What is it that you're complaining about? I am an old time musician now retired, and just like you, I'm just a mediocre talent. I have watched your videos and heard your music. Yeah, it's ok, but it's just ok, nothing earth shattering, nothing that I personaly could remember or whistle as I go about. Your efforts are commendable, but your music has not reached the level of your ambition. That is the reason that neither you or me would never reach the height we were hoping for. But, who knows, maybe you'll hit the jack pot , but for now, I doubt it. And just like you, I've been told by my friends that my music should be heard, but that's all accolades I've gotten. But I'm not complaining. I had fun doing it. Maybe it's the time you do the same. Sorry to rain on your party. But some one should tell you that. A road to hell is paved with good intentions.
So cool of you to do these "pull back the curtain" type videos! Love this. Will always be back for your musicianship, but really appreciate that you mix it up sharing your "back of house" experiences as a creator. Keep up the great work (and congratulations on the album - there are a few real gems on there!)
100% Concur with your advice on getting an accountant. My wife is one working for small businesses. She sees the same issues and gets asked the same questions every time a new business enquires. It would take me 4 or 5 times as long as her to do my accounts, that time can be better utilised by doing what I'm good at and what brings in the revenue
While I appreciate your skill as a musician and songwriter, I think your insightfulness and thoughts on almost any topic you touch are your true skill when it comes to your UA-cam success ❤️ As a creator myself, I appreciate a look into how things are run. I am still a one-person operation, but I do dream about having someone to spar about ideas, scripts, fact-checking, thumbnails, and such 😁
Dear Mary. Not Only Illuminating, Enlightening And A Awakening. After Seeing Creators like You. I " Was" Inspired to Create My own channel. Just for Education. Deffinetly Not Fame Or So Called Fortune. Now. Thanks to You. I Know Why. I did Not Follow that path. Back to You. Your Brilliant Brave, Boldacious! Thank You. This video Blew my mind. 🙂
This is fantastic, Mary! Thank you so much for going to the time / trouble / expense of showing your numbers like this. It really does put things into a sober perspective for some who may have goals, desires, dreams, etc. for doing successfully something similar to what you have been doing for what has turned out now to be what many of us would call "the long haul". I won't make this much longer, but did want to take just a moment and a paragraph to tell you that I have been watching your videos for several years now (not all 18 yrs, but maybe the last decade give or take a little). By your viewership numbers that we can see and now the behind the scenes numbers you have shared, I feel like I'm not only speaking for myself when I say, "Please be encouraged to continue with your original purpose of making music publicly because you are greatly appreciated by many of us. You and your music are well worth the effort for all of us who are glad you are a faithful UA-camr. Keep on keeping on..." Thank you sincerely, One appreciative viewer
As a relatively recent CPA (Certified Public Acct- in the US; equivalent to a chartered acct...). THanks for recognizing the value we can bring to our clients each day. This (and your others too) video is well structured and professional, and shows how well you understand the business aspect as well. Best for the Future!!!
Wow, openness and honesty, it’s very refreshing and I’m guessing what so many of your subscribers follow you for. I am not a musician but my son is and I have enjoyed so much watching his skills develop and I now have a real passion for all those musicians out there who just want to create great music and have a long career, rather than a million dollars and sixty seconds of fame. Mary while still a wonderful musician, I think your real skill is the information and support you provide to other new musicians. Never underestimate the value this has.
Thank you Mary. This was a thoroughly refreshing, honest and straight forward look into how things really are. Thank you for your commitment and joyfulness that shows through each and every video.
This is incredibly insightful. Thank you for your continued transparency. I had no idea you had full-time employees or a dedicated office/studio. I've never heard of Mister Beast, but I can't imagine I'd learn more from him than I have from you. Thank you for sharing your journey.
I'm so glad that you did this video Mary. There are far too many people who think a UA-cam career is a cakewalk that returns multiples of what they are actually willing to put in. I wish you every success moving forward!
The majority of the advice in this video is relevant to most micro businesses. I might have missed it, but I think she also forgot one of the other key partners and expenses, which is legal. Considering that her whole business is dealing with intellectual property, copyright, fair use, etc. that seems like a big oversight. Even a business that isn't dealing with those issues needs good legal representation and it is worth every penny. The other bit she skipped is that even before you are successful there will be a lot of other people / businesses that want to "ride" your work for their own benefit without taking any risk themselves. Again, that is probably even a bigger issue for someone in the music business or any content creator that historically has been exploited. However, I'm guessing most aspiring tubers / streamers won't take any of this to heart. Back in the early days when I tried to help other people that wanted to get into building web businesses, they just wanted to talk about their great ideas. I would explain that their great idea is probably not what will make their business successful as there were likely tens, hundreds or thousands of people around the world with a similar idea. Managing people, income and expenses, cash flow, legal, accounting, sales, promotion, etc. were far more important. If you can last the next six months or longer, most wannabes are going to start failing by then.
@@kasplat5874 Legal is a thorny one to deal with within a fairly short video like this. This is not legal advice but.. it would have benefited from at least a mention of setting aside a certain amount not just for a bad month, but to cover some of the issues that surround the legal stuff. Fair use, can vary between countries in law, though can still be a little vague as not many creators would have the resources to actually fight a megacorp in court. It more often comes down to the platforms' Terms. Have seen some channels near destroyed by spurious takedown requests, or swathes of their content de-monetised by over-zealous copyright claims. The main recourse is trying to get the platform to be the arbiter, but judging by some of the stories from large creators, wouldn't exactly rely on it regardless of size.
I've got youngsters in my family, and I've been quite surprised to see how kids don't want to be rockstars anymore. Totally uninteresting to them. Instead, they want to be streamers and youtubers. It's _the_ dream job, in their minds. You just make videos while playing video games and talking about stuff you like, and let the money roll in, lol. Success _appears_ effortless, like anyone could do it, since the barrier to entry _seems_ so low. Everyone has a camera and a youtube account. The youngsters are going, "I like goofing off and watching videos, and I like making TikTok videos with my friends... so running a channel is probably just like that that!" Plus, the most popular streamers are exorbitantly wealthy. So it just seems like easy money, like winning the lottery. The kids aren't considering all the failed channels, the droves of people who are getting dragged along the bottom and grinding.
