I do enjoy Tractor Time with Tim. I think he does a good job of showing examples of "what is possible" with subcompact and compact tractors. Maybe I learn a thing or two by watching how he approaches a job. He's certainly less "green tractor centric" than he used to be. They bought a Kubota with their own money (no endorsements) just to be able to showcase the different brand. Didn't have to do that, since they already had 3 Deere's that could cover about everything. They did do a couple of videos with a rather beat up used New Holland. I think Tim reads too many complaints and critics, and gives them too much of his screen time in response. You're doing it right, you can ignore the children's chatter Tim. Must be tough to put up content when it seems someone is always sniping at you about this or that. They both at least seem genuine.
There's something wrong with the Morgan's. I can't quite put my finger on it, just something really, really strange about their presentation on screen. Anytime the wife is on screen, she seems to be posing for each shot just a little bit too unnaturally. Always seems kind of "put on" and false. Plus they seem to only showcase what has been given to them by various sponsors. I wouldn't consider them a "tractor channel" at all.
Can't stand the guy on good works tractors. He seems to be more at home making "unique investment" videos, where he spends more time trying to tell you why it's not a pyramid scheme than actually explaining the nature of the "investment opportunity". That or he sounds like he's more comfortable selling time shares than tractors.
Always like Messick's videos. Sure he's a dealer. He's not trying NOT to be one. But he does a good job showcasing various equipment, and he at least knows what he's talking about (well versed in the material).
This is an absolute wonderful bit of feedback on these 5 folks.
There is a growth pattern here that is very dynamic and robust. People are fickle, and a small cog in a wheel can bring the equipment to a halt in no time at all.
Real experiences, real people, and real solutions to issues that can help you and others is positive way to claim subscribers. Being polished and professional can be just as negative for many of us as the haphazardly assembeled video clips with poor audio. But I’m making a point here:
Catchy titles like “we sold the homestead” or “I walked away from it all” are sneakingly similar to advertisements for a electric motor driven by a generator that is supposed to create free electricity.
Some things are too good to be true. And while it’s typically not the expected results of “that’s right, I told the boss to shove it!”, or “we just couldn’t afford to run the homestead off of only YouTube videos, it takes hard work to actually make a homestead function and working on a computer arranging video clips isn’t cutting it anymore”.
This is a new game here, I’m sure there will be turnover at the top (and the bottom) as many of us start to see that practical consumption of this kind of data, with a feeling that the person on the channel is talking to us as an equal and not as a mark for catchy phrases or film “candy”. The level playing field of direct one on one supported consumption may eventually be the deciding factor that creates a different consumption model that leaves those now at the top without the loaned equipment or channel support that may falsely drive subscribers.
Show me some real world YouTube’er that doesn’t have messed up hair and oil on his hands after changing the hydraulic fluid and filters on an
L3560 or laying pvc for drainage or electrical work. That’s real life.
Cinematography , while it can be manipulated for hours to achieve an absolutely perfect counterfeit of the real world is intrinsically flawed with unattainable expectations such as every young girl NEEDS to be a young and death defying “Twiggy”.
Those folks out there who have scratched and clawed their way to the top have worked extremely hard to do just that. Kudos.
That does not mean however that their 15 minutes of fame and fortune will last (at their own choice or that of their subscribers), the rules have not yet been written to chastise or Pat on the back those that do this for commercial gain over sharing common issues and helping others.
How can an excavator, an mx5400 with all the goodies, a BX with a backhoe (and all the goodies) that go with a sponsor supported channel with Kubota, push a 38-56 year old man or woman to take on the kind of debt that could strap him or her for a lifetime. These are unreal channels. These are the fluff and fake images that advertisers have been plying to the general public for years. Shame on those manufacturers who tout that behavior, and shame on those who accept and propagate those kinds of arrangements as “real life with the Johnsons” or any other channel.
Now I know there will be pundits that push the fact that nobody is making anyone buy anything. And they have their right to their opinions, but to portray all of that equipment as a typical set of tools to manage your property is the upper 15 or 20%, not the guy with 3 kids and a working wife that’s really trying to make his new farm or homestead work with a 22 year old New Holland and welded together log splitter that’s seen it’s days.
I’m lucky I could afford what I have after a lifetime of hard work and putting off some of the everyday comforts to plan for some kind of retirement (on my own and without the help of friends or family. Im not saying that isn’t real life too, it is, but be truthful).
From nothing to the best I can afford has taken me 50 years of work and saving. There are a lot of me’s out there that are willing to take on some debt, or pay in cash for a tractor or other piece of equipment that makes them happy, saves them some muscle pain at the end of the day, or provide them with lots of fun and satisfaction.
Cheapening many folks lifetimes of hard work and effort isn’t fair nor is it trustworthy.
The jury is still out…
