01) What inspired you to start the diane Schmiane YouTube channel? How did you come up with its name?
My first channel I started in 2006 because I was YT curious, but didn’t get serious about it until 2018 when I was going on a 30 day backpack trip in the Sierra Nevada and wanted to a) document the trip and b) inspired by others who had shared their trips on YT, share with others who may want to take the same route or who can’t get out there but love to live vicariously through other YouTubers. This channel was a hot mess of experiments, and I could not pivot it to where I wanted to go, so I later started diane schmiane to focus solely on car camping, with the goal of inspiring older people to get outdoors and adventure now, before it’s too late. I always told myself if I won the lottery, I’d go to film school, buy a van, and travel around the country camping and making YouTube videos. Never won the lottery, couldn’t afford a van, and continue to do free film school via YT, so basically, I just used what I had and got out there adventuring.
02) How do you balance enjoying the outdoors while at the same time capturing footage for your videos? Do you ever feel like filming takes away from the experience?
I do get very busy in camp filming things, and I’m aware that it can take away from the experience, so I take regular breaks in the hammock, in the chair, lounging in the car, exploring nearby. I just always have to remind myself to relax and enjoy that meal that I just filmed, even if it’s cold. And I don’t film everything. Sometimes I make coffee or a meal just for me… 🙂
03) What’s been your most memorable diane schmiane camping experience so far — whether it was amazing, scary or absolutely disastrous?
There isn’t just one, there’s so much joy of discovery in almost every adventure I undertake. Maybe sleeping in the wilds of Montana in Grizzly Bear country was a little scary, but the spot I found was amazing. Driving through Hell’s Canyon to discover the unexpected oasis of Joseph, Oregon, was amazing, though sleeping next to the lake and what looked like a permanent homeless camp was at the same time beautiful if a little unnerving. Going down the sketchy backroads of Tahoe National Forest and getting a bit lost wasn’t ideal, but I kept my wits about me, backtracked, and thankfully all was well.
04) Tell us a bit about “Piggy”: how did you come up with the idea? And what does “Piggy” think about being a YouTube star?
When I was doing my big 30-day road trip camping around the Pacific Northwest, I kept talking to myself in the car and decided I needed something to talk to, some kind of mascot that would become a character in the show. Since I didn’t have a dog or a cat, as I can’t take on that kind of responsibility right now, when I got back from that trip, I was digging around in storage looking for something else and came across Little Piggy, a favorite old toy of my daughter’s and thought, hey, this is something I can talk to, small, sentimental… So, Piggy became my whiny little alter ego, his character based on a scene that Tina Fey did in the movie Date Night, when they were at the steak restaurant making fun of the other patrons.
05) What’s your top diane schmiane tip for someone who’s just starting out on their YouTube journey?
Just do it and learn as you go. Your first videos will be cringey, but who cares? Everyone starts out that way. Know your audience, serve your audience, but also find that balance between what they love and what you love and care about. You don’t need fancy equipment, just grab your phone and start.
06) What’s one thing you wish more people understood about creating outdoor content on YouTube?
It’s A LOT of work. Sure, we make it all look fun and romantic, but it’s a ton of work, planning, filming, editing, posting… You gotta truly love the creative process to survive. Don’t do it for the money, because most creators barely survive… Do it for the love of the craft and serving others.
07) Where do you see your channel going in the next few years? Do you have any big goals or dream adventures you want to film?
I seriously don’t know. YouTube typically works best when you focus on a niche, but I just can’t talk about one thing forever, so this channel may have to pivot beyond camping, we’ll see. I have a bucket list cruise from Spain to the Arctic Circle, all filmed and ready to be edited, but I just need to find the time. And it would probably have to go on another channel because that’d be for a different audience. I love telling stories through video, so, always looking out for the next series idea. But I also have a full-time day job, so it’s hard to find time to keep making videos. Still trying to find that balance… 🙂
Find Diane Schmiane at:
YouTube
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