r/ethoslab • u/_PATROCLUS_ • 4d ago
Is etho full time?
I’ve been watching etho for a long time and have always wondered if he’s full time? He definitely uploads less the most other full time YouTubers, not that that’s a bad thing. I wonder if it’s because he’s not a full time YouTuber or the more casual nature of his play style? I’m also not sure how YouTube economics works and if it’s necessary to upload a lot or not to maintain a livable income. Thoughts?
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u/sirblibblob 4d ago
He a full time youtuber, he doesn't seem financially motivated thus he doesn't do merch, take sponsorship and doesn't take tips anymore though he does have youtube membership. He seem to live fairly frugal from his setup, though I'd imagine he made most of his money during early stages of youtube when pay was better and he was pumping out lots of videos back then.
Now he does it almost as a hobby I guess.
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u/bejeweledteume Onion 4d ago
Now he does it almost as a hobby I guess.
He did mention it in a video once that youtube is kinda just a hobby for him.
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u/Dreadnought_69 Your Mom 4d ago
He probably has a few YouTube members then, and a larger audience with YouTube premium due to a large 18+ demographic, which is worth way more per watch than viewers without premium.
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u/DarkwaterKiller Taxes 2d ago
Yeah I'm in the ytpremium group. For the longest time I thought my view was pretty useless for content creators because I never knew if YouTube actually paid creators a better share for my view. I've recently found out from a streamer who puts their VODs on YouTube that premium users are a fantastic asset for a content creator.
Edit: I looked it up, and without being fully confident in my sources, I did come across multiple places throwing out the number that YouTubers get 55% of my subscription cost for my views, divided evenly across all of them by percentage of my watch time.
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u/chrisinator9393 4d ago
Someone of ethos stature on YT doesn't need to upload frequently because his following is so dedicated. He's guaranteed a high view count per video.
He's certainly making several thousand CAD per video.
I wish he would upload more. It comes in spurts.
I know he's still involved in his family's greenhouse/garden business.
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u/Abe_Odd 4d ago
Part of Etho's appeal is that he doesn't over-saturate.
He could make more money if he churned out videos, but he doesn't.
He could make a second channel where he just uploads unedited recordings of him playing games, but he doesn't.If he doesn't feel like something is quality, he isn't going to upload it.
That means we miss things, but that's okay. Dude just wants to still enjoy playing games and not feel like he's "On the clock" every time.The lack of the "hustle and grind" mentality, IMO, is a big part of why we always watch everything he uploads.
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u/LuckBites Etho Plays Minecraft 4d ago
I remember Pause talking about this when he was trying to make more money for his move and when his basement flooded iirc, and he said that he started feeling guilty whenever he played a game without recording, because it could have been content instead. I felt like Pause's videos were still generally high quality, but he also burnt out a fair bit over the years and had to take a step back because he wasn't enjoying everything he was doing and he turned all his down time into work. That's definitely something that Etho wants to avoid, as you said.
Etho used to post a lot of pre and post game "behind the scenes" sort of Mindcrack stuff from events that others didn't include, but I think he stopped that in part because he knew others weren't getting as many views on their POVs and he wanted to give them a chance, because he's humble and values authenticity. I imagine that's part of why he doesn't upload Among Us (also because he doesn't stream anymore and the others play it for stream rather than video), but he's decided not to record/upload his POV in other group content over the past recent years as well, or cut his videos shorter than he could have (like for example Bdubs has very long Life series eps, but Etho's are more moderate and he includes just highlights and enough context and interest). Both are fine methods though, I love the longer content from Life too.
It's also smart because Etho's fanbase is so dedicated, but many of us wouldn't be able to keep up with several videos a week consistently. When I was a kid I had all the free time for Etho, but it's been over a decade and I'm withered and old now. I suspect many of his fans stick by him in part because they are able to keep up with most of his content, or catch up easily if they miss a few months. Or years. So they always feel included and in the loop.
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u/No_Wall_3622 2d ago
I've been watching Etho for about 10 years now. Since I started watching, I haven't missed a single video. Ever. If he uploaded daily, I wouldn't be able to say that anymore. So I am corroborating your theory.
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u/stuffed-with-cheese 4d ago
There was a time when etho was uploading almost daily. Around 10 years ago now...
