Has Storm Chasing Become an Entertainment Industry?

[JamesCaruso]

To the “broader public” storm chasing may be “purely about entertainment,” but so what? I think live streaming has simply expanded the reach and appeal of chasing to a mainstream audience that is never going to be interested or motivated enough to actually go out and do it themselves. With the livestream, they will never experience the satisfaction of accomplishment after a successful forecast and intercept, or the exhilaration of feeling inflow wind at their backs. And it’s still just a niche audience, as most people are not going to sit there watching an hours-long stream of a full chase. But the point is, it’s an incremental and separate audience. It does not at all diminish or cheapen what we do as actual chasers, or change the reasons we do it. And let’s face it, unless we are professional scientists or researchers, we, too, are only doing it for entertainment. It might be a deep intellectual curiosity and passion, but it’s still a discretionary recreational activity for most of us - i.e., entertainment.

 

[Warren Faidley]

I'm pleased that you have done this, and it takes a certain amount of courage to do something new, too.
I've seen some of your live streams and enjoyed them. I know I'm not likely to drive into all that dust like you!
You had easy-going, friendly, and frank voice-overs appropriate to your situations, providing good information as well.
But, don't get me started about trucks and drivers on I-10 !

Thanks so much. I’m still very much an amateur when it comes to live broadcasting, and it’s especially challenging as a solo chaser without a studio team to monitor the feed or provide commentary when I’m not speaking. My business instincts kick into high alert whenever my income depends on a third party like YouTube. It’s not hard to imagine them changing payment algorithms—or even banning live storm chasing altogether—if a significant tragedy were to occur.

 

[Warren Faidley]

To the “broader public” storm chasing may be “purely about entertainment,” but so what? I think live streaming has simply expanded the reach and appeal of chasing to a mainstream audience that is never going to be interested or motivated enough to actually go out and do it themselves. With the livestream, they will never experience the satisfaction of accomplishment after a successful forecast and intercept, or the exhilaration of feeling inflow wind at their backs. And it’s still just a niche audience, as most people are not going to sit there watching an hours-long stream of a full chase. But the point is, it’s an incremental and separate audience. It does not at all diminish or cheapen what we do as actual chasers, or change the reasons we do it. And let’s face it, unless we are professional scientists or researchers, we, too, are only doing it for entertainment. It might be a deep intellectual curiosity and passion, but it’s still a discretionary recreational activity for most of us - i.e., entertainment.

"It does not at all diminish or cheapen what we do as actual chasers."

I must respectfully, yet firmly, disagree. Having lived through the majority of modern storm chasing history, I’ve witnessed this issue first-hand more times than I can count. The most recent example came during my work on the Oklahoma chasing bill. I can state with absolute certainty that there is a large, silent undercurrent of scientists, law enforcement, politicians, EMS, emergency managers, fellow chasers, and members of the public who oppose live chasing when it involves reckless driving or dangerously close encounters done purely for entertainment. One thing is certain: if you chased in the late 1980s and 1990s, you’ve seen a profound shift in how the public views storm chasers.

Because I’m still active in the business, I encounter this sentiment regularly. I once had a $75,000+ spokesperson contract with a major home improvement company cancelled after the company’s vice president happened to see a clip of another chaser’s dangerous behavior. He concluded that the “corporate risk” of working with a storm chaser was simply too high. As a chaser, journalist, and EMT, I routinely hear from law enforcement about “bad behavior” in the field. Even many media outlets shy away from promoting “extreme chasing.” Look no further than what happened to The Weather Channel—both when they tried it themselves, and when they faced lawsuits after one of their chasing stringers was involved in a fatal accident. Some rental car companies have even stopped covering chase-related damage, regardless of waivers purchased. The examples go on.

Just because some chasers don’t personally experience this pushback doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Spend some time reading the uncensored comments following live chase streams—though most negative comments are now quickly removed by moderators—and you’ll see the criticism. Most chasers remain silent on the subject. I’ve been outspoken about my opposition to reckless chasing for years, and as a journalist, I consider it a responsibility. I couldn’t care less if it’s earned me a permanent ban from chase conventions or threats from individuals who say they’ll “run me off the road.”

To be clear, I have no objection to those who choose to earn a living through live chasing—so long as it’s done responsibly.

