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  6. article_body => "<p>SAN JOSE -- It\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/sharks\/sharks-mario-ferraro-absorbing-advice-while-competing-nhl-roster\" target=\"_blank\">Mario Ferraro\u2019s rookie season<\/a> in the NHL. And Year 4 of his YouTube career.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s just a hobby of mine,\u201d Ferraro said after a January practice. \u201cTech, I\u2019ve always been into that sort of thing.\u201d &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Most of the Sharks defenseman\u2019s published videos are tech product reviews, produced in spare time from his home or hotel rooms. But make no mistake about the required effort to produce and grow his channel<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC_1JjEUnPe64HpjO2H3ws-g\/featured\" target=\"_blank\"> titled \u201cYoungest of Plugs.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the start I was getting no views,\u201d&nbsp;the 21-year-old said. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of hard to build stuff when nobody\u2019s watching. But you just have to stick with it. Now I\u2019m getting more views, thanks to Sharks fans too.\u201d &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ferraro does post some hockey-related Q&amp;A videos, but the channel is more focused around headphones, iPad accessories&nbsp;and computer gaming upgrades.<\/p>\n<iframe width=\"480\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/p7m4Giq2NJo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe> \n<p>As for who influences Ferraro\u2019s videos, there are definitely some familiar names to be discussed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMarques Brownlee and Casey Neistat, and then there\u2019s also Unbox Therapy,\u201d Ferraro said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve always been watching [Brownlee] MKBHD for the longest time. I\u2019d say six years now. I saw him when he was around a million [subscribers], now he\u2019s at 10 million. It\u2019s cool to see him grow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ferraro said Brownlee\u2019s journey reminds him of what it\u2019s like to become a pro hockey player.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you see his videos at the beginning, versus how they are now,\u201d reflected Ferraro. \u201cA lot of high-quality stuff and it\u2019s just from work ethic and determination.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Many top-level YouTube stars have top-notch production resources at their disposal. Including cameras and gear that can easily value into five and six figures.<\/p>\n<p>[<strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/sharks\/sharks-gift-marc-edouard-vlasic-hydrofoil-reaching-1000-nhl-games\" target=\"_blank\">Vlasic's gift less weird than Burns' gift<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p>Conversely, Ferraro currently uses his phone as the camera, and his iPad to edit videos. It\u2019s nothing special, but it gets&nbsp;the job done.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a work in progress, I\u2019m going to build it as I go,\u201d Ferraro said. \u201cRight now not focused on the equipment I have it\u2019s more about the content and what I put out there. The basis of my videos.\u201d<\/p>\n"
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Sharks

Sharks

SAN JOSE -- It’s Mario Ferraro’s rookie season in the NHL. And Year 4 of his YouTube career.

“That’s just a hobby of mine,” Ferraro said after a January practice. “Tech, I’ve always been into that sort of thing.”  

Most of the Sharks defenseman’s published videos are tech product reviews, produced in spare time from his home or hotel rooms. But make no mistake about the required effort to produce and grow his channel titled “Youngest of Plugs.”

“At the start I was getting no views,” the 21-year-old said. “It’s kind of hard to build stuff when nobody’s watching. But you just have to stick with it. Now I’m getting more views, thanks to Sharks fans too.”  

Ferraro does post some hockey-related Q&A videos, but the channel is more focused around headphones, iPad accessories and computer gaming upgrades.

As for who influences Ferraro’s videos, there are definitely some familiar names to be discussed.

“Marques Brownlee and Casey Neistat, and then there’s also Unbox Therapy,” Ferraro said. 

“I’ve always been watching [Brownlee] MKBHD for the longest time. I’d say six years now. I saw him when he was around a million [subscribers], now he’s at 10 million. It’s cool to see him grow.”

Ferraro said Brownlee’s journey reminds him of what it’s like to become a pro hockey player.

 

“When you see his videos at the beginning, versus how they are now,” reflected Ferraro. “A lot of high-quality stuff and it’s just from work ethic and determination.”

Many top-level YouTube stars have top-notch production resources at their disposal. Including cameras and gear that can easily value into five and six figures.

[RELATED: Vlasic's gift less weird than Burns' gift]

Conversely, Ferraro currently uses his phone as the camera, and his iPad to edit videos. It’s nothing special, but it gets the job done.

“It’s a work in progress, I’m going to build it as I go,” Ferraro said. “Right now not focused on the equipment I have it’s more about the content and what I put out there. The basis of my videos.”