Opinions on my YT channel art!?

[Graham]

You'e not looking for professional opinions? Surely people who work in the industry are the best people to learn from?

Kami made some very valid points. There's a definite lack of focal point - many of the people you've listed have either simple banners or a montage in the back, both are fine - but it's clear that the main focal point is their logo. How you've designed it makes the Q Dance logo look like it is your logo - which a) isn't the case and b) could leave to much confusion.
There's a lack of balance to the piece; if you look it off of YouTube then it's too weighted to one side, which i understand the reasoning behind it when you look at it on YouTube, but I think if you're going to use it in multiple places (like your Twitter) then it'd be better to create different banners but with minor changes, to keep relevance but to also consider the platform you're using it on.

I think you can do much better than this. You've said:

This wasn't for professional or official use.

...so if its not for professional or official use, then why is it your YouTube banner...the platform you're using that people will SEE you on and the sole reason you're doing it? you HAVE to start thinking more strategically; being a YouTube personality (whether it be users with millions of views or you with...10's of views) you have to start thinking of yourself as a BRAND. Take this pewdiepie bloke - I've no time for him myself but he has a recognisable brand, people know its him when they see it. Yes, he's been doing it longer, yes he has more subscribers - but at the same time it is NOW that you need to beginning to think about how to build you as a brand and market that brand - you can make the best, funniest videos on YouTube but it's pointless if no-one sees them.
Remember, being 'professional' isn't about being formal or anything like that - it's about making money from it. I make money from my job and I sit about in jeans and a tshirt...but I have a professional logo for my business, because I know that I need to market myself to the people I want to attract. How I go about my work is different, but I don't want to be seen as an amateur and I'm sure you don't want to either. Even if it takes days...weeks even to revise and hone an identity then it's worth doing - because you're going to BE that identity for the entire duration of your youtube career.

There you go, free bit of marketing and brand advice. I won't even send an invoice.

[Kami]

Against my better judgement, I am posting again. This will be the last time, and you don't need to bother replying to me because I've stopped notifications.

Since you were completely unsatisfied with what I told you last time, I'll be clearer and more blunt. If you want something that looks good, you need a new banner. Scrap the whole thing and start over.

I mean, I get that you spent a lot of time on it and this sucks to hear but you need to hear it. You can justify how it wasn't meant to be professional and how other people do it too and they get money but here's the thing: you're justifying why it's okay for your banner to not look good. You acknowledge it's not professional looking and you haven't done this for years, but in the same breath say that other people do it too -- if you want to have a low quality banner because other people do too, then hey, more power to you. But at least admit that you don't want constructive criticism, you just want a very specific "Did this cut out okay?" and don't ask for "all opinions" but go on to discount peoples' words because you don't want a professional opinion (which I was under the impression fell under 'all' opinions, but hey I digress).

Also do you realise how ridiculous it is to tell someone who does this for a living that you don't want them to use their knowledge and experience to form an opinion on your work? Sure, let me just quit my job and use some brain bleach to undo all those years of experience and practice.

And lastly, you really ought to consider not being a condescending person to people taking the time out of their day to help you. You either want opinions, or you don't. Either way, don't panhandle for pats on the back because with 80 hours of commissioned work and another 20 hours of projects I have to do this week, I'm not here for it.

So yeah. Good luck with this because with an attitude like the one you've shown, you're going to need it.

[Former Member]

I'm rethinking the banner. I have a few ideas. Gonna think it over the rest of the weekend since I'm not gonna be home.

[Former Member]

Kami

What would you get from this?



I had to take a snapshot from my phone, and YouTube was breaking on me while in desktop mode.

Yes, it is simple, not well thought out. But what would you get from it? My name isn't huge and the same size as the description. Yes. But I made it quite a bit ago, and didn't feel like doing smancy pancy things.