My buddy and tech guru Rich DeMuro just wrote in his newsletter about what he calls the coolest souvenir ever. I think he might be right. Rich says he and his family got their picture on a billboard in Times Square for $40. “You can, too,” he says. “All you have to do is upload a photo to an app, pay $40, and wait for your allotted time. It makes a great souvenir.” RELATED: The 30 best souvenirs I brought home from Europe — and they took up absolutely no room in my bag
Rich posted a video of the moment on Instagram too (embedded below) along with some more details: Rich’s caption read: “NYC highlight: We made it to the big screen! ?✨ A company called @TSXEntertainment lets you upload your own photo or video and appear on a Times Square billboard for 15 seconds. For just $40, we got our moment of fame in the heart of the city. Coolest souvenir ever! ? #TimesSquare #NYCmoment #BucketList”
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I did some more research and found that the PixelStar — Take Over Times Square app is available in both the Apple Store and Google Play.
Here’s how to get yourself featured on their 18,000 square foot interactive screen at the center of Times Square for 15 seconds:
UPLOAD YOUR CONTENT
Upload a single photo or short video (at least 15-seconds in length) from your camera roll.
FORMAT
Crop your content to fit the TSX screen, and trim video to 15 seconds.
GET CREATIVE
Use available in-app tools to enhance your content, by adding text or text design.
CLAIM YOUR 15 SECONDS OF FAME
Select the preferred date and time for your content to be displayed on the TSX digital billboard at the center of Times Square — the most trafficked corner in the Western Hemisphere.
BE NOTIFIED
Opt-in to notifications and receive real-time updates for when your PixelStar feature will take over Times Square.
CELEBRATE YOUR MOMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Take a seat and enjoy your moment, as your PixelStar feature displays on the big screen with the prime viewing area on the seats in Duffy Square. Or, watch from anywhere in the world, via the in-app Livestream.
SHARE YOUR PIXELSTAR DIGITAL KEEPSAKE
After your content has aired, remember the moment by creating an account to access a digital version of your PixelStar feature, that can be shared and viewed by others, anytime.
It looks really cool. Rich’s followers all agreed and like me, most want to try it. Here are some of the comments:
@Nancillinatrevi: This is wild!!! What an experience for you and your family!! ??
@yourbucketlistguide: No way!!! This is so cool! I’m gonna do this in the Fall when I go!
@hdog_free: So cool! What bar/restaurant were you watching from? Rich replied with Renaissance Hotel Times Square
@camar_go: That’s pretty cool. I wonder if people will use this for marriage proposals? ?
@ju_c_sugarplum: That’s so cool!! Your smiles say it all. It’s awesome that you and your family got to experience that!!❤️❤️❤️
@mileswi920: That is really cool! Thanks for passing this on to us! ?
I did something similar in 2019 with my wife and son before our daughter was born. I’m glad I wrote about it (you can read the story here) because I couldn’t remember all the details. The app was called Shoutable, and it allowed people to post personalized messages to LinkNYC’s 3,600 screens across all five boroughs. It seemed to be a brilliant idea and a win-win for everyone since it only cost $4.95 (the first one was free) but it was very limited. You couldn’t post a photo or write a message. You could only put your names and choose a “Shout” from a broad selection of custom designs across several categories, including “Happy Birthday,” “Happy Anniversary,” “Congratulations,” “Thanks,” “Proposals,” “You’re Awesome,” and more. It played for 60 seconds on the selected LinkNYC screens.
This new version in Times Square is way better, which is why it costs much more, but I don’t think it’s overpriced. You?
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