Wizard of Odds Academy
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22 members have voted
Let me apologize in advance for these first two. I'm still getting used to this tablet and three different pieces of software to put these things together. So, yes, I already know these first two videos are terribly boring and totally lacking in talent. So, no, you don't need to remind me how bad they are.
I already wrote about the first one about filling out a perfect March Madness bracket in this post. The second one is about the pass line bet in craps. Not just the rules but how to analyze it. Sorry it ran so long. For what it's worth, I plan to redo these videos at some point down the road and consider these learning exercises in this style of video.
Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIlqehruoDE&feature=youtu.be
I don't want to even ask for constructive criticism but am open to ... suggestions for improvement and future topic ideas.
Suggestion. Living in a world of millennials and people who are used to 30-90 second videos.....
Make a 3 minute video explaining everything quick fast an in a hurry. Then post the link to your longer and more mathematical explanation of everything. Those looking for the quick fix, then back to cat videos will appreciate your to-the-pointness, and those who want to delve into charts/graphs/statistics will have time to follow up on the in-depth analysis!
Again, thanks!
Quote: WizardI don't want to even ask for constructive criticism but am open to ... suggestions for improvement and future topic ideas.
My biggest suggestion would be to invest in a decent quality USB microphone if you are going to be doing more of these narration type videos. You want a Condenser microphone and ideally a pop filter.
Any one of these would be a huge improvement:
Audio Technica AT2020
Audio Technica AT2005
Blue Yeti
Done right, it would be beneficial to the community.
Quote: gamerfreakMy biggest suggestion would be to invest in a decent quality USB microphone if you are going to be doing more of these narration type videos. You want a Condenser microphone and ideally a pop filter.
Thanks for the suggestion. Since you seem to know so much about it, let me probe you a fit further. I don't think any of my cameras even have a USB port to put in a microphone. With the latest pai gow and Cutting Edge videos (coming out soon), you see me holding a microphone. That problem is that on the memory card there are separate files for the video and sound, that start and end at separate points. It is one extra chore to get them to overlap and even then I still perceive the two are a little off.
That said, is there any way to shoot a video, with a good microphone, that incorporates the good audio onto the video file? Not the #@$% audio from the little camera microphone. Thank you.
Quote: billryanHave you considered a graphic novel? Done right, it would be beneficial to the community.
I tend to hear the same things over and over, but that is a first. No, never even thought about it. It would be fun but I don't think I bring any talent to the table to do something like that.
Quote: WizardThanks for the suggestion. Since you seem to know so much about it, let me probe you a fit further. I don't think any of my cameras even have a USB port to put in a microphone. With the latest pai gow and Cutting Edge videos (coming out soon), you see me holding a microphone. That problem is that on the memory card there are separate files for the video and sound, that start and end at separate points. It is one extra chore to get them to overlap and even then I still perceive the two are a little off.
That said, is there any way to shoot a video, with a good microphone, that incorporates the good audio onto the video file? Not the #@$% audio from the little camera microphone. Thank you.
I tend to hear the same things over and over, but that is a first. No, never even thought about it. It would be fun but I don't think I bring any talent to the table to do something like that.
What cameras are you shooting with?
Quote: gamerfreakWhat cameras are you shooting with?
The two I just posted were done with a Canon Rebel T3i. I've got some others, but they are even older.
YES, that is a great suggestion.Quote: DialedN07Make a 3 minute video explaining everything quick fast an in a hurry.
Then post the link to your longer and more mathematical explanation of everything.
A few years ago, I made a series of videos that had lots of info in them.
my family and friends (hubby too) that looked at them had 2 common comments about each video.
"Too long" and "too much info to digest"
so I made them all shorter...
and it turned out all watched the short ones and over 50% watched the longer versions.
and the common comment became "Great videos, when are you making more videos?"
time to get back to that
for the Wizard
um
GREAT 1ST VIDEO!
Sally
Quote: mustangsallyso I made them all shorter...
Thanks for the suggestion. Okay, I will try to make future ones shorter.
Care to share these MustangSally videos? I'd love to see them.