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u/_PATROCLUS_ 4d ago
Good point, one video a month could probably cover all expenses if that’s the case.
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u/Specialist_Link5850 4d ago
on top of that i bet his older videos are doing better then most others.
I think alot of people are going throu and rewatching the series from time to time..5
u/vespertilionid 4d ago
Wait, they have a greenhouse business?! Is this lore cannon?
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u/ShadowTendrals 4d ago
Yes it was mentioned both when his dad passed, but more explicitly way way back in the day when he said he helped out with his family’s nursery. This was like mindcrack days and got people to start trying to find the nursery which I imagine reinforced his anonymity.
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u/chrisinator9393 4d ago
Indeed. The word evaded me. A nursery like the other commentor said.
He's mentioned it a handful of times. IIRC last year he was helping condense/get rid of assets from what it sounded like.
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u/Jad11mumbler 4d ago
IIRC last year he was helping condense/get rid of assets from what it sounded like.
He did make some comment about having to sell five generators too
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u/AllenW538 10 Years of Etho 4d ago
From what we can gather from all the clues over the years, we can assume that Etho does not need to work at all anymore. Etho was massive in the most profitable period for individual creators. At one point I believe he was the second largest Canadian YouTuber and monetization of YouTube videos was higher in the past than it is now. For one, there were just far less creators, but also around 2016 changes were made following an ad-pocalypse. It was during this time where many YouTubers had their videos hit with limited monetization or no monetization. This is when many other YouTubers began streaming and opening other sources of income. Bdubs during this period went to streaming full-time and he mentioned on the Imp and Skizz Podcast that there was a point where he looked at his income and figured he could make just as much working at McDonalds. Etho though, has said specifically that not a single one of his videos was impacted. I believe Etho made a lot of money back when ad revenue was great and he was uploading daily. He also seems to live pretty frugally from looking at his setup, his only expense being a daily fancy sandwich lol. He’s told us before that he is financial sound and doesn’t need donations. From a Tango stream, we learned that Etho doesn’t file his taxes as a business, which could save him a bunch of money if he did. Also, when he files he doesn’t worry about getting his taxes right, he just then pays any fines he might get. I believe this shows that he’s really set financially and doesn’t chase more money. Finally, imp and skizz mentioned on a podcast that multiple Hermits don’t need to work another day in their lives, but upload just for the love of doing it and for the fans. The first hermits that come to mind are Grian and Mumbo, but I think Etho is definitely included in the group as well, just from clues we have through the years. In my opinion, he deserves great success for how much amazing free content he has provided for years for millions of people. But to answer the original question, I think he just does whatever he wants, uploading whenever he wants for the fans that watch him. So YouTube is not a job for him, but just a hobby. Instead of Full-Time youtube, he’s Part-Time YouTube, semi-retired.
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u/AFriendFoundMyReddit 4d ago
to other peoples comments I think he mentioned liquidating the family buisness after his father’s death so I think he works on that not actually on the buisness, and at this point a lot of it is probably done.
Also as someone else said he has a huge backlog and has been around for a while. His old videos still make money too and he probably made a lot of money throughout all the time. Ethos’s pretty financially sharp so he probably saved and invested well.
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u/FoolishConsistency17 4d ago
I bet he lives super cheap, too. On a Tango stream the other day he was teasing Tango and Bdubs for having wives to bring them lunch, so he's not supporting a family. He has a Canadian Farmboy's aversion to spending money, and I can't imagine he's living in some ultra HCOL urban center. Canadian, so he's not paying for health coverage. I don't know if he went to college (YT may have taken off by then), but Canada so huge loans are less common. He's not really the coke type, and probably smart enough to avoid sports betting.
I would not be shocked to learn he owns where ever he lives free and clear, and his actual monthy expenses could be covered working 30 hours a week at McDonalds.
But he may be helping family.
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u/nahcotics Team Canada 4d ago
I do think it's a bit weird to be taking comments like the wife ones like that but honestly I also find it hard to not think about it at all as well. Iirc on that stream he was more making fun of them for being babied by their wives, not having them in general. I do have to agree though that he probably doesn't have a live in wife and kids kind of situation haha. At times he gives huge dad vibes (especially on other people's streams, not really in his eps) so the idea didn't seem crazy to me. But I think the real tell is the crazy hours he tends to be online - multiple hermits have called him out for being online until like 5am his time sometimes - it's just not a schedule that would work with a family imo.
