Photo from LearningDSLRVideo.com
So, VidCon is a thing that has happened. Never heard of VidCon? Well, it was only the biggest and baddest online video conference/gathering that there ever was, and you missed it! Gutted. I gave a few talks, played a few songs, made some new friends, gave a lot of hugs, dived into a few ball pits, and took my pants off. Yes, I took my pants off on stage, and yes, I’m still completely teetotal. I’m still not quite sure how I did it.
If, however, you had already heard of VidCon and didn’t need it explained to you, apologies for that last paragraph. Massive respect goes to Hank Green (the main organiser) and all of the team that worked on the conference for managing to pull everything together so well. Sure, there was room for improvement, but seeing as it was Hank’s first go I think he did a brilliant job, and I can’t wait to see how he can build upon it next year … if there is a next year. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed, and I’ll be sure to swoop up the opportunity if he chooses to invite me again.
The most overwhelming thing about the conference though was how many people seemed to know who I was. I did my absolute best to meet as many people as possible when I had spare time to do so, and fortunately everybody that I met was very lovely, friendly, and not creepy in the slightest. There were, however, a few times when I’d head down to the lobby to meet up with a friend for lunch, bump into someone who wanted a photo, and then look behind them a few minutes later to find that a “meet charlieissocoollike!” line had formed all on it’s own. The moments where I had to turn people away so that I could go and get some food were incredibly hard for me to handle, I wanted to give everyone the chance to meet me, but I just didn’t have the time. If you were at VidCon and didn’t get the chance to say hey, I can’t apologize enough :(
Another Thing
As well as VidCon being as thing that has happened, another thing has happened that I want to inform you all about, and that’s FirstTV. I’m extremely lucky to be in the position that I am, I’m thankful for it every day, to live in a world where opportunities get handed to me as often as I do. As a 19 year old without much life direction, when I was approached to audition for a job in traditional presenting I thought “hey, sure, I’ll give it a go”. After all, I wasn’t ever going to know if traditional presenting was the job for me unless I tried it out, so when the producer of FirstTV was kind enough to give me a shot, and a job, I jumped in.
Image from FirstTV
However, it was only after the first day of shooting that I started to feel out of place. Reading from a script didn’t feel right, no matter how much I tried to make it my own, it just wasn’t the show for me … so I decided to quit. Everybody that works on the show is downright lovely, and we all became friends very quickly, which just made my decision to leave all the harder. But hey, when something doesn’t feel right, logically or emotionally, all you can do is use your best judgment.
I don’t regret my decision to join the FirstTV team, albeit very briefly, because without that experience I wouldn’t ever have known that traditional presenting just wasn’t for me. For the FirstTV team of the future, I wish you all the best of luck, and for anyone that’s interested, you’ll be able to find the next four episodes, appearing one by one (all of my stuff has already been shot) on their website: firsttv.tv – I actually break a world record in the first episode, surely it’s worth watching just for that :)
Thanks again to the FirstTV team for the opportunity, to Emma, Nick and Fran for being such lovely ladies and co-presenters, and to you, for your continued support while I try and work out what the hell I want to do with my life. I’ll know at least by the time I reach 30, I promise. <3
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Aw, I love you and Alex and I kept seeing all your Tweets and stuff about Vidcon. I wish I could have gone there. I didn't even know one existed for videos, but that's really cool.
I'll probably watch the video after I eat some breakfast, or maybe during.
I'm just glad you guys had a splendid time, and I love how genuine you are for your fans. :)
thats really cool your lucky but you done the right thng
By 'I took off my pants' – are you turning into an american and usind the word pants for trousers, or did you actually REMOVE YOUR UNDERWEAR?
If it is the first option then, Charlie, I am DISMAYED. You should be PROUD of being BRITISH, as, after all, everyone knows that Brits are awesome :D (no offense America – after all, you do have the vlogbrothers)
So, Charlie, Be a MAN. Be PROUD of being a BRIT.
<3 :D
Have you thought of doing the professional musician thing seriously? You arn't a poser in the traditional muso sense of the world (you're more level headed) so you'd probably be taken more seriously then the average and left alone more to do what you actually wanted to do (my opinion anyway). I think you've got the talent to make it as an entertainer, but just finding the right niche (and you already do it incredibly sucessfully on youtube anyway – ie a million subscribers or whatever the number you have.) If that's all you want to do in entertainment then great, but I still think that you've got the talent to go much, much further.
My thoughts anyway ; )
Well done on the record! It really cool that you got that opportunity, but you definitely didn't seem as “you” on FirstTV. I'm glad you did what you felt was right! Your fans will support you with every decision you make. We love you, Charlie! :)
WOOO
I remember watching Hank Green on 'a talk with Dave' and he seemed to predict this kind of thing happening to youtubers given the chance to be on TV. I agree, I mean it must be weird to go from doing everything yourself, the scripting, the promotion, the jokes, the directing, the editing and more, to reading from a script.
And I wish I could have gone to Vidcon, glad you had fun there :D
i saw the first one of these you presented and, no offence intended here, the presentation was spotless but seemed unnatural. I am glad you have decided not to go with the presenting as I think it would be a waste of you intelligence and your talent, good luck in trying to find your mission in life and keep up the videos they have incredible entertainment value and whenever you are discussed amongst my friends and i, you are always spoken of very highly, presumably for your sheer watchablilty due to your uplifting humour, content dispotition and your ability to maitain a comfortable manner while being so open and honest about your character, when behind a camera.
i saw the first one of these you presented and, no offence intended here, the presentation was spotless but seemed unnatural.
I am glad you have decided not to go with the presenting as I think it would be a waste of you intelligence and your talent, good luck in trying to find your mission in life and keep up the videos.
They have incredible entertainment value and whenever you are discussed amongst my friends and I, you are always spoken of very highly, presumably for your sheer watchablilty due to your uplifting humour, content disposition and your ability to maitain a comfortable manner while being so open and honest about your character, when behind a camera. Once again good luck and …godspeed? :)
That FirstTV show was utter rubbish. It was pretty much a comedy piss take. Thank god you didn't continue haha
Really liked what u said on===when something doesn’t feel right, logically or emotionally, all you can do is use your best judgment.=== I am not very good at doing that, so that quote inspired me and kind of strikes a cord ~~ U r so talented and dared be who u r– I admire you for that. =D
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