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21 Comments Posted on reviews, Storytelling, Uncategorized

BroadBandTV Corp (BBTV) Partnership Testimonial, A Year Later: 800% Subscriber Increase, But…

https://familyfriendlydaddyblog.com/2016/02/01/broadbandtv-corp-bbtv-and-my-youtube-channel-are-now-in-a-multi-platform-network-partnership/

A year ago, I announced that I had just partnered with BBTV, in attempt to grow my YouTube channel. I explained that after one year, I would review my findings here on my blog.

Since then, I have been receiving several emails daily from other YouTubers who have been approached by BBTV, wanting to find out how it’s going with my partnership program.

Today, I release my testimonial to the public.

Fact: A year ago, I barely had over 100 subscribers. Now, I have over 900.

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When you hear that, it may seem logical to believe that my 800% increase in YouTube subscribers had at least something to do with my BBTV partnership.

Instead, it had everything to do with me making an excessive amount of videos about the topics people were already searching for on YouTube.

Further into my year-long commitment with BBTV, I expressed concern to BBTV that I did not understand what they were doing on their end to help me; like promoting my videos, which is something they led me to believe over the phone.

Indirectly, BBTV ultimately acknowledged they had not done anything to actually partner with me, other than to provide services on the side which I wasn’t even aware of; as well as take $40 of my growing revenue.

Here in the following email excerpts, I have placed some of the phrases in bold font in an effort to highlight the storyline:

You replied on 11/29/2016 2:10 AM.

Hi,

The date I would choose to cancel would be December 28th, which is 30 days prior to January 27th. So in about 2 months from now, I must make the decision to remain or cancel.

While I recognize my number of subscribers has increased from 130 to 658, I am having difficulty in understanding what they increase has to do with BBTV or the agreement I signed regarding HooplaKidz.

I need your help in understanding how I’ve benefited from BBTV, considering the percentage of revenue being streamed.

Thank you for your input.

Sincerely,

Nick Shell

Ultimately, their response was to deflect that fact I signed an agreement under the assumption BBTV was directly associated with HooplaKidz, and instead, focused on their services; which were not the reason I partnered with them:

Nov 29, 2:18 PM PST

Hi Nick!

We understand that you are deciding on whether or not to continue your agreement with us. Out of curiosity, did you have a chance to make use the services that we offer our creators?

Here’s a brief list just in case:

Catalyst Chrome Extension – Our newest technology product that allows the optimization of your video metadata built right into your YouTube Video Manager. Similar services can cost up to $50 / month!

Epoxy – A platform that connects all your social media together and makes it easier to share your videos and engage your fans.

Epidemic Sound – A full library of over 28,000 Copyright free tracks, and 30,000 Copyright free sound effects that our partners can download and edit into their videos.

Showbox BETA – A web based video editor which, after a short tutorial, allows you to produce studio quality videos without any additional software or prior expertise. Check out the ShowBox Youtube Channel for examples of videos created with Showbox!

Let us know your thoughts,
Partner Experience Team

So I responded…

Hi,

I appreciate you following up with me on this. No, I was not aware of these services. However, I feel these services are not what the agreement I signed was largely based on. Instead, I specifically signed an agreement based on HooplaKidz and what I believed would help me get exposure with a larger audience. I am having difficulty in understanding how my growth since January is related to BBTV; since I absolutely have not utilized these services; nor was I aware of them. Nor am I aware of BBTV ever promoting my videos as I believed would happen.

My understanding is that on December 28th (which is 30 days prior to a year of me signing the agreement), if I send an email requesting to end the partnership, as well as to send the request to unlink on YouTube, that I will have officially done my part to leave BBTV. Is that accurate?

I want to make sure I don’t miss a technicality and automatically renew for another year.

Please know I am very grateful for you taking time to help me today. I too work in Customer Service (specifically, the retention department for my company) for a living so I don’t take you for granted as you assist me on this.

Sincerely,

Nick Shell

Just to be clear, there is good reason for me to have believed that BBTV was actually connected to HooplaKidz TV, as BBTV’s original recruitment email from January 2016 predicted:

Tue 1/26/16, 6:20 PM

You

Hi Nick! We absolutely love your channel!

We have a business opportunity that we would like to present to you from HooplaKidz Tv. We’re the highest rated kids and family entertainment company online and we would like to offer you the resources and tools to help you grow your channel.

Please let me know if you’re interested in discussing our proposal.

Thanks for your time, we look forward to hearing from you.