@@kasplat5874UA-cam does have tools available for creators for copyright issues. I’m sure Mary takes full advantage of that service. I do a little UA-cam channel, and received strikes for covers of Eagles’ tunes. I stay away from them now like the plague.
Very illuminating! Also holy wow, those numbers. Just, man sakes. I knew there was costs, but I don't think my brain processed it. Thanks for the video, and thanks for doing what you do. You're quite possibly one of the most open and honest UA-camrs out there, and I'm very grateful that we have you!
I am a small entrepreneur since over 35 years (and a guitar player since almost the same time) ... I have built 6 businesses in my life, 3 collapsed in less than a year each, one worked and still is since 30 years and I just closed the two last ones, in the software and digital marketing industry, I am originally a sofware developper ... Your video is absolutely a must see for anyone who would like to build a business ... Any business, not only becoming a youtuber, any kind of business. But because too many people think nowadays that it is easy to make money staying behind a camera at home ... It is now time, from my pov, that your kind of informative videos are shown at ... school ... The young generation needs to understand what it means to build a business as too many of them believe they can make a living without even studying or learning a job ... Thanks to taking the time to produce them, a lot of your subscribers will learn from your experience ... You should be rewarded for that as well 😉👍
A bad month can be nerve wracking when there are bills to pay, it takes a lot of dedication, stamina and bravery to keep the enterprise going. Good on you!
This is such a great video, and you are an absolutely brilliant woman, Mary. Thanks for 1) all the great content and 2) your most generous, thoughtful approach to your career! I can't imagine where else in the world anyone could find this sort of honest information so well organized and so freely offered!
Mary, this is a great example of being a good steward of your time, talent, and treasure. Thank you for educating us. I cannot believe the cost. You're videos have value and the music is good too!
this should be required viewing for all prospective tubers and musicians and everyone else. running a business isn't impossible, but not easy. well done Mary.
One channel I follow only does 'live videos' so there is no fancy editing time. He uploads twice as often because he is not putting that time on the video editing end. Content is king, the person doing the video is important, and those are why people return.
Welcome to the life of the independent business person. I'm long retired now but I've started many small businesses in various industries. Bars and restaurants, construction companies, R&D, Sound reproduction, testing labs. I think you've done a very nice service to those independent musicians that can look to what you've accomplished as a blueprint for them to work from. They don't have to learn by trial and error, and can adapt the knowledge you share to their own situation. You're a wonderful songwriter and musician and I must say a strong business person as well. Much future success to you in your career.
As someone who sells physical goods developed in-house I learned the very hard way about costs and accounts. Solid advice on getting a good accountant but learn to do your own books starting out. It’ll avoid you getting stiffed if you understand what’s involved. Beyond that remember “Turnover vanity, profit sanity” Beyond that know your value and don’t undersell your product/service/self without considering the costs.
My hats off to creators now, after seeing this and having a glimpse in to what you do I can honestly say I could never do what you do. Thank you for this video.
Hi Mary im just a normal viewer and iam speechless how much work goes into your Chanel and business. I had no idea as most of don’t. What an amazing presentation . I really enjoy listening to you . Danke schön❤. Best of luck
Mary, as ever illuminating, refreshing, honest and above all INFORMATIVE. I believe someone else commented exactly my thoughts, this video should be an educational video that all prospective UA-camrs should be compelled to watch, just so they know what mountains they are going to face as they become more famous. Thank you as ever @Mary Spender
The cost break down for your intro album would be lovely. And thank you for sticking with it over the years. I've started a couple of small enterprises over the years and nearly lost my minnd. You're on a challenging path. God speed.
Tremendously educational one of the most worthwhile videos I've ever seen! This ought to be required viewing for both graduate and undergraduate business students. Thanks tons!
As a fellow micro-business bootstrapper (not on UA-cam though), I always try to educate others who ask questions about how I did it on the importance of multiple sources of revenue in weathering the volatility of being a row-boat in the open ocean. And also, because of being quite small, the importance of considering the amount of extra effort and expenditures each new growth direction creates BEFORE choosing which directions to grow; I don't always get to the thing I want to be doing first, but at least when I get there, the business can support actually doing it. Bootstrapping is one of the hardest entrepreneurial methods to start, but one of the greatest for long-term stability once you get going (no loans or investors messing up the decision theory so you can focus on quality, employees, and customers). I am glad to see someone in the public eye making good with it. Thank you for posting.
Thank you for providing this video. While I don't know where your music career will take you, this video and a few of your others showing behind the scenes exposes of the UA-cam creator business already elevate you to the level of a superb educator. And you should take great satisfaction in that. My wife teaches public school at the first and second grade level and there are many teachers she works with who fail miserably at being educators. It is not an easy skill or attitude for many people to acquire. You have those in spades. Best wishes for continued success.
@MarySpender, I actually ran a home based travel agency in the US years ago. Every failure is always an opportunity to learn new skills. Fast forward ten years, I am building a career in the criminal justice and private security sector in order to help pay for my work as an actor and musician. I have considered doing a little UA-cam channel, not so much to monetize(though that would be great if it worked out), so much as to share a bit of myself with the world. The problem I am having is at the conceptualization stage, though I would like to teach people something new with each episode. I have also considered documenting my journey as an older person, in my 40s, as a beginner in unexpected hobbies and careers. I would not start anything without a focus in place, otherwise it’s wasting a lot of time, money, and energy.
Yes, illuminating! It stays inspiring through the end of the video because you don't overwhelm listeners with too much information but authentically walk the thin line of attraction (become an entrepreneur) and the awareness of what that entails. You're a splendid living example of how multi-talent can be explored in a productive and satisfying way rather than being channeled and silenced in stereotypical work patterns.
A couple of years ago I heard K T Tunstall say that to keep her business going she had to generate enough income to pay for seventeen people. Some people may be put off trying the UA-cam path but I have seen a lot of ideas fail because people didn't understand the reality. They think if they can generate a six figure turnover then they will be rich but then hit the buffers when all that does is cover their fixed costs. I am setting up a little carpentry operation as my "retirement" project. I no longer have to work full time but have a very modest income and want to stay active. But I can do this with zero debt and minimal overheads. I have a workshop attached to the house so no rent. I refuse to buy equipment on credit. I can stop operation at any time. But I still need an accountant and I still pay council tax. This was a refreshing honest take on the subject and one a lot of people needed to hear. Huge credit to you for putting this out and to paraphrase Katniss Everdeen; may the algorithms be ever in your favour.
