ViewTube

I'm finally going to introduce myself on my channel (about time). Is there anything you want to know about me? 

I was about to upload a new video... but I
watched it over one last time and decided I hated it, so I’m going to completely rewrite it. I’d really appreciate feedback on it (besides the glaring editing mistakes) to help me write a better version: 

New video is going up in an hour :) meanwhile, I’m going to Vidcon Europe for the first time now! It’s only for video makers this time, so I think it’ll be a great way to learn more about doing YouTube. Really excited! 

I want to run something by you guys. I’ve been wanting to make a video series on linear algebra. Linear algebra is the maths of QM so these will be extra content for people who want to go deeper. Recently a company (Brilliant.org) offered to sponsor 3 videos of mine, and I thought these would be perfect. I really like their site, and they have a linear algebra course you can use to do practice questions. 

If I do do them sponsored, I’ll be on a tighter deadline (3 videos in 3 months) but this is good and bad. QM videos would slow down (but I’d try do them in between), but I’d have to upload more regularly. I’d only start this after at least one QM is up.

Would you guys be ok with me doing sponsored content? 

Thanks everyone who commented when I asked for suggestions for what to do with this community tab. These are the most common responses:
1. Updates on when I'll upload next
2. Behind the scenes/ polls for the next video topic/ extra tidbits that didn't make it into the video/ homework
3. About me
4. More videos!

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. To be honest, I'm very surprised that you guys are here at all and are waiting for me to upload something. I'm very sorry about how sporadic my uploads are. As a lot of you already know, I'm a PhD student and that is what I spend most of my time on. However, this youtube channel is very important to me, and I've been neglecting it for way too long (I'm amazed anyone still puts up with me). 

This year though I have a lot of plans for my channel, so let me know what you think.

Firstly, I'm remaking about 3-4 videos of the quantum series. I've had way more practice now making videos and also explaining quantum mechanics (on and off line) and I think I could really improve them. I hope I could make them still be interesting enough for my long term subscribers. And don't worry, I'm simultaneously working on more advanced videos (like the many worlds video). 

I've been working on the first video of the quantum series for 2 months now... it's taking so long because I'm putting a lot more effort in than usual- it took almost 40 hours to write the script and I'm still not sure I like it. Similarly, I'm working way harder on the drawings and even adding some music etc. But I do want to put in this effort because I don't want to have to remake this in 3 years.

Also, I got a grant! I'm really really pleased and excited to say that the Vlogbrothers gave me a really generous grant to help me build my channel (thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you). I've used it to buy a new laptop for editing (since mine was at it's limits, and this new one should make it a lot faster) and I've got a whole lot of other equipment like a camera and a lightbox etc. 

...wait, why a camera?? Two reasons. 

I'm going to make some videos where I film my hands writing things (think Vihart or MinutePhysics). This won't be for my main quantum videos but for fun maths videos or videos where I explain a problem that I'd like you guys to try solve. The reason I want to make videos using a camera is that they're way way wayyy easier than animating (if you can call what I usually do animation) and so I can upload more regularly. It's also hopefully more engaging for you guys, because they'll be things that you'll have to actually go and investigate yourself, where as my quantum videos are much more passive- something I feel uncomfortable about. 

The other reason I have a camera now is that I would like to make a video introducing myself. It's about time I think. For a long time I just ignored people saying they wanted to know who I am because I thought that there's nothing very interesting to know. I still think that's true, but I now understand why people would be interested in knowing the person who's videos they've been watching for a long time. Youtube is a very personal medium, so it must feel unnatural to see my content but not anything about me. So I'm happy to answer your questions if you have any. Ask away :)

Are you guys happy to let me reboot the quantum series yet again? And would you like the fun maths videos in between quantum ones- or will that be a distraction? 

So excited that I can finally use the Community tab on my channel! I hope it will be a good way to engage with you guys better. But... what should I put here? Comment with what you think would be the most useful.