- Critical Role, the nerdworld business giant, started streaming their show in March 2015.
- On March 12, the crew celebrated their 10th anniversary.
- Four of CR’s eight cofounders shared what they think has helped the team stay together.
Critical Role started as a birthday present for Liam O’Brien, who wanted to find a friend group to play “Dungeons & Dragons.”
More than a decade on, the team of eight runs a sprawling nerdworld business. CR has investments in everything from its main streaming platform to game publishing and animation production.
During a conversation with Business Insider, the crew credited four tips that have kept them from falling out over the years.
1. ‘Share your thinking in advance’
Travis Willingham, CR’s CEO, said that talking to each other is his top tip to stay in business with one’s best friends.
Robyn Von Swank/ Critical Role
“It is so important not just to communicate how things are moving within a very complicated business but also to share your thinking in advance,” Willingham said.
He said that one of the CR team’s “biggest advantages” is having eight cofounders.
“We have so many different perspectives. We come from incredibly different walks of life. We have different interests,” Willingham said.
“There also has to be a ton of grace in just recognizing that some people have strengths in some areas, there are weaknesses in others, which the team works to support,” Willingham said.
2. Someone who’s the ‘beating heart of the group’
Sam Riegel, a multiple Emmy-award-winning director who helms CR’s animation push, said the crew is “stronger than ever.”
Robyn Von Swank/Critical Role
The group’s “secret weapon ” is Matthew Mercer, the company’s chief creative officer, who Riegel said functions as the team’s “beating heart.”
“He keeps reminding us over and over to spend time together as friends,” Riegel said.
Mercer also often tells the group they need to have fun with what they’re doing together while streaming their “Dungeons & Dragons” game live. If the audience likes it, it’s a bonus.
“He keeps reminding us of that — and it’s a wonderful check-in, and it keeps us grounded,” Riegel said.
3. Keep your ego in check
O’Brien, who helms CR’s literary production drive, said all eight cofounders are “very hard workers,” and “level-headed” decision-makers.
“We manage, for the most part, to keep our egos in check,” O’Brien said.
Robyn Von Swank/Critical Role
O’Brien said that when there are differences of opinion, the team remembers they have a common goal.
“Those disagreements — when they do come up — they’re inconsequential in comparison to the dream that we’re building together,” O’Brien said.
“We are dangerously close to too many Emmys, though,” he joked, referring to Riegel’s win record at the annual awards show. “I think we could maybe win one more, but then beyond that, things might start to get dicey.”
4. Enjoy each other’s company — even during crunch time
Marisha Ray, CR’s creative director, said it isn’t uncommon for the cofounders to work 80-hour weeks. But they have a “strong foundation” now — and help, from a broader team they’ve hired over the years.
Robyn Von Swank/Critical Role
“A lot of it has been building the building blocks so that we can also take a little bit of time to just enjoy each other’s company,” Ray said.
She added that the little things matter — like taking time to “enjoy each other’s company” — and ensuring they stay friends outside work.
Riegel said what keeps him going is that one thing hasn’t changed over 10 years: The crew really likes spending time with each other.
“I just want to hang around my friends and get margaritas with them and be around to experience these events with them and tell stories together,” Riegel said. “That’s it. Everything else is all extra.”
