yuurivoice

[yuurivoice]

What do you think of Keanu Reeves voicing shadow the hedgehog and sonic three?

This might not be very cash money of me...

...but the uproar from voice actors and fans who are mad it wasn't a "real voice actor" was clownish and embarrassing.

I'm thrilled!

Keanu has one of the most stellar reputations of any major star in Hollywood, is an absolute boon to any production he's a part of, and will very likely slay the role.

Star power matters on multiple levels. If we wanted to go back several DECADES and say that casting big names in roles is something we reallyyyyy need to rally against, then yes, that is when we needed to get pissed.

But also, the pretentious attitude some folks seem to have like stage and screen actors suddenly go blank if they're in a VO booth is really silly. The backlash is warranted sometimes, Chris Pratt's Mario was abhorrent...but that same movie gave us Jack Black as Bowser which was almost unanimously adored.

I saw a whole lot of groaning from folks who couldn't sell ten tickets to a local production of Streetcar Named Desire acting like there was some grave moral flaw in casting Keanu fucking Reaves as Shadow the Hedgehog. Come on now. 😂

Anywho, I will be seated, and if there is some theater chain that has a cool Shadow popcorn bucket, it will be mine. 😤

[yuurivoice]

Not to tell you how to do your job or anything, and I don't think it's the audience's place to give suggestions when this is YOUR profession, it's just a small idea that occured to me.

But maybe in the upcoming Auron audio you could add a little note on the screen saying that new Auron content is coming soon, and then like do the same with future compilation videos, since they tend to do so well!! Like to let people know that if they like the characters, this is not where the story ends at all and they should stick around. I say this mainly cause I remember you once talked about how the major numbers on the Finn compilation didn't translate to a major increase in subscribers. Really hope this didn't come off as rude, I just think maybe if people think the compilations are the ENTIRE story it might not occur to them to subscribe!

It also might yield no results at all, idk. I just remember I didn't subscribe until multipleeee videos had been recommended to me over MONTHS, mainly because I had no idea that there was a story to be followed.

I've written like three different responses to this but as I yap on I get new conclusions and ideas. This is v3 of my answer lmfao.

Preface: People don't pay attention to shit and unless you are clever or use a hammer, they do not care. They want the content. ESPECIALLY if they aren't familiar with you. This makes any deliberate Calls to Action run the risk of annoyance rather than making a meaningful impact on conversions.

Bonus note: If a video is scheduled to premiere, there's nothing I can add to it at this point without doing a whole reupload, giving Thoo a bunch of extra work, and all that shit. So that wasn't ever an option anyway.

My approach in this current iteration of how I do things is that rather than slob on somebody's knob begging for a sub, they're encouraged to either watch more videos or go to the homepage. My working hypothesis is that you're actually MORE likely to get a curious viewer to drop by your homepage before they subscribe, because they want to see what else is available.

The most recent changes I made to the channel homepage should make it abundantly clear that there are multiple stories, characters, and styles of content to jump into. Making sure that the homepage is great has probably made a massive difference in that regard, without impacting the videos themselves.

Playlists are horribly underutilized in this niche in particular, and on lots of YouTube channels really. So I made sure to try and nail that down. Still need to get the channel trailer locked in but tbh I don't know how effective those really are in 2024.

All of that being said, a ~15 second welcome intro at the start that explains what the compilation is and invites viewers to sub/explore the playlists would probably be the easiest way to accomplish that without intruding on the listening/viewing experience in a way that feels desperate or pander-y. That in conjunction with the end screen prompt would probably be the easiest way to do it.

I don't feel like that immediately turns massive hit videos into untapped wells of subscribers that I missed out on, it could help contextualize things a little more and who knows, maybe it WOULD be a big deal. Hard to say!