Thanks for this. I am a bookkeeper and Fractional CFO. I am pleased to hear your appreciation for the things I do. I agree, having this part of your business wired tight sure does bring peace of mind.
Mary, I subscribed a while back because I saw you as a well spoken educator, thank you. Now I am beginning to enjoy your music. I just retired after 28 years owning a micro business. One of the years which stands out is the one where my wife worked a full time job, I a part time job plus the business and we wound up $56k in the hole. A tough year
What I love about you doing this is that the numbers and actual glimpse of the industry are inspiring by making the idea real. In so doing, you take some of the fear of the unknown away. It becomes just "Can I do it?" not a fear of the unknown.
Thank you Mary, as you said in the very end of the video, this was illuminating. It showed me what not to do. And, as far as I’ve learned in my 53 years on this planet, that’s even more important than knowing what to do.
Quite fascinating and illuminating, thank you for being so open on the costs. I'm often curious about the UA-cam 'economy', as its plain to see some channels/creators make very little money, whilst others literally buy Ferraris, plural. I think it might be worth bearing in mind that the winner is always Google itself, as they pay a cut of everyone's ad' revenue, and have recently changed their ad' policy to include more ads'. But back to Mary, thank you for your great videos...🙏
No1 is "Health" and all the rest fall into place with help. Good Doc, good mouthpiece and a brill accountant , sincere Friends and loads of energy..."Be Lucky"!💫
I like how you share this info because so many think it is easy and you make easy money. In the States, many kids in public school were polled their #1 career as a social media influencer and youtube. These videos show there is a great deal of work involved and it is a business
Mary, I'm so glad you are ok with being known for an educator because that's where you shine. You play guitar well and your write your own songs and sing them but as an educator, video maker, communicator you deserve the cover of Rolling Stone. For my ears and analysis of your songs your personality will get you a core group of fans but your videos alone made you a star. Great that you're "real" and keeping your feet on the ground. I work as an expert witness where communication skill is what counts. You could do that with ease. Keep it up and play for your hearts healing.
This is so interesting and informative. Thankyou for being so open about what it costs to run a channel like yours - I am quite astonished how expensive it turns out to be, which only increases my respect for you and your dedication to it. Whatever the fuutre holds it is obvious that your talents extend beyond simply music making and you would be an asset to any creative company.
I run an architecture and engineering office, and those numbers are pretty similar to ours. I guess it would be similar for other businesses where the work/product is mostly virtual/intellectual/... instead of physical. About 70 pct of our costs are salaries (both employees and freelancers), the next biggest are rental costs and hardware & software (all those subscriptions really add up and you just can’t go without them). About 10years ago, we had the rule of thumb that we need to make 90-100k€ for every person employed, i guess today it will be about 130k€. That’s not much different to your numbers.
I appreciate your honesty as so many people think that the GROSS income that content creators tout is what they're bringing home. But when you factor in all the fees, etc., the actual revenue is what's important. As an author, each year I share a blog post with how much I spent on my business and earned. It's not a lot, but my point is, like you, to share the truth of what it takes to make a profit as a creator. Thank you!
Congrats for having posted this video. I’m also a micro business owner (completely different field though) but business rules remain the same : increase revenue, reduce cost and stay legal. You’ve demonstrated you ticked all those boxes. Well done! Always love watching your videos 👍
"Illuminating" is a great word to describe your explanation, Mary, and you are spot-on. All the "business" stuff absolutely has to be attended to, and correctly, if a creator wants to be even minimally successful, and that's just as true out in the non-UA-cam world as it is online. I tried making art as a business, failed miserably, and in the course of that failure I learned a quite valuable lesson: I truly loathe most of those "business"-type things that have to be done to make it all work. You have adapted. I decided I was not willing to make those adaptations. Making art thus become an (expensive) hobby, but that's a conscious choice that I made on purpose, not something I drifted into. Running a business, UA-cam-based or otherwise, requires focus and determination as well as talent. Good for you.
Mary, thank you for being such an inspiration! Would love to see that video you mentioned about the cost of making your album if you ever feel like making it, and you think it would do well. Sending appreciation from the USA. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for your authentic openness! I would truly love a breakdown of what it took to produce your album. All the best to you on your creative journey!
Thank you for opening up this far! I do not think I have ever watched a comparable video in more than ten years of using UA-cam as my main evening entertainment. While it is obvious that many of the more productive UA-camrs have a team, it is difficult for us viewers to get our head around what this exactly looks like. Again, thanks for giving us this look behind the scenes. As far as additional income is concerned: Tour Northwest Germany, f.ex Cologne, Dortmund or Münster, and I'll definetly buy a ticket. I'm also pretty sure that others would do the same. Give it a thought ;-) Til then, greetings from Germany!
Your greatest skill - in my view at least - is as a writer of lyrics and an author of scripts. That is the heart of your creativity and its fuel is the music. How lucky we all are to benefit from the moments of engagement you provide for us. Thank you 😊
Your video was very illuminating. Personally, I have no desire to be an on-line creator but I find the whole phenomenon very interesting. I am an amateur musician and have greatly benefitted from various on-line content, mostly UA-cam. This has opened a broad world of learning and opportunity for me so thank you and your peers for what you do for us consumers. Lastly, always remember to unselfishly take care of yourself.
You could make a course about your financials you know. How you started, how you grew, what made you grow, costs, revenues, net margins, etc. I would be a client. I know that there are plenty of courses out there. But I don't trust them. And... I trust you. This is maybe your biggest capital. Use it.
Thanks Mary! Great info. I have found that few people are willing to talk about the Expense side of the Balance Sheet. And Yes, I want to hear about the Expenses of making an Album!
I was a solo law practitioner in the midwestern US for some decades. The rule of thumb for expenses was about 40-60% of gross receipts. I did not advertise. I would suppose your business is similar to that. I hope you are making a good living doing this: you richly deserve it.
I'm curious about "gifted gear". When companies give you products to try that you can keep, how do you account for that? Do you just credit the retail sales price as "income"? And does Patreon make it easy for you by giving you tax statements each year?
Really outstanding and illuminating. For my small business, I’ve cut out some of those types of items, but that ends up costing you as additional time needed. Expenses have an upside, as least in U.S. - they are deductible. I really enjoyed seeing and talking with you at NAMM!