Quote: WizardThanks for the suggestion. Okay, I will try to make future ones shorter.
Care to share these MustangSally videos? I'd love to see them.
I really don't think you should make the video shorter at all.
My suggestion was to kind of do a hit and run version of the same video with a link to the full description.
I watched all 22 minutes and change of this video. But to the beginner who is trying to learn to play so they can go drop a few dollars on the table without being completely lost....what are the odds they do the same?
Probably not your target audience I know.....but you did ask.
in fact for a craps newbie, I wouldn't suggest this video
future suggestion: videos explaining gambler's fallacies
Quote: odiousgambitit's more of a 'beginner to craps probability' than 'beginner to craps' video
Exactly. There are already hundreds of sources on the rules and odds of craps. I'm trying to break some new ground by showing how to do the math on the game.
Quote: DialedN07Excellent work and thank you for your continued contribution.
Suggestion. Living in a world of millennials and people who are used to 30-90 second videos.....
Make a 3 minute video explaining everything quick fast an in a hurry. Then post the link to your longer and more mathematical explanation of everything. Those looking for the quick fix, then back to cat videos will appreciate your to-the-pointness, and those who want to delve into charts/graphs/statistics will have time to follow up on the in-depth analysis!
Again, thanks!
These millenials all have ADD cause of the vast amount of vaccination poison being injected into their bloodstream.
Quote: WizardExactly. There are already hundreds of sources on the rules and odds of craps. I'm trying to break some new ground by showing how to do the math on the game.
Thinking of this now, it makes sense. To be honest, I didn't read the title of the video itself, which explains most of it.
But....
Then why show the opening graphic of what the pass line bet is and what yes no events take place? That's pretty elementary compared to the rest of the video, no?
Quote: odiousgambitit's more of a 'beginner to craps probability' than 'beginner to craps' video
in fact for a craps newbie, I wouldn't suggest this video
future suggestion: videos explaining gambler's fallacies
I agree. Gamblers fallacy is a topic most APs dont even understand, let alone plops. APs might understand youre never 'due', but few actually understand the math of 'why' youre never due and what theoretically happens to approach your EV.
1. Sound. Most important. Camera microphones are crap. Get a great microphone -they will cost over $1000 but are worth it. Many video teams use a separate person holding the microphone overhead. Even better: use voiceover narration that is recorded in some kind of a sound studio.
Get video editing software to allow you lay an audio track down on the video and jigger with the timing and synch it up as needed.
2. Storytelling. Try not to be a talking head. Show things on video other than yourself. Preferably things that move - this is video.
3. Camerawork. Ken Burns showed that you can make compelling video even when you are limited to still photos and interviews. But one of his techniques was movement of the camera or zooming in - usually gradual and/or occasional, and cuts to close-ups or shots from different angles. Filming with a moving/zooming camera can be tricky, though. Many videographers cheat by using a static camera and doing quick cuts between scenes, never lingering too long on one scene.
4. Lighting and makeup. These are secondary skills but can make a difference.
*******************************************************
5. Subject. On the first science video I ever made I was working with a videographer as he did film editing. We got to a segment where we slowly zoomed in on a graphical image of electrons moving through a plasma with background audio of a narrator explaining what was going on. It was so.... boring. I said to my filmmaker "Maybe some animation could save this scene." I have always remembered his reply: "Free beer and naked cheerleaders couldn't save this scene."
The truth is that technical explanations are extremely challenging to film in a way that engages an audience -much less attract an audience to watch it. If your passion is explaining the mathematics of craps to people -well, I don't want to discourage you. But realistically, it may just be one of those videos where free beer and naked cheerleaders won't be enough to save it.
Try to imagine the audience you want to target with such a video. ThatDonGuy and Mustang Sally? Nope. People who can't figure out a 15% tip in their head? Probably not (too bad, that's a big part of your audience.) Educated professionals (lawyers, medical field, engineers, etc) who are interested in craps? Um, my wife is a nurse and she figured out the math of craps without watching a video. So, who are you trying to reach?
