Devir Kahan

I Do Not Copy Chris Pirillo

// December 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // Blog, Community, Contest, General

Not exactly the ideal video for Christmas Eve, but there has been talk in response to a recent video of mine for Chris Pirillo’s contest, that I copy him. I just wanted to respond to the points that a lot of you made. Many of them were good points, and deserved explanation. However, I do not at all try to copy Chris. I would love to be as successful as he is, but not copy his style!

I have learned from him yes, but I am myself in my videos, and I can guarantee that you will (soon if you have not already) see that. I do not like when people copy others – you get nowhere like that. At that same time though, some points people made were good and so I just explained exactly what was going on. I do not want to, or try to copy Chris Pirillo though – the end, over. I have learned from his style. I have picked up tricks and tips he has given out. But I am not like some other son YouTube (without naming names) that are just blatant copies of Chris.

Others said that I copied him because of the way my office was set up. That just makes no sense. I have the things in my office because I want them. I can’t have dual monitors because Chris does? I can’t have the TIX Clocks because Chris does? I can’t review an iPhone app because Chris does? I can’t wear a sweater because Chris has one in a similar color? What? Is he the only on ein the world allowed to wear a sweater that color? I’ve had mine forever! I can’t run a screensaver or record videos at my desk because Chris does? They weren’t made for Chris! And you know how many other people record videos at their desks where they have all their tech? Where else would you like to to record videos about tech?! How ridiculous is this?

I do not do these things because Chris does them. I do them because I personally, by myself, want them. And you know what else? The reason Chris records videos showing off cool products is to recommend them to people to buy!  Why is Chris the only one allowed to own these things in the entire world?

I am not taking these comments personally (although it does sound like it:)). I am not letting them get to me, or bother me really. I know what I am doing and who I am, and no one else can correct me about that. There are just some trolls (well, more than some) on YouTube with nothing better to do, and that’s just the way that it is. At that same time though, many people left constructive criticism with real points that I thought I should address. And so I did – that’s all. I don’t want this to turn in to a stupid ongoing fight, so it’s over now. People made comments (some in a nice productive way, some not), I spoke about them because I saw it fit, and now it’s over.

To everyone that entered his contest, good luck, and to all – Happy Holidays.

What I Want From Chris Pirillo Doesn’t Cost Money

// December 23rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Community, Contest, Giveaway, Holidays

I heard that Chris Pirillo was going to be giving someone something for free this holiday season, and the receiver could choose what it was that they wanted Chris to buy for them. Sounded like a great idea, and so I entered, posting this video as a response to Chris’s video.

What I want is not an object, or a product – it doesn’t even cost any money. What I want is publicity. Moreover, to become a YouTube partner. This has been something that I have wanted for a long long time. Chris, with his large community of followers and dedicated fans, is the first person I would want to help me with this. I know he could do make something like this happen. I have seen him get people a thousand Twitter followers in mere minutes, and I would love for him to promote my YouTube channel.

I feel that I have much to offer, and really want to reach more people online, and expand my audience. I am thankful t all my current subscribers, and hopefully will be able to be thankful to all of my new ones. I hope I win and to everyone else who entered, good luck!

My New Logo: The End Of The Contest

// December 20th, 2009 // No Comments » // Blog, Community, Contest, Internet, Life, Photos, Tech

The contest for my new logo is now over. While there can only be one winner, I would like to take the time to thank everyone who submitted a design. It really was incredible for me to see everyone taking part in this contest. It really meant a lot, and I truly appreciate it.

I had dozens of submissions, and I filed them all into a folder which, as time went by, I slowly started sifting through until I narrowed the logos down to a few finalists. It was clear that some submissions were done by professional graphic artists, and some were not. All of them were pretty good, but amateur logos just can’t really compete with those created by professionals. There were a number of really great submissions that I really strongly considered for a while. However, after it was all over, Peter Zujko stood out to me as being the one I wanted as my logo. It is an incredible graphical sketch of my face, and it looks just absolutely awesome. I would highly recommend that you check Peter out over http://youtube.com/766films. He has some really awesome content there, and I’m sure you guys will enjoy it. The problem, was that then Peter dissapeared before the logo was finished. I still needed him to make a number of changes, but a few days went by, the deadline came and went, and no response! That is when I turned to Seva Dorn. He created another really awesome logo for me that you will soon see me using somewhere. Seva is currently an Israeli soldier deployed in Iran. He took his free time to make me a logo, and to know that someone like Seva is out there, saying how he likes watching my videos to relax, is incredibly moving. This means a tremendous amount to me. He was going to be my next choice, had Peter not submitted anything, but even if he had totally lost the contest, I think by submitting his logo for me, and saying what he said, he has done much more. I asked Seva to make the final changes to the logo and he did it no problem. he also altered the entire face to make it look better and more how I wanted it.