 

[JamesCaruso]

^ Of course I agree with all that Warren. When I wrote, “It does not at all diminish or cheapen what we do as actual chasers,” I only meant that storm chasing becoming entertainment for a broader audience does not diminish what we do. Within that “livestream entertainment sector” there are of course bad actors that hurt our credibility as chasers, and also hurt the reputation of other, more well-behaved livestreamers.

 

[Warren Faidley]

^ Of course I agree with all that Warren. When I wrote, “It does not at all diminish or cheapen what we do as actual chasers,” I only meant that storm chasing becoming entertainment for a broader audience does not diminish what we do. Within that “livestream entertainment sector” there are of course bad actors that hurt our credibility as chasers, and also hurt the reputation of other, more well-behaved livestreamers.

That is what I thought! Thanks.

 

[Dave C]

I think not only chasing, but everything is commodotized into Enterntainment and the dopamine loop society. Few things remain pure and free as we used to just be there, just enjoy. Now someone usually wants to make almost everything an adrenaline moment, about ego, about content or monetization, a product, etc. as the primary reason for doing it, not secondary reasons.

So, from my perspective, I cannot say I agree storm chasing is entertainment more than anything else has also become that way. Personally I still love being near any storm, camera or not, tiny rain or supercell, shared or alone. I find storms personally relaxing and entertaining, but sacred to me and not a form of commercial entertainment or entertainment in the sense of people who are bored and wating to consume manufactered entertainment.

 

[Warren Faidley]

As entertainment goes, I think there is a major market in the future for even more extreme chasing. I'm really surprised someone has not tapped into the market. You might even be able to find substantial sponsors. Build a fortified NASCAR style vehicle with live cams in every direction. NASCAR type HANS devices and professional harnesses. Maybe even start an extreme chasing league or ECL. I'll bet some network would pick it up.

 

[Tony Laubach]

One thing is certain: if you chased in the late 1980s and 1990s, you’ve seen a profound shift in how the public views storm chasers.

I'd extend this into the early 2000s... when I was reading this thread and came across Warren's post, I immediately thought back to my very early days, arguably the tail end of what I'd consider the 'golden era' of chasing. Two examples rush to mind (there are more, but these always have stood out to me..

On a chase in 2001, I was poor, so sleeping in my van a lot on overnight ventures. Somewhere in southwest Kansas, I took up a pull out in a field on some random dirt road off the highway. The following morning, there was a knock on my van window to wake me up. An older lady was standing outside with breakfast for me. She saw I was there (I was on their property). Not even a hint of anger; she introduced herself and I told her I was storm chasing the night before and was too tired and just decided to 'camp' under the stars. She was very taken with the idea I was a storm chaser.

Then after May 29, 2004, I had wrapped up my chase and was going to set my sights on home. I drove up to Newton (the Newell Truck Stop then) where I was one of the only patrons in the restaurant (it was close to closing time). Again, still poor, decided to SPLURGE on a steak dinner to celebrate what was my best day in my young career. I was editing my video on my laptop at the table, and they staff took notice. They were SUPER taken by what I had done, it was relatively new for them, and in the end, the manager on duty came out, they comped my entire meal, threw in desert, and even sent me off with some extras for the road.

I had countless other cool experiences back then, and while I'm sure many chasers will find very similar stories, I think the reasoning behind them is different. It's not so much the chasing part, more than the celebrity part that modern-era chasers carry within their followers, if that makes sense. There was a genuine kindness to people BECAUSE we chased, and it was new and different and to them, was a huge service to the public. Now, I feel like a lot of those 'kinder' acts toward chasers as because of the celebrity status they carry on social media.

I dunno, maybe I am wrong, but I share in Warren's feelings that the public certainly views us differently than in the past. I think people who had zero interest in storm chasing in the past looked at us in a much brighter light... now, those same people see us more as a problem. Those that do tend to react better to us are the ones who have been exposed to storm chasing and are 'fans' of storm chasers more so than anything else. Even recently, on the May 23 Akron day this year, a couple locals were very against us being out on the (public) dirts roads, yelling at vehicles to get off and clear cause they were "blocking" farming folks from getting around or whatever. I see that a lot, responding much more negatively toward us and it's understandable given what is overwhelmingly shown.

