TenEighty have dived into the depths of YouTube to find the next generation of stars for our first official shortlist. The ten selected creators have less than 15 thousand subscribers (well, this one doesn’t, but he did when we chose him) and we believe they deserve more. Zany antics and an ‘intense feeling of intimacy’, it’s Adam Russell.
Name: Adam Russell
Channel: CrashBangAdam
Launched: Mar 14, 2006
Most Popular Video: Anti Jokes
Subscriber Count: 15,016.
TenEighty’s Ant Lightfoot chose Adam for the shortlist, championing his engaging storytelling style and natural charm. “Adam is the cheekiest chap that you will ever have the pleasure of watching through the YouTubes. Whether he’s dancing like a lunatic or just having a cup of tea and a chat – Adam will never fail to infect you with a big ol’ case of the smiles.
TenEighty UK: When did you first start making YouTube videos and who/what inspired you to do it?
Adam Russell: I officially uploaded my first video on February 10th, 2007 (which makes me feels that I’m about 80 years old). I don’t class it as ‘my’ first video though, as it’s me and my best mate having a Pokemon battle using desk chairs – you know, the ones with wheels? I won, obviously.
My first actual video was a video blog 12 days later. I had no idea what I was doing or what I should do, so I just made funny faces and lip sync’d to a song… Basically nothing has changed. As for inspirations, I closely followed Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox of Smosh, Ben Going, and Tony Huynh (the latter still to this day) and really enjoyed their stuff, and thought, ‘I want to have fun like these guys!’ So I went ahead and did it!
T: What was the first YouTube video you remember watching?
A: In fairness, It probably was a cat video, but the one that sticks in my mind is a video called Hotness Prevails / Worst Video Ever in which Tony (that’s his name, I’m not just pulling random characters into this story, incase you thought I meant Tony Hawk or Tony the Tiger) rants about the heat and how it is sending him into a spiral of madness. It’s rather brilliant.
T: Which video of your own are you proudest of, and how did you go about making it?
A: Because it’s probably been my most successful series, the first Adam vs Song Lyrics I made is one I really like.
It’s also the first time I asked for help from someone with an idea, and how their perspective made it ten times better. I like what that video symbolises to me, and I like to lip sync… did I mention that?
T: If you could go back to when you first started making YouTube videos, what advice would you give yourself?
A: Not to obsess over not getting anywhere! It’s something that’s really hard to ignore, but a video only getting 100 views instead of 1,000 doesn’t necessarily mean the video is bad.
As long as you work hard and stay true to yourself, you’ll remain happy making videos in the long run. Also, I’d tell myself to get a haircut and to not look like Mr. Bean, and to be Swedish and play games.
T: What are your opinions on the YouTube community?
A: I think it’s been a lot stronger than it is now, but I think we are in a better position now to rebuild in a way thats healthier for people to integrate into.
People are slowly realising that YouTube doesn’t need to be a 100% professional process and it is more of a networking site – you make friends easily and share the same common interest: videos!
T: If you could collaborate with one other big YouTuber, who would it be and what type of video would you make?
A: It’s something I hardy do now just because I’m a bit shy, so I am going to be trying to collaborate more in the future (please get in contact if you want to!).
But I am a massive fan of Olan Rogers, Mitchell Davis, and Chris Kendall, so if any of them would accept a hairy little brit in their videos, that would be fab.
T: If you were CEO of YouTube for a day, what one big change would you implement to the website?
A: BRING BACK FEATURING YOUTUBERS ON THE HOMEPAGE! It still annoys me to this day that it went away, because it was such a good idea. It gave everyone hope, like winning the lottery! But, it was free and based on creativity, doesn’t that sound amazing?
T: What do you predict will be the next ‘big trend’ on YouTube?
A: Well, this could be anything really, couldn’t it? I still can’t believe how popular ‘eating candy’ videos are. That’s essentially going to a human zoo – you are watching someone eat.
Maybe next it will be ‘throw your own feces challenge?’ or ‘watch me mate with someone tag?’ Actually, I would watch them. Maybe I can convince my girlfriend to collaborate with me…
T: Where do you see yourself and YouTube in ten years time?
A: That would make me 33, so I’d hope for at least 1 more subscriber than I do now. But seriously, I’d love to have my own house, a cat and a kid (the ultimate formula for views and YouTube $$$).
As for YouTube, I’ve always said that I would keep doing it if I enjoyed it and I can’t ever see me getting bored of it, so I’m planning to make videos until I’m 99. I’d retire at 100, though. Everyone needs a break.
T: Which video from the last 10 years of YouTube do you believe sums up the platform at its finest?
A: It’s a video by Bernard Smith called YouTube Is My Life and it’s a song about how Bernard’s addiction to YouTube is getting out of hand. It sums 10 years of the website because it’s catchy, amateur and has an array of historical finger puppets. 10/10.
If you’re feeling inspired to start making your own videos, check out some of the following articles:
- 6 Reasons You Should Start Making Videos
- PJ Liguori’s Guide To Getting Creative
- 5 Top Vlogging Tips
- Charlie McDonnell’s Guide To Rebranding Your Content
- TenEighty’s Guide To Joining A Network
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