The context for me not immediately being like OH IT'S A SLAM DUNK HOW DID I NOT THINK OF THIS is because I run a very lucrative business converting viewers to patrons and I have very minimal in-video notes about hearing the spicy bits on Patreon. People often figure things out for themselves if they're motivated enough, and you run the risk of chasing them off if you come across like a desperate ass hoe. lmfao

I appreciate the ask, but also can assure you that I've spent several hours mulling over these very specific issues and I've considered just about every angle. If I had included every little detail and wrinkle of information I was cooking up in the various iterations of this answer it would be a mile long. So trust me. I've thought about it in great detail, have worked with people on it, workshopped things and much more!

Y'all got me yappin' up a storm on here lately. lmfao

[yuurivoice]

Just noticed the channel finally officially has 150k!!!!!! Congrats!!

I've got my eyes on 250k, I ain't trying to catch my breath till we hit that milestone. 😤

[yuurivoice]

A lot of creatives have a point where they have that sorta "Nobody's gonna wanna see this/nobody will care" feeling about their work.

I was wondering if you've ever struggled with that sort of feeling, be it about your audio content or even just other creative projects? If so, how did you end up overcoming it in the end? Do you ever feel that way these days?

Only if you wanna answer ^^

Oh plenty of times! Whether it's due to imposter syndrome, or just a general numbers slump, or something you worked really hard on just not doing as well as you wanted it to...plenty of ways to end up with that sorta hopeless feeling.

This is one of the times where it truly matters why you started doing the thing in the first place, when your intentions get checked. That big ass filter will hit you eventually. Are you here because you wanna create, or because you want number go up? Would you be doing this even if there was no compensation, or are you tapping out the moment you aren't profitable?

So you take a deep breath, feel bad for a little bit, then take a look inwards. What could you do better? What can you change or do in addition to your current approach? What are others doing that's working, and why isn't it working for you?

Sometimes auditing yourself to see what's not working can be rough. Looking at your peers might press on your insecurities. But if you actually want to improve in terms of reach and growth, you can't just piss and moan about algorithms, or how other people are successful, or any of that.

You can always improve in some way or another, and there are always alternative paths to success. Whatever that might look like for you!

When Finn's content was first coming out he didn't do super great. He was cute but he wasn't doing numbers. It bummed me out and soured me on pushing him real hard at the time. Years later, his compilation with many of the same videos I didn't love ended up being my first video over a million views.

There is ALWAYS a way to make shit work. It might not be right when you expected it to be, but it can surprise you if you keep hustling.

A lot of the recent changes I made with thumbnails and other stuff came about because I was frustrated in this exact way. 7 years into it and I was still looking for ways to get better and kick more ass. It'll happen again and again because I'm here for this shit and it's not just a job, it was a hobby that I fell in love with and take pride in. I like getting better, whether it's in the business side or if it's my writing and acting.

But I've never immediately spring back from that initial feeling of frustration. I'll mope and feel bad and get frustrated and upset.

Then it's over, and I get back in the saddle.

So keep on trying, keep on creating, and try to find the joy in it all!

[yuurivoice]

Ever since I found out that you’re a Black Butler fan as well I have to ask do you like the anime or the manga?

And which voice actor do you like J. Michael Tatum or Daisuke Ono for Sebastian?

I personally like both anime, manga and voice actors 😁

Sorry if it sounds like I’m excited. I just happy to know that my favorite ASMR voice actor likes Black Butler too.

I tried to catch up with the Manga years ago but I sorta just gave up lol my introduction was the anime when it came to Netflix back in the day!

It wouldn't have been something I'd watch at the time, I was buried deep in the closet in a long term relationship...but old girl was TOTALLY the type to watch Black Butler and I was along for the ride. I ended up loving it, and it was definitely responsible for me shedding a lot of my typical masculine bullshit. Silly that it could lead me in that direction, but sometimes it just takes a nudge.

Sebastian was everything to me. Dub was my exposure to it, and Tatum is one of my VA goats, so it was awesome. Ono is obviously godlike in his own right so you really can't go wrong.