On this last trip, I was part of a chaser convergence up in North Dakota and many of the frequent streamer chasers were in the group, all of them streaming this entire waiting for a clear sky bust in the parking lot. I overheard one of them distinctly say that it's all about getting close for the viewers... I'm paraphrasing a tad, but the message was clear. It was about the views, keeping the viewers entertained. First time I heard it from the horses mouth, was a reality check. But that's what it is... and I heard it from the horse's mouth.

It's a different era for sure... makes me even more grateful I got the exposure to some of the best years before it all began to change.

 

[Brett Roberts]

I had countless other cool experiences back then, and while I'm sure many chasers will find very similar stories, I think the reasoning behind them is different. It's not so much the chasing part, more than the celebrity part that modern-era chasers carry within their followers, if that makes sense. There was a genuine kindness to people BECAUSE we chased, and it was new and different and to them, was a huge service to the public. Now, I feel like a lot of those 'kinder' acts toward chasers as because of the celebrity status they carry on social media.

I dunno, maybe I am wrong, but I share in Warren's feelings that the public certainly views us differently than in the past. I think people who had zero interest in storm chasing in the past looked at us in a much brighter light... now, those same people see us more as a problem. Those that do tend to react better to us are the ones who have been exposed to storm chasing and are 'fans' of storm chasers more so than anything else. Even recently, on the May 23 Akron day this year, a couple locals were very against us being out on the (public) dirts roads, yelling at vehicles to get off and clear cause they were "blocking" farming folks from getting around or whatever. I see that a lot, responding much more negatively toward us and it's understandable given what is overwhelmingly shown.

This is an interesting angle on the chasers vs. locals relationship I'd never thought about. As far back as I can remember into the mid-late 2000s, I encountered a fair number of hostile locals in rural areas. I'm not sure I've noticed a clear trend one way or another over the past 20 years with regard to the percentage of locals who harass me or make it clear they're unhappy with my presence.

It strikes me as unlikely that many locals knew much about chasers, let alone "celebrity" chasers and their history of bad behavior, in 2007 when I first encountered baselessly enraged locals and cops... whereas now it's much more likely they know about and make mental reference to high-profile figures as soon as they spot us.

I honestly can't say I have a strong intuition one way or another as to whether the proliferation of chasing into popular culture has helped or hurt us with locals, on the whole. There are so many "fans" now who are probably disposed to view all of us favorably, even if we aren't their preferred streamer. But I have no doubt others are quicker to anger when they see chasers and immediately think of infamous videos of bad behavior.

My hypothesis on rural rage has always been that it's mainly driven by their being extraordinarily territorial and hostile to outsiders in general. That seems like a phenomenon that probably always has been and always will be. But I'm sure celebrity streamers are at the very least changing locals' views of us on the margins.

For what it's worth, everything above is about generic local residents we're likely to encounter on the road. I do understand that at more of an institutional level, perceptions really have taken a meaningfully worse turn in ways that affect us all. For example, chasers now have targets on our backs when we rent cars due to the indefensibly stupid choice of a few people to *brag about* and *advertise* intentionally annihilating rentals. Warren's story of losing a sponsorship would be another example of the consequential souring of relationships between institutions and chasers.

On this last trip, I was part of a chaser convergence up in North Dakota and many of the frequent streamer chasers were in the group, all of them streaming this entire waiting for a clear sky bust in the parking lot. I overheard one of them distinctly say that it's all about getting close for the viewers... I'm paraphrasing a tad, but the message was clear. It was about the views, keeping the viewers entertained. First time I heard it from the horses mouth, was a reality check. But that's what it is... and I heard it from the horse's mouth.

This is just about the least surprising thing imaginable. When I tune into a popular stream to check on storms I'm considering as targets (or rooting against from my couch ), the commentary and overall tone are often unbearable. In some cases, the streamer is so blatantly talking down and pandering to their audience that it boggles my mind how anyone doesn't find it patronizing. But that's the social media era in a nutshell. I mean, there's hopefully considerable overlap between "keeping the viewers entertained" and simply getting a clear shot of the best storms/tornadoes any given day... and I can't fault them for doing that! But when it crosses into misrepresenting the prospects on a day where the cap is clearly winning, or cut-throat competition to pass rival streamers at the edge of the debris field, it all starts to feel like we're reinventing the worst aspects of the OKC TV market.