VIDEO: So You Want Your Own TV Show?

“Hey, what’s up y’all?” Michael Lee greeted his audience with enthusiasm, ready to share the story behind the creation of Backwoods Life. He was live on multiple platforms, juggling Instagram and Facebook, eager to connect with fans and aspiring outdoor enthusiasts. “I wanted to share how Backwoods Life came to be and the challenges we faced along the way.”

The journey began back in 2004 when Michael met Kevin in a store in Elat, Florida. “We were both there for different reasons, but we crossed paths,” he recalled. Kevin had a demo of some video work he had done, and it was impressive for that time. “We decided to give this video thing a shot,” Michael said, reflecting on their initial excitement.

Equipped with his own video equipment and a passion for hunting, Michael had already captured plenty of deer on film. “We set out on this journey to start our own TV show,” he explained. With the help of their friend Trey Weatherington, they brainstormed ideas and began filming turkey hunts right from the start.

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“Things got tough in the beginning,” Michael admitted. “We were just figuring out what we were doing.” They started locally in Georgia and Florida, airing on local Fox networks. Looking back at those early videos, he chuckled, “We were so naive about what we were doing, but we figured it out.”

In 2005 or 2006, they attended their first ATA show. “We literally walked in knowing nobody,” Michael recalled. They went booth to booth, introducing themselves and trying to make connections. “When we left there, we had a vision of moving to the national level.”

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Starting with just $400 in their pocket, they formed an LLC and kept pushing forward. “My dad helped us get started with a loan of $12,000,” Michael shared. “That was a ton of money back then.” They took any sponsorship they could get, often receiving products instead of cash. “There were years we didn’t know how we were going to pay our bills,” he said, reflecting on the uncertainty they faced.

“One day, we were supposed to have a meeting that got canceled last minute,” Michael recalled. “They weren’t interested in what we were doing. That day, we didn’t know how we would pay for our airtime.” But instead of giving up, they decided to take it one day at a time.

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Then came a turning point. A call from a Florida hunter they had filmed with led to a commercial opportunity that provided the funds they needed to keep going. “That was just a stepping stone,” Michael explained. “For six years, we didn’t make any profit; we were in debt.”

As he spoke about their struggles, Michael emphasized the importance of perseverance. “If you had to start over today, would you do it?” someone asked. “Absolutely not,” he replied with a laugh. “I don’t know how we got this far other than God giving us what we needed instead of what we wanted.”

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Michael cautioned aspiring outdoor hosts about misconceptions in the industry. “Just because you’re on TV doesn’t mean you’re making money,” he said. Many people want to break into the outdoor TV scene, but it’s not as easy as it seems. “There’s no roadmap or guidelines; it’s not an equal playing field.”

He encouraged anyone wanting to pursue their dreams to do so but to be aware of the challenges ahead. “You can’t be afraid of the word ‘no.’ You’ll hear it a lot,” he advised. “But keep pushing forward and find the yeses.”

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As Michael wrapped up his story, he expressed gratitude for the support they received from fans and sponsors alike. “This is how we thrive in the outdoors,” he said passionately. “We’ve worked hard from those early days when people didn’t even know what Facebook was.”

The journey of Backwoods Life has been filled with ups and downs, but through hard work and determination, they’ve created something special that resonates with outdoor enthusiasts everywhere.