Bravo is set to release its next reality empire tonight at 10pm Eastern. “Gallery Girls” is launching, “a docu-series that follows the lives of seven dynamic and ambitious young women in New York City who tackle the cutthroat environment of the art world while vying for their dream jobs.” The Real-Housewives meets HBO’s Girls appears to be another goldmine for Bravo, this time taping into the naivety, unpaid internship culture of twenty something girls trying to make a name for themselves in NYC. We spoke with Bravo and one of the girls about the role of social TV in the new show.
The network’s social TV strategy:
We spoke with Executive Vice President of Bravo Digital Media Lisa Hsia about the network’s social TV strategy for the launch. “With Gallery Girls we’re going to leverage the cast – a set of dynamic young women who inherently understand the impact of digital word-of-mouth and social media and how to engage the audience as the drama unfolds,” she told Lost Remote. “Whether it be their blogs, favorite music playlists, crib videos, photo galleries of “What They’re Wearing” and “What’s in They’re Purse,” you’ll be hearing their take on art, fashion and lifestyle,” she added.
She also described how Instagram would be a big part of the show’s social TV strategy. “We’ll also tap into their Instagram accounts for weekly ‘Week in the Life’ photo galleries of their personal shots,” she told Lost Remote. “Our hope is that our social presence will be very visual, not only focusing on Facebook and Twitter, but also go heavy on image-driven Pinterest and Instagram – the Gallery Girls avant-garde over-the-top looks are just as dramatic as the dialogue!”
An interview with Gallery Girl Angela Pham:
The interesting part about this show, is that unlike the Housewife Barvolebrities, many who became savvy on social only after their shows took off, these girls were born into the world of over-sharing and Instagram (offline and online). Pham has been on Facebook since 2005 and graduated from NYU in 2010. Now she is a freelance photographer and “although her freelancing pays most of the bills, Angela supplements her income with sporadic modeling jobs and waitressing at a dive bar,” according to Bravo.
Lost Remote: How is social media important for art?
Angela Pham: Social media is an important promotional tool that’s useful for generating buzz or creating awareness for cool current exhibitions, street art, art events packed with celebrity figures. I recently attended an event with Christian Marclay, the artist behind “The Clock”, which I was so moved by it, I Instagramed about it. I’ve been seeing photos on Facebook from friends who are queuing up to see “The Clock”.
LR: How do you use social?
Pham: I use Twitter to make really daft life observations, I don’t really converse with other people or as a new source as so many people do. I use Facebook to stalk potential boyfriends. I use Instagram to post vacation photos, trying to elicit envy from peers.
LR: How will you be using social to promote the new show?
Pham: I think Bravo’s doing a fine job of that on Twitter and Facebook already.
LR: What tips do you have for other Gallery Girls when it comes to TV and social media?
Pham: Refrain from posting nude photos of yourself. I messed that up already.
