Hi Reader,

If I asked you what the most expensive thing in your home video studio is, you might say the camera.

Maybe the mic. Maybe the lighting.
Maybe even your computer.

Those are all reasonable guesses.
But in most cases?

It's none of these... It’s the mistakes.

The hidden cost of getting it wrong

Here's where the costs start racking up:

• It’s the money spent on gear that doesn’t suit your needs.
• It’s the time lost to trial-and-error.
• It’s the mental bandwidth chewed up by things that should “just work.”
• It’s the hours watching tutorials that contradict each other.
• It’s the stress of a setup that still doesn’t feel quite right.

And honestly? That cost adds up faster than you think.

Even when you’ve got good gear, poor lighting can make it unusable.

Even when you’ve bought the mic “everyone recommends,” it can still sound wrong.

Even when you think you’re upgrading, you may be layering on more problems.

This is the stuff people rarely talk about.

Gear is everywhere. Real guidance is rare.

There’s no shortage of tutorials out there. But most of them aren’t made with your space in mind.

They’re not teaching strategy they’re showing setups. And that leaves most people stuck guessing.

The questions people don’t ask, but should!

I see this play out all the time in communities I’m part of.

Someone asks, “Which lens should I use with my camera?” or “What light would you recommend?” or “What mic are you using?”

They’re valid questions and they show people are thinking seriously about their setup.

But the problem comes with the answers, because what rarely gets asked in return is:

• What’s your use case?
• What’s your studio space like?
• How do you want to show up on camera? Standing? Sitting?
• Are you okay with a mic in shot or does that feel too “YouTuber” for your brand?
• Do you want to see the background, or blur it?
• How far is the camera from you?
• How close are you to a wall?
• Are you working with a tight space?

These are the real qualifiers that make the difference between a setup that works for someone else and one that actually works for you.

And I get it. People love their gear. They want to help. They're answering the question that was asked.

But most advice comes from what works for them, not what might work for you.

So when you follow their recommendation, you’re not just buying a piece of gear…

You’re buying into their use case. And unless that matches yours, you may be solving a problem you don’t have—or introducing one you didn’t expect.

That’s how people end up with beautiful gear that still doesn’t deliver the result they were hoping for.

And that’s where the cost really shows up.

The real cost of guesswork

Because when you zoom out, the most expensive part isn’t just the wrong purchase.

It’s the momentum lost when you can’t quite get things to feel right.

It’s the hesitation every time you think about going live.

It’s the creative energy drained by fiddling with your setup again, hoping this time it’ll finally click.

If any of this resonates, just sit with the question:

Not just financially but in energy, confidence, and momentum.

The truth is: the most expensive thing in your studio might not be something you bought.

It might be the clarity you haven’t had yet.

So next time you ask for gear advice, make sure you frame the question with all the context that matters.

And if you’d rather skip the trial-and-error and fast-track your setup, you might want to check out the Video Studio Masterclass.

I’ve included more details later in the newsletter or you can click below to head straight to the landing page if you're ready now. There's 50% OFF UNTIL TOMORROW!

Discover the Masterclass

As always, courses aside, if you want help deciding what’s right for you, just hit reply. I’m always happy to help. Talk soon, Alec.

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Tour Of My Current Studio Setup

Every year, I do a full tour of my current studio setup—and this year’s version is right here if you’d like a behind-the-scenes look.

You absolutely don’t need a setup like mine to create high-quality video. I’m not suggesting you need all the same gear or the same level of complexity.

But if you’re curious about how I’ve built a space that supports my workflow, this might spark a few ideas for your own.

50% off until tomorrow

If you’ve been thinking about getting your video studio sorted—or just making it feel more natural, reliable, and aligned with how you actually show up—this is your last chance to grab the Video Studio Masterclass at half price.

This isn’t about copying someone else’s setup. It’s about building one that works for you.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:

✅ Choose gear that fits your space, goals, and style

✅ Avoid the most common (and costly) studio mistakes

✅ Build a space that makes it easy to show up with clarity and confidence

✅ Understand the why behind every tool and decision—so you’re not guessing anymore

In the Video Studio Masterclass you’ll get: 100+ step-by-step lessons across 16 modules Lifetime access to all content A supportive community in the Digital Stage Network All future updates and bonus content A studio that finally works with you, not against you ​

The early-access pricing ends tomorrow, April 30th at midnight Pacific.

JOIN THE MASTERCLASS TODAY!

Until next time…

Thanks for being here—and for continuing to invest in how you show up, not just what you use. The tools can make a difference, but the clarity behind them is what changes everything.

If you’ve got questions, ideas, or want help deciding what’s right for you, just reply. I always read them.