It’s no secret that Ken Heron and I are associates. We’ve been associates for some time now – 5, or six years.
In spite of everything, I appear to be showing in increasingly more of his movies on YouTube. I’m presupposed to be the digicam man, undecided why that’s! So, yeah, no secret there.
In fact, I met Ken Heron lengthy earlier than I met Ken Heron. Like a lot of you on the market, I met Ken by means of his YouTube channel, Ken Heron – YouTube.
I really was one of many earliest watchers of Ken and his channel, because it was of nice curiosity to me and my very own drone pursuit. Ken grabs you, there’s no different technique to describe it.
He’s humorous, charismatic, and educated in regards to the topic of drones and another issues.
It was his conveyance of ardour for the pastime that has led many people, me included, to select up a controller and change into a drone pilot.
To say Ken Heron has had an affect on me could be an understatement, and I’m not alone. In spite of everything, how may he not?
He has an infinite affect on the entire of the drone group, with a powerful presence, not solely within the GPS group, however that of the FPV group as properly.
The attraction and, in fact, nice hair are simply how he’s. As I discussed above, I met Ken as certainly one of his followers, by no means pondering it might transcend that.
The how or why of us changing into the chums that now we have fairly frankly eludes me.
That’s simply how figuring out Ken is although, he kinds immediate bonds and long-lasting friendships. A very good instance of that might be Jeff Sills. For those who’re not aware of Jeff, he helps Ken on TNL and does the present’s Drone Information phase, one of many first varieties of drone information we had ever seen.
Ken and Jeff went to highschool collectively. I’d have favored to discover that additional, however Ken is pretty tight-lipped typically.
That’s some dedication and dedication to a friendship there. Particularly should you ever watched the TNL Drone Information phase.
Then once more, if you recognize Ken, you wouldn’t count on something much less. So, I’m certain Jeff’s alright! I not too long ago tried that chair out myself and Jeff, we’d like you brother. It’s more durable than it seems, and I’ll go away it at that.
The Interview
I not too long ago sat down with Ken and interviewed him for this very article. Ken’s a bit squirrelly in relation to speaking about himself or his previous.
I initially tried this by sending an e mail with the questions written out. The concept was to simply have Ken fill within the solutions and ship it again.
We really dwell about fours aside, and after some time, it turned clear if it was to get completed, another measure could be wanted, so I sat him down in entrance of a digicam, since simply sending him an e mail with questions simply wasn’t going to work, not for Ken.
Ken will probably be Ken in spite of everything.
The interview solely performs a small half in any article as there may be at all times impartial analysis used to confirm and test issues. However with Ken, it actually has change into a focus for this function.
The interview itself runs about 35 minutes lengthy and was on a steady run.
On this interview we do get some issues out of Ken that nobody else has, so it’s price watching it by means of.
» MORE: Half 1: My Journey from Drone Hobbyist to Half 107 Pilot
Ken Heron’s Early Life
Ken Heron was born in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Aug twenty first, 1966. Now, Ken solely spent the earliest a part of his life in Florida, the primary few years. He can nonetheless be a Florida Man if you need him to be.
It does go away one to surprise if residing so near NASA might have performed some half in his love of aviation. He would have solely been three when Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, so a few of his earliest influences, maybe.
Though this didn’t come up within the dialog, you do must surprise. Ken has a sister who’s three years his youthful they usually grew up in a single-parent house for probably the most half.
He moved loads rising up. He said that 17 occasions, and it’s right here that the pleasant, get-along-with-everyone Ken form of got here from.
You’ll be able to see that; it was this must make associates rapidly and be noticeable but unnoticeable on the identical time, by means of this era, that might have saved bullies and such at bay. It’s arduous to punch a man who’s making you snigger, you recognize.
Ken offers with a lot of life’s adversities with humor. Rising up transferring from one place to a different may very well be robust on any child. I’ve spoken with Ken’s mom, who is just as candy as might be.
You’ll be able to inform she did her finest to offer for each of her kids as they grew up.
One other level I took away from this portion of the interview was Ken’s largest affect rising up. It seems it was primarily his grandparents. Primarily that of his grandfather, who suffered from being legally blind.
His grandfather’s incapacity led to Ken being round a whole lot of audio gear rising up, as his grandfather would use recording units for dictation. It was this affect that led Ken into radio, drawn there by sound results and a fascination for the expertise.
» MORE: Half 2: I Simply Received My Half 107. Now what?
Though he was properly on his approach, radio started in earnest for Ken in highschool. He took on a tech and internet hosting place at WHHS a Excessive College Station, out of Haverford PA.
An attention-grabbing truth about WHHS is that it’s the oldest excessive school-run station in the US, making its first broadcast on Dec 6, 1949.
After that, Ken did attend a fly-by-night broadcasting faculty. These have been very typical on the time and have been always being marketed. This in the end led to an actual internet hosting place at a radio station.
He grew up with not essentially a tough life, however then once more not precisely a simple one both. Ken himself described it as idyllic, which looks as if extra deflection than anything.