Talent Partnerships, BroadbandTV

Notice how what you see in print refers to “offer you the resources and tools to help you grow your channel”…

Yet the phone calls that were part of the recruitment process were focused on BBTV promoting my videos as well as having me to believe that HooplaKidz, not simply BBTV, was personally interested in me.

That was not the case. Instead, the HooplaKidz name apparently served as a storefront for BBTV to sell their partnership to me.

So in the end, BBTV probably only made around $130 off of me during the course of the year. Whereas now I’m making over $40 in monthly YouTube revenue, I had only made $40 total before partnering with them.

In other words, there wasn’t much money for them to make off of me for most of the year. Only in these last several month did my subscribership lead to them to take their 40% cut from my $40 monthly earnings.

So in the end, it cost me about $130 total for me to learn (and teach you) that BBTV had nothing to do with my subscribership increasing by 90%.

I just simply made 3 videos everyday about the topics I found people cared the most about. There is no proof that BBTV did anything to promote my channel, as I was led to believe.

Please know I am not angry or bitter. In fact, I have a feeling that my testimonial on this blog, as well as the accompanying video, could possibly eventually make up for the $130 or so that I invested in them.

In closing, I will point out BBTV is comprised of very nice people to work with. However, also note that you must proactively end the agreement before the one year mark…

Otherwise, they automatically lock you into another year. This is not something they made me aware of; I only found out due to research on my end.

That’s everything I know. That’s what my partnership with BBTV has taught me over the past year.

Now, as for you, do what you think is right for your YouTube Channel. This information is simply my personal testimonial.

Here’s the video version of this blog post:

3 Comments Posted on fatherhood, parenting, reviews, Storytelling, Uncategorized, vegan

Dear Jack: Your 6th Birthday Party (and $100 Shopping Spree) at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, Tennessee

6 years.

Dear Jack: Your 6th Birthday Party (and $100 Shopping Spree) at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, Tennessee

Dear Jack,

Two years ago when you turned 4, Mommy and I paid around $300 to have a birthday party for you at one of those play centers. It barely lasted 2 hours and there was only space for about a dozen of your friends. While it was definitely fun, it was a lot of money for such a short amount of time.

Then a year ago for your 5th birthday, Mommy and I took you to Destin, Florida; celebrating over the course of a 4 day weekend. I would have loved to do that again…

But this year was different. You now have a 6 month-old baby sister. Plus, we just came back from a huge trip to San Diego last month.

So between being mindful of our finances and knowing it’s not a wise idea to take a baby to Florida on a road trip, we decided to do something cool and creative for your birthday party this year…

We took you to Opry Mills Mall in Nashville and gave you $100 cash to spend however you wanted. It was a win-win for everybody!

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Fortunately, Nonna and Papa were able to drive up for the event and celebrate with us. It wouldn’t have been the same without them. Mommy and I were therefore able to focus more attention on you, the birthday boy, as Nonna and Papa took care of your baby sister.

I recognize that with Mommy and me both working full-time and taking care of a baby, an extra adult or two to help out is a huge deal; especially in the midst of trying to give you a true birthday celebration.

Dear Jack: Your 6th Birthday Party (and $100 Shopping Spree) at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, Tennessee

The first store you choose to visit was the Toys R Us outlet, where to our surprise, you bought a Puppy in My Pocket collection. Once you got home though, the choice made a lot more sense.

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Your tiny puppy pets received quite the special treatment, as you had each of us 4 adults adopt 2 of the puppies from a plastic “doggie bag.”

p4

Next on your tour was Claire’s, which confused me at first, until I realized you found a special holiday-themed “big-eyed animal,” a reindeer with a red nose. Immediately after, I had Mommy take my picture at Sprint, next to my cardboard cut-out doppelganger.

Dear Jack: Your 6th Birthday Party (and $100 Shopping Spree) at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, Tennessee

Similarly, you took us to a candy store next, called It’Sugar, but not for the sake of buying candy. Instead, you found a snowman big-eyed animal from Ty.

Dear Jack: Your 6th Birthday Party (and $100 Shopping Spree) at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, Tennessee

After that we made a trip through the Lego Store, where you picked up a few packets of Pixels.

Now that you had purchased smaller items with your stipend, you began moving on to bigger purchase items. At the Aquarium restaurant, you found a really cool alligator that I liked.

Dear Jack: Your 6th Birthday Party (and $100 Shopping Spree) at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, Tennessee

By that point, it was getting time for us all to eat lunch. In addition to the $100 cash, we also told you we would take you to lunch anywhere you wanted in Opry Mills Mall. You you opted for Moe’s Southwest Grill. Granted, I had no complaints, as Moe’s is very accommodating to my vegan lifestyle.

