If selfies are the new autograph, a personalized video message might be just as good as grabbing a beer with your favorite celebrity---at least by today's standards.
Cameo, a Chicago startup that wants to bring you closer than ever to your favorite celebs with personalized video shoutouts, is providing these one-of-a-kind experiences to fans across the world. And it just brought on one of its most recognizable celebrities to date: Brett Favre.
The Green Bay Packer legend announced last week that he joined the platform, charging $500 for a custom video message. Some of his videos so far have been for weddings and charity events.
Hey y'all, if you would like me to send you a personalized video, check out my page on @BookCameo at https://t.co/6GwzNgAWmF
— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) September 20, 2018
Cameo CEO Steven Galanis said Favre was an instant hit on the site, selling 10 Cameos on his first day.
"We're extremely excited to add Packers legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre to the Cameo Fameo," Galanis told Wisconsin Inno. "As someone who spent most of my childhood watching No. 4 torch the Bears, I’m pumped to finally have Brett on our side. A Cameo from Brett is the ultimate gift for any Cheesehead."
Favre joins Cameo alongside celebrities you've probably heard of before---NSYNC's Lance Bass, actress Kathy Griffin, Jersey Shore's Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and reality star Caitlyn Jenner. But Cameo also features celebrities that at first glance might not seem like celebrities at all, at least if you're over 30. Part of Cameo's appeal is that it's tapped into different subcultures of celebrity, connecting people with Instagram comedians, YouTube stars, gamers, bloggers and others who have risen to stardom in non-traditional ways.
Here's how it works: From the startup’s website or iPhone app, you can browse a list of celebrities and choose the person you'd like to receive a Cameo from. You indicate who the video is for, provide instructions for what you want the celebrity to say, and pay for the Cameo. The video arrives within seven days, and you can download and post to Facebook, Instagram or any other social media platform.
For talent on the site, they get a new and meaningful way to interact with fans, while also earning some additional income (celebrities keep 75 percent of the transaction). For fans, it's a chance to buy a friend, coworker, loved one---or themselves---a unique experience from a celebrity they admire.
Cameo has grown quickly since launching one year ago, and it's been featured in a who's who of national media, including the New York Times, Business Insider, Gizmodo, Elle Magazine and Entertainment Tonight.
Cameo is the type of buzzy consumer app that you don't typically find in the Midwest, but if it can continue connecting fans with internet celebrities, as well as more traditional stars like Brett Favre, it has the chance to catch on with a wide group of users.
