Bonus ROFLs: Andy Ochiltree (Jib Jab)

Posted on April 26, 2008 by geoffreygolden.
Categories: Unmoderated Talks.

Here’s our post-panel interview with Andy Ochiltree, head writer for Jib Jab…

Geoffrey: During the panel, you talked about the “perfect storm” that created the Jib Jab phenomenon. What does that mean? What were the elements of the storm?

Andy: People were really weary of this election — Bush and Kerry. The rhetoric was ridiculous. I don’t think there was a lot of respect on either side of the party lines. They were so ridiculous, and it was something a lot of people were talking about. The mudslinging and the name-calling. Gregg and Evan’s piece encapsulated that dialogue and it got out to America.

Other elements: a lot more people were using email. People like you and me have always been using email, but when it came to 2004, a slightly older demo started using it. People in their 30s and 40s. All of a sudden, it went mass, compared to the 2000 election when it wasn’t. That enabled us to spread it all over, through the people who helped us by sending links to their friends, by posting on their blogs and stuff.

That kind of explosion and mainstreaming of internet culture lead to its popularity, I guess.

G: Jib Jab did a very good job turning its meme into a corporation with major sponsors. How did that happen?

A: The founders were really smart and they knew how to leverage the audience they got into other forms of business. It’s about hitting the pavement. Gregg and Evan are networking constantly — aside from being brilliant, they get their ideas out there. They’re great promoters as well, and they should be promoting it, because it’s awesome stuff.

I think it’s just about seeing the opportunities that you’ve done has afforded you, and finding those areas you can really move into and capitalize. It’s about strategy and the founders know it.