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Photo: Dag Bennstrom.
NEW YORK – If you're at the top of the internet food chain now, chances are that part of your attraction to and success in the industry stems from the fact you weren't the most "popular" kid at your high school prom. Or maybe you didn't even attend and passed the night on IRC instead.
Luckily, the age of geek vindication is upon us, where only the smart survive and sometimes the nice guy does get the girl. For those with lingering prom remorse, the Webutante Ball is the ultimate redo experience. Held Wednesday here, the event drew citizens from all walks of internet-based life to mix, mingle, bump, grind – and proudly geek out.
Founded by Thrillist Managing Editor Richard Blakeley to give twenty-somethings an excuse to emerge from behind their computer screens and dress up for a reason other than a wedding, this year's gathering – the fourth to date – attracted more than 700 glammed-out geeks to the Marquee nightclub in Chelsea.
"It's like Revenge of the Nerds, IRL," Blakeley said. "Honestly I think that now that we all live in public on the internet, we've all just come to the realization that we're all nerds."
Most guests took the opportunity to don red-carpet attire, several opting to use the designer gown rental service Rent the Runway. There was no shortage of bow ties, but the most notable accessory had to be the boa made out of $100 bills (fake, to be sure) worn by Hagan Blount of Ingk Labs, a New York City-based tech accelerator that invests in disruptive technologies.
Named King and Queen of the Webutantes were Reece Pacheco, founder of Shelby.tv, and Lauren Appelwick, Shelby.tv's brand director. The two swapped royal accessories throughout the night; the king proudly sported the queen's feather boa and the queen his crown.
"We're not really into gender roles," Applewick said.
Blakeley wouldn't reveal the methodology for naming the king and queen, but said that it had to do with a prediction that the winners' company would be the next big thing in 2012.
If there was one takeaway from last night's event, it was that nerds love a good dance party. In the upstairs room, Preston Charles from MTV captivated the room with his moves when Britney Spears came on the speakers. Down on the main level – as DJ Frankenmack fielded requests through the Twitter Hashtag #unrulyrequests – the dance floor was packed with Webutantes raving to blaring techno mashups.
I don't know about revenge, but the nerds definitely had their moment in the sun last night.
