⏰ Quest Minutes : Bryce Hall
The New Superstar Kid in Town
This piece is written by Lauren Huttner, a Quest Fellow contributor. Apply here to become a Quest Fellow and have your work featured, interact with our guests, access live interviews, and help us build the podcast!
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⚡️ Introducing: Bryce Hall
To catch the full conversation with Bryce, click below:
Bryce Hall is a social media powerhouse. With millions of followers on Instagram, TikTok and Youtube, Hall is part of the next generation of creators. In addition to generating digital content, Hall runs his own energy drink company, Ani (which he sipped throughout the interview), and sells merchandise for his personal brand, Party Animal.
The Bryce Factor
Hall knows social media. At 14, he live-streamed his life on the platform, You Now. He later pivoted to Vine, YouTube, Musical.ly and TikTok. No matter where he is posting content, Hall is motivated to be the king of the hill.
“I saw other people succeeding and I didn’t find them entertaining so I wanted to do social media, but I wanted to do it the best. And I’m not even done. I’m not even close to where I want to be.”
Bringing the Energy
From shotgunning Red Bulls on TikTok to pulling off crazy circus stunts on YouTube, Hall’s posts burst with energy. Citing the infamous Paul brothers (Jake and Logan) as influences, he aims to create and market a unique style that distinguishes him from other creators.
“A normal YouTube format is boring intro, climax and then boring ending. I do three entertaining things throughout my vlog and end on a climax.”
An Authentic Brand
A critical part of Hall’s internet identity is his authenticity.
“You’re the personality. You’re the show.”
Hall admits that the media isn’t fond of his personality. However, he believes he can rise above the establishment.
“There’s no book on social media. There’s no one telling you how to do it except these older people telling you how you should act a certain way. But how the hell would they know? There wasn’t social media when they were kids.”
It’s Everyday Bro
Hall is always creating. Despite not taking a day off for nine months, he isn’t concerned about burnout. Instead of seeing it as a limiting factor, Hall has transformed it into motivation.
“I think if I reach a burn out, it’s coming soon. I don’t think it’s going to discourage me. I think it’s going to make me work harder.”
Hall believes that older generations don’t understand the complex dynamics of social media. There is a lot of work behind-the-scenes, and requires a lot more than just making posts.
“It’s a grind. It might not look like it because it is just posting on social media, but they only see what’s posted.”
Sustainability
With the unpredictable lifecycle of social media, Hall said he is focusing on the business side of his brand.
“I’m just going to keep investing. I’m building Ani with my team and I want it to exit.”
Parting Thoughts
Hall is still developing his internet identity, with no plans to stop in the immediate future. From his constant energy and authenticity, to his desire to build for the longterm, he is a trailblazing innovator in the digital era.
“TikTok and social media in general — we’re the new celebrities.”
Thank you Bryce for your insight!
✍🏼 Quest Fellows Feature: Lauren Huttner
Hi there! My name is Lauren Huttner and I’m a freshman studying Journalism at Northwestern University. Honestly, I have no idea what I want to do in the future. For 18 years, my parents pressured me to become a doctor or lawyer like them. While my childhood fantasies of being a dermatologist, veterinarian or diplomat were fun, I came to realize that I never truly had a passion for any of these careers.
A lot of small things that lead up to this realization. For starters, I hated dissections in biology class. The smell of blood, guts and an alternative to formaldehyde made for some not-great experiences. Speech and debate in high school was fun until I realized how badly competition hurt my mental health. There were so many things that made me happier, like curating my Pinterest account. After going viral at 13 for my mediocre Dance Moms edits, I decided to pivot toward showcasing aesthetic content for my followers.
When I got my first Musical.ly, I played around with hashtags in an attempt to game the algorithm. Finding the root of the different “sides” of TikTok gave me energy, and I want to continue my research. I have a burning passion for media, technology and design. Digital platforms are the new standard for producing and retrieving information. I am here to be a part of these innovations.
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