"The Other Side" isn't just a catchy song. It’s a masterclass in manipulation, negotiation, and high-stakes salesmanship. Honestly, if you watch that scene in The Greatest Showman and only hear a jaunty tune, you’re missing the real magic. It’s the moment the film stops being a simple rags-to-riches story and becomes a gritty—albeit glossy—lesson in how to pivot a brand.
The scene features P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) trying to convince Phillip Carlyle (Zac Efron) to ditch his high-society life for the circus. It’s loud. It’s fast. There are sliding shot glasses. But underneath the choreography, it’s a brutal negotiation.
The Anatomy of a High-Stakes Deal
Most people think "The Other Side" is about show business. It’s actually about risk. Barnum is selling a dream to a man who already has everything, which is the hardest kind of sale to make. Why would Carlyle, a man of status, join a "celebration of humanity" that the rest of the world calls a freak show?
The song begins with Barnum identifying the problem Carlyle didn't know he had. He’s bored. He’s trapped. Barnum offers the "keys to the cage." In marketing terms, this is the classic "Problem-Agitation-Solution" framework. Barnum doesn't start by talking about money. He starts by talking about the suffocating weight of Carlyle's current life.
Carlyle’s resistance is the most realistic part of the whole sequence. He’s skeptical. He likes his scotch. He likes his reputation. When he sings, "I'm doing fine," he isn't just being polite. He’s protecting his assets.
Why the Bar Setting Matters
The choice of a bar for this negotiation wasn't just for the cool rhythmic clinking of glasses. Historically, bars were the boardrooms of the 19th century. By moving the conversation away from a formal office, Barnum lowers Carlyle’s defenses. He makes the offer feel like a shared secret rather than a corporate acquisition.
The choreography reflects this. Every time Carlyle tries to walk away, the music pulls him back. The rhythm is relentless. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the songwriters, intentionally used a contemporary pop beat to make the negotiation feel urgent and modern, despite the top hats.
Breaking Down the Percentages
Let’s talk about the money. This is where the song gets really interesting for anyone who cares about the "business" of The Greatest Showman.
Barnum offers 10%.
Carlyle counters with a demand for 18%.
Barnum scoffs, offering 5%.
Wait—did you catch that?
Barnum’s counter-offer actually dropped from his original opening. That is a power move. In any other context, it would be insulting. But Barnum knows his "product" (the circus) is gaining value every second they talk. He’s signaling that his initial generosity has a shelf life.
Eventually, they settle on 10%. Carlyle thinks he won because he negotiated Barnum back up from 5%, but Barnum won because he got the exact number he started with. It’s a psychological trick often used in real estate and high-end art sales. You make the other party feel like they’ve fought for a victory, even when you’ve led them exactly where you wanted them to go.
The Real Phillip Carlyle
While the movie is a highly fictionalized version of P.T. Barnum’s life, the character of Phillip Carlyle is actually a composite. He’s not a real historical figure. Instead, he represents the "respectability" Barnum desperately craved. In real life, Barnum didn't have a singular partner like Carlyle to handle the "high-brow" elite; he had a series of business managers and investors who helped him navigate the transition from a museum of oddities to a touring spectacle.
The inclusion of Carlyle allows the film to explore the class divide of the 1800s. When they sing about "The Other Side," they are talking about crossing the tracks from the aristocracy to the world of the "common man."
Musical Complexity and The "Shot" Rhythm
Musically, "The Other Side" is one of the more complex tracks on the soundtrack. It uses a lot of syncopation. The vocal lines overlap, mimicking a real argument. If you listen closely, you can hear the moments where Barnum is "winning." His melody is more assertive, while Carlyle’s starts out hesitant, following Barnum's lead.
- The Tempo: It sits at about 154 BPM. That's fast. It creates a sense of "don't think, just sign."
- The Instrumentation: It uses a mix of traditional orchestral strings and heavy, modern percussion. This bridges the gap between the 1850 setting and the 2017 audience.
- The Vocals: Hugh Jackman uses a "salesman’s growl," while Zac Efron uses a cleaner, more theatrical tone. As the song progresses, their tones start to blend.
The "rhythm of the shots"—the sound of the glasses hitting the table—was actually recorded using real glass and wood to give it a tactile, grounded feel amidst the polished production. It keeps the audience tethered to the reality of the deal being made.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Lyrics
There’s a common misconception that "The Other Side" is about being yourself. It’s not. Not really.
"The Other Side" is about reinvention through branding. Barnum isn't telling Carlyle to be his "authentic self." He’s telling him to put on a costume. He’s inviting him to join a different kind of theater.
The line "Don't you want to get away from the same old part you have to play?" is a double-edged sword. Barnum is acknowledging that life is a performance. He’s simply offering Carlyle a better role with a better script and a more enthusiastic audience.
It’s actually a pretty cynical view of the world if you strip away the bright lights. It suggests that we are all just playing parts, and the only thing that matters is how much fun we're having while doing it.
The Cultural Impact and Why It Still Charts
Years after the film's release, this track continues to rack up millions of streams. Why? Because it’s the ultimate "hype" song.
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It taps into a universal desire to quit the boring job, leave the "comfortable" life, and do something insane. In 2026, where the gig economy and "side hustles" are the norm, Barnum’s pitch resonates more than ever. We are all Barnum now, constantly trying to sell our own personal brands to anyone who will listen.
The song also benefited immensely from the chemistry between Jackman and Efron. This wasn't their first rodeo. Jackman’s theater background and Efron’s High School Musical roots collided to create a level of precision that few actors could pull off. They reportedly rehearsed the bar scene for weeks to ensure the glass-sliding choreography was frame-perfect without the use of excessive CGI.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Own "Other Side" Moment
You might not be joining a circus, but the principles in this song apply to any major life transition or negotiation.
1. Know Your Leverage
Barnum knew Carlyle was bored. If you don't know what the other person is missing, you can't make a pitch. Find the "cage" they want to escape.
2. The Power of the Counter-Offer
Don't be afraid to walk backward. If someone pushes too hard, sometimes the best move is to lower your offer to show that your time and resources aren't infinite.
3. Change the Environment
If a conversation is getting stagnant, move it. A walk, a coffee shop, or yes, even a bar, can change the power dynamics of a meeting and lead to a "yes" that wouldn't happen in a conference room.
4. Visual Proof Matters
Barnum didn't just talk; he showed. He used the environment to demonstrate the energy of his world. When you're pitching an idea, give people a "taste" of the excitement.
The song ends with a handshake. It’s the most important part of the scene. After all the singing and dancing, it comes down to a simple agreement between two people. That’s the heart of the "other side"—it’s the place where risk meets opportunity.
Next time you hear those opening piano chords, don't just tap your feet. Listen to the way a dream is sold. It’s the most honest moment in a movie built on beautiful lies.
To dive deeper into the technical aspects of the film's production, you should look into the behind-the-scenes footage of the "Circus Workshop" sessions. These sessions show the raw development of the choreography before the big-budget cameras were even rolling. You can also research the work of Michael Gracey, the director, who came from a visual effects background and treated every musical number like a high-concept short film. For a look at the real history, biographies of P.T. Barnum by authors like James W. Cook provide a much more nuanced—and sometimes darker—look at the man behind the myth.