Joey Berry was Kind enough to conduct a small Facebook message based interview for me (yeah Facebook interviews, what ever next? I'm trying here peeps its all I could manage at short notice OK :P) to add content to my very new blog, and also give a bit of incite into how she has become a successful YouTuber.
We have all seen TheJoeyBerry Videos be it via self discovery or whilst cursing to our self's about the stupidly talented people that make up the Wargaming Consortium, of witch Joey is a strong member of. And I'm sure a few of us follow her Facebook page.
GWG: what first got you started into the wargaming hobby, and just how long has it been a part of your life now?
Joey: After moving county from Kent to Devon I have always been an avid PC gamer but I tried to make a conscious effort to socialize and make friends. When walking around Plymouth high street one day I noticed a Games Workshop (you have to bear in mind I had no idea what GW was at all and assumed it was just a regular game store) so I walked in after seeing the Lord of the Rings poster and minis in the display cabinet. Once I'd figured out the jist of the place a staff member came over and tried to sell me Lord of the rings but it really wasn't for me. As a big fan of the books and films I wasn't sold on the idea of playing my own version of a concrete story in my mind.
Instead I picked up a box of wood elves as they bare a close resemblance to the LOTR elves with a clean story slate as it were.
It's been a part of my life now since January 2012.
GWG: It’s been well over a year now since you started uploading videos to YouTube, on your channel, TheJoeyBerry. Just what made you take the leap into the world of YouTube?
Joey: The leap into YouTube came from forum frustration. I began my journey posting on a few forums trying to ask how to build minis and how to paint and after a few people helped me out a lot I decided to show off my dryads to them. I was the most terrifying thing I have ever done. Waiting for that video to upload and watching it get to 10 views with a mixture of dread/excitement/pride/embarrassment I waited to see what people had to say about them. I had good reviews on the dryads, but mixed reviews about myself so for the sake of my dryads I decided to keep posting.
GWG: You have made a very successful channel, What do you think is the main reason you have been so successful, And has joining the wargaming consortium helped boost views at all.
Joey: As to the channel success, It's had it's ups and downs. I've had amazing compliments and horrendous insults thrown at me from time to time so I think it's really down to me sticking by it and riding out the storm. Personal digs matter a lot less. Posting regularly and getting people involved makes all the difference. The Consortium has helped a lot especially last year with guidance through problems and together we've created a wargaming family of sorts.
Joining the Consortium initially definitely helped boost views and raise awareness of the channel but over the past 8-6 months I've started to stand on my own two feet by way of views and my own regular viewers so I think we're at a point where we help each other.
GWG: The outfits, what more can I say :P
Joey: The outfits indeed! That all began with the Warhammer Fantasy Magic Lore
videos where I started to let my comedy streak out and have a bit of
informative fun- It followed me to Adepticon this year by way of the
BlueTablePainting ladies, Shannon and Tara who were both wearing amazing
costumes and Tara loaned hers to me for a while... it was glorious.
GWG: For me, I have to listen to Horus Heresy Audio books or
40K radio that I have recently discovered and I am enjoying. I also have your
videos as well as BTP, Miniwargaming and many more hobby related Videos and Pod
casts. I find this takes the whole "OMG LOOK AT ALL THOSE UNPAINTED
MODELS" mind set away. What keeps you motivated, when you have tons of
painting to do?
Joey: What keeps me motivated to paint is sometimes (and totally not
pretentiously) my motivation video. I figure If I have the balls to
preach about motivation I should bloody well practice it. So I guess in
essence guilt and not wanting to be a giant hypocrite keeps me in check.
GWG: what
are the future plans for the Warhammer Joey Channel?
Joey: Future plans for the channel are really to focus on finishing the
Fantasy Lores of Magic videos and to finish my Game of Throne Lizardman
army done.
GWG: Any tips
for those wishing to start out on a YouTube adventure?
Joey: Tips for any new comers is to stick to it. Have a plan of what you want
it to be about i.e gaming, painting, tournaments, conversions etc and
cover everything you can. People will disagree or criticize but make
sure you listen if it's constructive and ignore if it's not.