This whole thing was crazy, and in the end Peter did reply quickly explaining how he had become too busy to finish it. He was totally cool with the fact that Seva finished up the logo for him. I guess it is Peter and Seva who won? Seva only wanted a shoutout to all those fighting in Iran, and I think he got that. He will also be the one entered in to my TuneUp 2010 contest twice. Peter’s link to his great YouTube channel are above. As to the ThinkGeek codes? Read on!

There were a number of other honorable mentions like, iJ0nathan, who created a really nice logo with my face in it, but was not exactly what I was looking for. Jason Murack created a really nice logo with my initials that I actually am currently using as my iPod wallpaper because I think it goes nicely like that. Jorgen Bendiksen also created a really nice text banner which I look forward to one day using as a banner somewhere on my YouTube channel (if and when I one day became a partner). I can’t mention everyone who submitted, and I think I may have mentioned to many already, but the people who submitted above really worked very hard. They collaborated with me through email. They submitted a few revisions, and I feel that they deserve to be mentioned. Again, though, I would still like to thank everyone for submitting their logos – that in itself means a lot to me.

As Lammar Wilson from http://youtube.com/wilsontech1 said, whenever you have a giveaway or a contest, you piss everyone off except for the winner. I really don’t want that to be the case because so many of you submitted some really nice designs. So, for just this once, everyone will be getting the ThinkGeek code. the code is ‘google’ (without the quotes) and it will take $10 off of a $30 or more order. Sounds like a good deal to me, no? So head on over to http://thinkgeek.com and use it!

Again, a big thank you to everyone that submitted. My inbox at mail@devirkahan.com is always open, and even if you didn’t get a chance to submit into the contest, I would love to take a look at any cool design you make of me. Who know? Maybe I’ll even use it! I look forward to more giveaways and contests in the not-so-distant future. I have some great content and announcements coming in the next few weeks so stay tuned! You think this post was long enough?

Is Anyone Out There A Graphic Artist?

// December 17th, 2009 // No Comments » // Blog, Contest, Tech

If you are a graphic artist then that’s great, because I need a new logo. The one I have now I threw together a year or so ago and no doubt sucks. What I want from one of you is a new, awesome, cool, logo/avatar/icon. I would much like it to have something to do with a cartooned, or graphically created, version of my face too: http://www.flickr.com/photos/devirkahan/4185528715/ (that may not be the best picture so, you can use really anyone that you find of me).

• Submit your entries to me at mail@devirkahan.com
• The image will need to be high-res (I’ll scale it down myself for avatars, and icons).
• The artwork must be original.
• I would love to see a graphically generated version of my face, so if you can incorporate something along the lines of that into the logo that would be excellent (although I’m not saying you have to).
• Keep in mind when you make it though that it must work as an avatar, and icon, and a logo, so it can’t be too complex – you know what I mean :)
• I also have a Mob3 thread over here: http://www.mob3.co.uk/forum/graphics-photography/my-logo-competition-(with-reward)/ [Now you know some people you're up against :)]
• This contest will close this Friday (12/18/09) at 12:00 am, so get going!

Of course though, I would not expect you to do this for no reward, so here is the deal. Whoever makes this for me will get three things:

1. A $10 off coupon to ThinkGeek (http://thinkgeek.com) – if you have not heard of them, then go there – now. They have the BEST tech gadgets and gizmos. They have a ton of stuff for photography too!
2. Publicity. If you have a website, a blog, photo-stream, or any link you want me to promote, I will do that here, on my channel.
3. A double entry into the TuneUp 2010 contest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPyFyTiN8pk

So, what do you say? I am really looking forward to this. Again the email to send your submissions to is mail@devirkahan.com. Now, let the fun begin!