breaking it down (again)

Testing out video content has opened up a world of possibilities and opportunity. It’s also exploded the volume of information I need to process in the hopes of producing anything of value. I keep coming back to my initial inspiration for upgrading the site, which is all based on user experience. If I get too caught up on the details it becomes all about me, versus all about you. The goal here isn’t to fall into the Youtube of Facebook ocean of content that screams “look at me. Look at what I can do.”

The value has to extend far beyond a demonstration of skills, to become something that YOU (my treasured viewership) can see yourselves in. If the overall goal here is to entertain/inspire, it can’t be only about “look at what I can do.” So these video tests, sound checks, camera angles, rendering, etc have done far more than give me the basics of producing watchable clips. I’m not looking for another window I can see my own reflection in. I’m looking for the potential of feeling like any and all of you are here with me, creating something together that is more yours than mine. This probably should’ve been my approach to writing and performing all along. Hahahah. Nothing like figuring out when you’re 33.

There are nights when I’m rolling takes, tweaking gadgetry and trying not to feel like a tool doing it, where I really remember the point of all of this. It’s my attempt to expand beyond everything I’ve ever been inspired by. The foundation of that is music, the vehicle is broadband, and the motive is the L-O-V-E of doing it. My ego has always tried to cram me into a box that says performing is showing off, or has an ulterior motive like looking cool or getting laid. Maybe I’ve matured since I was 19. Brmph. Nope.

So I have some details of what I’ve learned thus far:
1) Doesn’t matter if it’s a blog, a site, a video, a song or a stage show. The delivery of the performance is all that matters. It has to be real and in the moment. Aesthetics doesn’t count for shit. I’ve spent too much time on this over the years. I mean, have you SEEN my faux hawks? They were a TRIUMPH.

2) In terms of CONTENT, it has to be a show me don’t tell me flow. Meaning, that I really shouldn’t waste my readers time talking about process if I haven’t cranked out a mountain of valuable content. Sorry, had to make an exception today.

3) Creating a museum of me has been the foundation of social networking, and much of the driving force behind Web 2.0.  This started back with mp3.com. All artists did was hang on there all day, pretending to be interested in other people’s songs so their stuff would get reviewed, and then get more hits. It was so fake. No one cares as much about the content of our lives as we do. It’s the truth, and it’s an ego-driven illusion. My Facebook page is almost obnoxious, it has so many details of my life. I like it being out there, because it’s been an extension of this site. The truth is that if you’re not using any medium to fully connect with other people and honestly engage them, you’ll be wasting your time tinkering with another vanity project. KCSHOW.com has been a massive vanity project since the beginning, and has only recently tried to shake it. I’ve gotten a much warmer response to my small efforts to help people be happy, on how to unclog a toilet, or how to dry out a digital camera. User based experience. If your content has no viewership, it’s the tree falling in the forest with no one around. Does it even really exist? Why did you want to put it online versus write it in a journal? Make it worth consuming and then blast it out there.

4) There are kids on Youtube who produce one-shot, lo-fi videos that have millions of hits. I’m going to need and use more levels of production, but that’s cool. It’s how I roll. It has to be efficient to roll, cut, edit, and render. But the time it takes to produce can’t get in the way of the flow of content. Seeing & hearing what the hell is going  on is important to me, and I’m hoping there will be a lot going on. 2 minutes of meat is better than 5 minutes of blah.

5) Concepts and writing are always the most important aspect. It can be a turd in terms of production, but if the content is strong it will resonate.

6) No one cares how many levels of detail are affecting your signal chain. They only care if you’re connecting with the content.

7) Talking directly to a camera isn’t easy and doesn’t come naturally to me. If car salesman and carpet store owners can do it so effectively, I think I’ll get there with practice. I’ve decided to follow my brother Kirky’s example, and join Toastmasters. Getting up and speaking extemporaneously every week is good practice. I’ll need to do the same on camera. I’m also looking forward to letting the music speak and experimenting with overlays of words.

Ahh, time. I enjoy the fact that you march on regardless. You further hone my intentions and polish turds into diamonds. But my ego uses you to try to diminish my energy for these projects. It’s almost been 2 months since I came up with this big firey vision. I’m proud for having attempted it so far, and I’m really not even out of the gate. But isn’t that the purpose of life? Just learning all the shit that has gotten me this far has been rewarding, and pretty FUN.

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Tonight is the taping for the radio show which will air tomorrow night! Stay tuned for details. You can visit http://www.913thesummit.com tomorrow night at 11PM EST / 10PM CST / 8PM PST to stream the show in its entirety. I’ll be playing a track off of Season II, as well as some stuff from the trusty old EP, talking about my upcoming show with my hero Hamell on Trial, and more! Be sure to check it out.