Kudos to you Mary…..I’ve been following you from Canada for several yrs now. You’re witty, intelligent, well educated, resourceful……and I should add you’re a wonderful guitarist, singer, very attractive and loving! The information you share will be extremely beneficial to young and older artists….. Keep up the wonderful work you do…..👍❤️ Btw…your sense of humour…well you are British!😉😊🤣❤️😘
I'm only a year deep and having a blast. I'm pretty blessed because I already have an amazing career in music and YT just fits right into it organically. I'm still going to take YT as far as I can though. This is great info. and thanks for sharing Mary.
I can only hope that by going through this overview, confronting it in a way, and then sharing it, has been a source of confidence as you look at all you have mastered (and you have). :-) It is clear to see that your heart is in the right place and I for one dread the thought of a world without Mary Spender. You teach more than you might realize - in this case the axiom, "Knowledge gained should be knowledge shared". How true. Now it's up to us "users" to be more than just "users"!
Hey there Mary, I have bought I think One CD merch from you before. I’m gladly ordering just now today your latest CD… I love your honesty and forthright nature in everything you communicate on your UA-cam channel and I wish you the best of luck in your pursuits always. Have a good day!
Well done and informative. You have a difficult job, few people would understand that. I needed a job so I could afford to be a musician, you're doing it! Congratulations!!
Once again Mary Spender has opened our eyes to the real world of making UA-cam videos. It is way more complicated than we thought and we are very impressed with how professional everything you do looks and sounds. Thanks for sharing this insight Mary.
6:45 is absolutely spot on. To survive in. the arts you must think of yourself as a business. It is essential for survival and longevity. There are some very real grains of truth in. his video and I encourage you, if you're serious, to heed Mary's wisdom. It will save you harsh lessons many of us had to learn for you✌🥁🙏
Im a homeschooling dad- this is excellent material to teach kids about business and entrepreneurship. Thank You very much!(Also -commenting for the algorithm as a form of appreciation 😁)
Small comparison: In the US, 50% of new restaurants (independently owned, not chains) fail by the 12 month mark. No matter what type of business, you are not at all exaggerating when you outline the risk of failure and the culture of needing to grind... while you make it look so easy and fun, you also are very honest in your account (no pun intended) of the financial realities!
I've been both a micro enterprise and a small enterprise, but admit this micro range is so much more comfortable with the life I am trying to live with my family.
Thank you Mary! The misconceptions involving monetization of Any endeavor/activity lead to some really misleading perceptions of (some) aspiring creators? & Congratulations! Amazing perseverance/longevity... 🙏🏼❤️
I paid no mind to my channel until the lockdown hit in 2020. At that point I had 9 subs and just started posting whatever guitar content I saw fit. I just did videos to be creative as playing live was a no go then. Eventually I stumbled on to some minor success with a super niche audience for a Line 6 product. I spent a little more time in my one man operation to attempt to make better videos and just reach the monetization goal...just to say I did it. Goal achieved. I still do all my videos by myself as I'm still a small channel. The money I make each month now covers simple expenses like guitar strings or gas to get to my gigs, which is just fine with me. I create for the need to do it and to share knowledge. Any money that comes from it is a bonus. I can't imagine the stress of being in your shoes with such a successful channel. Your content is fantastic and I can see the need you have for a small team. Keep putting on your vids...us aspiring musicians/UA-camrs need them! 🙏
So if I purchase a Line 6 Pod Go, which I've been mulling over for far too long, it sounds like your channel is the first one I need to subscribe to for tips and tricks on getting started...
@@mikebaker7964 Well, there are plenty of videos on my channel to help people out with the POD GO. And there are many other channels that also offer excellent information. Thanks for your interest in my channel 🙏
Brilliant insight. I've been a fan for a number of years (about 6 years) and find your content always engaging. I'm on a break from my musician interview podcast (Local Open Mic) due a proper place to record it and because wearing all the hats is catching up with me too. You have good advice on strategies that I pay attention too, so, keep up the great work and I'll continue to benefit from all your efforts.
Yes Mary, I would like to know your expenses for your album. I love your content your music. You are very entertaining. The best to you and the success to you.
Thank you very much Mary for this most interesting insight. I have had my own one-man company as an IT specialist for nearly 10 years but my passion is music and starting a UA-cam channel around music as been on my list for a while... I love your videos. Just wish I had time to watch them all...
Yep running a business is more than just rocking up and watching the money roll in! I'm surprised at your accountancy costs though - seem somewhat high based on turnover. I used an online agency for many years and they were about 20% of what you pay and they did everything including personal taxes for me. Also included an online solution (FreeAgent) for inputing all the expenses etc. You still get a dedicated accountant but obviously they are shared with other customers.
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What is it that you're complaining about? I am an old time musician now retired, and just like you, I'm just a mediocre talent. I have watched your videos and heard your music. Yeah, it's ok, but it's just ok, nothing earth shattering, nothing that I personaly could remember or whistle as I go about. Your efforts are commendable, but your music has not reached the level of your ambition. That is the reason that neither you or me would never reach the height we were hoping for. But, who knows, maybe you'll hit the jack pot , but for now, I doubt it. And just like you, I've been told by my friends that my music should be heard, but that's all accolades I've gotten. But I'm not complaining. I had fun doing it. Maybe it's the time you do the same. Sorry to rain on your party. But some one should tell you that. A road to hell is paved with good intentions.
@@milenakorovljev4209 Most interesting points made, I agree!
The other option would be to become musically talented and try to make a living as a touring musican. That's probably tougher than being a UA-camr.
So cool of you to do these "pull back the curtain" type videos! Love this. Will always be back for your musicianship, but really appreciate that you mix it up sharing your "back of house" experiences as a creator. Keep up the great work (and congratulations on the album - there are a few real gems on there!)
100% Concur with your advice on getting an accountant. My wife is one working for small businesses. She sees the same issues and gets asked the same questions every time a new business enquires. It would take me 4 or 5 times as long as her to do my accounts, that time can be better utilised by doing what I'm good at and what brings in the revenue
While I appreciate your skill as a musician and songwriter, I think your insightfulness and thoughts on almost any topic you touch are your true skill when it comes to your UA-cam success ❤️
As a creator myself, I appreciate a look into how things are run. I am still a one-person operation, but I do dream about having someone to spar about ideas, scripts, fact-checking, thumbnails, and such 😁
I Agree. This just Might
Be her True Vocation.
