Researching the YouTube Community

I have to write this paper for a class I'm in about how online communities form. I decided to take a look at YouTube.

I think it is an interesting question, How DO online communities form? For example, I'm (obviously) a blogger. However, I do not really have a very large readership (that I'm aware of). I don't really interact with other people in blogger, and all I do is write. I don't comment on other people's posts, I haven't even really met anyone online so to speak. So what is my role in the community? Or am I even a part of one?

I do use both MySpace and Facebook frequently, and usually what happens there is that I'll meet someone in person and then either they will add me to their friends or I will add them. There's only one situation where I actually added someone I didn't really know... he is still on my friends list, but I wouldn't say we're REALLY friends.

However, I do believe in the power of social software... that's how I met Nathan, my bandmate. He had posted an ad on Craigslist, and I responded. We will be in the studio next month.

It is absolutely amazing to me how quickly that all happened, and I NEVER would have met Nate had it not been for Craigslist.

That's just one example of how the Internet brings people together in unexpected ways.

Studio

Yeah! I'm gonna be recording with Nate and the band next week! I'm so excited! We're going to record "Lifeguard" I think, which isn't really a song that will prominently feature cello. However, Nate just needs to get a song out there and test the waters. We're recording at StudioWest here in SD. So awesome.

Chronicles of the band

I don't know why I'm so self conscious, but it took me awhile to decide which casual but "rockin'" shirt I was going to wear to my band's first gig. Nate always wears a T-shirt, apparently (from other photos) his favorite is a black T-shirt that says, "black velvet" on it. So I can't dress up too much cause it looks disproportional compared to what all the guys are wearing. So I just wore my ringer tee. We had fun setting up and hanging out. Kyle disappeared for awhile and while he was gone, Nate reiterated how nice he is:

Nate: "Yeah, when Emily first met Kyle, she thought he was the nicest guy ever."
Eric (the drummer): "Yeah, he's a good guy."
Nate: "Kyle's the kind of guy that if he ever got beat up as a kid wouldn't do anything about it; would just be mellow, like 'I'm cool,' and then you'd get all mad at the person who beat him up and try to take him down!"

I thought that was a fun and creative take on Kyle. He really wouldn't be mean to anyone on purpose.

Nate, for whatever reason, is very quotable:

Nate on Eric's drumming: For the second time through, I'm not even remotely mad!
Nate on the band at rehearsal: All three of you are phenomenal! (to me and Kyle) I love you both! (to Eric) I only just met you today, I didn't think you'd be ready for me to drop the L-bomb on you yet.

Me to Nate: So I was wondering what the schedule looks like for March, cause I'm going out of town.
Nate: Well, we have a show on the 26th. But whatever, if you can't do it that's fine. (Pause). But I would be pretty much devastated if you couldn't do it.
Me: Really?
Nate: Well yeah, I'm just so tired of doing shows on my own.

Kristin acted as our paparazzi that night. At the end of the night:
K: So, as your paparazzi, I gotta tell you, you look depressed in every single picture I took of you.
R: Really? Yeah, I guess I am pretty serious when I play.
K: No, really, you SERIOUSLY look depressed or mad.
R: Well, I have to concentrate really hard on what I'm playing. I don't pay attention to my face...I guess I can work on it...
K: Um, yeah. Okay, just don't be mad that you look sad in all the pictures.
R: I won't.
K: No, really.
R: I promise.
K: Okay.

For a first show, not bad. There were a few mistakes, and I felt shaky on two songs, so I definitely have room to improve.

It was fun to have a lot of supporters there, and gratifying to know that we do actually sound good. I think the people were impressed!

I'm always filled with some self-doubt about these sorts of things because I always have this impending sense that I'm not as good as I thought. This does keep me humble to a certain extent, and makes me want to perform better the next time.

Michael B. after hearing that I was in a band commented on how a band really does bring people together. It's a great opportunity for me to get all my friends and acquaintances together at the same time for the same reason, to enjoy the music. I've worked hard to be able to play as well as I do, so it is great to know that there are so many people out there that support me.

I'm really looking forward to watching it all unfold.