The Secret of Musical Imposters

Howdy! Today I want to talk about imposter syndrome - the thing ruining your life that can also be a surprisingly useful aspect of creative work.

My Awesome Partners:

Gear I Use:

Stay classy!

▼▼▼Join My Discord!▼▼▼

▼▼▼Follow Venus Theory▼▼▼

---

Disclosure:
If you make a purchase using any of the affiliate links, I will earn a small commission with no extra cost to you. This is a great way to get cool new stuff, and support the channel so I can make more videos like this one!

I only promote products and services that I love myself, and I'm sure you'll love them too!

I appreciate it! 😁

[VenusTheory]

So, your assignment this week: get out there and fake it until you make it. (just maybe not like DJ Khaled though)

[PaulRobinson]

I did indeed speak to my dog about this very subject. He barked in all the right places and even whined slightly when I discussed my sense of abject failure in all my creative endeavors. Then he removed his sunglasses and false nose, and I realised he was not my dog. We laughed together for a while before I chased him out of the house.

[paulgrooveside]

"The sooner you can accept the idea that you're a loser like the rest of the world, the sooner you can accept the idea of 'good enough'."
What a great quote!

[VirtualRiot]

I've been following your uploads and I love your deep dives into mental health and philosophical concepts. This video is very well written and gave me a big motivational boost :) Thank you!

[RateOfChange]

My man discovered a very specific yet extremely necessary unexplored niche: Psychology for music producers. This channel is gold.

[dordly]

"As someone that struggles a bit with anxiety and depression, imposter syndrome seems to be a pretty regular guest on the rotating cast of things that are just trying to fuck up my vibe"
PREACH

[PacifierMusic]

I’m watching your videos because I had a kid 23 years ago and after 2 CDs, I didn’t make anymore music. Works & Family was my life. I’m 54 with a studio full of gear and trying to get my confidence up to play some music. I have serious imposter syndrome issues. This video in particular was very helpful. I’m trying to get my passion back but it’s hard. My brain just keeps saying “You’ll never do anything good again”. I appreciate your help.

[creatorsremose]

With most channels I get a tinge of regret for subscribing to them with some of their videos. With yours, every video is a reaffirmation that I'm in the right place. You're one of my absolute favs, Cameron. Thank you.

[aricarends]

The really cool thing I've recently started to realize is that if your passion isn't your day job, you are more free to create "real art" than if it was your job. If music isn't paying your bills, you're free to create whatever you want, good or bad. Either way, chances are someone will see it. Even one other person is cool enough!

[interstellarcastaway]

Really been appreciating these types of videos, and happy that you're in a place to be able to make them. A solid antidote to the "everything is perfect" la-la-land that we're otherwise inundated with.

[jacoboconnor]

I started my own media company this year, went through the whole "screw your boss and live your dream stage" and I'm not gonna lie, I needed this today. It's so nice to hear the words come from someone real, someone you know has struggled too, rather than from a book that someone sold out for, or another one of those "inspirational quote videos". Thank you captain buckaroo!

[abandonedbrain]

10:45 "So... nihilism, am I right?" is the absolute snort-check I continue to watch @venus theory for. I came for the synth info, I left with the laugh of a lifetime. Thank you so much, friend! I can now sleep well tonight. Whisky aside. {chef's kiss}

[DaveWrightKBMNM]

This is deep. It hit home for me. I am my biggest critic. I put so much pressure on myself to be perfect in everything I do BECAUSE I have failed so many times before. I need to learn to be kind to myself, love my work, whether it sucks or not, and be happy in the process. Thanks Cameron, for everything!

[TheProduceAisleMusic]

My phrase of the year is "F@#k it, we're doing it anyway" and I had the realization recently that time spent enjoying myself is never wasted. Thanks for a great video on optimistic nihilism, always need more of that!

[maomallows]

"It's good enough" is literally my life summed up. Thanks Cameron the mustache man! This was inspiring.

[MiisterShane]

Been away practicing guitar while the winter blues and creative scarcity subside but god is it great to come back to this presentation style. Feels like home.

[VIRALBEATS]

I feel like I have the reverse of imposture syndrome; operating above my pay grade, while constantly running into obstacles, that prevent me from moving forward. Most of the issues are external factors, making it all the more frustrating.

That said, I think you are right. Talking about this kind of thing is helpful, especially when most of our friends are dealing with similar issues, as creators. I try to keep the mental health conversation going within my group. Although YouTube doesn't seem to like it, it is definitely needed.

Thank you, for doing these videos. The one thing that drew me to your channel, was talking about your stability, during the album creating process. Definitely much appreciated. 🙏

[mickeybrand]

Man first of all your videos are always so beautifully written. I suffer big time from imposter syndrome (I've been making sample packs for a few years) and it really holds me back. I think the biggest thing for me is to remember everybody starts somewhere and we're all running our own different race. No one actually gives a sht as much as you do because they're all worried about their own sht. Thanks again Cameron

[Cloudjumpr]

Thank you Cameron!
I really appreciate you putting this topic on the table with next to no bs. Someone told me once when I was lost in a hole of Imposter syndrome "We're all frauds, so just try to be an honest one, and you're golden". I think that's just another way of saying what you are saying here, and I think it's what we all need to hear sometimes. Cheers!

[dansmoothback]

Produced and released a handful of songs for a band I play in and there's definitely some imposter syndrome every now and then. But, your point about taking time to look back on your accomplishments really hits home. What I've produced so far, definitely not pro quality, there's lots about the mixes that I cringe about still, BUT I really am proud of myself for getting something out there. I'm proud that I can crank those songs up to 11 and actually FEEL them, blemishes and all.

Continuing on that point, I listen to the stuff I currently have in the works and it sounds 10 times better than the previous stuff. I'm proud of myself for learning as much as I did and applying it to projects. Just don't give up. Failing is all part of progress.