‘It’s Wauconda’s project’: Help sought to keep cameras rolling for popular highlight show

Imagine the morning announcements from your high school days infused with gags and schtick delivered on slick videos by two regular guys with infectious energy and genuine enthusiasm.

That’s one way to describe Wauconda Highlights, a social media platform where sharing information about events, businesses and people in town in fun and engaging ways has been the goal for the past six years.

But founder Aaron Hechtman and longtime friend and collaborator Tony Vazquez joke that their significant others are getting impatient with what essentially is a volunteer avocation.

A weekly show and other segments that debuted this spring have generated a remarkable number of page views for the site — 2.4 million the last 90 days — and made them local celebrities of sorts.

“We went to Wauconda Fest (last week) and we couldn’t walk 10 feet without getting stopped by another fan,” Hechtman said. “Everybody tells us it’s like rejuvenating the perception of the town.”

But the enterprise has reached a fork in the road.

Running on empty in terms of funding, they are looking for local business partners and community members to help keep the cameras rollin’ and the project — plus an associated plan to franchise the free advertising model to other communities — alive.

They don’t want to close while businesses are benefiting, so they are reaching out, Hechtman said.

“We spend countless hours and our own money covering local events and supporting small businesses, showcasing our incredible music scene, sharing community stories and capturing everything that makes Wauconda special and such a special place to call home,” Vasquez explains in a GoFundMe message.

“Our goal has always been simple — create something that brings our community together and gives local people, organizations and events the spotlight they deserve,” Hechtman added. “This isn’t our project, it’s Wauconda’s project.”

The idea is that local businesses and organizations can save money if content and coverage is offered at no charge.

Both want to make Wauconda Highlights a full-time gig. But they can’t consistently provide content on a voluntary basis nor accept paying jobs and continue, Hechtman said.

“We love helping people, and we don’t want to ask for money, but now that we’re broke we have to ask for something,” Hechtman said.

The pair share common interests and personalities and have crossed paths over the years. Although he doesn’t live in Wauconda, Hechtman said as a kid the family often visited and shopped in town.

“I’ve loved Wauconda ever since,” he said. “So when I came up with this Highlights concept, it was a no-brainer to start in Wauconda.”

He said he got the idea from family vacations on cruises where videographers on the boats would record and edit highlights shown at the end of the night on TVs in cabins. His first feature was Wauconda Winterfest in 2021.

Vazquez was manager of the former Bulldog’s restaurant until 2021. He worked as a letter carrier for four years, quitting about a week before reconnecting with Hechtman.

Earlier this year, Vazquez posted an earlier video he had done for Daddyo’s custom frame shop and record store on Main Street in downtown Wauconda.

“I’ve been in business 22 years and I’ve tried every outlet of advertising,” said proprietor Kelly Lincoln. “Tony started doing my videos in 2022, and people couldn’t get enough of them.”

Hechtman saw it, too, and contacted Vazquez. The pair wrote a detailed business plan to include a new show, commercial style-business tours and other segments.

With no employees, sponsors or a studio, the pair host and record the weekly show in the back of Daddyo’s, courtesy of Lincoln.

“This is exactly what this town needs — two people with personality who really love the town,” Lincoln noted.

Five shows were produced before the pair ran out of money. Recent contributions will allow for four more shows, Hechtman said. Those will be done at Daddyo’s until they can afford a separate space.

Other communities already have expressed interest, Hechtman said, but the template needs to be honed before being exported.

The campaign goal of $120,000 would allow for a full year of production with the hope of getting a sponsor. Increased funding will allow the duo to hire more talent, upgrade equipment and build out a studio, Hechtman said.

“We’re just two people and we’re going to expand but need assistance,” Hechtman said. “It’s not a profitable business unless you have sponsors right from the start.”