Viral Dance Innovator & Social Media Personality; Creator of the Floss; Musician & Actor Known for "Saturday Night Live"

Atlanta, GA, USA
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

The Backpack Kid Biography

Russell Horning, known professionally as The Backpack Kid, is an American dancer, social media personality, musician, and actor recognized for popularizing the dance move known as the Floss. Horning gained widespread attention for his distinctive dance style, often performed with a backpack and a deadpan expression, which became his signature on social media platforms.

Horning's rise began after receiving an Instagram mention from Rihanna, which significantly increased his online following. His visibility expanded further when he performed alongside Katy Perry during her "Saturday Night Live" performance of "Swish Swish." He later appeared in the music video for the same song and made a cameo in the "Rolex" music video by Ayo & Teo.

The Floss, characterized by swinging the arms with clenched fists from the back to the front of the body, became a viral dance trend and was featured as an emote in the video game "Fortnite Battle Royale" by Epic Games. Horning's mother filed a lawsuit against Epic Games for copyright infringement related to the dance. The Floss has also appeared in "The Simpsons" and on television shows broadcast on Universal Kids, Disney XD, and Disney Channel.

Horning released the song "Flossin" featuring DJ Suede The Remix God, further establishing his presence in the music industry. He has received recognition with the Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Dance Trend and the Shorty Award for Best in Dance. Based in Atlanta, Horning has expanded his career into acting, participating in scripted projects, live performances, and digital series, and has developed skills in both comedic and dramatic roles. As a musician, he composes original music for short-form projects, independent films, and digital content, blending piano improvisation with electronic production and hybrid scoring techniques.

Horning has diversified his online presence by engaging in music, advocacy, fitness, and film scoring. He has participated in charitable initiatives, such as distributing backpacks to students at Elsa Ebeling Elementary in Brooklyn in partnership with Kids in Need Foundation and Blue Sky. On TikTok, Horning shares content related to suicide prevention and school outreach, using his platform to address important social issues.

BOOK The Backpack Kid

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/27/2026.

The Backpack Kid Speaking Topics

  • The Impacts of Social Media on The Young Mind

    According to CBS, "About 86% of young Americans surveyed said they're willing to try out influencing on their social media platforms." Social media obviously has a huge impact on young people, but what's the social media influencer life really like? Is it as glamorous as it seems? What is the downside? I have a great inside scoop of the reality of social media life.

  • Mental Health, and The Importance of Forming Good Habits

    Poor mental health is a huge problem in our generation, it seems like more and more people are falling under the spell of feeling worthless, unhappy, and unfulfilled, but what if I told you a lot of our problems are mentally internal, and can be treated by reforming day to day actions with dedication?(Does not necessarily apply to diagnosed mental disorders, I am no mental health expert, but I am a result of learning how to take control of your mind to live the life you desire).

  • How do I book The Backpack Kid to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like The Backpack Kid for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for The Backpack Kid, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for The Backpack Kid or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for The Backpack Kid

    Speaking fees for The Backpack Kid, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book The Backpack Kid are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire The Backpack Kid, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does The Backpack Kid speak about?

    The Backpack Kid is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Entertainment, Happiness, Inspirational, Mental Health, Motivational, Music, Performing Arts, Social Media, Youth
  • Where does The Backpack Kid travel from?

    The Backpack Kid generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is The Backpack Kid’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like The Backpack Kid for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book The Backpack Kid for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host The Backpack Kid or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
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    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

The Backpack Kid is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The Impacts of Social Media on The Young Mind and Mental Health, and The Importance of Forming Good Habits. The estimated speaking fee range to book The Backpack Kid for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. The Backpack Kid generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Dominic Miller, Jesse LeBeau, Aaron Lazar, Selena Gomez and Lane Gardner. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling The Backpack Kid for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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