Our next YouTube spotlight is shining the light on Adventures in Coriolis. It is a very informative channel because he also does Top Ten lists (see an example below).
Read on to learn more about his channel. Be sure to click the subscribe button and share with your friends that love Dollywood and the Smoky Mountains.
Please give us a brief background on yourself and tell us about your YouTube channel.
My name is Zach and I’m a meteorologist (Coriolis is a weather term) living in the Washington, DC area. I grew up in southeast Tennessee, where the first trips I can remember going on involved the Smoky Mountains and Dollywood. Since those days I’ve traveled all around the world, taken over 10 cruises, and visited countless amusement and theme parks. However, Dollywood remains my favorite of them all and the Smoky Mountains are still one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. I started my YouTube channel in January of this year to showcase some of my adventures. So far I have vlogged an entire Carnival cruise, a visit to Dollywood, several monuments and museums in DC, and have also done several informative videos on Dollywood and the cruise industry. The dream for my channel is to continue to showcase my journeys and inform folks about the awesome adventures that are out there.
When & why did you start making YouTube videos?
Earlier this year I began making YouTube videos and finally created my channel. I had a desire to do so for many years, a vision that came after a three week trip to Europe a few years ago. I figured that, for someone who enjoys traveling as much as I do, I might as well share my adventures with the world. Having a YouTube channel gives me an avenue to share my passion for adventure and places with whoever feels like watching.
How did you get started with vlogging?
For the past couple of years, I have watched countless hours of vlogs – from cruise vlogs to theme parks to general travel. It really inspired me, so I finally bought a gimbal for my cell phone in January and just began making video. I was nervous about it; I didn’t know what I was doing and didn’t know if anyone would even care to watch what I would post. Once I edited and uploaded my first vlog, I knew I would make more. It was such a fun and rewarding experience to see this content I had created on YouTube.
What was your first vlog about?
My first vlog was a visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. I think there are about 3 minutes of total narration in that one, and 17 minutes of just showcasing the museum, but it was fun to produce and proved to me I could do this vlogging thing. I hope to showcase more of the Smithsonian Museums in the DC area in the future.
How has your vlogging changed since you got started?
It’s only been about 6 months since I started, but after going back and watching my first vlog I can tell I have grown in my abilities. I have purchased new vlogging tools, found new editing software, purchased a new Mac, and am even working on my own at-home studio. So things have changed pretty rapidly since I began, but I’m happy to see the improvements to the quality of my videos as I learn more and become a better vlogger. The more my channel grows the more inspired I become to get better. I don’t want people clicking away from my channel disappointed in how it looked.
What advice would you give to a YouTuber just getting started?
I would say to take your time and just be you. I felt a lot of pressure to just post content to fill up my channel in the first month after I began, but I feel that came at the cost of quality. The channel and platform you have for yourself is yours to mold and make of it what you will. Get out there with your camera and start filming and producing things that you are passionate about – if you are passionate about it, it will show through in your finished product, and people will relate to that. Also, watch other people’s vlogs. Get a sense of what they’re doing and you’ll learn things you like and don’t like in the presentation; these will be important as you find your own style. Everyone presents things a bit differently, I think that’s the beauty of YouTube. My last piece of advice would be to get a gimbal! No one likes a shaky shot.
What advice can you give to people who feel they are too shy to start making their own YouTube videos?
Pretend no one else is around and just go for it. The first few vlogs I shot in public I felt so nervous and insecure about talking to my camera (which is just my iPhone). However, the more I practiced and the more vlogs I shot the less I noticed other people were even around. Once you shoot your footage, get good editing software. No matter how many times you feel like you are messing up when shooting your narrative, you can always edit the pieces to be more coherent than you think. There will always be folks out there who want to hear or see what you have to say or show.
What are your plans/goals for the next 6 months?
My goal for the next 6 months is to finally reach 1,000 followers. The pandemic has made it difficult to travel and vlog, but I have plenty of things in DC I can still feature during this time. As I mentioned, I’m working on a home studio right now, so I hope to get that done and do more informative videos that aren’t necessarily a vlog from a place or monument. I definitely (sadly) won’t be on any cruises over the next 6 months, but I am excited about featuring Dollywood’s Harvest Festival and Great Pumpkin LumiNights on my channel this Fall. This has always been my favorite festival the park features annually, so I can’t wait to get down there and take a few days to take it all in. While I’m there I would like to cover some of the Smokies as well. There will be more Dollywood to end out the year as well – can never miss Smoky Mountain Christmas at the park!
Anything else you’d like readers to know?
I would just like to say thank you to everyone who has watched one of my videos, subscribed to my channel, and/or told others about it. I enjoy making videos, so it’s a delight to see others enjoy them. If you never have, check out my channel and consider subscribing. More adventures are coming soon!