Funny How The Universe Manifest in
Our lives. Very Funny. 🙂
Dear Mary. Not Only Illuminating, Enlightening And A Awakening.
After Seeing Creators like You. I " Was" Inspired to Create
My own channel. Just for Education. Deffinetly Not Fame
Or So Called Fortune. Now. Thanks to You. I Know
Why. I did Not Follow that path. Back to You.
Your Brilliant Brave, Boldacious! Thank You.
This video Blew my mind. 🙂
This is fantastic, Mary!
Thank you so much for going to the time / trouble / expense of showing your numbers like this. It really does put things into a sober perspective for some who may have goals, desires, dreams, etc. for doing successfully something similar to what you have been doing for what has turned out now to be what many of us would call "the long haul".
I won't make this much longer, but did want to take just a moment and a paragraph to tell you that I have been watching your videos for several years now (not all 18 yrs, but maybe the last decade give or take a little). By your viewership numbers that we can see and now the behind the scenes numbers you have shared, I feel like I'm not only speaking for myself when I say,
"Please be encouraged to continue with your original purpose of making music publicly because you are greatly appreciated by many of us. You and your music are well worth the effort for all of us who are glad you are a faithful UA-camr. Keep on keeping on..."
Thank you sincerely,
One appreciative viewer
Tak!
As a relatively recent CPA (Certified Public Acct- in the US; equivalent to a chartered acct...). THanks for recognizing the value we can bring to our clients each day. This (and your others too) video is well structured and professional, and shows how well you understand the business aspect as well. Best for the Future!!!
Thanks for talking about all the stuff running in the background. Many people think it's super easy to run and maintain a big UA-cam channel.
Wow, openness and honesty, it’s very refreshing and I’m guessing what so many of your subscribers follow you for. I am not a musician but my son is and I have enjoyed so much watching his skills develop and I now have a real passion for all those musicians out there who just want to create great music and have a long career, rather than a million dollars and sixty seconds of fame. Mary while still a wonderful musician, I think your real skill is the information and support you provide to other new musicians. Never underestimate the value this has.
Thank you Mary. This was a thoroughly refreshing, honest and straight forward look into how things really are. Thank you for your commitment and joyfulness that shows through each and every video.
This is incredibly insightful. Thank you for your continued transparency. I had no idea you had full-time employees or a dedicated office/studio. I've never heard of Mister Beast, but I can't imagine I'd learn more from him than I have from you. Thank you for sharing your journey.
I'm so glad that you did this video Mary. There are far too many people who think a UA-cam career is a cakewalk that returns multiples of what they are actually willing to put in. I wish you every success moving forward!
The majority of the advice in this video is relevant to most micro businesses. I might have missed it, but I think she also forgot one of the other key partners and expenses, which is legal. Considering that her whole business is dealing with intellectual property, copyright, fair use, etc. that seems like a big oversight. Even a business that isn't dealing with those issues needs good legal representation and it is worth every penny. The other bit she skipped is that even before you are successful there will be a lot of other people / businesses that want to "ride" your work for their own benefit without taking any risk themselves. Again, that is probably even a bigger issue for someone in the music business or any content creator that historically has been exploited.
However, I'm guessing most aspiring tubers / streamers won't take any of this to heart. Back in the early days when I tried to help other people that wanted to get into building web businesses, they just wanted to talk about their great ideas. I would explain that their great idea is probably not what will make their business successful as there were likely tens, hundreds or thousands of people around the world with a similar idea. Managing people, income and expenses, cash flow, legal, accounting, sales, promotion, etc. were far more important. If you can last the next six months or longer, most wannabes are going to start failing by then.
@@kasplat5874 Legal is a thorny one to deal with within a fairly short video like this. This is not legal advice but.. it would have benefited from at least a mention of setting aside a certain amount not just for a bad month, but to cover some of the issues that surround the legal stuff.
Fair use, can vary between countries in law, though can still be a little vague as not many creators would have the resources to actually fight a megacorp in court. It more often comes down to the platforms' Terms.
Have seen some channels near destroyed by spurious takedown requests, or swathes of their content de-monetised by over-zealous copyright claims. The main recourse is trying to get the platform to be the arbiter, but judging by some of the stories from large creators, wouldn't exactly rely on it regardless of size.
I've got youngsters in my family, and I've been quite surprised to see how kids don't want to be rockstars anymore. Totally uninteresting to them. Instead, they want to be streamers and youtubers.
It's _the_ dream job, in their minds. You just make videos while playing video games and talking about stuff you like, and let the money roll in, lol. Success _appears_ effortless, like anyone could do it, since the barrier to entry _seems_ so low. Everyone has a camera and a youtube account. The youngsters are going, "I like goofing off and watching videos, and I like making TikTok videos with my friends... so running a channel is probably just like that that!"
Plus, the most popular streamers are exorbitantly wealthy. So it just seems like easy money, like winning the lottery. The kids aren't considering all the failed channels, the droves of people who are getting dragged along the bottom and grinding.
@@kasplat5874UA-cam does have tools available for creators for copyright issues. I’m sure Mary takes full advantage of that service. I do a little UA-cam channel, and received strikes for covers of Eagles’ tunes. I stay away from them now like the plague.
Very illuminating! Also holy wow, those numbers. Just, man sakes. I knew there was costs, but I don't think my brain processed it. Thanks for the video, and thanks for doing what you do. You're quite possibly one of the most open and honest UA-camrs out there, and I'm very grateful that we have you!
I am a small entrepreneur since over 35 years (and a guitar player since almost the same time) ... I have built 6 businesses in my life, 3 collapsed in less than a year each, one worked and still is since 30 years and I just closed the two last ones, in the software and digital marketing industry, I am originally a sofware developper ... Your video is absolutely a must see for anyone who would like to build a business ... Any business, not only becoming a youtuber, any kind of business. But because too many people think nowadays that it is easy to make money staying behind a camera at home ... It is now time, from my pov, that your kind of informative videos are shown at ... school ... The young generation needs to understand what it means to build a business as too many of them believe they can make a living without even studying or learning a job ... Thanks to taking the time to produce them, a lot of your subscribers will learn from your experience ... You should be rewarded for that as well 😉👍
A bad month can be nerve wracking when there are bills to pay, it takes a lot of dedication, stamina and bravery to keep the enterprise going. Good on you!
