How sponsored guitar videos work (and how they DON'T)

(Maybe sponsored by this): My Kemper profile packs here: www.livingroomgearshop.com
Stuff I use at Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/P1KkY
Stuff I use at Thomann: bit.ly/mythomannstore
Mics used on amp in this video:
AEA KU5A Ribbon Mic: imp.i114863.net/XxJEYg
Lewitt MTP440 at Thomann: bit.ly/MTP440DM
Audio interface at Thomann: bit.ly/fluidsri2
Power supply at Thomann: bit.ly/cioksdc7
Headphones I use at Thomann: bit.ly/austrianaudioHIX65
In-ears at Thomann: bit.ly/shure215tho
Strings I use at Thomann: bit.ly/EBpara
Wireless in-ear system at Thomann: bit.ly/u4thomann
Cab: barefacedaudio.com/
0:00 Intro
0:54 Your feedback
1:21 KZbin ads
1:50 What is a sponsored video?
3:56 What about free gear?
6:09 Best way to review gear
7:50 Buy gear for review
9:02 Gear on loan
10:43 Gear on loan and sponsored
11:24 Free gear
14:05 Getting paid for videos
17:00 Store channels
19:04 Why charge for videos?
23:37 A brief summary
Video gear (affiliate links)
Video camera: amzn.to/2OWclp1
Video monitor: amzn.to/2WZS4TT
Mac I use for music and editing: imp.i114863.net/e6omr
Best lens for video: amzn.to/3eZf639
Stills camera: amzn.to/2ElVo5e
Main lens for stills camera: amzn.to/30QF5Vo
Amazon affiliate links:
🎥EVERYTHING I USE FOR FILMING and RECORDING:
www.amazon.co.uk/shop/livingr...

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

A looot of talk here and no guitar playing at all. Thanks for watching! A video I've wanted to do for years. I'm not even sure if people care, but I do ✌🏻

[@chrismillett]

Such a well articulated and reasonable take. I particularly liked how you talked about how a viewer might make assumptions, but I think you’re spot on!

[@jayyoungmusic919]

It’s funny that I know exactly who you’re talking about. “This isn’t a sponsored video, but Sweetwater did send me this pedal.”

[@sveinpedersenguitar]

Damn, this was a very very refreshing video about the demo-industry. Thanks man! I really appreciate people being upfront about sponsorships, it only makes you more believable.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks! Doesn't look the algorithms agree with you, though 😅

[@6oundStudio]

for me the most annoying thing is seeing 20 similar thumbnails promoting the new ampsim as "THE MOST METAL AMP YET???" coming at the same time. Sometimes I wish there were more actual reviews than commercials where people say "... but the opinions are 100 percent my own"

[@Jeroen_K]

Same here... anything from a large brand tends to get really annoying. Any new product from PRS, Fender, UA, JHS and so on, floods my KZbin with thesameness. Here's channel X again telling this guitar is his go to instrument, only for it never to be seen in any video in the following year... Yawn. I honestly ask myself if marketing like that is still effective. We're not dumb, at least most of us aren't. It's not even shops like Andertons that bug me, because it's very clear their job is to sell stuff. It's the content creaters that went to a story telling course too many.

[@6oundStudio]

Living Room Gear Demos is awesome though. I really enjoy even promotional stuff@@Jeroen_K

[@annikinstarkiller600]

Great breakdown. Been loving your channel for years

[@andriusl2163]

cheers, I appreciate this. Thanks for your hard work. awesome sharing

[@robharrison3231]

This is just one more reason why your channel is so well thought of!!! Also, the video vignette you did for the CXM 1978 is still one of the best 'demos' of any piece of gear & all you creative talents. Good Day Sir!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks siiir!

[@azrael87d]

Great video, very useful! Your channel is one of my favourite!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

✌🏻

[@Dansguitarstore]

Very honest! Interesting video, keep it up!

[@loopydemos]

Some great insights. Thank you for this!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks for checking out!

[@RichTones]

Eirik, I appreciate your thorough breakdown of Guitar-YT life. As a Level 1 creator myself, YT can still run ads even if your videos or channel is not monetized, they make the rules. Looking forward to your future videos.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Ah yeah, that's right! Sneaky of them. Why not share from the beginning when you do all the work, right?

[@xdoctorblindx]

I like JayLeonardJ's model: sponsered demos on KZbin and honest reviews on Patreon.

[@rogerYT69]

good Video thx!😊

[@sexyrotekatze]

Thanks for sharing that intel.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks for watching!