Obviously there's SO MUCH wrong with the fandom's ships, etc and so forth, and in my older age and maturity I don't feel like wading back through the ick just because I love sexy butlers and the Victorian aesthetic, but the series really marked a huge turning point in my life so it has a special place in my heart. 😭

Also, Grell was probably my gateway character to wanting to learn more about trans folks and breaking out of a lot of the ingrained phobias that young men are conditioned into. Not sure what really made the light bulb go off, but I'm pretty sure that it was me hopping on Tumblr and seeing how people felt about Grell (despite the problems with the depiction as well) and realizing...oh shit this is a thing. It's been a thing and I didn't really get it. Then I got it. Or at least got it enough to want to learn more and be more considerate. It's funny because maybe nowadays the concept of having to have an aha moment about gender issues seems like you must live under a rock, but I was a lil baby when Ace Ventura came out. If you know what I mean by that, then you know 90's kids were raised on trans issues being a punchline at best, but usually outright hateful. So yes, the silly little hypersexual trans anime character did in fact have a positive impact despite being imperfect. 😂

Sorry for the yap session, I just have a lot of feelings about Black Butler. It's so flawed, but so special to me at the same time. It set off a whole chain of events that led me in a much more positive direction. That's dope.

[yuurivoice]

For clarification, because much like I suspected this was asked in relation to something that was recently was posted by a fan (which was super dope and fun!).

I specifically dislike the idea of me making a canon design, making it a part of his story, etc.

I've got no beef with the concept of someone making human form artwork, which is a super normal regular expected thing for someone to do. People draw AUs of the boys all the time. It's fun.

Given that the artist was someone who has been in the community for years and has always been dope, this really feels like someone pulling up to try and snitch in hopes that I share their opinion either positive or negative. Especially because there have been a few of those "what do you think of x" questions that I've been side eyeing.

Whether you're fishing for my approval or disapproval...don't? Don't do that. That's childish shit. If someone wants my thoughts specifically on a thing they made, they can come directly to me, but the whole Anon fishing for my opinions on targeted fandom banter or creations is not the vibe.

Trying that shit like I can't recognize it from a mile away is wild. You are not playing with a rookie. You must have forgot I've been on Tumblr longer than you've had unsupervised internet access. 😂

To anyone who might have felt like they caught a stray, my bad. Not my intention at all. 💖

Is Lucien ever gonna get a human form?

No, I feel very very very strong negative feelings about that idea and I'm going to spare y'all the rant.

The entire appeal, for me, is that he is a big red dipshit in a world of humans, and how he engages with those unique circumstances. It's already very slice of life, but if he were to become just a guy.......I would be extremely bored. So bored. Not saying that the visual concept is bad, or people shouldn't draw fanart of him with a human form, but...me? Actually making it a thing? Not even once.

[yuurivoice]

The thumbnail for the new Auron compilation is to DIE FOR!! The sticky notes??? The heart doodles??? The NDA lmao???? It's actually the most adorable thing I have ever seen. Please give my compliments to the chef.

(Also does this mean the birthday audio is coming soon?👀)

Thank you! And yes, birthday Audio soon!

[yuurivoice]

Just want to say I can’t wait for the Auron video I’ve been binge listening them while revising for my mocks

Don’t overwork yourself take time for self care x

You know, I love how excited people get, but I dunno if they have realized that when a video has "compilation" in the title it means it's a bundle of previously released videos. 😂

The description should be a give away as well. Plus, the thumbnail is the Christmas party artwork! But hey, if folks do realize and they're still excited...hell yeah! Lmfao

But the good news is, the two compilations that are dropping are in preparation for the actual new Auron video! So...just recapping the journey so far. Plus with how well the Finn and Lucien compilations did, I feel really good about the three Auron compilations and their potential!

[yuurivoice]

AYO IS THAT A RING IN THE AURON THUMBNAIL?!??!!