A really interesting video once again Mary! Among other things it explains why so many UA-camrs fail…. They are hopeless at business. Thanks ❤
…Mary is a star in this way; she shares her experience and knowledge of the internet business; thank you.
This is such a great video, and you are an absolutely brilliant woman, Mary. Thanks for 1) all the great content and 2) your most generous, thoughtful approach to your career! I can't imagine where else in the world anyone could find this sort of honest information so well organized and so freely offered!
Mary, this is a great example of being a good steward of your time, talent, and treasure. Thank you for educating us. I cannot believe the cost. You're videos have value and the music is good too!
Love it Mary! Authenticity at its best ;) Would really really like to hear the story of paying foryour album!!! Good vibes from Germany
I personally find these invaluable. Please make more, I'd like to see what I'm getting myself into, lol
this should be required viewing for all prospective tubers and musicians and everyone else. running a business isn't impossible, but not easy. well done Mary.
her insights are invaluable 🙌
3:52 -- "... my editor John, my producer George..." All you need is Paul and Ringo and you've got the whole band back together!! 😂
Mary’s not above putting on a fake moustache: therefore, I second this comment. ✔️
Please don't let Yoko sing on the rekkid album.
People who have never tried to run business will have a hard time understanding the costs of running a business. Thanks for making this video.
Great info. Thank you for sharing.
One channel I follow only does 'live videos' so there is no fancy editing time. He uploads twice as often because he is not putting that time on the video editing end. Content is king, the person doing the video is important, and those are why people return.
Welcome to the life of the independent business person. I'm long retired now but I've started many small businesses in various industries. Bars and restaurants, construction companies, R&D, Sound reproduction, testing labs.
I think you've done a very nice service to those independent musicians that can look to what you've accomplished as a blueprint for them to work from. They don't have to learn by trial and error, and can adapt the knowledge you share to their own situation.
You're a wonderful songwriter and musician and I must say a strong business person as well.
Much future success to you in your career.
As someone who sells physical goods developed in-house I learned the very hard way about costs and accounts. Solid advice on getting a good accountant but learn to do your own books starting out. It’ll avoid you getting stiffed if you understand what’s involved. Beyond that remember “Turnover vanity, profit sanity”
Beyond that know your value and don’t undersell your product/service/self without considering the costs.
My hats off to creators now, after seeing this and having a glimpse in to what you do I can honestly say I could never do what you do. Thank you for this video.
I think as a business owner, youtuber and presenter you are fantastic.
A beautiful woman with a very very smart brain.
Awesome video and so informative! Thank you for doing so!
Hi Mary im just a normal viewer and iam speechless how much work goes into your Chanel and business. I had no idea as most of don’t. What an amazing presentation . I really enjoy listening to you . Danke schön❤. Best of luck
Mary, as ever illuminating, refreshing, honest and above all INFORMATIVE. I believe someone else commented exactly my thoughts, this video should be an educational video that all prospective UA-camrs should be compelled to watch, just so they know what mountains they are going to face as they become more famous. Thank you as ever @Mary Spender
The cost break down for your intro album would be lovely. And thank you for sticking with it over the years. I've started a couple of small enterprises over the years and nearly lost my minnd. You're on a challenging path. God speed.
Tremendously educational one of the most worthwhile videos I've ever seen! This ought to be required viewing for both graduate and undergraduate business students. Thanks tons!
Mary, you are the only UA-camr I will happily listen to talking to camera for a whole video. Thank you for the video!
Wow, this was so detailed and honest. I've barely seen any other videos like this on UA-cam. Thanks for this Mary!
but she's still youtubing... getting paid somehow
As a fellow micro-business bootstrapper (not on UA-cam though), I always try to educate others who ask questions about how I did it on the importance of multiple sources of revenue in weathering the volatility of being a row-boat in the open ocean. And also, because of being quite small, the importance of considering the amount of extra effort and expenditures each new growth direction creates BEFORE choosing which directions to grow; I don't always get to the thing I want to be doing first, but at least when I get there, the business can support actually doing it. Bootstrapping is one of the hardest entrepreneurial methods to start, but one of the greatest for long-term stability once you get going (no loans or investors messing up the decision theory so you can focus on quality, employees, and customers). I am glad to see someone in the public eye making good with it. Thank you for posting.
Thank you for providing this video. While I don't know where your music career will take you, this video and a few of your others showing behind the scenes exposes of the UA-cam creator business already elevate you to the level of a superb educator. And you should take great satisfaction in that. My wife teaches public school at the first and second grade level and there are many teachers she works with who fail miserably at being educators. It is not an easy skill or attitude for many people to acquire. You have those in spades. Best wishes for continued success.
Love you Mary! Such an inspiration.
@MarySpender, I actually ran a home based travel agency in the US years ago. Every failure is always an opportunity to learn new skills. Fast forward ten years, I am building a career in the criminal justice and private security sector in order to help pay for my work as an actor and musician. I have considered doing a little UA-cam channel, not so much to monetize(though that would be great if it worked out), so much as to share a bit of myself with the world. The problem I am having is at the conceptualization stage, though I would like to teach people something new with each episode. I have also considered documenting my journey as an older person, in my 40s, as a beginner in unexpected hobbies and careers. I would not start anything without a focus in place, otherwise it’s wasting a lot of time, money, and energy.
Yes, illuminating! It stays inspiring through the end of the video because you don't overwhelm listeners with too much information but authentically walk the thin line of attraction (become an entrepreneur) and the awareness of what that entails. You're a splendid living example of how multi-talent can be explored in a productive and satisfying way rather than being channeled and silenced in stereotypical work patterns.
Thanks for three informative video! Seeing this kind of honesty is refreshing.
Very interesting discussion. Mary is a great presenter.
A couple of years ago I heard K T Tunstall say that to keep her business going she had to generate enough income to pay for seventeen people.
Some people may be put off trying the UA-cam path but I have seen a lot of ideas fail because people didn't understand the reality. They think if they can generate a six figure turnover then they will be rich but then hit the buffers when all that does is cover their fixed costs.
