Hey! Welcome to the Creator Economy NYC newsletter, your weekly dose of insights and strategies to help you build, monetize, and scale as a creator.

Looking forward to our upcoming event, happening next week with Teachable, featuring an exciting panel and a very special announcement from Teachable. Details below!

So I recently moved into our first Creator Economy NYC office on Madison Avenue, which feels like one of those full-circle moments. Here we are, working in content and community, literally on the avenue synonymous with advertising and media.

But beyond the symbolism, it gave me the perfect excuse to finally upgrade some gear I'd been putting off.

And today I wanted to share some recent gear purchases you might want to add to your carts!

Let's dive in.

— Brett

The core content creation kit

All you really need to get your ideas out there is your phone and an internet connection. Everything else is optional. But if you're ready to reinvest in your setup, I’m laying out how to spend it in a way that actually moves the needle.

The thing about gear purchases I’ve observed from creators in our community at our events is that most of us either buy nothing (staying stuck with mediocre quality) or buy everything (chasing the perfect setup that never comes).

This list represents the middle path… stuff I actually use daily, recommended by people in our community who've already made the mistakes so you don't have to.

So here are the recommendations:

RODE Wireless Micro

I've been a DJI mic person for years, but the Rode system converted me for one simple reason: you can monitor audio without unplugging the receiver. Sounds minor until you're troubleshooting in the field, and not having to dismantle your entire setup to check levels becomes a genuine quality-of-life improvement.

It's also noticeably more compact, fitting easily in a jacket pocket, which is a big plus when running between meetings or traveling for content.

The audio quality matches what you'd expect at this level (clean, professional, dependable), and the price point sits just below that psychological barrier where you start questioning if you really need it.

Takeaway: Don't overthink the DJI vs. Rode debate. If you travel frequently or shoot solo, the Rode's monitoring feature alone justifies the switch.

Check it out here.

MagSafe Tripods

MagSafe might be Apple's most underrated innovation for creators. These tripods eliminated the fumbling with clips and adjustments that used to make me avoid using a tripod altogether. Phone goes on, phone comes off, that's it.

I tested them during a content shoot with Notion in SF, moving between six different locations in an afternoon. Setup time went from "let me fiddle with this for two minutes" to literally five seconds.

They've got backup clips if you want extra security, but I've never needed them.

Takeaway: If you create any phone content, stop fighting with clip tripods. The upfront cost pays back in time saved within a month.

Check it out here.

Shure MV6 Gaming Mic

"Gaming mic" undersells this. It's my daily driver for calls, podcast recordings, and any computer-based content. USB-C connection means no interface needed, no driver issues, just plug in and go.

The audio quality punches above its price point… crisp without being harsh, enough presence to sound professional without requiring a mixing board. And yes, it looks good on camera, which matters more than we admit when we're creating content about creating content.

Takeaway: If you're still using laptop audio or AirPods for professional calls (I hate AirPod mic quality), this is your easiest upgrade. The difference is immediately noticeable.

Check it out here.

GVM Lights

Lighting is where most creators underinvest, and I was guilty of this for way too long. The GVMs are the investment piece here and best-in-class for a reason.

What sold me wasn't just the quality (though it's exceptional), but the range of settings (and also it being recommended to me 3 times). Different color temperatures, brightness levels, effects, basically every scenario you'd need is already programmed in.

The build quality tells you these will last. We're talking buy-it-once territory, which changes the math on what initially feels like a premium price point.

Takeaway: If you're choosing between a camera upgrade and lighting upgrade, choose lighting every time. The GVMs are the last lights you'll need to buy.

Check it out here.

Your Turn

We're heading into year-end, and if you've been thinking about upgrading your setup, now's the time.

And if you grab any of this gear, let me know how it works for you!

Oct 22: Mixer, Panel, and Celebration with Teachable

And speaking of great content creation gear - join us next week, on October 22nd in Brooklyn to mix and network with NYC's top creators, hear a big announcement from Teachable.

And then settle in for a conversation with NYC creators Dara Denney and Mariana Anataya about turning lived experience into thriving education businesses.

Finally launch the thing you've been thinking about

If you've been sitting on an idea but can't seem to take the first step, this is for you. Our latest course, F*ck It, Create It, walks you through the exact mindset shift that helped me go from "I should do this" to actually building Creator Economy NYC into the largest creator community in the country.

Only 23 spots remain to be in the first 50 to sign up, which gets you the exclusive F*ck It, Create It hat and a collaborative working session with me and fellow creators.

2 FREE resources to accelerate your creator growth

The Creator Goal Setting Guide: A simple but powerful document to help you declare who you want to BECOME in 2025.

The Creator Accountability System: Your visual companion for consistent creation in 2025 (I’m using this now to send one newsletter a week!)

Thanks for reading! And if you end up trying any of this gear, hit reply and let me know what's actually working in your setup.

See you next week,

— Brett