Josh Harmon, known for his Rhythms of Comedy series, shares his journey from drumming to content creation, discussing authenticity, language rhythm, and mental health aspects of being a creator. He delves into creating sounds for 'Ratatouille,' working as an NBC page, and navigating social media challenges.
Josh Harmon combines drumming and comedy to create unique content.
Passion drives success in content creation, emphasizing storytelling and rhythm discovery.
Content creators face mental health challenges and need to prioritize well-being.
Deep dives
Creating Drum Comedy: The Fusion of Drumming and Comedy
Josh Harmon discusses his unique style of 'drum comedy,' blending sound effects and comedic timing to create engaging content. He explains that his approach combines the art of Foley sound effects with his drumming skills, describing it as a form of live Foley. Despite not following traditional Foley techniques, he has developed his own performance style termed 'drum comedy,' where he synchronizes sound effects with videos, captivating viewers by watching multiple times.
The Art of Authenticity: Genuine Enthusiasm and Attention to Detail
Josh reflects on his early videos and how his genuine enthusiasm for exploring the mechanics of stand-up comedy led to success. He emphasizes the importance of creating content about topics one is truly passionate about. By focusing on storytelling and rhythm discovery, Josh aims to engage his audience by showcasing his curiosity and dedication to creating compelling and original content.
From NBC Page to Social Media Creator: A Serendipitous Journey
Josh shares his transition from working as an NBC page, akin to the character Kenneth from '30 Rock,' to becoming a social media creator. Despite not having a strong social media presence initially, circumstances during the lockdown prompted him to start sharing content on Instagram. This unexpected turn of events led to the creation of his drum comedy videos and his eventual success as a content creator.
Journey to YouTube Fame
Starting as an accidental YouTuber, the guest shares their journey from an unexpected viral breakthrough with a freestyle video to becoming a successful content creator. Initially unfamiliar with social media, the spark came from a creative project for a friend that unexpectedly garnered massive views and propelled the guest into YouTube fame, leading to a realization that this path was worth pursuing, despite it not being part of the original plan.
Navigating Mental Health and Success
The podcast delves into the mental health struggles faced by content creators, with the guest sharing deeply personal experiences of pressure, anxiety, and burnout in the quest for continued success. Reflecting on the transformation of passion into stress due to the commercialization of content creation, the guest candidly discusses pivotal moments like a severe panic attack, leading to a hiatus and a journey to rediscover the joy of drumming away from the digital spotlight amid overwhelming online fame.
Josh Harmon is one of the most unique and entertaining content creators out there today and it was a pleasure to have him as a guest on Flow State! Josh is best known for his Rhythms of Comedy series and for creating live sound effects for scenes from some of your favorite cartoons, TV episodes, and movies. Part of what was so cool about getting to meet him in person and learning about his story was seeing how many parallels we share! From a childhood passion for drumming to forging his own path in online content creation during lockdown, this is definitely a man after my own heart. Hope y’all enjoy and be sure to check out his amazing work!
Follow Josh on Socials:
https://beacons.ai/joshharmon/MonoNeonDavid DockeryMITCH HEDBERG // Rhythms of Comedy: Ep. 2KEY & PEELE: Rhythms of Comedy (part 2)The MothJosh Harmon Business Insider interview
1:51 What Does Josh Do?
7:36 Getting Into Character
11:52 Keeping It Authentic
15:57 Learning How To Drum
22:38 Mitch Hedburg Video
26:15 Find Your Interest
28:12 Rhythm and Language
33:17 Key & Peele Video
34:20 Seeing The Rhythmic Matrix
37:00 Before Content
38:57 Relationship with Social Media
44:32 NBC and The Today Show
47:05 Taking The Leap + Ratatouille Video
54:24 Mental Health Aspects of Being A Creator
1:03:54 Closing Freestyle
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