Adding Social Media to Your Halloween Costume
My friend Sasha figured out what he’s going to do for his Halloween costume last night with the contributions of a few friends, myself and a few libations. Like any ah-hah moment, it started with the Big Idea. Then, in illustrative fashion, grew into a social media inspired event.
Sasha has a track suit that he picked up at a thrift store last year for Halloween. The plan was to be Prefontaine. He doesn’t have a ton of hair up top anymore, so it wasn’t going to make that much sense. But that was supposed to be the funny part. Put on a track suit and call yourself Prefontaine even though you don’t have his long flowing hair and dense mustache. Good times.
Anyway, he wanted to finally get his money’s worth with the track suit, which seems to be neither green nor brown, or perhaps a blend of both, with a sheen to boot. Also there is a patch on both the jacket and pants that says Esercito, which apparently means Army in Italian.
This last detail changed the plan a bit. When he showcased the suit for us last night, we came up with the brilliant idea that he should be the Spanish Track Suit Guy. Then he would shave his beard down to a handlebar mustache, throw on a headband and there you have it.
Something was missing though. A hook. Ah-hah. Let’s pretend Spanish — er, Italian — Track Suit Guy is a famous viral video character. We’ll do some video and put it on YouTube. Then when people ask who he is he can say he’s Italian Track Suit guy and show them the video on his phone. He’ll claim that ITSG is a viral sensation. Then he’ll look disapprovingly at those who have never heard of him (everyone).
I’m not the only one who thinks this is brilliant. I know at least two other people, including a staff member at a Los Angeles PR firm, who also think it’s brilliant.
What is the video going to be? The best idea yet is some footage of ITSG dancing on a treadmill. Sasha says he’s pick up some BluBlocker-esque shades to round out the costume, among a few other things.
I’ve often thought — and told people — that social media is just a channel. You still need the creative idea, and Facebook and Twitter are simply more ways to massage and distribute it. Sasha’s case reminds us, however, that social media can and should be the big hook, the medium, and the message all in one.
