VidCon 2014: Tips from online content producers

1/17

Fans cheer as their favorite YouTube stars from Our2ndLife arrive for a photo and autograph session during the three-day VidCon convention at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

2/17

YouTube actors from left: Connor Franta, Sam Puttorff, Trevor Moran, a fan, Kian Lawley, Jc Caylen and Ricky Dillon, who star in the show Our2ndLife, pose for photos at VidCon. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

3/17

Our2ndLife YouTube stars Trevor Moran, left, Kian Lawley, Jc Caylen, Connor Franta and Sam Puttorff rally as they arrive to pose for photos and sign autographs. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

4/17

About 18,000 video content creators, viral video stars and their fans were expected to pack the Anaheim Convention Center for the 5th annual VidCon. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

5/17

YouTube star Ingrid Nilsen, right, of the YouTube show MissGlamorazzi, greets a fan. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

6/17

Vivi Munoz, 4, of Orange, dances in front of an artistic motion video screen at a silent disco booth where dancers used headphones to listen and dance to music. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

7/17

People play quidditch, a game featured in the Harry Potter series, during VidCon at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

8/17

Fans Welcome YouTube star Ricky Dillon at VidCon, which is expected to draw about 18,000 people to the Anaheim Convention Center over three days. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

9/17

Ricky Dillon takes a selfie in front of the hundreds of fans that came to meet him at VidCon. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

10/17

Stevie Rajcic, Iris Norby and Maddy Lorenzo pass the time while waiting to see their YouTube heroes at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

11/17

About 18,000 video content creators, viral video stars and their fans are expected to pack the Anaheim Convention Center for the fifth annual VidCon. Above, disappointed fans react as time runs out for meeting their favorite YouTube stars. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

12/17

Connor Simon, 15, and Evan Duran, 16, both from Irvine, check out a camera at the convention. The growth in VidCon’s popularity is a testament to the success of online video content, especially among younger people who use websites as creative outlets. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

13/17

Abby Ceaglske and Zack Nelson, both 17, make a video of themselves at the Fullscreen booth at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

14/17

When VidCon began in 2010, the conference took place at a smaller venue in Los Angeles and drew in about 1,400 attendees. This year, it occupies two halls at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

15/17

People line up Thursday for VidCon at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

16/17

Jenna Ward, Neve Dispenza and Casey Flanagan rush across the Anaheim Convention Center floor for the line to see Ricky Dillon. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

17/17

A security agent directs some of the thousands of YouTube fans gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

By Saba Hamedy

June 27, 2014 2:35 PM PT

You don’t have to be a YouTube star to be part of the YouTube world.

According to panelists at a VidCon panel called “Working for YouTubers,” producing and behind-the-scenes work is just as fun as being in front of the camera.

On Friday, producers from popular online channels discussed how attendees, mostly in their teens, could break into the production side of online content.

Here are six things to take away from the panel:

1. The digital content world is full of job opportunities.

“I think what’s exciting about what’s going on in digital media is none of these jobs exist until you get in there and you create them,” said Lauren Schnipper, head of production and development for Shane Dawson TV Inc.

Schnipper noted that unlike Hollywood productions, YouTube and other online content platforms allow “you to figure out what you are good at.”

2. Working in online production has its perks.

“We are working together to create content that’s constantly evolving,” said Stevie Wynne Levine, production manager of Rhett & Link.

The role of producer regarding online content requires many hats.

“The producer has the same spirit toward the channel as the creator,” said Caitlin Hoffmeister, executive producer of SciShow.

3. YouTube stars can be divas.

When asked by an attendee what it’s like working with the talent (and if they have overblown egos), the panelists laughed but admitted there are some downsides.

“It’s a dark, dark cloud,” Schnipper joked.

“You’ll never be as smart as them,” echoed Jonathan Green, executive producer for Fine Brothers Entertainment.

4. To get hired, showcase your skill set, not your inner fan.

There’s nothing wrong with being a YouTube fan but it’s important to distinguish from fan and aspiring producer.

“It’s all about your portfolio,” said April Salud, producer of Strawburry17.

“You have to start working on your own body of work,” Schnipper said.

Green agreed: “Focus on marketing yourself.”

5. Don’t expect a star salary.
“When you start on YouTube, obviously you have to be doing it for the passion,” Green said. “You have to be working hour after hour, day after day, just putting content on your channel.”

Even once you build a fan base, “if you are lucky enough ... you can maybe hire one person,” he added.

6. Above all, panelists agreed, to make it in the industry it’s important to be:

Flexible, passionate and dedicated.

For more news on VidCon, follow me @saba_h