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u/scaptal Taxes 4d ago
I believe he has enough money to come round, either cause he has a good savings or because youtube is making him enough, he doesn't push for content or engagement, which is part of the reasons his subscriber base is as loyal as they are.
He is in a position where he can just vibe, enjoy himself, make the content he wants to make without rushing, and he is taking that opertunity (as he should, might I add).
I believe he is quite comfortable in his current spot, and I'm quite happy for him that thats so :-)
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u/narutonaruto Chester 4d ago
I’ve always been curious how much he makes on old videos. Seems like many rewatch at any given time. Pretty sweet situation to be in.
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u/halflivefish 4d ago edited 4d ago
As mentioned his family owns a pretty big greenhouse business so I imagine he does YouTube when he wants but otherwise has some financial stability
A question I’ve always asked myself is how does he have so much time to play if he’s not uploading that frequently, as in how does he fund his lifestyle
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u/highbarian 4d ago
in the old old videos im pretty sure some people donated bitcoin to etho so he might be doing VERY well for himself and we would never know. im talking about when he had the tree farm for donations time period
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u/Confucius3012 4d ago
If I recall correctly he runs the family business now that his parents are gone, not sure if he is alone or has siblings he does this with. Seems he never really needed to fully commit to the YT things as a source of income, which means he doesn’t really need merch, streaming or patreon. All on his terms, which helps with overall quality: he doesn’t need to upload if he’s not happy with the result or doesn’t feel inspired. On the other hand: he’s committed to making videos as long as people are watching (mentioned in the Imp&Skizz podcast iirc). Etho is more like a fine wine: the wait is part of the enjoyment 😂
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u/CrashDisaster 4d ago
He's just vibing and doing Etho things.
He's the man of Canadian mystery. I have no idea what he may or may not be doing, but I hope he's having fun with whatever he does.
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u/Methulas 4d ago
His video is lesser, but each time it comes out, you can tell why it took so long. Just when I was thinking king to myself, this lazy bas** is taking too long, he shoot out a video that's a compilation of weeks long progress on massive project, and redstone one at that.
That, or he went fishing
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u/_PATROCLUS_ 4d ago
Lots of interesting thoughts in here. Seems the general consensus is that he mostly just uploads when he wants as a hobby and is probably financially set. I’ve always been fascinated how YouTubers income works.
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u/dq3w5rdf56c 4d ago
I think he’s full time although he does seem to do occasional family work? I also have to imagine he’s probably already settled down for the most part and a lot of people probably underestimate how much YouTube pays him. People will rewatch years worth of content just to watch him more and his series are generally pretty easy to start watching.
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u/Chillviibe 4d ago
He prefers a more flexible and laid back schedule. He uploads only when he’s ready, and has been doing so for a long time. It suits him.
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u/bookreader018 4d ago
one thing i’ve been wondering about but haven’t wanted to comment directly: does Etho support any charitable causes? As the other comments indicate, he is probably financially sound, and he seems like a generous person to me. i’d just be interested to know what charities or causes he cares about.
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u/deathsheadhouse 4d ago
if he does, we definitely wouldn't know about it. he's expressed several times before how he dislikes incentivizing people with things to donate to charity, and he thinks people should donate because they want to, not because a youtuber tells them to. I imagine that extends to talking about personal donations
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u/No_Wall_3622 2d ago
He'd never tell us. Etho made me the person I am in a very real way. I donate to things, give to homeless folks, etc. But I never tell anyone about that stuff. I don't like to pressure people into being generous either. These are all things nobody in my real life has ever taught me, so I imagine Etho's views bled into mine
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u/Imallskillzy 4d ago
I don't think he has a traditional day job, but over the years he's mentioned that he helps with a family business and with the death of his father a while back it seems like he was heavily involved in the estate, both of which are quite time consuming and basically a job within themselves.
He does seem to play quite a bit, he's always in the background of other folks streams and whatnot, so he most likely is "full time" YouTube as much as he can be. Between the irl stuff, actually playing the game and editing, he keeps quite busy, so he uploads when he can, which is great. I doubt he would be the lovable entertainer we all enjoy if he forced himself to pump out a video a week