You mean the...coffee ring stain? 😂

[yuurivoice]

I think alot of people are worried they'll make something you won't like because alot of creators are very stingy about what they're fans can and cannot make. (Not including NSFW or Ai creations)

Alot of fans don't wanna upset or make their favorite creator angry because their fanart doesn't adhere to their rules

Oh yeah, I get it and I appreciate the care. I try to elaborate and break down my perspective because in my experience there's some murky waters you can get into as a creator when you've got a budding community of really excited fans and you're really active engaging with the fan works. I've been through the ringer in that regard, from the ground up, so my approach is based on those years of experience.

I think a fandom of any sort should just be able to fool around and do their thing. While I have things I do and don't love........that shit ain't really my business, and no one should be creating anything on the basis of me seeing or feeling some type of way about their stuff. While the cozy we're all friends/family community vibes are fun and can be awesome, that shit will eventually lead to headaches that I don't want to deal with. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate or am not interested or anything, but I'm very wary of how excitable fans might react if one person gets "attention" and they do not, etc.

Which to a lot of folks might sound silly and like something that doesn't happen. Bubba, I promise you it has, it could, and it will again. Forever. Especially for something as personal and intimate as this particular niche.

90% of folks have always been excellent but the 10% has been nuclear and gross and not a great time. After a few trips around that block, I don't have the time and energy for any of that.

That might be a jarring change of pace for newer followers who might have other experiences and expectations from other communities and junk. Might even look like I'm a dick because I'm not falling over myself to engage with every post, but I've been in the trenches, have had uncomfortable parasocial interactions, have had people get weirdly possessive jealous and intense, have had a long list of shit that I now have very particular personal policies in place to ward off.

Saying all that to say, I don't concern myself with what people are up to so long as they aren't outright stealing shit without credit and passing it off as their own, or doing really obscene shit to harass folks. Otherwise, I think it's healthiest for all parties involved if I'm not stressing over what strangers on the internet want to make and they're not worried they'll upset me.

Obviously every creator is different and your mileage may vary from case to case. Shoutout to the folks who haven't had to deal with that and those who are chill. Perhaps I'm overly cautious at this point but I'm cool with that.

Basically, I get why folks would worry, and I'm trying to make it clear why that ain't a thing around here. It's one thing when people very specifically bring stuff TO me, or ask me something anonymously etc, but if you're just posting? You should be free to do whatever, that's not my business and you should be posting because you're having fun...not wondering what my dumb ass is gonna think about it. 😂

[yuurivoice]

WOOOOO THE BIG AURON VIDEO I CANT WAIT!!!

Hope yall are taking a real close look at the thumbnail. Thoo cooked.

[yuurivoice]

I don't know if you're into video games with dice in them but if you were to play Bg3, how likely is it too use Lucien as you're character?

I have played BG3 and you should check out the Alphonse streams we did! I did at one point try to make Lucien but it just wasn't really hitting right.

Folks who know me know that the first character was a half elf warlock fiend patron with brown hair and a habit for making questionable decisions. 😂

[yuurivoice]

Do you like writing with other people on projects or do you prefer to work solo? Or does it not matter as long as you’re enjoying the process?

I haven't entirely written WITH people on projects really, the closest I've come is presenting an outline and letting people cook. It seems like it would be fun to collaborate in that way but at the same time I am a creature of comfort.

[yuurivoice]

How interconnected are Fausts storyline and shattered (if at all)?

I'm not sure, guess we'll have to see!

[yuurivoice]

How do you feel about people making Lucien more "demonic?" Like adding goat legs, bigger claws, sharper horns, classic demon stuff, blah blah, etc? You cool with it? Or do u not really care?

I can not emphasize this enough: yall can do what you wanna do with your fanart. I've been getting people asking for permission to write fanfics, make very standard fanart, etc. and I dunno who hurt y'all but unless you're making offensive shit designed to offend, upset, or disrespect folks...it ain't my business what you're up to. You're free to have fun and create!

As much as I appreciate people being considerate, at the same time I trust y'all to be cool and you can trust me not to be peeking over your shoulder like Big Brother. I promise that nothing you cook up will shock me or something innocent like "more demonic Lucien" would somehow bug me.

