When I started this Substack newsletter, I wanted to reveal as much about the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on as a full-time content creator as possible.
As it turns out, most of it isn’t very glamorous. At all. And a lot of it has nothing to do with creating content, striking up sponsorship deals, or collaborating with other YouTubers.
As if to illustrate this perfectly in time for today’s musing, yesterday’s jaunt to Germany was, I think, the most unglamorous, pointlessly stressful, heart-in-mouth moment of my career as a content creator so far.
So, obviously, I’m going to share it with you today.
I’m currently writing this from a hotel room in Berlin. I’m here for IFA, which is Europe’s biggest consumer tech conference. It’s my first time at this event (it only returned last year following the COVID break) and it feels like my first big overseas trip in terms of brand partnerships and on-site content creation.
I’m here with Honor, the Android smartphone brand, but I’m also teaming up with two other brands during my time at IFA to create yet more sponsored content. Oh, and on Monday, I’m flying briefly to Munich to attend an automotive event with BYD.
It is, quite simply, a bonkers but incredibly exciting trip. It’s just a shame Lufthansa nearly ruined it.
My flight yesterday was the first interconnecting flight I’ve ever had. Yup, I’m one of those lucky so-and-sos who hasn’t had to undertake the inevitably stressful task of switching planes in some random location before reaching his final destination.
That’s exactly how it panned out, too. My first flight was delayed by an hour, leaving me with a 15-minute dash through Munich airport to catch my flight to Berlin. Upon reaching the gate, all sweaty, out of breath, and feeling like both arms were going to fall off due to the weight of my camera bag, I was met by a big smile.
“Have you come from Birmingham?” asked the attendant.
I nodded - it was all I could muster.
“Great!” she replied, smile still beaming. “You’re the first one to get here.”
Thoughts of boarding a plane to be met by the piercing, multiple gazes of people whose flight had been delayed by yours truly and who consequently hated me evaporated - just as the realisation dawned that I’d expelled energy for absolutely no reason whatsoever.
The flight from Munich to Berlin was, thankfully, uneventful; we landed with plenty of time for me to grab my luggage and head to the hotel. Or, at least, so I thought.
I’ve never experienced this before, but those of you who have will know exactly how I felt during what happened next. As I stood next to the baggage reclaim belt, two things dawned on me. Firstly, there were only four of us left. Secondly, the same eight suitcases (why are there always more than the people on the flight?) had passed by my position. Glancing up at the display above, I noticed that the word ‘COMPLETED’ lay next to my flight number.
That was it - every bag had been unloaded. And mine wasn’t there.
To put this in context, the only bag I had with me was my camera bag - which contained camera equipment, my laptop, some headphones, and loads of cables. I can’t wear any of that stuff. None of it doubles as a pair of shoes. I can’t brush my teeth with a Sigma 24-70 lens.
All of my clothes were in my suitcase which hadn’t appeared on that luggage belt.
A lengthy wait in the Queue of Sadness (as the guy behind me accurately christened it) revealed that my luggage was still in Munich.
“How long will it take to be shipped to my hotel?” I asked. “A maximum of three days,” came the answer.
What followed was an obscene amount of swearing under my breath, a mad dash to central Berlin to buy a pair of jeans, several t-shirts, socks, underpants, and toiletries, before Ubering to the hotel that Honor had kindly booked for me. Somehow, I still made it to dinner that evening.
Mercifully, Lufthansa has located my luggage and it is currently making its way on a flight to Berlin. Things could also have been a lot worse - I very nearly checked in my camera bag, too. Regardless, it was a needlessly stressful start to my time in Berlin and it has taught me one very simple lesson (which every other YouTuber here reminded me of during dinner last night).
When it comes to big tech events abroad - only take one bag, and never check it in. You live and learn in this game, eh?
Oh, and Lufthansa will indeed be getting the clothes bill.