I am setting up a little carpentry operation as my "retirement" project. I no longer have to work full time but have a very modest income and want to stay active. But I can do this with zero debt and minimal overheads. I have a workshop attached to the house so no rent. I refuse to buy equipment on credit. I can stop operation at any time. But I still need an accountant and I still pay council tax.
This was a refreshing honest take on the subject and one a lot of people needed to hear. Huge credit to you for putting this out and to paraphrase Katniss Everdeen; may the algorithms be ever in your favour.
Thanks for this. I am a bookkeeper and Fractional CFO. I am pleased to hear your appreciation for the things I do. I agree, having this part of your business wired tight sure does bring peace of mind.
Mary, I subscribed a while back because I saw you as a well spoken educator, thank you. Now I am beginning to enjoy your music. I just retired after 28 years owning a micro business. One of the years which stands out is the one where my wife worked a full time job, I a part time job plus the business and we wound up $56k in the hole. A tough year
What I love about you doing this is that the numbers and actual glimpse of the industry are inspiring by making the idea real. In so doing, you take some of the fear of the unknown away. It becomes just "Can I do it?" not a fear of the unknown.
Thank you Mary, as you said in the very end of the video, this was illuminating.
It showed me what not to do. And, as far as I’ve learned in my 53 years on this planet, that’s even more important than knowing what to do.
@mary spender, you have a beautiful soul and thank you for giving us this information!
Quite fascinating and illuminating, thank you for being so open on the costs. I'm often curious about the UA-cam 'economy', as its plain to see some channels/creators make very little money, whilst others literally buy Ferraris, plural. I think it might be worth bearing in mind that the winner is always Google itself, as they pay a cut of everyone's ad' revenue, and have recently changed their ad' policy to include more ads'. But back to Mary, thank you for your great videos...🙏
No1 is "Health" and all the rest fall into place with help. Good Doc, good mouthpiece and a brill accountant , sincere Friends and loads of energy..."Be Lucky"!💫
I like how you share this info because so many think it is easy and you make easy money. In the States, many kids in public school were polled their #1 career as a social media influencer and youtube. These videos show there is a great deal of work involved and it is a business
Mary, I'm so glad you are ok with being known for an educator because that's where you shine. You play guitar well and your write your own songs and sing them but
as an educator, video maker, communicator you deserve the cover of Rolling Stone. For my ears and analysis of your songs your personality will get you a core group of fans
but your videos alone made you a star.
Great that you're "real" and keeping your feet on the ground. I work as an expert witness where communication skill is what counts. You could do that with ease.
Keep it up and play for your hearts healing.
I ran my own video production company for 25 years , I agree 100% with your advice. Nice job on this video!
This is so interesting and informative. Thankyou for being so open about what it costs to run a channel like yours - I am quite astonished how expensive it turns out to be, which only increases my respect for you and your dedication to it. Whatever the fuutre holds it is obvious that your talents extend beyond simply music making and you would be an asset to any creative company.
As an aspiring content creator, this was worth its weight in gold (metaphorically). Thank you so much! :)
I run an architecture and engineering office, and those numbers are pretty similar to ours. I guess it would be similar for other businesses where the work/product is mostly virtual/intellectual/... instead of physical. About 70 pct of our costs are salaries (both employees and freelancers), the next biggest are rental costs and hardware & software (all those subscriptions really add up and you just can’t go without them). About 10years ago, we had the rule of thumb that we need to make 90-100k€ for every person employed, i guess today it will be about 130k€. That’s not much different to your numbers.
I appreciate your honesty as so many people think that the GROSS income that content creators tout is what they're bringing home. But when you factor in all the fees, etc., the actual revenue is what's important. As an author, each year I share a blog post with how much I spent on my business and earned. It's not a lot, but my point is, like you, to share the truth of what it takes to make a profit as a creator. Thank you!
Mary, you are an inspiration
your editor is top-shelf
Congrats for having posted this video. I’m also a micro business owner (completely different field though) but business rules remain the same : increase revenue, reduce cost and stay legal. You’ve demonstrated you ticked all those boxes. Well done!
Always love watching your videos 👍
"Illuminating" is a great word to describe your explanation, Mary, and you are spot-on. All the "business" stuff absolutely has to be attended to, and correctly, if a creator wants to be even minimally successful, and that's just as true out in the non-UA-cam world as it is online. I tried making art as a business, failed miserably, and in the course of that failure I learned a quite valuable lesson: I truly loathe most of those "business"-type things that have to be done to make it all work. You have adapted. I decided I was not willing to make those adaptations. Making art thus become an (expensive) hobby, but that's a conscious choice that I made on purpose, not something I drifted into. Running a business, UA-cam-based or otherwise, requires focus and determination as well as talent. Good for you.
Mary, thank you for being such an inspiration! Would love to see that video you mentioned about the cost of making your album if you ever feel like making it, and you think it would do well.
Sending appreciation from the USA. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for your authentic openness! I would truly love a breakdown of what it took to produce your album. All the best to you on your creative journey!
Thank you for opening up this far! I do not think I have ever watched a comparable video in more than ten years of using UA-cam as my main evening entertainment. While it is obvious that many of the more productive UA-camrs have a team, it is difficult for us viewers to get our head around what this exactly looks like. Again, thanks for giving us this look behind the scenes.
As far as additional income is concerned: Tour Northwest Germany, f.ex Cologne, Dortmund or Münster, and I'll definetly buy a ticket. I'm also pretty sure that others would do the same. Give it a thought ;-)
Til then, greetings from Germany!
Your greatest skill - in my view at least - is as a writer of lyrics and an author of scripts. That is the heart of your creativity and its fuel is the music. How lucky we all are to benefit from the moments of engagement you provide for us. Thank you 😊
Your video was very illuminating. Personally, I have no desire to be an on-line creator but I find the whole phenomenon very interesting. I am an amateur musician and have greatly benefitted from various on-line content, mostly UA-cam. This has opened a broad world of learning and opportunity for me so thank you and your peers for what you do for us consumers. Lastly, always remember to unselfishly take care of yourself.
You could make a course about your financials you know. How you started, how you grew, what made you grow, costs, revenues, net margins, etc. I would be a client. I know that there are plenty of courses out there. But I don't trust them. And... I trust you. This is maybe your biggest capital. Use it.
Thanks Mary! Great info. I have found that few people are willing to talk about the Expense side of the Balance Sheet. And Yes, I want to hear about the Expenses of making an Album!
