Each week we will be featuring an interview with a member of the Superstar Blogging community. These interviews will highlight the ups and downs faced on the road to success, illuminating helpful tips and tricks along the way. If you want to get inspired and succeed in the world of travel blogging, video, writing, or photography then consider these interviews must-read material! This week we are interviewing Monica, a member of the How to Become an Expert Videographer course.
Tell us about yourself!
I’m originally from Holt, Michigan where I studied musical theater and went on to become an entertainer at the Double JJ Resort doing musical revues, improv shows, stunt shows, bull riding, and more! From there I lived in England for 6 months and backpacked around Europe. When I moved to Nashville, Tennessee for music I ended up hosting and teaching line dance at the Wildhorse Saloon. Entertainment eventually brought me to Los Angeles where I have combined my love of adventure, travel, and hosting into my own show Monica Goes.
How did you get started traveling? What inspired your wanderlust?
As a kid my family took a lot of road trips and mini vacations camping, skiing, and more. My love for the outdoors was solidified on a hiking trip to the Smokey Mountains. After college, I ended up backpacking through Europe and spending a lot of time in England. After moving to LA and continuing my hosting career, I created my dream adventure show! I’ll be celebrating two years of vlogging in December!
What are some of your favourite places you’ve been to? Any particularly memorable experiences or highlights?
Zion National Park has a special place in my heart because hiking Angels Landing pushed my fear of heights to the limit and showed me I’m capable of more than I imagined. Costa Rica was also incredibly special to me because it was full of amazing adventures and somewhere I’d wanted to go my entire life.
What struggles have you had during your blogging/vlogging career? How have you overcome them?
The filming and editing process was new to me when I started, so I scheduled one day a week to research, learn, practice, and improve. I began watching other videos to learn from and shot everything I could for practice. It’s also been a challenge to get comfortable shooting around other people but with each video it gets a little easier.
What do you enjoy the most about being a travel blogger/ vlogger?
It has challenged me to do things I’m afraid of and to go to places I’ve only dreamed of. For example, I was shooting my first big episode in Zion National Park and I had spent weeks panicking about the Angels Landing hike. With 1000 foot drop offs on a narrow trail it’s not great for people like me who have a fear of heights. My brother decided not to go to the top and I was ready to bail but knew I couldn’t be an adventure host and chicken out. Without the excuse of the show I never would have finished that hike. You can check out the episode here.
Inspiring others to visit those places too has been the icing on my adventure cake!
Is blogging/vlogging your sole source of income? What other side-projects are you involved in to make ends meet?
It is not my sole income; I work part time at a restaurant so when I’m not traveling/editing I can save up money. It’s also all about the perks! I have some great connections who send me gear so I save costs there and have done a few press trips which are fully covered. Whenever I plan a trip, I contact as many vendors as possible to see about discounts for press coverage and it almost always works. Another thing I did when I was first started was work while I traveled! I would find an event and do brand ambassador work for 2-3 days and then stay another few so I made money while I was there and kept my expenditures down. I’ve also been paid for sponsored Instagram posts, affiliate links, and consultations. It’s all about hustling and making great connections!
In addition to this course, what other resources do you rely on for help/information?
Watching other travel shows has helped, I also learn a lot from Twitter chats and google. I make one day a week my “Professional Development Day” and whatever I’m struggling with or want to learn more about I focus on researching that day. All social media apps are big for me when I travel (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Etc.) as well as Hootsuite to schedule posts if I’m somewhere with no signal.
You mentioned watching other travel shows for inspiration/ideas. What other shows have you/do you watch?
Rock the Park on ABC is my favorite for their coverage of outdoors adventures, national parks, and the hosting format. Also anything by Samantha Brown — she inspired me to become a travel host.
What gear do you travel with? (camera gear and accessories specifically)
I shoot my show on my iPhone 6s+ which shoots in 4k as well as my Sony Action Camera. I also take accessories like my Shure phone mic, selfie stick, Joby, head and backpack straps, external chargers and hard drives, and my Insta360 camera.
What post-production apps/programs do you use?
I edit on iMovie and use my Blue Snowball Ice microphone and Garageband to record my voiceovers and YouTube audio library for music selections.
What are some of your favorite travel stories/publications/ books? What blogs do you read?
Anything by Bill Bryson. Also Wild, and Backpacker magazine.
Why do you keep blogging/vlogging?
Hosting is 100% what I’m meant to do. Sharing the amazing places I visit and inspiring other people to push out of their comfort zones and go on adventures is my passion. And having this amazing platform gives me the perfect excuse to just go!
What is one thing you can’t travel without?
My phone. It’s my #1 travel companion for so many reasons! Not only do I use it to shoot my show and take photos, it also helps me to stay connected. Social media is a huge part of my show so being able to post on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat is important. When I can’t post live due to service I use Hootsuite to schedule out posts. I also use it to take photos of maps that I will need so if I lose service I still have them with me.
Do you have any blogging/vlogging regrets?
My very first episode I saw two mountain lions and was so terrified I didn’t get photos or video. HUGE missed opportunity!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BM1d2GqBbD6/?taken-by=monicagoesshow
Having missed shooting footage of those mountain lions, what do you do now to make sure you are always ready to film?
I try to always be prepared! If I find myself in a potentially sketchy or dramatic situation the first thing I do is prepare for the danger; whether it’s carrying my bear spray, having my hiking sticks out, singing loudly to scare away predators, etc. The next thing I do to make sure I don’t miss the scene is I put my video camera on and ready to record. I hike with it in hand so no matter what I’m facing I can capture it with one click. Another thing I do now is use my action camera. I’ll attach it to my backpack and just let it keep recording so I don’t miss anything.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a fellow blogger/ vlogger?
Just do it! I waited so long because I didn’t think I was experienced enough but the only way to get better is just to do it! And then compare what you’ve created to the kind of things you like to see what you can improve on. And also, take moments just for yourself to take in the experiences.
Tell us about your blog and where we can find you on social media.
My show is called Monica Goes and it’s an educational travel/adventure show. Each month I take on new destinations and new adventures. From national parks to big cities, I push myself out of my comfort zones and want to inspire other people to do the same. You can also check out my blog, and find me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.