CHAPTER 2The Most Important Idea in This Book
Viral video is the twenty-first-century sideshow.
Before we started making viral videos, our expertise was in theatrical circus. Stephen had a one-man show. Fritz was a world-record-setting juggler, and he toured with a Cirque du Soleil spinoff. Between the two of us, we’ve spent decades examining the fundamental principles of this type of performance and putting them into action.
Somewhat to our surprise, what we have found in viral video is that many of the same rules apply. This is vaudeville. This is street performing. This is the sideshow for our times.
Traditionally, the sideshow, sometimes called the “ten-in-one,” consisted of ten different acts under one tent. It was a combination of skill ...
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