Substance TV

So you want to know what makes a good review show, podcast, or blog? Oh, you don’t? Well I’ve spent hours over a hot stove cooking up this batch of ideas, so you sit down and listen! In the three years since I started doing reviews, I’ve learned a lot. Some through seeing what others have done, and some from personal experience. Now I don’t pretend to have it all figured out, but I want to pass along a few tips when it comes to being a quality reviewer. Whether written, spoken, or video, these pointers apply to all. I hope you find this advice helpful. (BTW: This list is in no particular order)

IGNORE THE SPAM
There’s nothing better than receiving a well thought out and mature critical response to your review. If you’ve been around the internet for more then oh let’s say 5 seconds, you know it can be a cruel and jaded place full of douchebags and trolls. In your journey as a reviewer, you will undoubtedly run into one of them (sometimes an entire herd!). What should you do? Two words: ignore them.

Now I’ll admit, I’ve been lured by the sweet smell of flame bait, but I learned something, responding to them only hurts your review. For starters, they are not interested in having a conversation or reasoning with you. They are interested in causing havoc and mayhem. In responding to them, you’ve given them just want they want, your attention and time, which they will promptly waste. And don’t fight fire with fire by coming back with an acidic response, it only derails what you were trying to do originally which was provide a quality review. Also, don’t encourage your fans or others to flame back as again it will only make things worse.

Simply put, if you ignore them, they will go away.

NO WHINING
Be thankful for what you have. Yes there are other reviewers out there with more viewers, subscribers, views, or popularity. Here’s the thing, you’re not them, and why would you want to be? There’s nothing wrong with using a popular reviewer as inspiration, but be the reviewer you want to be. There will always be other reviewers with less popularity, just as much popularity, and more popularity than you. You can’t change that. The only thing you have control over is the content you put out. I’ll agree, there are some reviewers I don’t think deserve the praise and fanfare they get, but who cares. The only way to combat the crap is to keep doing what you’re doing. Complaining about it won’t change anything but maybe tick off a few fanboys and make you look like a tool.

KEEP BANGING YOUR HEAD AGAINST THE WALL
Ever feel like you’ve done the most awesome video ever to grace planet Earth, yet you feel like no one gives a crap? Welcome to reality cupcake. The brutal truth is, crappy videos get a ton of views. Why? Simple, because people enjoy seeing crap and spreading it around. It’s humorous and entertaining (a.k.a. Rick Roll). So you know what you do, you work your face off and post another review. If that one gets ignored, you work your face off and post another one. Rinse, repeat. As long as you try and put your best effort into each review, your persistence will pay off. There are those who seem to make it big after only a few reviews, and that’s just luck I guess. All you can do is continue to make quality reviews and put yourself out there. At some point, people will take notice.

BE HUMBLE
There’s nothing worse than a cocky know it all. If you’ve gotten some notoriety or have a few fans, don’t let it get to your head. As the saying goes, there’s always a bigger fish out there. I’ve done this for three years, and still I learn something everyday, look at ways to improve my writing, editing, graphics, or sound. And no, you were not the first to do “X”. Most likely there was someone else before you who did “X” in some way or another before you were even born. Taking credit for it is plain stupid. Keep your head high, but your feet grounded and you should be fine.

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
Some out there may argue it’s important to have a steady stream of content to keep fans and viewers coming back. While I agree in principle, I think the obsession with just putting out “stuff” can be a stumbling block. Your first goal should be making something of quality. Whether it’s humorous, serious, satirical, or awkward, put your best effort into it. If you wouldn’t read, listen, or watch it, why would you expect others to?

STAY AWAY FROM THE PATH OF THE TROLL
I’ve already covered how to handle those who troll you, but be careful not to turn into one yourself. If someone has posted a terrible blog, podcast, or video, either post helpful criticism, or shut it. That video you just watched may be the worst thing ever captured on film, but making troll like comments only wastes your time and labels you as a twat supreme.

KEEP YOURSELF IN GOOD COMPANY
If you want to be a good reviewer, stick with other good reviewers you enjoy. Befriend those you enjoy reading, listening, or watching. Wish you had more subscribers or viewers? Then pay it forward. Comment, rate, subscribe, e-mail, or in some way help those reviewers you enjoy. You may be surprised what happens.

DO IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS
If you’re in this review rat race for fame or fortune, for your own good, get out. There are plenty of other quicker and better ways to make it big. And again, it wastes your time. Life is too short to be wasted on doing those things you hate. You spend your days working at a job you hate (or maybe not), so why waste your free time doing something you hate.

PUT A CONTROLLER IN YOUR HANDS
Sometimes it’s easy to forget why you started reviewing games, because you loved playing them. After working for a bit, take a break and play some games. If not, video games can turn into a chore, and you don’t want to ruin that beautiful relationship now do ya?

GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT:
Video games are great, and reviewing them is great as well. Trick is, don’t let that interfere with your normal life. Don’t lose perspective and forget what really matters. Family and friends come first. I’ve seen more than a few people get so wrapped up they neglect to put time and effort into those things that really matter.

Hopefully this smattering of words has helped in some way. There are some more tips I have, but we’ll cover that down the road. Keep on doing what you’re doing you fine people.