We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Buddy Salpeck a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Buddy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

We always travelled with our kids, from Disney to camping at state parks, we enjoyed the great outdoors. As our kids grew and moved on to college we decided to take the plunge and purchased our first RV 8 years ago. We started watching videos on travel and obscure places to visit. About 3 years ago we decided to document our travels. It would have been great to start our Youtube Channel years prior. We learned so much from our research and would love to help others enjoy travel.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As a family of 6, we have camped for almost 20 years now. We decided at the time, that the best thing we could do for our kids is show them what the outdoors have to offer. When our kids were younger we would pack up whatever vehicle we owned at the time with a everything needed to spend a weekend in the wilderness. For a week or two each year we would travel for family vacations. Sometimes that would be Disney or Universal studios. Sometimes it would be a combination of amusement parks and outdoor adventures. We’ve taken them to states on the east coast all the way to the west coast. As each child grew older and went off to college, those trips became less frequent. On our last camping trip our tent leaked, it was cold, and the kids slept in the van. That was the last tent trip we took. A couple years later we purchased the first of three RVs. We went from a smaller, entry lever travel trailer to a luxury 5th wheel we’ve named “Braking Dawn,” we stop where we want too. After our first trip in our original travel trailer 8 years ago, we, Buddy and Dawn, along with our youngest, Madison, became addicted to the lifestyle. So much so that when we weren’t camping, we were online watching camping. OK, OK not that addicted, but we did watch videos on YouTube not only to learn more about the lifestyle but to also find places to visit. About 3 years ago, we decided to start our own channel and haven’t looked back. On our YouTube channel, First Time RVers (@FTRV) you’ll find videos of our getaways, “how to” videos, repair videos, review videos, and everything travel. In the last couple of years, we’ve travelled farther and farther away. From National Parks in the West to cruising the Caribbean. All of this led us to purchase a 20 year old van and we’ve converted it into a stealth camper that we are taking on a 10-day trip in late summer 2023. We’ve also booked an Alaskan cruise for 2024.

We want to inspire others to get out of their homes, away from their jobs and off of their phones to see what this world has to offer. We hope that our videos will help viewers plan their next big adventure by providing information about places we have visited. I, Buddy, love to do things on my own. From repairs to total conversion of that old van, “Vincent VANGo.’ Not only does succeeding with your own repairs feel great but it saves money at the same time, which is important nowadays. Our videos will help you with a “check list” of items you may need or out of they way places you may want to visit.

Most channel you will find out there are about one aspect of travel. It may be a vlogger who vlogs about cruises and excursions. You’ll find vloggers who live full time in their campervan, in turn, their videos contain information about living in a campervan. We’ve watched vloggers who’s videos are about the places they visit. What makes us different is that our vlogs contain information about all of these ways to travel. Then, of course, we throw in some videos that show you how to repair the power seat switch on your truck or what our lives look like while we aren’t traveling.

We enjoy interacting with our subscribers and love to hear how our videos have helped them. It makes us smile when someone thanks us for helping them do their own repair and just as important, save money. Our most viewed video, which is approaching 100,000 views, is a “must have” video about items that will help make your camping trip easier. For a short time, we owned a golf cart that we would load into the back of our truck in order to take it with us on our camping trips. I did hours of research on how to safely load “Rocky” into our truck. I didn’t find any information that I made me fell safe when loading it. Another one of our highest viewed videos is of the process I decided was the safest way to load a golf cart.

What we love most about creating vlogs is that not only do we get to enjoy our trips, but we get to share it with others and in turn, have a place to relive our adventures. So, the next time you open the Youtube app or any other social media app, check us out, @FTRV on Youtube, First Time RVers on Facebook and first.time.rvers on Instagram.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Understand that we do enjoy what we do. Understand that it takes time and money to do what we do. I have always hated the term “e-begger.” When business like Walmart advertise on social media asking for viewers to purchase an item, they are considered a business, they would never be called an e-begger. We are struggling artists and at times find it hard to keep moving forward. Becoming a subscriber or follower and engaging with us, helps us succeed.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Sharing with others. Whether that is our personal journey or information that will help our viewers, making others happy is what we love the most.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: first.time.rvers
• Facebook: First Time RVers
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@FTRV