Having discovered that he may simply make associates and keep away from so lots of the pitfalls so many people encounter, Ken doesn’t have any of the vices that seize so many people in that interval, be it ingesting or smoking or different.
Ken, from an early level, knew what he wished to be – a radio host. And for probably the most half, rising up, it appears he targeted on that objective, discovering himself and his character alongside the best way.
Now, when attempting to glean info from Ken, about Ken, it’s like herding cats. Ken is a grasp of enjoying either side of the coin. Being prepared and but reluctant all at this identical time.
I really feel that we did achieve some good perception into the younger Ken Heron although. Typically, it’s what’s unsaid in an announcement that provides away probably the most.
Whereas speaking with Ken, you’ll be able to clearly see that it’s considerably uncomfortable for him to look again. It is because Ken, being Ken, is at all times wanting ahead.
Ken Heron’s Radio Life
Within the second a part of the interview, I targeted our consideration on Ken’s time in radio. Ken has been in radio as a present host for forty years now.
You’ll be able to solely think about that in that point there have been many ups and downs. For those who’re not all that aware of what’s been happening in radio in currently, issues have been a bit topsy, turvy, particularly by means of the Nineties.
Massive company stations moved in on lots of the impartial stations on the time and acquired them up. That left somebody like Ken a bit out within the wind.
It exhibits in his work historical past in that he moved from station to station, and there have been just a few. A few of them don’t even function anymore, having not survived the buyouts.
» MORE: Half 3: The best way to Open A Drone Service Firm
As a radio host, Ken is a tempered shock jock. He is aware of the place the road is and simply how far it may be pushed earlier than going over. Though there are occasions when that line does appear to have been breached.
Right here I must warn you, within the interview, Ken regales us with probably the most memorable second from radio. It is rather adult-themed, so right here’s your warning about that.
What comes throughout probably the most is the fireplace of ardour Ken has for the work he does. How he pushes boundaries and the mindset and willpower he has for his artwork, and it’s an artwork.
Ken brings it up within the interview, and that was the time he spent as a co-host on the Beaner and Ken present.
Now should you lived within the Birmingham space anytime between 1998 and 2003 or Tuscaloosa from 2003 to 2006 on both 107.7 WRAX-FM or 100.5 WANZ-FM, you’d have been listening to Beaner and Ken within the mornings. On this present, Ken labored alongside Man Patton, higher referred to as Beaner.
The Beaner and Ken present ran for 8 years and actually was a primary ranked morning present in these demographics. Right here we see although, the place it is a sore spot for Ken.
The present was canceled when the unique station was purchased by Citadel Broadcasting and altered the station’s format.
Though it could have been an finish to the Beaner and Ken present, Man Patton has gone on to write down and produce his personal sitcom and in 2015 launched the film, Pearl.
Ken, he’s been busy too. Having moved on from the Beaner and Ken present, he labored at just a few different stations earlier than discovering his new house of the previous couple of years at 98.3 Paducah on the JC and Ken present, one other morning present delivering on pure Ken content material.
In fact, all of us keep in mind Kelly Inexperienced. Kelly is one other of Ken’s longtime associates and work companions who was part of the Kelly and Ken present on 100.9 The Farm. Additionally, the situation of that Pink Barn.
Kelly can be a long-time co-host for TNL, and nonetheless will co-host alongside Ken every now and then. It was this station that Ken references within the interview as what began him out in droning.
A lot as the autumn of the Beaner and Ken Present, The Farm additionally fell to a buyout state of affairs and a format change, leaving Ken in a brief lurch, his place at 98.3. Properly, it’s Ken. So, the sky’s the restrict!
Within the final a part of the interview, we see a few of the actual Ken, and a few of the issues that he’s obsessed with and couldn’t have hoped for higher. We lined extra of Ken’s YouTube life and he reveals some issues!
» MORE: Half 4: The best way to Get Your Drone Enterprise Off the Floor
Ken Heron’s YouTube Life
Now we come to the half largely associated to drones and what Ken Heron has delivered to us everywhere in the years.
Within the third a part of the interview, we mentioned Ken Heron and his YouTube Channel.
We cowl how he harnesses the ability of social media and expertise to share his data, creativity, and, in fact, his love for aerial pictures, scratch that, I imply Aerial Videography.
As you might not have been conscious, Ken’s probably not a photographer and by no means has been. His passions have at all times been that of audio and video. He even will get a bit of heated within the interview, once I attempt hitting this level house.
What the video doesn’t present is we’ve had many conversations on capturing strategies and lighting and different points of nonetheless pictures in addition to videography, so, there’s a little bit of background that phase doesn’t make clear. It was a little bit of a unclean pool on my half. His response, nevertheless, is priceless.
One of many largest takeaways was how and who impressed the Present, TNL. That is one thing Ken by no means talks a lot about.
» MORE: Half 5: The Fact About Working a Drone Enterprise
Very like my very own friendship with Ken, Ken knew for some time the one who planted the TNL seed, and he performed a big position in Ken’s early drone movies. That was Dana Williams.