Dear Jack: Your 6th Birthday Party (and $100 Shopping Spree) at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, Tennessee

Welcome to Moe’s!

We were also still celebrating Papa’s 60th birthday, from the day before. That means he got Moe’s for his birthday lunch too.

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For your official birthday cake, we headed over to the Rainforest Café and ordered the volcano cake, which you thought was awesome. You loved seeing the animals “come to life” throughout our visit there.

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Plus, you spent some more of your money there. You bought a shark tooth necklace and a snake slap bracelet.

Dear Jack: Your 6th Birthday Party (and $100 Shopping Spree) at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, Tennessee

p18

p11

But of course I would have to say that the main event was going to Build-a-Bear Workshop. Though I know you were tempted by Pete the Dragon, since we saw that movie back in August, you ended up choosing a blue reindeer instead.

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You went all out: You had her scented with peppermint, you bought her a cloak, and you even purchased a backpack to carry her around in.

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After all that excitement, we had been at the mall for nearly 5 hours and you had spent nearly all your money; with the exception of a few quarters.

So you used them for the toy dispenser machines, buying some little robots and monsters.

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We all had a wonderful time! If it’s up to me, I would love to have your next birthday at Opry Mills Mall as well.

Not only is it cheaper than a birthday party at most party places, but it gives you more freedom to explore and spend the money according to exactly what you want.

You definitely had a Happy Birthday!

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Your 6th Birthday Party (and $100 Shopping Spree) at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, Tennessee

@shOpryMills @ToysRUs @claires @ITSUGAR @LEGO_Group @Moes_HQ @RainForest_Cafe

@buildabear #vegan

2 Comments Posted on reviews, Uncategorized

Sponsored Post: Stories, Gossip, and Little Hackers with Museum Hack

DISCLOSURE LANGUAGE

Museum Hack sponsored this article; I received compensation for my time. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about any product mentioned in these posts. Museum Hack believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Museum Hack’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

San Francisco has some of the country’s most amazing museums, unique adventures, and sights to see. How do you choose what to do when you have all of these cool experiences to pick from? We’ve got one very unique experience you have to try: a museum tour with Museum Hack! A museum tour might not sound very exciting, but add a little salacious gossip, some scandalous stories, and selfies with the art, and you’ve got an experience fit for anyone who doesn’t like museums.

screen-shot-2016-11-06-at-12-06-00-pm

Museum Hack is a renegade tour company that runs unconventional tours at the de Young in San Francisco. They have a variety of tours for all interests. The Un-Highlights Tour, which finds the coolest and weirdest stuff in the de Young, is a great introduction to the museum with an energetic spin. Feeling bold? Museum Hack Beta Tours are a unique method the company uses to mint new guides and try out different stories. They recently ran a murder-mystery-in-the-museum-themed beta tour at the de Young!

If you have kids and are travelling in New York City, Museum Hack has a really cool Little Hackers program. Little Hackers tours are private experiences designed for families with children 13 and under! The content is developed specifically for families, meaning all content is family friendly and so are the activities. They do these private tours at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History in NYC!

Highlights of a private Little Hackers Tour?

* Fun photos with the artifacts!

* Content that will keep your kids keep your kids learning and excited

* Pee Breaks – really! Optimized for the kiddos, so they don’t miss anything

screen-shot-2016-11-06-at-12-05-57-pm

Why are Museum Hack tours so awesome? They hire passionate guides who actually love what they do and inject high energy into a normally slow-paced environment. No two tours are alike because the guides can customize a tour to fit the group’s interests, but the sassy spirit is always present.

Museum Hack has one other trick up their sleeve: they’ve turned their museum adventures into awesome team building events. If you’re a company looking to have fun with your staff but also encourage team bonding, a Museum Hack team building tour could be a great option for you. Museum Hack will work with you to customize the tour based on your company’s values, history, and goals.

So even if you’re not a big fan of museums, Museum Hack is a unique way to learn and have fun at the same time. Their tours are perfect for anyone visiting San Francisco, but are still great for locals who want to experience their city in a different way!

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, reviews, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: You are 6 Months Old Today!

6 months.

Dear Holly: You are 6 Months Old Today!

Dear Holly,

Today is your very first half-birthday. It was 6 months ago today that I first got to meet you, just 4 days after my 35th birthday. And my life has not been the same nor will it ever be the same.

I have to say, you are such an easy baby to take care of. I say that because, for me as your Daddy, keeping you alive is kind of the main concern during your newborn days.

When I see your smiley face and your bouncy body, I am reminded of what a joy it is to take care of you.

