My YouTube channel is getting pretty "busy."  The more views and subscribers I get, obviously the more requests to add things to my videos.  As anyone who makes videos can tell you, it's not cheap even just to make simple videos like I do.  I empathize with the requests, and as a viewer, I'd love to see all that stuff people request, but it's not feasible.  I have a paypal account set up for just bowling stuff, and my wife had suggested posting it to take donations that would help be able to do stuff like drilling a ball to throw lefthanded or drilling a second ball with a different layout, etc.  I'm not entirely comfortable with that though, even if it's just going into the videos, I can only be so transparent with how much money is going where because I'm expressly forbidden from talking about how much the equipment costs. 

Now, just because I post my paypal info doesn't mean anyone has to contribute, but I'm iffy on how that would be perceived.  I highly doubt I'd donate to any channel that did that, I'd just be happy with what they could provide to begin with and move on, and I'd rather you just put the money into buying equipment.  Plus let's be real, they're just bowling ball videos. I'm perfectly content to keep doing what I'm doing, but being able to improve my videos would be nice too.  I'm leaning towards no and just continuing what I'm doing, but if we're being honest here, the idea is kind of tempting.  Thoughts?

If you're some schmoe that has invested in a cell phone and a tripod, and just play music over the top of you throwing the ball, then no.

You, sir, offer some of the best videos I've seen, content wise, with Tamer coming neck and neck. Hell, I don't even like Storm, but your videos are informative without being fanboyish, and it would be a benefit to have someone like you on every staff (900G, I'm open!). Honesty sells balls, not hype.

So what am.i trying to say??

HELL YEAH, MAKE THAT MONEY! #cashgrab #notaradicalplug #philisgoingtostealthatname

I'd welcome advice.  I have monetized my content pretty well since I started making videos, but revenue is nothing spectacular and comes nowhere close to defraying the cost.  Last time I calculated it I was getting $0.0014 per view.  I've learned a few tricks here and there to increase views and traffic, but I'm not a tech whiz by any means, so progress has been slow. 

I think you should look towards the route of content monetization through YouTube. I've been working in the internet advertising industry (mostly Google/Youtube/Facebook/Twitter) for 4 years. I would be willing to help you learn about the industry, free of cost if you're interested.

All you have to do is a short and fairly easy process to set up being monetized, and it's pretty hands off from there.  When you upload, you just select to monetize the video, it generates ads, and you get revenue based on clicks of those ads.  Lol I appreciate it, but I think they have scripts and stuff set up to prevent spamming or whatever.  Revenue is really nothing special, but it's starting to get to the point where I'm at least getting a deposit of some kind every few months.  Trying to get a new camera, battery died in mine so I have to carry extension cords everywhere now.  It's just that the bigger the channel gets, the more time and money it takes, but investment is growing waaaay faster than the return, so lol I'm not trying to turn this thing around to make money, I just need it to pay for itself or at least come closer.  My wife is starting to chirp at me LOL. 

Btw, how many views do you need before you start generating money? I'll sit at work all day and F5 until your numbers are HUUUUUUUGE

Yeah this is pretty much my opinion.  I wouldn't donate either, but I'm going to assume you're in the 30+ age range as well.  If somebody I watched made a "money drive" video, even if they were good and I liked them, and they said they needed donations or they'd have to shut down the channel, I'd pretty well say, "damn, that sucks.  Need to find someone new to watch now."  But then I see all these people that get CRAZY donations, like the whole Twitch thing is mind boggling.  People dropping hundreds of dollars a stream just because they want to watch someone else play video games.  Really?  Yeah I know bowling is in a super niche market, I'm kind of at a crossroads right now.  I didn't think it would turn into what it has, which is nice, but looking at other channels, even official company channels that have production values waaaaay past what I'm even going to consider trying don't draw much more, definitely not enough. 

The snowball effect is how most youtube channels make a living.  The more videos you get up, the better because instead of just relying on the newest video, you're still getting views from the old ones and as soon as you get a new subscriber, they're likely to go watch most of the videos you've made in the past.  Review videos have a short life though, I mean nobody two years from now once the ball is discontinued is going to be searching for a Storm Torrent.  Being that I'm exclusive to Storm/Roto, that also limits my options, but all that opting out and doing reviews for all the companies would do is just multiply the expense.  I don't like the idea of stagnating though.  I think I put out above average material, but it still feels amateurish, like it's passable, but I've got higher standards I'd like to hit.  It's depreciating rapidly though, effort and expense to improve is increasing while the benefit or the return it provides is decreasing.  New editing software and a microphone helped out tremendously, but those two things alone cost more than the entirety of the ad revenue from the channel.

It's just an absolutely prime example of why there are so few good review channels out there, it's a labor of love.  I think it's why so many youtubers beg for money, the time and expense required to put out the quality of content to just break even, let alone profit from it is beyond a full time job.  The return isn't monetary at least . .

No problem with it ethically.
Will it be profitable asking for donations for videos is a long shot.
Direct $ from users of content is a hard way to make a buck.

The internet for 99.99% of us is somewhere we go to get info, entertainment, etc. for free. Look at profitable podcasts such as Rogan or Corolla for example and they make $ from advertising exclusively. You are in a much smaller niche market, bowlers, and serious bowlers at that so while your videos are great I think asking for donations is fine but being in 99.99% I wouldn't donate.