@ncbean - okay so I have two versions for you, and I'll explain what I did for each.
Major Change - Content Size: I noticed that you had a template for sizing in the .psd you sent. Your original attempt
exceeded the minimum width which is a huge design
no. The template is there for a reason, so exceeding the boundaries of the
smallest allowed size means that you are by definition going to cut your banner off. The trick is to make sure that your content is legible for all sizes while staying in the confines of the smallest boundary.
Major Change - Font Squash: Do not do not do not distort your typeface lmao. It makes the text look blurred and distorted. If you don't like the natural height or width,
find another font. There are very few instances where distorting typeface looks good... actually that's arguable. I'd personally say there are no instances where this looks good; if you need the text to have a distorted effect, you're better off using text effects (if you're not very proficient) or designing custom typeface in illustrator.
Major Change - No Bevel / Gradients: I hate bevels lmao. Unless I'm specifically looking for a raised effect I don't use them -- it's rare that I find raised effects necessary, too, unless I'm designing something that is supposed to look like it's embossed on fabric or metal or something like that.
Minor Change - Added "Mage Productions Presents": I thought this was cute and unifies your 'brand' of YouTube. I know you want to become a YT success, which is an admirable goal, so creating brand unity will help you and help people recognise when you branch out to different genres of video.
Minor Change - Moved Dividers: Surrounding "Nick Bean Gaming" with the line dividers draws the immediate focus to the channel name, rather than everything else. The other stuff is still noticeable, but creating a focal point helps the image not look so busy.
Minor Change - Second font: I used a sans-serif font (mixing a sans-serif and serif font tends to produce good results) for the less important text ("Mage Productions..", and your social media handles). The font name is "SketchFlow Print".
Addition - Reflection + Ice: I also added a reflection to the "Nick Bean Gaming" text. This was done by duplicating and rasterising the text. I then moved the duplicated layer under the original, and transformed the text to be flipped vertically. For the fade effect: layer > layer mask > reveal all. Set background and foreground colours to white and black respectively, and drag along the layer mask to get an appropriate fade. Then add fliter > pixellate > mezzotint (medium point) and add filter > blur > motion blur > distance: 180 degrees.
Version 1: This version tries to keep your original colour scheme. I added some filter effects in order to give it a frosted over look, and darkened the colours so the white text was legible.
The frosted over look was created by creating a new layer and filling it with white, then going to filter > pixellate > mezzotint (medium point), then setting the layer mode to screen and playing with the opacity.
The background colour was darkened by going to image > adjustments > levels.
I also made your social media handles vertically aligned with the social media icons, and set them an equal distance from the centre of the mage image. I also moved the mage image to be centred, and an equal distance from the bottom of the second divider and the end of the bleed area.
Version 2: I took your "ice mage" thing to heart here and tried to create an even more obvious frosty / ice effect. The biggest difference between this and the first version is that I added two layers to the background. Layer one is a muted green colour (#607c75) placed under your original gradient. I set the original gradient to blend mode: overlay @ 78%. I then created a new layer, and set it to filter > render > clouds and set it to blend mode: overlay @ 100%. Lastly, I created another new layer, filled it with white and set it to filter > pixellate > mezzotint (medium point). I then inverted the colours and set the layer blend mode to screen @ 52%.
NOTICE: I actually used drop shadows. The key here isn't NEVER using them, it's knowing how to do so subtly to enhance the text, not over compensate for legibility issues.
I can send you the .psd later if you want, as my internet is messing up again and won't upload the .psd to my server :|
Hopefully this helps! Let me know if you have any questions. Obviously you don't have to use these / do things like I do, but this is an example of how you can achieve a readable, "ice" effect without resorting to bevels and harsh dropshadows / early 2000s design trends. (:
I knew you designed but didn't realize it was your job. 
A PSD will work. Especially since I can go over it and study what you've done and learn from it!