Just look at this Instragram I took of you this morning…

Dear Holly: You are 6 Months Old Today!

It helps that I know what I’m doing this time around, unlike with your brother Jack; back when I was a first-time dad.

But now I know how it works. I’ve just completed the first 2 weeks of sleep-training you, by applying “The Cry It Out” method. And now you sleep through the night.

It was such a scary thing to try out on your brother. But with you, I am not trying out The Cry It Out method; I am simply applying it, in full confidence.

I suppose that’s a big part of you being such an easy baby: Because Mommy and I get to sleep more than we did when your brother was your age.

Your ability to sleep through the night at this age also goes hand in hand with you now beginning to eat solid foods. A couple of weeks ago Chicco sent us their new NaturalFit bottle for you to try out.

https://familyfriendlydaddyblog.com/2016/10/14/dear-holly-you-slept-through-the-entire-night-for-the-1st-time-in-your-life-after-day-5-of-the-cry-it-out-method/

I didn’t even know Chicco made bottles. I just recognized the name from the old car seat we haul you around in, which you inherited from your nearly 6 year-old brother. (See below.)

Dear Holly: Your Uncle Jake’s Wedding at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse (San Diego Vacation/2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

Mommy quickly admitted the Chicco Natural Fit bottle has an easy flow to it, that it’s easy for her to hold, and that it never leaks; which is a big deal. Too bad we don’t have these bottles this entire time with you!

This past week though, I could tell that the formula alone just wasn’t enough for you. After drinking 6 ounces at a time, you would spit up the final ounce but still seem hungry.

I will say, you’re not totally excited about the concept of actually eating solid food. You act disgusted by  the texture, which is likely the case.

However, you seem very curious when Mommy and I eat chips and salsa.

You’ll have to work your way up to that.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: You are 6 Months Old Today!

1 Comment Posted on fatherhood, Nostalgia, parenting, Recaps, reviews, Uncategorized

Parental Review: Stranger Things (Netflix Original Series- Season 1)

Parental Review: Stranger Things (Netflix Original Series- Season 1)

It appears that 2006 is the year for 1983.

First was this summer’s X-Men Apocalypse, and more recently, Disney’s reboot of Pete’s Dragon, both same in that marvelous year in history. And of course, Netflix’s Stranger Things.

I personally have had an obsession with 1983 since I was in Junior High, about a decade later. The culture, the style, the music, the movies, and the TV shows were so enjoyable.

Even John Mayer backs up my theory in his song, “83”, where he admits, “Had it make in ’83.”

So it makes sense to me that people today, in 2016, continue to enjoy seeing the year 1983 brought back to life.

Stranger Things

I am thoroughly impressed by the seemingly flawless way the Duffer Brothers have captured 1983 in their new sci-fi thriller, Stranger Things.

There is no question that Stranger Things is an exceptional TV show, like Breaking Bad and Lost.

Like the Stranger Things t-shirt above? Click here for the best price on Amazon!

But the question you might be asking, as a parent, is at what age Stranger Things would be appropriate for your child to watch.

While I can’t answer that question for you, I can give you a brief overview of elements of the show which ultimately give Stranger Things what I deem as the equivalent of an intense PG-13 rated movie.

Profanity:

While there are no major curse words, like “g—d—“ or “f—“, every episode contains multiple uses of “sh—“ and many of the episodes contain the phrase “son of a b—-“ and/or “d-ck”. I should point out that much of the the profanity is by the 12 year-old boys, in addition to the adult characters.

Sex/Nudity:

Most episodes are free of sensuality, but there is an early episode in which 2 teenagers (who are protagonists) engage in sexual activity. While no nudity is shown, the bedroom scene is not a quick one. The event is referenced briefly again in a later episode, in which the girl is referred to as a “sl-t” by the boy she had sex with.

Violence:

There is violence throughout the series, including a girl’s telepathic ability to break bones and even kill people. Additionally, there are many uses of guns and weapons.

Drugs/Alcohol:

There is occasional use of cigarettes and beer by some of the adult characters.

Dark Themes:

The overall theme of Stranger Things has to do with connecting to a darker, sinister parallel universe; as people are being taken there from the 1983 version of Indiana. Again, one of the main characters is able to excess her telepathic abilities.

Stranger Things is by no means a family friendly show, yet it is definitely fascinating, intriguing, and addicting.

As for a child watching it, I say the best comparison for inappropriate content for children would be Lost; regarding profanity, sex, violence, drugs/alcohol, and dark themes.

However, it’s up to the individual parent to decide at what age.