 0 interest in DnD, both because I don't like that type of RPG and because of WotC, but I still follow you because you have a lot of content that is applicable outside of DnD and your perky personality is just kind of a positive boost.
Work-life balance seems to be such a huge pitfall for self-employed creators. A friend of mine I met through work's wife became a successful professional cosplayer and was able make that her full-time job. My friend still has a day job, but then he comes home and basically works her job with her. It has consumed their lives and we never see them any longer. Any time we invite them to things they're always too busy preparing for some event or going to come convention.
Ginny, you are just amazing! ☺ We are blessed by everything you share!