Quote: ZenKinGThese millenials all have ADD cause of the vast amount of vaccination poison being injected into their bloodstream.
Rule 7 violation (no hijacking). I'll let you off with a warning this time.
Quote: DialedN07Then why show the opening graphic of what the pass line bet is and what yes no events take place? That's pretty elementary compared to the rest of the video, no?
I think if you're going to answer a math question, you first have to properly ask it. The viewer is welcome to skip over the part on the rules of the bet. I probably should have given better prompts on that, I will admit.
Quote: gordonm888Even so, i stand by what I said here.
Thank you for your comments. All of them lowered me quite a few pegs. Please keep in mind there are quite a few levels between me and Ken Burns. It is like the difference between a second grade skit and the Broadway production of Hamilton. As you even concede, it is hard to hold an audience over a very technical or mathematical topic. So, please take it easy on me. At this point I'm trying to concentrate on the low hanging fruit -- easy ways to make big improvements.
Quote: DialedN07Excellent work and thank you for your continued contribution.
Suggestion. Living in a world of millennials and people who are used to 30-90 second videos.....
Make a 3 minute video explaining everything quick fast an in a hurry. Then post the link to your longer and more mathematical explanation of everything. Those looking for the quick fix, then back to cat videos will appreciate your to-the-pointness, and those who want to delve into charts/graphs/statistics will have time to follow up on the in-depth analysis!
Again, thanks!
Agreed. I think the average watch time on youtube for big youtubers is about 4-6 minutes. I can't remember the guy's name but this guy made videos with graphs and charts that flew by the screen, and it was very interesting to watch. It was regarding NFL team records or something like that. It had some humor thrown in for teams that did really great one year, and totally tanked the next.
EDIT: I found it
This style is pretty interesting to watch, even if the info is kind of stale. Hope that helps a bit.
Quote: WizardThank you for your comments. All of them lowered me quite a few pegs. Please keep in mind there are quite a few levels between me and Ken Burns. It is like the difference between a second grade skit and the Broadway production of Hamilton. As you even concede, it is hard to hold an audience over a very technical or mathematical topic. So, please take it easy on me. At this point I'm trying to concentrate on the low hanging fruit -- easy ways to make big improvements.
Actually, I'm sorry. I honestly did not mean to be harsh. Most of my comments were meant as giving you some constructive advice without ever having seen your video - just shop talk on how to do a video. I am currently overseeing the creation of a 30-min video about the history of the town I live in - we have a $25K budget and a professional film maker whose every film has been shown on PBS, and even with those advantages I am worried it may turn out to be a failure. I felt a bond with you and absolutely did not mean to discourage you.
The "free beer and naked cheerleaders" comment was made to me 30 years ago about a video for which I wrote the screenplay and provided the visual materials and subject matter guidance. It was a funny way to communicate something that was true and that I needed to hear and it stuck with me all my life as a lesson.
And if Ken Burns wanted to open a website on gambling, I would recommend that he study the work of Michael Shackleford, because your website is the "Hamilton" of your business.
sexy woman(s) would help with views :)Quote: WizardI don't want to even ask for constructive criticism but am open to ... suggestions for improvement and future topic ideas.
whatever happened to Angela?
Quote: WizardThanks for the suggestion. Since you seem to know so much about it, let me probe you a fit further. I don't think any of my cameras even have a USB port to put in a microphone. With the latest pai gow and Cutting Edge videos (coming out soon), you see me holding a microphone. That problem is that on the memory card there are separate files for the video and sound, that start and end at separate points. It is one extra chore to get them to overlap and even then I still perceive the two are a little off.
That said, is there any way to shoot a video, with a good microphone, that incorporates the good audio onto the video file? Not the #@$% audio from the little camera microphone. Thank you.
I think the T3i has a 3.5mm microphone port. You can get a wireless lapel mic that would plug into that. You don't need to spend a lot, anything is an improvement over the internal mic.
Also if you have a newer model iPhone, I wouldn't underestimate the quality of that camera for shooting quick videos. You can use an external mic with an iPhone too.
