Here’s something a little bit different.
I’m usually behind the camera, only showing my hands on the turntables and mixer.
Up until now, I’ve done this for a few reasons. When I first started making videos, I really wanted the focus to be on my scratching and teaching, not about me as a person (read: female DJ and all the stuff that can throw up). I really wanted my scratching and skills do the talking and be respected for that, not just a novelty DJ in a male dominated arena. Some of you left comments that you had no idea that I was female, which made me laugh and also made me think! Many of you don’t really know who I am behind the camera.
I’ve honestly been a little (read: very) afraid and felt vulnerable to appear on screen! I’ve found it so much easier to be (read: hide) behind the camera. But I’ve realised that by not sharing more of who I am with you in my videos or being more “me”, it’s very possible that you are missing out on all I have to offer, give and serve you with.
At the end of the day, there are a million YouTube tutorials out there you can learn from and the only thing separating them is the way we show up and express ourselves to you. I really care about the content I create for you and I really want you to enjoy scratching, learn, progress and share the love. It can be hard to communicate that from a shot of just my hands. There’s something about seeing the eyes. Some wise person once said the eyes are “the window to the soul”. I want to encourage you, help you feel relaxed, make you laugh and inspire you to keep on with your scratch practice, or in a wider context just make you feel better about life, because, let’s face it, sometimes it’s really tough and we need a bit of love and light to help us on our way! I know I do. I would love to be able to create that for you and so it’s about time I do that by being more me.
So here I am, appearing in all my kooky, playful, craziness, showing you a bit more of who I really am in some bloopers from some recent videos for School of Scratch.
The first video was an on screen test for the second video, which is outtakes from a testimonial video I recorded for Caleb Wojcik, who taught me how to shoot better videos. You can see what I was ACTUALLY trying to say here:
> Emma Short-E Video Testimonial.
I’m working on creating more on camera content for you now that I’ve kicked some of that fear in the face and am getting more comfortable being on screen.
If you are afraid of being on video recording your cuts and sharing them with others, just decide to give it a go. Nothing bad is gonna happen, I promise. Show us who you are, so we can support you and relate and connect to your humanity. We will grow closer to you as a result. I’m telling myself this as I tell you.
I hope these videos encourage you to step out your comfort zone and do something new today, in your scratch life or in your in your life as a whole. You are worth it.
Happy Scratching! 😀
– Emma Short-E