In case you missed it, I dropped a new video in front of my living room fireplace.
(And no, I don't NEED to use a fireplace - I just find it cozy 🙂)
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This subject resonated strongly with my Pro Group members, so I wanted to take a little extra time here to speak on it.
The idea of "making content" feels icky for a lot of creative people - and in some ways, rightfully so.
Sharing our work online often feels like a cry for attention, especially when we're more focused on generating content than we are about creating art.
Many composers get caught in this "content trap" - including me.
When this happens, it can feel like you're on this constant uphill battle for attention, optimizing purely for views and engagement instead of a quality audience and meaningful art.
It's not our fault, either.
YouTube, among other social media platforms, literally rewards you for playing that game - offering you detailed analytics as to exactly when someone got bored of watching you, why your thumbnail isn't colorful enough, and what hashtags and audio are currently trending.
It's exhausting.
But it's not the only way to play the game.
If you've followed my Composing a Dark Fantasy Album series, you may have noticed a slight shift in the vibe of my videos.
Things hopefully felt a little more natural, less camera-focused, and more artistic.
The reason?
"Passive documentation."
This is a term I'm unofficially coining to describe the shift in my mindset as an online artist who still wants to share their work and thinking publicly.
The difference is that instead of what I used to do, which could include...
- Creating a title before making a video
- Using AI to optimize my titles and thumbnails
- Writing an outline with a hook and call-to-action baked in
- Hyper-analyzing the performance and engagment of each video
... now, I'm just hitting record on the camera and making some art.
I don't pay attention to the camera any more than if it was someone hanging out in the studio with me while I work.
And the result is a much more effortless, art-focused video.
(As an aside, the things I used to do are incredibly useful if you want to grow an audience fast. I teach more about optimizing engagement in module 3 of the Composing Career Bootcamp.)
So...
What can you do to start sharing your work in a more casual, passive way?
Here's three major takeaways to become a "passive documentarian":
- ⚖️ Lower your standards. This isn't about making a viral video or sharing a magnum opus. It's about becoming more vulnerable and making a habit of sharing your process. Don't treat it like a professional portfolio.
- 📱 Keep it simple. Start small - use an iPhone and prop it up with books if you need to. Make a 30-second video of you playing your instrument, or talking about something that excited you. That'll build the momentum and confidence to share bigger things in time.
- 🧠 Don't overthink. Overplanning a video will be your greatest enemy in the beginning. Pay attention to when your energy feels strong during the day (for me it's after my Pro Group calls), and lean on that to share something. Hit upload before you overthink it.
Remember - you don't have to be a content creator in order to be an artist.
But you might find that if you lower your standards, keep it simple, and stop overthinking it...
... you might actually enjoy the practice of passively documenting your art and sharing it with the world. 🙂
👋 Ready to work together?
Here's four more ways I can help.
- 🎥 My YouTube. Watch two decades worth of videos covering my journey as a both composer and creative entrepreneur.
- 🎁 (NEW) My Free Career Masterclass. Watch SHIFT, my 4-part video series to help you get started on your path to landing work as a composer.
- 🎬 Composing Career Bootcamp. Take the next step and join 100+ students from around the world who are using my program to land paid work in film, animation, and games.
- 🚀 Group Coaching. I consult composers with 5+ years of experience seeking deeper career growth and artistic fulfillment. If you want to work closely with me on a weekly basis, click here to apply. (Limited spots)
That's all for now!
Hit reply to share thoughts or say hi.
Otherwise, happy music-making and see you next time. 🙂
- Zach
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