Disclosure and the Scottevest Experiment

July 31, 2012 by Documentally | www.documentally.com | Twitter @documentally

I'm not a Journalist and have never trained as such. You only have to look at my grammar to see that.

That doesn’t stop me practicing journalism once in a while.  As a blogger I feel I get to have fun experimenting with all forms of story making, reporting, documenting.

I’m pretty sure first personal contact for me with Scottevest was back on the 23rd of June 2008.
I received an email from Scott that read..

“Hi Christian,
I have been watching your videos. We should chat soon. My Skype name is Scottevest. Let’s connect.”

The email was cc’d to Adele McAlear so I’m thinking I had posted a video of my first Scottevest purchase on Seesmic video and Adele must have forwarded it to Scott.

Thanks Adele.

So for the last four years and one month I have been following Scott, Scottevest and the products they produce. We have chatted mostly via email. Once in a blue moon we will skype and very occationally Scott will send me a videomail from a ski-lift or with some other random backdrop. When I’ve been particularly inspired to do so, I’ve recorded a video reviewing his kit.

I have never been paid to do so. I make my money from talking at events, teaching workshops and documenting for those needing multimedia content. Yes I have received kit from a number of places, to use and test and usually it’s not expected back. I have also been critical of what I like and what I would love to see modified. Often these suggestions, especially in the case of Scottevest, are not only taken on board, they are acted upon.

Photo by Benjamin Ellis of BenjaminEllis.org

A blogger who takes a kickback in exchange for writing reviews will no doubt lose credibility and although I may only request tech or items I have been lusting after, I’m sure to give my honest opinion if the item does not live up to my expectations.

Recently I’ve been thinking about this more and more and today feels a little like I’m stepping toward the deep end. Today I plan to work more regularly with Scottevest. It’s not the first time he has offered. It’s just the first time I have felt comfortable enough to accept the challenge.

I’m sure some reading this are thinking “What’s the big deal? You love and wear his stuff already. Why not help the guy out?”

I guess i just want to be more careful than normal. Throwing out random reviews once in a while is one thing. Becoming connected to a recognised brand is something else.

These tentative steps into a new affiliation with Scott come after I have chatted with a few close friends and gauged their thoughts around potential future projects.

I have worked with some unusual partnerships in the past and I am working with some interesting companies today. The Open University for one.

My first iPhone was from Toby Moores. I have had adventures made possible by people Like Jeff Pulver, my travel sponsored by the innovative and unlikly. Take for example the partnership with Will King of ‘King of Shaves’. Especially weird as I have a beard most of the time.

Since February this year VodafoneUK have been sponsoring my international Data. This has been the first time I have not paid my own Vodafone bill for around 12 years. What do they want in return? ..To assess how much data a blogger might use in a year.

XpressCoffee, Dinastia Vivanco, Magnum Photos, Baavet, Guinness. My affiliations have been as varied as my interests and intune with my passions. (Although I have just noticed a huge whisky shaped gap for some reason.)

In the attached recorded skype chat below, me and Scott talk about possible projects. Some based on travel. Please feel free to offer some input. You might be aware of a charity that would hugely benefit from multi-pocketed ‘technology enabled clothing’. Perhaps I can deliver it to them. You may have suggestions of tie-ins with what you do. I have a few ideas but am also open to more.

If you have seen any Scottevest stuff I’ve reviewed in the past but as yet have not pressed the buy it now button, Scott also talks about offering some gear out to bloggers for review. Drop a comment below if you feel you would like to be considered for this and please say why.  You don’t have to sell your soul.

As far as soul’s go. I think I’m doing OK with mine so far. Besides, I’d hope you would tell me if it looked like I was doing more than just renting it out.

Note: Since making this video Scott’s personal email address has changed to @ScottevestCEO

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