My channel is very unique in the way that I primarily focus on my home park, Hersheypark. Whether its vlogs, rumors, breaking news, or analysis, I cover it all.
Last week JD shared with us his story of becoming a coaster enthusiast and massive fan of Hersheypark. Both those passions are what caused him to create an Instagram account (@HersheyAddict) and then later, his well-received YouTube channel, HersheyAddict. This week I bring you Part 2 of his in-depth interview, which focuses on JD as a content creator. Learn how he came up with the idea to launch his channel and what all is involved in keeping the content flowing. If you haven’t yet read Part 1, I encourage you to do so.
Up the Lift Hill - Becoming the HersheyAddict
Q. When did you decide that you were going to open your YouTube channel, the Hershey Addict?
A. HersheyAddict started out as an Instagram account, just so I had a place to store all the Hersheypark photo and videos I had. For whatever reason, perhaps fate, the account started gaining traction. Before I knew it, my Instagram followers began asking me to make YouTube content. The Instagram account was created in Winter of 2020, and by June 2020, the HersheyAddict YouTube channel was born.
Q. How did you come up with the idea, name, and theme for the channel? Did a lot of planning go into it, or did you just go for broke?
A. I will not lie. It didn’t take much time at all. I started brainstorming, and I was like, “Well, I am addicted to going to Hersheypark. Wait… HersheyAddict!” It just came naturally without much thought. I knew chocolate bars are notoriously symbolized with Hershey, so that was an easy inspiration for the logo.
Q. Did you have any background with video or production prior? Or was everything new to you?
A. Very minor. Other than messing around with some video editors in the past for school projects, I was very much brand new to all of the editing and video production. Luckily, I found a perfect video editor in Wondershare Filmora, which made editing very easy when starting out.
Q. Were there any other YouTubers you admired when you were getting your channel underway? If so, care to share who they were and what you liked about their work?
A. A lot of my early content was heavily inspired by Chris from Airtime Thrills. We are actually very close friends in the scene today. He helped me out a lot when I started my journey. What I liked most about Chris’ videos are his voice overs. The delivery, vocabulary, and personality that his voice overs bring really drew me in as a viewer. I wanted a similar effect to my videos.
Q. Explain what it was like in those early days. What are some of the things you wish you knew then that you know now?
A. Do not worry about the numbers. This is something I still struggle with today. When I first started, I did not bring in the views, likes, comments, etc. that I was hoping for. It made me doubt my work. Even to this day, I still struggle with this if a video under performs. I’ve I learned, however, to not let it get to me as much as it once did.
Various Inversions - The Ongoing Process
Q. For those who might not have seen one of your videos, now that you have things underway, explain what it is you do on the channel and what people can expect to find.
A. My channel is very unique in the way that I primarily focus on my home park, Hersheypark. Whether it is vlogs, rumors, breaking news, reviews, or analysis, I cover it all. I also cover other parks such as Nickelodeon Universe, Kennywood, Cedar Point, etc., but I would say that 85 percent of the content produced is Hersheypark focused.
Q. With the channel’s overall Hershey theme, do you find that it makes it easier or harder to come up with future content topics?
A. It actually makes it pretty easy. One of the things I love about Hershey is they are always in the news and are very active during the off season. There is always something going on, which makes finding content easy.
Q. How do you decide those topics?
A. For deciding video topics, I always prioritize breaking news and rumors first. If there is no ongoing news, I then branch out into viewer suggested topics. I typically let my fans vote on video ideas such as countdowns or videos on various coaster opinions I have.
Q. Although you do have the Hersheypark theme, occasionally you feature videos covering other parks, as previously mentioned. Are you looking to do more outside Hershey videos on the channel, or are those more of a periodic type of thing?
A. I would say more of a periodic sort of thing. I think as my channel gets larger, I want to branch out more, but I do not want to lose the Hershey theme. I do not see a scenario where I am making more videos on other parks instead of those about Hersheypark.
An Intense Helix - Channel Reception
Q. How has the reception been for you thus far? Does it make you feel good seeing all the views and interactions from those viewing your work?
A. It is crazy. I truly never expected to get to a point where I am drawing typically 1,000 views per video, and having numerous fans contact me by direct message. It makes me feel really good. Being viewed as somewhat of a celebrity in the Hershey area is something that I will never overlook or normalize.
Q. I’m hoping one day we can meet up and ride some of Hershey’s rides together. Have you met up with any fans or peers at the park since you began? If so, how it is getting to meet new people through the work you do who share the same interest?
A. Meeting fans is the best part about what I do. Seeing how happy people get when they recognize me never gets old. I truly do not understand how I got to a point where people see me in such a grand light. I just view myself as just another guy from the Hershey area. My fans truly do mean everything to me.
Going to parks as the HersheyAddict, is just the coolest feeling. I made the HersheyAddict YouTube channel for the Hershey fans. I do this for them. Being able to talk to people at park that support my channel, and discuss coasters and such, is so sick.
Q. Any advice you could give someone wanting to start up a channel of their own?
A. Sure thing. The biggest pieces of advice I could give is to make content that nobody else is making. And be consistent with it. For me, nobody else at the time, really focused on one park and provided breaking news and such in video format. Secondly, whenever I make a video, I ask myself, “Would somebody else be invested enough in this idea and topic to watch it?” As long as you make content that people want to watch, you’re in the clear.
Returning to the Station - Future Goals
Q. Do you have any goals you’d like to achieve as far as the channel is concerned?
A. Obviously, reaching another 1,000 subscribers would be awesome. At the time of this interview, I just surpassed 2,000. The long term number I have in mind is 10,000. That is my dream goal of as now!
Q. Are there any projects you’d like to tease that people should be on the lookout for?
A. Once Storm Runner opens, I will be making an in-depth review of how it’s running after its long closure. I have some Hersheypark Tip & Tricks videos planned for release. There is also a another major mini-documentary in the early stages that I am not ready to reveal quite yet. For the most part, my plans are to just continuing what I have been doing.
Q. What would you like to say to everyone out there who has liked, commented, and shared your content, or reached out to you to talk about your work?
A. A huge thank you! Truly, I never expected any of this. I figured I would get maybe 100 subscribers than I’d simply fiddle away. You all have truly turned me into someone I would of never guessed was a possibility over a year ago. It was you guys who turned just another random guy from Hershey, into the public figure that I am today. So truly from the bottom of my heart, thank you for liking, subscribing, commenting, sharing, and supporting my channel. I would even like to thank the haters for the dislikes and hate comments. Your strong opinions of myself and my channel, keep me on my toes and humbled.
I ask that you stay tuned for all the future content I have planned on both YouTube and Instagram. I would also like to thank you, Patrick, of We Were Inverted, for inviting me to do this interview.
From the sweetest channel on Earth, to the sweetest readers on Earth, JD bids you all farewell. Stay safe guys, peace.
