The New Snake Oil: Authenticity for Sale
The modern snake oil salesman doesn’t wear a bowler hat or shout from a wooden crate. Now he’s got ring lights and “educational” reels. He sells “authenticity” packaged in templates and ad buys. From a past-it’s-prime Wynwood to TikTok “mentors,” charisma over character is becoming the accepted norm. I can’t claim immunity to the phenomenon, but I do try to be self-aware and conscientious of it as I navigate. The challenge isn’t just recognizing the farce, but learning to create something genuine in spite of it, especially when faced with the widely accepted narrative that success today requires participation in the never-ending cycle of content creation and distribution.
There’s an alternative to this cycle of synthetic sincerity if you’re willing to swim against the current. I started hosting weekly Meeting of Minds open studio nights at Yo Space a couple months ago because I was seeking ways to recapture the sense of community I had in the earlier days of Yo Miami. When the community was less diluted and more engaged. When we’d see each other regularly in person and have opportunities to connect outside of prescribed forums with preconceived agendas. We share unfiltered work, give honest feedback, and focus on substance over strategy. Because true connection isn’t manufactured through marketing funnels or engagement hacks. It’s built slowly, imperfectly, and without a formula. If you can relate and are looking for an opportunity to connect with people without a specific goal, come find us Thursdays from 6:30pm-8ish every week at Yo Space.
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