The Problem with doing "fun things" JUST to yield a good Social Media Post.

The Candyman…our Favorite Mistake

You know how you sometimes do something JUST to have a good picture to tweet or facebook?  That was the case when my friend and I were strolling through Times Sq and decided to chat up Candyman - AKA Riley, a transplant from Minnesota, who dresses up in candy, takes pics with tourists and pays his rent this way.  Not only did we get a pic (costing $5)…He got our #’s to “hangout” sometime.  We exchanged some emails and decided to invite Candyman out to some bars a month later.  He asked if he could come dressed up in Candy.  Of course, that was the intention behind inviting him out.  It’s like bringing a human party favor to the bar and people think you are open minded because you hang out with street performers. 

Turns out, the idea is greater than the reality.  After exchanging 2 hours worth of e mails because he couldn’t follow directions to the bar, I had to pony up and buy him $25 worth of vodka to make him happy and then he was just shimmying and shaking his candy all over the place.  

We did get this pic - which of course was uploaded to Facebook - which of course made us seem fun.

But at 3am when Riley was begging us to go to a diner with him OR to Webster Hall after leaving the bar, that’s where the fun ends.