I was a solo law practitioner in the midwestern US for some decades. The rule of thumb for expenses was about 40-60% of gross receipts. I did not advertise. I would suppose your business is similar to that. I hope you are making a good living doing this: you richly deserve it.
The information you offer is invaluabe on so many levels. Thank you Mary.
I'm curious about "gifted gear". When companies give you products to try that you can keep, how do you account for that? Do you just credit the retail sales price as "income"? And does Patreon make it easy for you by giving you tax statements each year?
Hi Mary, Thank you for always being honest and true. Love your work. A California guy, now in Sheffield. ☺️❤️❤️🥂
Really outstanding and illuminating. For my small business, I’ve cut out some of those types of items, but that ends up costing you as additional time needed. Expenses have an upside, as least in U.S. - they are deductible.
I really enjoyed seeing and talking with you at NAMM!
Kudos to you Mary…..I’ve been following you from Canada for several yrs now.
You’re witty, intelligent, well educated, resourceful……and I should add you’re a wonderful guitarist, singer, very attractive and loving!
The information you share will be extremely beneficial to young and older artists…..
Keep up the wonderful work you do…..👍❤️
Btw…your sense of humour…well you are British!😉😊🤣❤️😘
“Look after your team and your team will look after you” 10/10
I'm only a year deep and having a blast. I'm pretty blessed because I already have an amazing career in music and YT just fits right into it organically. I'm still going to take YT as far as I can though. This is great info. and thanks for sharing Mary.
I can only hope that by going through this overview, confronting it in a way, and then sharing it, has been a source of confidence as you look at all you have mastered (and you have). :-) It is clear to see that your heart is in the right place and I for one dread the thought of a world without Mary Spender. You teach more than you might realize - in this case the axiom, "Knowledge gained should be knowledge shared". How true. Now it's up to us "users" to be more than just "users"!
Hey there Mary, I have bought I think One CD merch from you before. I’m gladly ordering just now today your latest CD… I love your honesty and forthright nature in everything you communicate on your UA-cam channel and I wish you the best of luck in your pursuits always. Have a good day!
yup, please do the album costs breakdown!!
Well done and informative. You have a difficult job, few people would understand that. I needed a job so I could afford to be a musician, you're doing it! Congratulations!!
Once again Mary Spender has opened our eyes to the real world of making UA-cam videos. It is way more complicated than we thought and we are very impressed with how professional everything you do looks and sounds. Thanks for sharing this insight Mary.
6:45 is absolutely spot on. To survive in. the arts you must think of yourself as a business. It is essential for survival and longevity. There are some very real grains of truth in. his video and I encourage you, if you're serious, to heed Mary's wisdom. It will save you harsh lessons many of us had to learn for you✌🥁🙏
Thanks Mary. I am currently wrestling with a couple of idesa for creating my own business, and hearing from people who have succeeded always helps.
Mind blowing actually . Thank you for sharing. Mary you are an inspiration to me and I enjoy your beautiful voice and calm demeanor.
As always, great video Mary. Thank you. 👏🏻
Im a homeschooling dad- this is excellent material to teach kids about business and entrepreneurship. Thank You very much!(Also -commenting for the algorithm as a form of appreciation 😁)
Small comparison: In the US, 50% of new restaurants (independently owned, not chains) fail by the 12 month mark. No matter what type of business, you are not at all exaggerating when you outline the risk of failure and the culture of needing to grind... while you make it look so easy and fun, you also are very honest in your account (no pun intended) of the financial realities!
You are so well spoken, engaging and love your practical reminders for business owners and creators.
I've been both a micro enterprise and a small enterprise, but admit this micro range is so much more comfortable with the life I am trying to live with my family.
Thank you Mary! The misconceptions involving monetization of Any endeavor/activity lead to some really misleading perceptions of (some) aspiring creators?
& Congratulations! Amazing perseverance/longevity... 🙏🏼❤️
Thank you Mary
Thank you for sharing the behind scene of your growing business. I always learn so much from you. Best wishes for your continued success.
I paid no mind to my channel until the lockdown hit in 2020. At that point I had 9 subs and just started posting whatever guitar content I saw fit. I just did videos to be creative as playing live was a no go then. Eventually I stumbled on to some minor success with a super niche audience for a Line 6 product. I spent a little more time in my one man operation to attempt to make better videos and just reach the monetization goal...just to say I did it. Goal achieved. I still do all my videos by myself as I'm still a small channel. The money I make each month now covers simple expenses like guitar strings or gas to get to my gigs, which is just fine with me. I create for the need to do it and to share knowledge. Any money that comes from it is a bonus.
I can't imagine the stress of being in your shoes with such a successful channel. Your content is fantastic and I can see the need you have for a small team. Keep putting on your vids...us aspiring musicians/UA-camrs need them! 🙏
So if I purchase a Line 6 Pod Go, which I've been mulling over for far too long, it sounds like your channel is the first one I need to subscribe to for tips and tricks on getting started...
@@mikebaker7964 Well, there are plenty of videos on my channel to help people out with the POD GO. And there are many other channels that also offer excellent information. Thanks for your interest in my channel 🙏
thanks for sharing this info Mary. All the best!
A real eye-opener, Mary.
Brilliant insight. I've been a fan for a number of years (about 6 years) and find your content always engaging. I'm on a break from my musician interview podcast (Local Open Mic) due a proper place to record it and because wearing all the hats is catching up with me too. You have good advice on strategies that I pay attention too, so, keep up the great work and I'll continue to benefit from all your efforts.
Yes Mary, I would like to know your expenses for your album. I love your content your music. You are very entertaining. The best to you and the success to you.
Thank You, Mary. People must realize this if (and when) they choose to become Utube Creators......❤❤
Thank you very much Mary for this most interesting insight. I have had my own one-man company as an IT specialist for nearly 10 years but my passion is music and starting a UA-cam channel around music as been on my list for a while... I love your videos. Just wish I had time to watch them all...
Yep running a business is more than just rocking up and watching the money roll in! I'm surprised at your accountancy costs though - seem somewhat high based on turnover. I used an online agency for many years and they were about 20% of what you pay and they did everything including personal taxes for me. Also included an online solution (FreeAgent) for inputing all the expenses etc. You still get a dedicated accountant but obviously they are shared with other customers.