But if I were you I would stick to more video lectures are screen captures of Powerpoint/Excel with you narrating. Any videos explaining any sort of gambling math, or showing to analyze a game in excel would be something I'd watch. Maybe do one of the classes you taught at UNLV in video format?
I think it is pretty common knowledge that the house edge gives the casino an advantage... But that's not the end of the story...
I just did a demonstration for my daughter where we flipped a coin for quarters. I acted as the casino and she acted as the player. I paid 1:1... A fair game with no house edge.
The catch was she only started with 4 betting units and I started with a bowl full. You'll not be surprised that I took all of her coins even though there was no house edge.
I see a ton written about the house edge, but very little about this sort of thing.
ahh.. proper bankroll to outlast variance/Risk of ruin.Quote: prozemaNot sure how to explain this so I'll just go and hope I make sense.
I think it is pretty common knowledge that the house edge gives the casino an advantage... But that's not the end of the story...
I just did a demonstration for my daughter where we flipped a coin for quarters. I acted as the casino and she acted as the player. I paid 1:1... A fair game with no house edge.
The catch was she only started with 4 betting units and I started with a bowl full. You'll not be surprised that I took all of her coins even though there was no house edge.
I see a ton written about the house edge, but very little about this sort of thing.
then again I remember something about optimal betting as 4/9 of your bank roll.
if you lose, bet 4/9 again.
if you lose, bet the remaining 1/9 and keep doubling up till you break even or lose.
if you break even, LEAVE and come back another day.
forgot what that 4/9, 4/9, 1/9 progression is called?
Quote: 100xOddsahh.. proper bankroll to outlast variance/Risk of ruin.
then again I remember something about optimal betting as 4/9 of your bank roll.
if you lose, bet 4/9 again.
if you lose, bet the remaining 1/9 and keep doubling up till you break even or lose.
if you break even, LEAVE and come back another day.
forgot what that 4/9, 4/9, 1/9 progression is called?
You've got me on the names of betting progressions but I think the average gambler just wants to know how much to bring if they want to play for a few hours and not leave penny less. Maybe a walk through on how to calculate distribution curves would be a good video.
Quote: prozemaThe catch was she only started with 4 betting units and I started with a bowl full. You'll not be surprised that I took all of her coins even though there was no house edge.
I'm not sure I see your point but there was indeed still no house edge. Let's say your daughter started with 4 quarters and you started with 396. You play until one party has all 400 of them. There is a 1% chance your daughter would win. Your daughter could view her expected return is 99%*-4 + 1% *396 = 0. Again, back at no house edge.
Yes... My point is even if there is a player edge, you can still lose if you are underfunded.
I'll let Billy Joel address my other point.
"Ah, it took me years to write it
They were the best years of my life
It was a beautiful song
But it ran too long
If you're gonna have a hit
You gotta make it fit
So they cut it down to 3:05"
Quote: billryan"Ah, it took me years to write it
They were the best years of my life
It was a beautiful song
But it ran too long
If you're gonna have a hit
You gotta make it fit
So they cut it down to 3:05"
I've always wondered if he was referring to the song Piano Man with those lyrics. When played on the radio, they often cut out the exchange with John the bartender.
Quote: WizardI've always wondered if he was referring to the song Piano Man with those lyrics. When played on the radio, they often cut out the exchange with John the bartender.
I always thought The Entertainer came out before Piano Man, but was mistaken. When I first saw him in 1975, both of these and Captain Jack were the highpoints of his shows.
From Wiki:
"Another verse in the song references the shortening of Joel's song, "Piano Man", from 5 minutes and 38 seconds to 3 minutes and 5 seconds to fit a radio slot, referenced by the lyrics "It was a beautiful song, If you're gonna have a hit, you gotta make it fit / So they cut it down to 3:05." Additionally, the timing printed on the label of the 7" release of "The Entertainer" was 3:05, although the actual 45 length was 3:11. "
Anyone remember the jukebox version of Freebird? Try cutting that song to three minutes and not lose anything.
Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xhMl-6Hx_o&feature=youtu.be
Quote: WizardThanks for the suggestion. Okay, I will try to make future ones shorter.
I was going to say that. You are far better
off making a lot of 2min videos that are
right on point, then making 8-10min that
go on and on with detail.
You have to figure out who you're doing it
for. If it's yourself, which is very common,
then drone on with minutia as long as you
like.
If you're trying to reach others, the shorter
and more well thought out the better. Think
about your point, whittle it down and make it.
In 2 min or less.
If you do enough of these, people will binge
watch them. If their 10min of boredom, they
won't watch them at all.
Quote: WizardI know everybody is beating me up over my first two videos being too long. However, this topic is difficult to explain in three minutes
But you can take small segments and explain
it that way. This isn't easy, it's far more work
than doing a long video. You have to think
a lot about each short video, it may not be
worth it to you.
Quote: WizardI know everybody is beating me up over my first two videos being too long. However, this topic is difficult to explain in three minutes.
What are you trying to accomplish with these videos? If your goal is to really teach something then they should be as long as they need to be without overdoing it.
It's quite possible that someone really interested in learning about your topics might just pass by a 3 min video (length shows up in search results) assuming there wouldn't be enough detail there (and they might be right).
I say don't worry about making them fit into some pre defined short length.... worry about making them good enough so that an interested viewer would stick with them for however long they are.
Quote: ECoasterWhat are you trying to accomplish with these videos? If your goal is to really teach something then they should be as long as they need to be without overdoing it.
I agree. There’s no reason to make the videos short “because that’s what the kids are doing these days.” If you are targeting people wanting to learn and dig into the math, I would wager that they would actually prefer the longer form content.
Quote: gamerfreakI agree. There’s no reason to make the videos short
There are lots of reasons. People don't have
the time or attention span now to devote an
hour to trying to figure out everything in a
14 min video. If you're doing it for yourself,
great, make them an hour long. If you want
others to learn form them, it has to be short
and to the point.
Ever heard of a movie trailer? And extended preview? Or a pilot episode for a TV series?
Take the long video and snag the straight up meat and bones and post it. No re shoot, no extra filming, just a bit more time on the computer putting it together.
Then a comment on the front end and a comment and graphic on the back end saying.....this is the quick and dirty, if you're like me and want to dive deeper, click the link here.....yadda yadda.
It doesn't have to be one or the other.
If you really don't want to do that, then make an elaborate comment section that says
At 1:15, I talk about probability, at 6 minutes 30, I talk about odds
At 9 minutes I start talking about house edge....etc etc.
(Plus, if you're a paid youtuber, now you get someone to watch two of your videos instead of one)
I'm only commenting so much because I'm amazed at your skills and ability to break this down for people like me who would never know, or take the time to work out all of the details. I hope you can reach more people in an effective way.
Quote: gordonm888Actually, I'm sorry. I honestly did not mean to be harsh. Most of my comments were meant as giving you some constructive advice without ever having seen your video - just shop talk on how to do a video. I am currently overseeing the creation of a 30-min video about the history of the town I live in - we have a $25K budget and a professional film maker whose every film has been shown on PBS, and even with those advantages I am worried it may turn out to be a failure.
Good point. Plenty of professional film makers produce duds once in awhile even with all the knowledge.
In general I feel if the filmmaker is interested in the information, that's 50 percent or more of the draw.
Thus I suggest the Wizard do any gambling related vids on the things that most interest him, or he has any stories about before just doing a video on a whole segment of gambling.
If he is interested in breaking down just one aspect of gambling and already thought a lot about the subject (perhaps something controversial) his personal viewpoint can be more interesting than regurgitated 'splaining on a broader subject.
Good videos IMO seem to follow some of the same aspects of old school writing classes. Vary the length of structures, not all one length. Use simple and complex structures. If possible start with a hook to draw the audience in. Use active voice explanations over passive voice. Ask some rhetorical questions and answer them.
Make it relevant to the real world ever so often so if nothing else the audience can relate to it.
