You may not be familar with Kian Lawley and Jc Caylen, but they’re seasoned YouTubers with over a few million subscribers each to call their own. Recently, they decided to join forces to form what you could call a YouTube supergroup channel. Unsurprisingly, this move has quickly racked up 27 million views and 1 milliion subscribers for them in just 3 months.
They’re putting their individual channels on a brief backburner to grow and scale this new channel, KianAndJc. This is a new place for them to give their fans content that is “100 percent completely” them. Right now they’re asking fans to submit their msot creative ways to say how much they love the new channel using #KianAndJcMillionContest {link no longer active} to win an all expenses paid trip to LA and more.
We not only got a chance to ask Kian and Jc some questions about their YouTube life, content and working with brands, but we also got a few in from their manager, Andrew Graham. Read on for some major insights.
Kian and Jc:
How did you guys meet? Are you best friends in real life?
K: We met over the Internet and connected because we made similar videos. No we hate each other
J: We initially met over the Internet but met in person at Vidcon 2011, and yeah, what he said.
You guys joined up to create one channel and have just reached 1 million subscribers. What does the 1 million mark mean to you?
K: One million people watch us now? That’s crazy! One million subscribers means that we have to push deeper and work harder to get two million!
J: It’s an incredible breathe of fresh air knowing so many people watch our stupid videos. Haha.
Since you’ve joined up for one channel, what is the state of your individual channels What motivated you to start a combined channel?
K: Right now, my main channel is on a bit of a hold to concentrate on building the KianAndJc audience, but I still make occasional videos. Jc and I have always made videos together, and we started to notice that those videos did better than the others, so we decided to start our own channel where we could make videos together 2 times week.
J: Same as Kian. I’m hoping to bring my main channel videos back soon, but for now we’re concentrating all of the content we’re making for the KianAndJc channel.
How is the creative process different when you’re collaborating with each other
K: It’s not much different, we basically think of a stupid idea, brainstorm to make it even more ridiculous, film it & then edit it…. and then realize how ridiculous it really is.
J: I agree.
Where does the content end and your life begin Where do you draw the line
K: At this point my whole life has been shared with the Internet for almost four years now, there’s no real line anymore unless if it’s family or friends related.
J: I agree. Obviously some things are too personal but we mostly share our whole lives with our viewers.
Do you think the work-life balance is difficult for full-time YouTubers
K: No.
J: Not difficult, but there always has to be a balance with what you do. We work hard, but also love what we do so it’s fun.
How open are you to working with brands What kinds of brands have you been approached by to create content
K: We’ve been approached by many companies to promote their products but when it comes down to it, you have be true to yourself and only work with the companies that fit your style. For example, I would never make a sponsored video for spoons or pillow cases.
J: I agree with Kian. When it comes to brands I’m such a picky stickler. I haven’t worked with many brands, but when I do, I usually believe in the brand and their message.
What do you like about the YouTube community What motivates you to continue pursuing these opportunities within YouTube
K: My friends inspire me. I have such creative and artistic friends that I surround myself with and that’s what really keeps me going.
J: I believe it’s really the mystery of how far we can go. Four years ago, I never in a million years would have thought I’d be in the position I am right now. Life’s such a mystery, and I dig it. Gives me fuel to keep going :).
What social media platforms are you using the most right now
J: Definitely Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. And YouTube, of course…
How do you interact with your audience and how important is it for you to engage with them
K: I like seeing my viewers in public places; they always make me smile. I think it’s very important and crucial to talk with fans everyday.
J: The viewers are EVERYTHING. They are the backbone to my life, without them I wouldn’t be anywhere. They say I make them happy through the interaction/tweets/videos/etc., but they make me happy back with all their positive support and feedback. It’s a circle of happiness and it’s real, I love it. I love them.
What do you plan to do in the future What about in 10 years
K: Hopefully in 10 years I’ll be doing what I love, which is film – whether it’s acting, writing or directing. Right now I’m dipping my feet in the water with my first feature film, The Chosen, being released this summer, but eventually I want to dive in for a swim.
J: Back to the saying– life’s a mystery, who knows where I’ll be in 10 years. Hopefully not in one spot, I want to travel the world! But no matter what it is, I will be pursuing ultimate happiness for myself & I’ll be bringing along everyone that supports me.
Andrew Graham, Kian and Jc’s Manager:
What are the benefits of having Kian and Jc join forces for one channel
This coupling sets up the KianAndJC venture for success in 2 major ways: 1, explosive growth via the boys’ million + subscriber legacy channels and 2, the ability to develop more mature, highly produced content under a new brand. The talent business is an ephemeral one; influence comes and goes so you need to build while you have the wind at your back. Kian and Jc are at the top of their digital game right now so the timing is perfect to begin building a new, sustainable brand.
What are some tips you have for growing a channel
Consistency and collaboration. Ensure you have a programming schedule and stick to it. Remember that content does not happen in a vacuum, especially in the day and age of owned distribution. In order to grow at a quick clip, ensure you’re collaborating with other creatives.
YouTube has given everyone a head’s up about their subscription service. How do you think this will affect full-time YouTubers How do you think this will affect content
This long anticipated subscription service will only add to an increasingly competitive windowing landscape. If anything, I anticipate YouTubers and their teams to leverage this launch for increased upfront fees from services like Vessel. I don’t anticipate content to dramatically change with the introduction of this service. While the general logic in traditional goes: more money = higher production value, that rule rarely applies in the YouTube ecosystem. YouTubers create content for the YouTube audience, and there’s an anxiety among creators to shift their production values too dramatically for fear of creating something that’s perceived as disingenuous.
What should brands know about approaching and working with YouTubers to create content
Trust. If you hire a creator on YouTube to promote your goods, then you are also hiring them for their audience expertise. While it’s tempting to push your logo and branded talking points into endorsements, know that the creator knows his/her audience brand pain threshold best. If you ignore a creator’s warnings and publish the video on exclusively your terms, there’s a very high chance it’ll back fire for both the brand and the creator. If you don’t trust the creator’s instincts, then you shouldn’t do the deal.
What other video platforms do you see on the rise
Snapchat and Facebook. Facebook in particular is a very under utilized arrow in my clients’ platform quiver. Facebook’s push into video presents a great opportunity for influencers seeking engagement. In many instances I’m seeing more activity on Facebook pages than on YouTube channels.