Taking a break from crazy challenges and hanging with best mates Joe and Caspar, TenEighty UK caught up with Oli White to talk all things YouTube…
TenEighty UK: What is the first YouTube video you ever watched?
Oli White: The first video I ever watched, like ever?! It was probably some crazy cat video or a fail compilation, I never get tired of watching people fall over.
T: What is the first thing you’d do as YouTube CEO?
O: What I think would be very useful is investment into YouTubers. I’d give creators a pool of money to just play around with and see if they could come up with some cool concepts. Although you can make a fair bit, it’s still quite hard to make a living on YouTube money, pay bills and still make good content. If some people have an idea and YouTube like it, funding should be there for them. I’d also get involved with the community and set up things like the Contiki Roadtrip.
T: What would you be doing if you weren’t making YouTube videos?
O: I’d probably be working in a shop, to be honest. I was working in Fat Face which is a clothing shop, but it got to the point where I genuinely hated it and hated the fact that I had such a passion for making videos but couldn’t do it full-time. When I first started out the income wasn’t there from YouTube so I couldn’t do anything, so I worked at the shop for about a year and then my channel just started growing and growing. I finally got to the point where I could leave and I was just so happy, it was such an incredible feeling of being able to work for myself. I still now can’t believe that at my age I’m doing something which is like a dream to me.
T: What advice can you give aspiring content creators?
O: Do it because you love it, don’t do it because you want to get some money or become famous because that’s not the right way to go.
T: What is your most embarrassing video?
O: Where do I start?! I have made a couple of videos, watched them back and thought they were really funny but then when it’s been uploaded and got over 200,000 views I’ve wondered whether they were actually appropriate to put out there. I mean, I don’t do anything THAT crazy but I still sometimes think: “Wow, there’s me… completely butt naked on the internet. Maybe I shouldn’t have put that online!”. As long as people enjoy it and laugh then I’m happy.
T: Can you recommend a YouTuber that we should be watching?
O: I’d say FunForLouis, hands down. I’ve got really close to him recently and he’s such a genuinely, lovely guy. He makes great videos and he’s a big inspiration of making videos every single day. It has opened my eyes to how much effort daily vloggers put in and it’s pretty intense. I’d definitely recommend him.
For more from Oli White, read about his TV show on CBBC or find out where he ranked in our Five Of The Best: American Candy Taste-Test videos.
Read more from your favourite YouTubers:
- TenEighty Meets: Louis Cole
- Carrie Hope Fletcher: All She Knows Now
- Louise Pentland: Behind The Glitter
- Meet The Team: Summer In The City
Who should TenEighty meet next? Tweet @TenEightyUK with your suggestions or drop TenEighty UK a message on Facebook.