And don't get over gimmicky, which might be equivalent to avoiding clichés.
I'd like to explain that my inspiration is not other YouTube videos but the Kahn Academy. Here is a typical video on LaPlace transforms. In all fairness, Kahn videos seem to be usually 8 to 10 minutes long. I will work on trying to shorten mine to that timeframe. The one I just did is not a topic that can be explained in three minutes. Like I said before, I tried to explain the concept over an entire college semester and many students still couldn't solve simple problems on it. I already boiled down a college course to 20 minutes and everybody is saying "cut it down to three minutes." What can I say?
I think it is a sad commentary if the world now can't concentrate on the same thing for over three minutes.
Quote: Wizard
I think it is a sad commentary if the world now can't concentrate on the same thing for over three minutes.
It's not that we can't, we don't want to.
I've watched hundreds and hundreds of Youtube
cooking videos. The best ones are around 3 min.
They get right to the point, show you the ingredients,
have good editing on the process, and that's
it.
I don't need 2 min on how your grandma taught
you this, on why you only buy grass fed beef
and cage free eggs, I don't need to see you carefully
measure and weigh every ingredient, or see the
timer on the oven while it's in there. Way too many
people make a 12min video when it could have all
easily fit in 3 min.
But short videos are a lot more work, they require
thought and editing, Much easier to just turn the
camera on and blather for 12 min and stick it on
Youtube, If I see the video is longer than 5min,
I won't even bother with it.
Wiz says he can't cover 'everything' in a couple
minutes. You shouldn't even be trying, that's
the problem. Think segments, not the whole
project.
Quote: EvenBobMuch easier to just turn the
camera on and blather for 12 min and stick it on
Youtube
That is kind of my process, now that I think about it. Only I struggle to stay under 20.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Gotl9vRGs
One subject doesn't have to be explained in one video.
It's actually a pretty good process for some people.
You might be able to use a voice recognition software, to avoid all the necessary transcribing. Voice recorders can use compression software, so you can listen to recorded stuff back at a fast rate saving time when deciding what to use.
Cobble it together, it might be your way to go with this. Recording randomly also adds the possibility of new subjects unrelated to what you're working on, but add to your output later on.
Quote: WizardThat is kind of my process, now that I think about it. Only I struggle to stay under 20.
You do it that way because it's easy,
cooking videos are easy done that
way too. But the most popular
cooking channels are the short well
thought out videos, that have lots
of editing, speeded up action, and
get right to the point.
Like I said, it's all about why you do
it. Many people just like to put out
videos, they don't care if people watch
them or not. The ones who want an
audience have to really work at it,
they almost have to story-board a
video before they make it. Which
is a lot of effort.
I could post examples of what I
mean, if you care.
Quote: WizardFirst, I thank all for their comments, even those critical.
I'd like to explain that my inspiration is not other YouTube videos but the Kahn Academy. Here is a typical video on LaPlace transforms. In all fairness, Kahn videos seem to be usually 8 to 10 minutes long. I will work on trying to shorten mine to that timeframe. The one I just did is not a topic that can be explained in three minutes. Like I said before, I tried to explain the concept over an entire college semester and many students still couldn't solve simple problems on it. I already boiled down a college course to 20 minutes and everybody is saying "cut it down to three minutes." What can I say?
I think it is a sad commentary if the world now can't concentrate on the same thing for over three minutes.
How about a three minute "trailer" to expose enough so people can decide to watch the longer one. If it works, you'll end up getting two hits per viewer.
- upload 10 minute videos for ad time
- ALL CAPS TITLE WITH (NOT CLICKBAIT) (IN THE HOOD) (GONE SEXUAL)
- thumbnail of cleavage
- unremovable overlays to SUBSCRIBE and to TITTY SMACK THAT LIKE BUTTON
- first 3 minutes explaining your V-bucks giveaway or PSN cards
- a couple more minutes of a backstory of what you did this week
- 30 seconds or so of actual content in the end somewhere, right before "SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE CONTENT AND TO ONCE AGAIN TITTY SMACK THAT LIKE BUTTON"
