The Cut — a $10,000+ prize and a contracted Measure Twice series.✦The field is narrowing · you help pick the finalists✦First episode launches August 27 on YouTube✦See the timeline →✦The Cut — a $10,000+ prize and a contracted Measure Twice series.✦The field is narrowing · you help pick the finalists✦First episode launches August 27 on YouTube✦See the timeline →✦
Up nextThuAug 27Ep. 1The IntroMeet the field, the Star Creators, and how The Cut works.
SunAug 30Ep. 2Round 1The Measure Up Challenge, and the Top 25.
SunSep 6Ep. 3Round 2The Playbook Challenge, and the Star Creators pick their teams.
SunSep 13Ep. 4Round 3The Top 12 go head to head. Voting opens after this one.
LiveThuSep 17YouTube LiveThe FinalistsWe reveal the three creators heading to the Finals.
Episodes publish behind the live competition, so what airs trails where the contest actually is. Finals videos follow in October. See the full timeline.
Your Mentors, Your Judges
Three Mentors · One Winner
The judges of The Cut aren’t a panel of celebrities pretending to know construction, DIY, and what people want to see. They’re working creators who run the kind of channel you’re trying to build. They will mentor you through the later rounds and through your series, so they help decide who makes the cut.
On the channel nowDIY for everyone, a husband-wife duo tackling builds that surprise even them sometimes.
Looking for: practical problem-solvers who can make “doing” entertaining.
What’s On The Line
$15,000 in cash and prizes A contracted series And it grows from there
Winner · 1st
$10,000
+ a Measure Twice series
$10,000 in cash and prizes, plus a contracted series order on the Measure Twice channel. Production support included. Your show, on our network.
Runner-up · 2nd
$3,000
+ featured guest spot
$3,000 in cash and prizes, plus a featured guest spot on a Measure Twice episode.
Third place · 3rd
$2,000
+ featured guest spot
$2,000 in cash and prizes, plus a featured guest spot on a Measure Twice episode.
Prize amounts represent total value in cash and prizes. At least 50% of each stated prize amount is guaranteed to be delivered as cash (U.S. dollars). Up to 50% may be fulfilled as goods or products valued at manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). Sponsor may substitute any prize component with one of equal or greater value. Prizes are non-transferable. Winners responsible for all applicable taxes. See Official Rules.
The Escalator
The audience can grow the prize — up to $10,000 more.
LAUNCH · Round 1 airs+$1K per 100K Qualifying ViewsFINALE
For every 100,000 Qualifying Views the competition videos earn between launch and the finale, $1,000 is added to the winner’s prize. The escalator caps at an additional $10,000, making the maximum winner prize $20,000.
The escalator is sponsored by Muckender Towels. Qualifying Views are defined in the Official Rules — in short: views YouTube counts as real.
How The Cut Works
Film from home.Make “The Cut.”Show up for the finale.
The Cut isn’t a one-and-done video contest — it’s a season. Most of it happens on your turf. You shoot in your own shop, garage, or job site, submit your videos, and advance through at least three review rounds judged by established YouTube Creators. The finale is the only part you travel for — we handle that.
START
~15 min · From your phone
Apply
Tell us who you are and why you want a show. A short application, a one-take intro video, and a story to share. No follower count required.
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ROUNDS
At least 3 rounds · Film where you build
The Submissions
Across multiple rounds, we’ll share briefs and you’ll submit short videos shot in your own shop. Expect prompts that test a mix of craft, storytelling, on-camera presence, and how you’d run an episode — all on your own schedule, with a deadline for each round. Star Creators judge. Audience watches. The field narrows.
A build or project walk-through
A focused challenge from a Star Creator
A pitch for your show concept
A piece that shows how you handle a camera and a story
→
FINISH
Finale · Travel on us
The Finale
A multi-part finale across multiple locations. You meet the Star Creators, work alongside them, and battle to the finish. The winner walks out with the prize money and a contracted Measure Twice series.
Low lift until the finale. Every round before the finale is filmed wherever you already build — phone footage is welcome. Round lengths, counts, and prompts may adjust as the season takes shape. Full structure lives in the Official Rules.
No. We do not require a follower count. The application asks where you post if you post anywhere; if you don’t post anywhere, you can still apply.
Yes. Round deadlines are spaced for working people in the trades (or out of it). The final round is the only round with a travel commitment (travel expenses paid), and we’ll work the dates with you in advance.
It’s a skill contest. Entries are judged on merit by the Star Creators and others against published criteria. There is no element of chance in choosing the winners.
$1,000 is added to the winner’s prize for every 100,000 Qualifying Views The Cut’s competition videos earn between launch (first published video from the competition) and the start of the finale. Capped at +$10,000. Sponsored by Muckender Towels.
About 15 minutes if you have a phone and time to shoot a 90-second intro. The intro video is one take, under 90 seconds. We want authenticity, not polish.
Yes. Duo or group entries are allowed. Designate one lead applicant; the prize and series order go to the lead. Read the Official Rules before you submit a group entry.
You keep ownership of your work. We license what you submit so we can use it on Measure Twice during the contest run (if we choose to). The full grant is in the Official Rules.
If you’ve been waiting for a clean reason to start, this is it. The application takes 15 minutes. The downside is 15 minutes. The upside: cash, prizes, and a contracted show.
Applications Closed
Applications closed June 19, 2026.
Official Sponsors
Backed By The Best
The Cut is powered by brands that show up for the trades — stocking tool belts (and the prize pool), supporting budgets, and outfitting every contestant on camera.
