Local man a finalist in ‘Today’ contest
Connor Hough, a 2008 Souderton Area High School graduate, is a finalist in Today’s Social Star Search
Connor Hough didn’t even know about the “Today Show” Social Star Search until his mother told him the television show was running the contest to find the next big names making social media videos.
“Next thing you know, they were saying, ‘We’re gonna fly you out to California,’” the 2008 Souderton Area High School graduate and Telford resident said. “Unbelievable.”
The California trip was for the June 23 to 25 Vidcon online video convention in Anaheim, Calif., where “Today” filmed Hough for a segment that later aired along with the announcement of his having been chosen a Social Star Search finalist for his Vine videos.
The six-second-long videos are particularly good for comedy, Hoda Kotb reported in the segment.
“Careers have been made with just a six-second punchline, and we are ready to launch one more,” Kotb said.
A career in comedy is his ultimate goal, Hough said. That could be in stand-up, acting or videos, he said.
“I’ve always had a knack for doing videos,” Hough said. “When people laughed, that made me feel good, so that gave me motivation.” He’s been doing video editing for nine or 10 years, he said. He started making Facebook videos about two years ago and has been making the Vine videos since January, he said.
Examples of his comedy on Vine include his Stuntman Rex character; a man confusing a paper shredder for a CD player; a man waiting for the microwave to cook his food; a man asking for help because he’s being “mugged” with a coffee mug; and playing both roles in conversations, including between job interviewer and applicant or father and son.
The “Today Show” Social Star Search isn’t a competition, he said.
“They’re just trying to discover the next Internet personalities,” Hough said.
The search is also featuring YouTube and Instagram finalists.
The requirements were that applicants have less than 5,000 followers and that they send in a video telling why they should be chosen, along with a link to their online videos, Hough said.
He made his application video on his computer in one take, he said.
“It was just off the cuff,” Hough said. “I figured, ‘What the heck, I just might as well submit it.’”
Apparently, it was what they were looking for.
As a finalist, Hough is being mentored by Vine star David Lopez, who has almost 7 million Vine followers.
“Meeting him was awesome,” Hough said.
“He’s been doing this awhile; he’s very successful at it,” Hough said, “so he’s kind of helping me developing my own brand.”
Lopez’s advice has included developing more characters and having a consistent posting schedule so people know when to look for new videos, Hough said.
“Now I can put more of my personality into my videos,” Hough said. “It’s kind of opened my eyes to asking for advice, too.”
His next “Today” appearance is scheduled for July 27 and will be filmed live in New York City.
“It’s going to be like a follow-up to see where the progress is going,” Hough said.
He’s already getting more recognition from being on the show, he said.
“Each of my videos, the views are going up steadily,” Hough said.
The number of his followers is also growing.
As of July 19, he had 284 Vine followers, he said.
“When I started, it was 100 and some,” Hough said. “It jumped pretty radically after the first segment.”