What was HallowMEME?
It was a party, sure (BuzzFeed dubbed it "the best internet party of the year"), but it was also a phenomenon that captured one very particular aspect of the early Web 2.0 social scene: not many people knew what a meme was. In HallowMEME’s early days (as a joint production by AOL's Urlesque and Know Your Meme; later taken over by ex-employees Kelly Reeves, Andrea Rosen, and Lindsey Weber as a labor of love), internet culture was still considered subculture.
When memes like Keyboard Cat seeped into popular culture, they were met with confusion, and the noble holiday of Halloween was no exception. HallowMEME began as a party where everyone would finally GET your internetty costume.
After six years and countless costumes, HallowMEME ended its run as memes went the way of the mainstream, but its legacy lives on in every meme costume donned.
After six years and countless costumes, HallowMEME ended its run as memes went the way of the mainstream, but its legacy lives on in every meme costume donned.
HallowMEME Over the Years
The flyers for each HallowMEME event, from the not-at-all-Halloween-timed Night to ReMEMEber to the final year's bi-coastal affair.
HallowMEME Costumes
Costume ideas and execution were taken very seriously (and often crafted in incredible DIY detail) at each year's event. Some attendees were determined to show up as a meme nobody else had thought to embody, and others were delighted to find kindred spirits who showed up in the same costume for a photo op.
Here's a sampling of costumes from HallowMEMEs past:
Media Criticism of Renee Zellweger's Face
Hot Cheetos and Takis
Shia LaBoeuf hiding from the paparazzi
No It's Becky
Women Laughing Alone While Eating Salad
The Dancing Pumpkin
Nyan Cat
Grumpy Cat
Keyboard Cat
Ryan Gosling Won't Eat His Cereal
Ermahgerd
McKayla Maroney Is Not Impressed
Hillary Clinton Texting
Vox.com
Binders Full of Women
The Ellen Degeneres Oscars Selfie
Selected Press
"Last night, a group of brave and Tumblr-savvy New Yorkers gathered at the Bell House to celebrate Forced Meme Productions’ fourth annual HallowMeme, a costume party dedicated to … well, all the dumb stuff you laugh at on the Internet."
"Hosted by Forced Meme Productions, some of the more outlandish outfits of the party were too esoteric even for us, and we spend all day on the Internet."
"Last night marked the fifth annual HallowMEME Costume Party. What the hell's that, you ask, while massaging Himalaya Hair Loss Cream into your scalp and cranking up Daydream Nation (which just turned 25). According to the essential website Know Your Meme, HallowMEME is 'an Internet meme-themed costume contest and party held in New York City during the week of Halloween.' It also takes place in Brooklyn. Are you scared yet?"
"HallowMEME, a party dedicated to viral Internet videos and photos, brought out all the stars last weekend. We’re pretty sure we saw Ryan Gosling Won’t Eat His Cereal making out with Roomba Cat-Shark, too."
"Folks went all out for the annual costume party dedicated to viral Internet stars, online memes and cat videos."
"Given the nature of memes – namely, their ability to adapt to all manner of subjects and circumstances – they also have greater potential for personal interpretation."
"Meme enthusiasts and web culture lovers treated themselves to a night offline for Hallowmeme 2013. This is what happens when you let the Internet party IRL."
"In the age of Internet memes, creative and punny costumes are becoming the norm. Dressed as Mitt Romney? Boring. Dressed as 'binders full of women'? Now that’s more like it!"
"Last night, over 600 of Brooklyn's most Internet-obsessed citizens descended upon Bell House for a night of pure nerdery at the 6th annual HallowMeme party."
Credits:
Event Producers: Forced Meme Productions (Kelly Reeves, Andrea Rosen, Lindsey Weber)
People who made HallowMEME magic with us from 2009 - 2014: Jeffrey Scott French, Dan Chamberlain, Debbie Saslaw, Kelly Egan, Kenyatta Cheese, Molly Templeton, Greg Leuch, Ellie Rountree, Jamie Wilkinson, Olivia Gulin, Stephen Lenz, Rae Votta, Ben Stein, Brad Kim, Don Caldwell, Chris Menning, Amanda Ferri, Amanda Brennan, Nick Douglas, Lauren Thompson, Grace Helbig, Ryan Muir, and Jake Roper.
People who made HallowMEME magic with us from 2009 - 2014: Jeffrey Scott French, Dan Chamberlain, Debbie Saslaw, Kelly Egan, Kenyatta Cheese, Molly Templeton, Greg Leuch, Ellie Rountree, Jamie Wilkinson, Olivia Gulin, Stephen Lenz, Rae Votta, Ben Stein, Brad Kim, Don Caldwell, Chris Menning, Amanda Ferri, Amanda Brennan, Nick Douglas, Lauren Thompson, Grace Helbig, Ryan Muir, and Jake Roper.