Welcome to YouTube Millionaires, where we profile channels that have recently crossed the one million subscriber mark. There are channels crossing this threshold every week, and each has a story to tell about YouTube success. Read previous installments of YouTube Millionaires here.
If you want to reach one million subscribers on YouTube, you’re going to have to do it yourself. ThreadBanger, the DIY and crafts channel run by the husband-and-wife team of Rob Czar and Corinne Leigh, is one of the latest channels to reach YouTube’s seven-digit milestone. Czar and Leigh test out projects they found on Pinterest in Man Vs. Pin and Corinne Vs. Pin, their two most regular web series. We spoke to them about their ongoing creative process.
Tubefilter: How does it feel to have one million subscribers? What do you have to say to your fans?
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ThreadBanger: After nearly 8 years on YouTube and over 600 videos, we’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. Our fans have seen us go through a lot of changes throughout the years, so for that, we say thanks for sticking around. Hey YouTube! Send us our gold play button!
TF: What do you think makes a good DIY project? When you guys are trolling Pinterest and YouTube comments, what sort of stuff are you looking for?
TB: Honestly at this point we just want to debunk the crap out of the Internet. What makes a GOOD project? Proving a DIY craft project you saw on Pinterest a month ago, that you’ve been fawning over and telling all your friends you’re going to make, is actually a giant pile of bullsh!t. What makes a GREAT project? One that completely catches us off guard and turns out to be totally possible.
TF: What is the most important strategy you’ve used to maintain a strong relationship with your fans?
TB: Simple. Talking to them. Asking them what they want to see us make. Asking their opinion. Acknowledging their existence. Understanding that YouTube videos are a direct line to your audience and fans…..everyone watching has a voice. That’s revolutionary. You can’t change the plot line to Game of Thrones every week. But you can change ThreadBanger’s 🙂
TF: Do you do a lot of testing before you turn the camera on or do you start shooting and see what happens?
TB: Not a lot of testing happens AT ALL. That’s half the fun, never knowing what kind of crafting madness lies around the next corner.
TF: How often have you had to scrap a project because you simply cannot get it to work right?
TB: Before we started Man Vs Pin and Corinne Vs Pin, that would happen more often than we would have liked to admit. Getting a DIY project to turn out exactly like you want it to, and good enough to show the world, isn’t the easiest thing….there’s always something. I guarantee you half of the DIY videos out there, the actual project turned out like crap. Most videos will use good lighting, pump up the saturation and rack focus the camera a bunch to make it seem like it looks really cool and arty. They’re lying.
TF: On the other hand, what has been the most satisfying project you’ve completed?
TB: On Man Vs. Pin, over the holidays I created this thing called a “Bokeh Lens”. It’s where you create a special lens cover that renders out-of focus points of light by cutting a tiny shape into the middle of it. It looked like a bunch of fancy Photoshop hocus pocus, but it totally worked and blew my mind. Also, Corinne made a “Pizza Cake” the other week. It was delicious and Corinne LOVES Pizza!
TF: You guys have shared some elaborate Halloween costumes over the years. Do you ever feel pressure to top yourselves year after year?
TB: We have a lot of fun come October, and when it comes down to it, having fun is really what it’s all about. Personally (and egotistically), we just want to win Halloween costume contests every year, so we’re going to be making ridiculous, outrageous costumes regardless. However, nothing might ever top the Sharknado costume we made. Hhmmmm…actually, maybe the Miley Cyrus one…tough call.
TF: What’s one project you’d like to complete but have not been able to undertake for whatever reason?
TB: Underwater basket weaving. It’s a lot more difficult than it sounds.
TF: What’s next for your channel? Any fun plans?
TB: Tons. This is the year of the 3 B’s. Bigger, Better and Badder…and maybe Bloodier…make that 4 B’s. This week alone we need to find a flame thrower, a fire retardant suit and a steam roller. If that gives you any insight into how crazy things are going to get, we suggest you subscribe. 2M Subs here we come!
On Deck (channels that will soon reach one million subscribers): Cloe Couture, Desi Perkins, TheAngryGrandpaShow