I also want to avoid making this regular check-in with me for how I feel about something thing a THING because I lowkey feel like it can be weaponized by someone who thinks they'll be clever and tattle on folks doing things they don't like or approve of. So it's best that we all just sorta know that unless someone is specifically doing something that super duper requires my attention...you can assume it's cool.

I remember a year or so ago some folks got trolled all to hell by someone making questionable fic with some of the boys and someone came to scream in my inbox about it without considering that it was an obvious troll job, and me answering that ask would draw significantly more attention to it than if they just...didn't look at it? 😂 Maybe I'm just old, but shit ain't that serious and I'm no one's dad.

Long story short: I appreciate the care folks take to keep me comfortable, but you ain't gotta tiptoe. 🙏💖

[yuurivoice]

Is Lucien ever gonna get a human form?

No, I feel very very very strong negative feelings about that idea and I'm going to spare y'all the rant.

The entire appeal, for me, is that he is a big red dipshit in a world of humans, and how he engages with those unique circumstances. It's already very slice of life, but if he were to become just a guy.......I would be extremely bored. So bored. Not saying that the visual concept is bad, or people shouldn't draw fanart of him with a human form, but...me? Actually making it a thing? Not even once.

[yuurivoice]

The question about how you write characters reminded me of a question I'd been meaning to ask you for a minute!!! I've noticed almost all the boys have veryyyy distinct diction, which I thought was really cool. It's not just a difference in voice or accent. This was first super obvious to me with the Auron penthouse tour audio when I knew just a moment before he said it, that he'd describe something as "preposterous."

SO my question is how do you do it + maintain it? And is there ever a point where it comes subconscious as your writing a character's script?

That's something I've become more and more conscious of as I've added characters and sometimes it's not the easiest thing! Sometimes I actually think it's a weak point of mine I need to focus on getting better at and am actively conscious of as I'm writing nowadays.

We run into the "creative vs. worker" situation I'm in where as much as I want to be really good about that sort of thing, sometimes I just need to get the fucking work done if I wanna eat so I better stow my ego and perfectionism and trust that it's fine and I'll get another crack at doing a better job of it next time around. There are times where I'll be deep into a recording session, second guess myself, and want to re-write or do another take of the WHOLE THING and it's like...no dude we gotta go. lol

Familiarity with characters matters a ton. I think I did a great job with the most recent Faust stuff, where he felt really unique among the roster of boys. His speech, mannerisms, and character in general gets me further away from what I'm familiar with. I knew it was something I wanted to nail with him, and I think just being aware helped a ton as I worked through it.

Alphonse and Charlie suffer from my unbearable enjoyment of having that accent say big words. It's just fuckin funny to me and will never not get me to giggle, even if it shouldn't really be in their everyday vernacular. Charlie has the added lore excuse of being lowkey smart (Jessie mentions he should have stayed in school) and being Auron's beta reader. Alphonse isn't necessarily well read, but he knows words. Perhaps too many at times, but it's something I'm aware of.

Auron is right in the sweet spot, him being a bit arrogant + desperately romantic allows me to go directions that don't necessarily fit with the rest of the roster.

Seth is similar in that the southern sweetheart approach opens up its own language opportunities.

Finn is one that I'm still playing with. I like when he gets poetic and thoughtful. I think the sweet spot with him was in the hiking/bug audio. Shoutout to that commissioner btw, because I really tucked some lore in that thing years ago. He gets the most "dreamy" of the lot, I think? He romanticizes the mundane the most, and I don't think that was even a conscious choice at first.

As I tackle Echoes and other projects that involve more characters and variety I'm definitely becoming more and more aware of my habits. I actually think that aside from "cook with this mf narrative", ensuring that my individual character voices are distinct and strong is priority number one in the writing room for me right now.

Saying ALL OF THAT to say thank you for thinking that, I'm a tough critic when it comes to myself, but if I've managed to make someone think I'm decent at what I've identified as a weakness, I can at least know that I don't have to beat myself up over it lmfao.