[@PooNinja]

I’ve been sponsoring my own videos, manufactures know I’m an unfluencer. A pre negotiated contract should pay what your worth, which some companies do and some don’t. As for ad revenue from YT I think content creators should get a bigger share. Being a content creator means, you need as many income streams as possible. I’m always happy when people are able to make a living doing something they enjoy.

[@ileutur6863]

Not just that, but video making costs so much more these days. Back in the early days of youtube audiences didn't really have a standard to compare videos to. Now all the big names have 4k cameras, expensive load boxes or good microphones in front of their amp. Getting into the game is at least a 2-3k investment these days

[@barrywhite7741]

Getting the gear for free should be stated, but I don’t think most viewers see it as compensation. Gear you don’t like ends up being junk you have to manage and that risk alone is worth you getting it for free. Pretty fair exchange IMHO

[@surf247365]

Reciprocity refers to the practice or principle of exchanging things, such as goods, services, or favors, with mutual benefit or in a balanced manner. It involves giving and receiving in a way that creates a sense of fairness and cooperation between individuals or groups. It is a very powerful persuasive mechanism and tool. It can be used for good or evil. The channels that can afford to purchase the gear without sponsorships will be less biased. Hyper monetized channels are so difficult to watch.

[@ileutur6863]

The problem with all review videos, even completely unbiased ones, is that there is always a strong bias towards positivity. Phil McKnight talked about this stuff very openly. Unless your entire brand is negativity, like that hack Glenn Fricker, companies are just gonna avoid sending you stuff or collaborating in other ways

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Hey! Need to check out Phil's video on it. But I talk a bit about it here as well. Can it be because most products are pretty good these days?

[@ileutur6863]

​@@LivingroomGearDemos Phil doesn't have one concrete video on the subject, vut instead several podcast episodes where the subject gets brought up. I'm guessing you can find them by the title

[@i.shadrin]

In fact, everything came to the point that I began to perceive all gear channels as just an endless stream with ads ... :(

[@TheOtherJohnBrowne]

Can't eat an overdrive pedal for dinner... I dunno man... with enough hot sauce I might give it a try

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Will give it a try. On special occasions I have delays with some mayo on, and that works really well

[@TheOtherJohnBrowne]

@@LivingroomGearDemos 10/10 reply! 😂

[@g.koch.]

Wonder how much proteins that Klon circuit goo has 🤔🤤

[@twoys440]

you're a king for explaining this

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

🤴

[@IKilledTheDodo]

I just assume any gear review from a channel with above 10k subscribers and/or a decent production behind it is somehow sponsored, unless the creator specifically states that it’s not. That doesn’t mean I don’t trust their opinions, but I keep in mind that they might be biased, and checking multiple sources can give valuable additional information.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Interesting that you say this, because it really should be like that. You should be well informed about an sponsors when you watch a video.

[@ThePedalPlatform]

If I am given a product in exchange for the video, I always check the promotion box as it has monetary value. Only seems right.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

yup! But what do you do if you use the item several times?

[@ThePedalPlatform]

I mark it every time I use the pedal and write it in the description, just so everyone is aware! @@LivingroomGearDemos

[@xdoctorblindx]

Even affiliate links should be considered "paid promotion." Anything that motivates the creator to say positive things about a product in order to profit from those comments should be disclosed

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Great Vid! Thank you. But... 1st point isn't quite correct. All my YT vids have ads and my channel is not yet monetised (still under 1k subs). I have recently been reviewing Guitars for Bax Music (Guitars provided on load - not sponsored). But admittedly, this is quite rare for a channel with under 1k subs

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Hey! Yeah, you are correct. Silly of KZbin not splitting the revenue

[@quiksilver78]

I also have a pet-peeve to sponsor-only channels. I feel like that particular model does not server the viewers fairly. In a perfect world, the reviewer would get unlimited resources to review close to 100% of all gear released but I can't help to feel disappointed where interesting (hyped up or not) gear is not reviewed because the item was not sponsored. It pushes the boundaries of shill and honest reviewer, in that case.

[@liamtahaney713]

For me- i would always prefer anything; square space, patreon, whatever, than affiliates with the company. Im happy to wait for a "real" review

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Understandable.

[@xdoctorblindx]

Man, that comment about Andertons in NOT going to age well. Have you seen the newest KDH video? Yeesh...

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

yes, saw that yesterday. Not good. Wonder how Andertons will follow that up.

[@FrenchGuitarGuy]

Just to let you know that now KZbin is adding ads on videos even if the creator is not monetized (like myself). But the revenue goes directly to KZbin 🥲