Now, if that title sounds acquainted to you, you might be a fan of Diamond Rio. Dana is the Bass participant and the baritone vocals for the band. He’s additionally an enormous, fixed-wing RC flyer.
It was upon Dana’s prompting that Ken created TNL or Thursday Night time Reside. Now, I’ve little question that we might know of Ken Heron even when he by no means began doing the weekly present TNL. He has that form of character.
Nonetheless, TNL might be what garnered him the place he holds right now. A present he deliberate and produced solely by himself for 5 years with out lacking a single week. That’s to not say he didn’t have some assist alongside the best way.
He does use a co-host, and there may be at all times a behind-the-scenes factor occurring. Like most of his non-TNL movies, although, it’s all Ken from begin to end. From thought creation to closing edit and every thing in between, it’s all Ken.
As soon as once more, Ken’s actions present a drive and untamed willpower any of us could be proud to have only a share of. It’s these very qualities which have led to Ken’s success and being acknowledged as one of many prime main Drone influencers right now.
In fact, Ken, he’s too modest to let that blow his ego out.
That and should you have been to ask, he would deny being an influencer in any respect. Which is complete BLEEP! It’s this modesty that’s certainly one of his extra enduring qualities, as he does keep a degree head as to his celeb.
» MORE: Half 6: Is Proudly owning My Personal Drone Enterprise Value It?
He’s a really down-to-earth particular person, though he has reached a sure degree of fame. That’s not what drives him. Fortunately! He’d be unattainable if it was.
Let’s be sincere: Ken Heron is legendary, however not within the Hollywood sense of well-known. Inside our drone group, although, 75%, if not even a bit greater, of any drone pilots you point out the title Ken Heron to, they’ll know precisely who you’re speaking about.
They might be followers, or they could not like Ken a lot in any respect. Most are within the center. They recognize the humor and shenanigans Ken will get as much as. They look ahead to the academic How-To’s and to get Ken’s view on issues.
Many people watch to see Ken smash one other drone; it’ll occur eventually.
So yeah, between Radio Ken and YouTube Ken, he’s made a mark on this world that gained’t be simply forgotten. Not unhealthy for a Florida Man, now’s it!
We do study a bit extra about Ken’s inspiration for entering into droning. He wished a specific shot of the Massive Pink Barn Workplace the place he labored. It was right here that he did the Kelly and Ken present.
In fact, this was approach again, 11 years in the past in 2012, so choices have been restricted on the time to say the least. Then although, we study way more about Ken’s inspiration from seeing footage in Hollywood movies within the late 90’s and 2000’s. How he noticed that and wished to recreate it.
Ken additionally brings up a extremely good level as properly about superpowers and the way drones give everybody the ability of flight. It’s not the primary point out of this concept of superpowers from Ken.
Inform me he’s not nerdy, come on, I triple-dog dare you. In a approach, he’s completely appropriate. The reward and energy of voice – it’s a superpower. The reward of flight, to soar with the eagles – that’s additionally a superpower as properly.
Though we’re not all going to run off and change into profitable radio present hosts, we are able to all get a drone and fly.
» MORE: Half 7: The Greatest Errors I Made As A Drone Pilot (The Proper Selections Now Will Save You Later!)
Wrap-Up
Ken Heron, what’s there to say? Radio Ken, Drone Ken, YouTube Ken, Common Ken, they are surely all simply the identical man.
Okay, I’ll provide you with there’s no common Ken. In on a regular basis I’ve recognized him, and within the technique of gathering knowledge and writing this text, I nonetheless couldn’t inform you what makes the person tick. I don’t suppose he may actually inform you that himself.
The rationale for that’s there’s no finish to the journey for Ken Heron. There’s tomorrow, certain. For Ken, although, it appears to be way more in regards to the journey than any vacation spot.
He finds one of the best in every thing he does; he doesn’t look again with regrets and tries to search out the lesson in errors. He has humor as his fixed companion, and it brings him pleasure to share the humor with all who wish to pay attention or watch.
He’s self-taught in lots of the expertise he’s wanted to change into one of many most interesting editors I do know, and an okay drone pilot as properly. I jest.
Ken is without doubt one of the most expert drone pilots you could find, and I’ve realized fairly a bit from him, in individual and from his movies. As I do know a lot of you might have as properly.
Very like the ultimate interview query, “What do you see for you and the channel sooner or later?” Ken’s response was, “I don’t know!” I believe that was a very reasonable and sincere reply from Ken. He doesn’t know; none of us do.
Ken Heron, he’s fairly too content material with the now. Maybe that’s Ken’s secret and one other superpower; he actually is comfortable within the now of issues, and the long run will carry what it does.
Dwelling within the now as a substitute of the previous or the long run – if solely the remainder of us lived that far more typically, we may very well be a bit of extra like Ken. Now that’s not so unhealthy!
Fly Protected! Fly All the time, All the time Fly Protected!
» MORE: Half 8: Dronelife Eternally!
