I'm totally fine with "small" or "little." I'm not too picky about it. Like you said, Iindependent to me would probably mean a RU-vidr who isn't signed to a manager or MCN or anything, so plenty of bigger youtubers could fit into that category too
I don't mind the term small RU-vidr or content creator. It is not a bad thing. It just means we have a smaller audience and reach. It doesn't mean the content is not as good. One day, most of us hope to be big RU-vidrs.
2:56 agreed lol people like the word Indie. BTW the term "RU-vidr" feels like should be used by those only who are doing it as a Profession. I like calling Small Content Creators or Low scale Content Creators.
Agree. But to expound I think RU-vidr should be only used for those who just make content for RU-vid. Most people aren't like that anymore, but I'm stuck in a habit of using it.
I had previously never considered the phrase "less than famous". Now that I have there is an internal conflict occurring in that I am trying to discern what would then be "greater than famous". This probably arises from my math background and insistent need to take things literally; Nonetheless, you have given me new perspective in that if the goal is to be "famous" then one is reaching for only somewhere in the middle as opposed to all the way at the top. (Does that make sense?)
As a small youtuber, I feel very comfortable with the term. I'm fine with the amount of subscribers I have, in fact, I like having a smaller community because it's easier to have meaningful interaction with people. As for a better name... I honestly can't think of one.
Excuse what'll probably be quite a lengthy comment but I have a lot of feelings about all of these names! I actually quite like the phrase "Smaller RU-vidr" but I also really don't. It's a tricky one, because I think the very notion of being "smaller" has... not necessarily NEGATIVE connotations, but connotations of being "lesser"? I think it maybe also puts a little bit too much emphasis on the want to grow, and that in being "small", it suggests that our videos are not of the calibre to qualify us as "real" (ew) RU-vidrs. However, within the community of other Smaller RU-vidrs, I really like it. I think it only has those connotations outside of this community. I don't know if this REALLY connects, but it feels as good a place to write it as any... I also kind of have a bit of a problem with the "RU-vidr" title. Obviously RU-vid has such a huge variety of content from sketches to music etc etc etc, but I think the "RU-vidr" phrase feels like it's becoming synonymous with "vlogger". I've tried vlogging many many times and I just don't think I'm very good at it. I much prefer creating sketch comedy and songs and sometimes I don't feel like I qualify as a RU-vidr, even though I'm uploading TO RU-vid as my sole platform. I like the "content creator" phrase, but "smaller content creator" is far too wordy. Perhaps the "smaller" bit arguably opens the divide even more so? I don't have any solution whatsoever to any of this, I'm kinda just wordvomming here, but either way, I'm happy to be within the "Small RU-vid" community.
the second half of this comment made me think of a thing that just recently happened to me.. so, I was interviewed recently and at the tell end they asked me if I thought of myself as an artist and I was all, "No..." and it felt like the wrong answer??? But then he said "do you think of yourself as creator?" and I was like, "Oh, yes, sure, that, definitely." And it was weird. It is still weird. This was a couple weeks ago and I can't stop thinking about it because this is such a weird and interesting breakdown and I am also just wordvomming and have nothing else to add, except that this is a good comment and made me think thoughts.
The artist/creative/creator conversation is my FAVORITE TO HAVE. Like wowoow, I could go onnn. And I feel the same way about it. Needs a video in and of itself, though I've made one similar before. WHO CARE THOUGH? THIS IS MY CHANNEL AMIRIGHT TEENS?
I've never sat back to think about the potential of "small RU-vidr" being seen as pejorative; I always thought of it as accurate in terms of number of subscribers/commenters/the community around a given creator's videos. I've not heard anyone refer to themselves as Indie Creators, but I would immediately assume they were musicians based on the strong link with that word to the music industry.
I don't like Indie Creators as a term. there's something vaguely pretentious about it. and also yeah, inaccurate. I'm ok with small. I get why people might be frustrated by it though. wow, super helpful comment right here yall.
I don't mind the term "small RU-vidr" because we have small, but loyal audiences which makes sense. On the other hand, I prefer to be called an indie RU-vidr who is not tied to any MCN in the same manner as an indie artist not tied to any record label. I don't want any major power player to do everything for me that I would not do for myself.
At the end of the day, we're all content creators no matter what the size. I have no problem with calling myself a smaller creator because that's what I am. I don't think that downplays the effort or quality.
I obviously don't have a problem with the term "small", but maybe "growing"? Or some synonym. Bigger RU-vidrs are also interested in growing but it's a make it or break it thing for "small" RU-vidrs rather than those that are already successful and are trying to maintain their success.
The primary issue that I have with "indie" as a term is that plenty of very large RU-vidrs are still "indie." So much of the platform is created by "indie" RU-vidrs. ...which is mostly to say that I also agree with "small" as a go-to word. It's designating an actual, numerical fact, so? IDK. But this is me sounding off without reading the comments, which is a dick move because this is clearly a big community conversation so I'll go read those and take in some better/smarter/more insightful thoughts.
I call myself a 'small RU-vidr'. But it is *us* that helped turn RU-vid into the media plumb that attracted Big Media. Now they don't want or need us. The endless changes they have made that marginalizes us is evidence of that.
The marginalization of user generated data perhaps. I'm a firm believer in the old saying, 'dance with the one that brought ya'. Small RU-vidrs made RU-vid and we should not be ignored or shoved into a corner. No one puts Baby in a corner.
you already know my thoughts on this haha, but i prefer the term "indie" because i am actually independent from the "rest" of youtube. i think "indie" could be a useful term for youtubers that aren't part of a network, so that's the term i apply to myself.
also, i still stand by "small" and "little" being a negative term. i definitely understand the fact that those terms do denote the fact that these youtubers have fewer subscribers/views than popular youtubers, but in that case we might as well just call ourselves what we are: unpopular! hah
I completely agree. I prefer Small, Indie does sound "cooler" but like you said it does denote being independent which is totally not the RU-vid I'm apart of.
I prefer the term "subscriber count challenged" :P Nah I think small youtuber is fine. Using the terms independent and indie for small is a bit silly and misleading. I wouldn't worry about it really.
