The Grumpy Cat SXSW appearance was easily one of the biggest celebrity appearances at the show so far and that's really saying something. Cats have the monopoly on Internet fame (sorry Dogs) and Grumpy Cat is the queen bee of that gold mine. Running off of this fame, Grumpy Cat's handler Tabatha Bundesen brought the cat out to the festivities.
Lady Gaga made an appearance at SXSW. Sorry Gaga, "I'mma let you finish," but Grumpy Cat made the best SXSW appearance of all time! The cat (who is actually named Tardar Sauce) got photo opportunities with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Saturday Night Live comedian Seth Meyers and a host of other celebrities.
The Grumpy Cat SXSW appearance says so much about the modern day Internet it's incredibly scary -- almost as scary as getting caught off guard by the Grumpy Cat face itself.
Disgruntled Feline Festival Appearances
The Grumpy Cat SXSW Appearance is Breaking the Internet
Trend Themes
1. Celebrity Animals - Grumpy Cat's SXSW appearance highlights the growing trend of celebrity animals and opportunities for animal-focused businesses.
2. Internet Fame Monopoly - Cats dominating internet fame highlights an opportunity for businesses to leverage the popularity of Internet-famous cats and create viral content.
3. Non-traditional Marketing Channels - Grumpy Cat's SXSW appearance demonstrates the potential for non-traditional marketing channels, like animal celebrities, to reach new audiences and create unique brand experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Pet Care - The rise of celebrity animals presents opportunities for pet care businesses to create and promote products featuring famous animals to drive sales.
2. Entertainment - The popularity of animals as entertainment highlights opportunities for businesses to incorporate animal celebrities into their offerings to amplify brand awareness and engagement.
3. Social Media - The overwhelming internet fame of Grumpy Cat and other animals suggests an opportunity for social media companies and marketers to create animal-centric content and build viral campaigns.