Groundbreaking "Glass House" Social Experiment!

Steven Binko is organizing this fundraiser.

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to witness someone's life unfold in real-time, unfiltered, and completely unedited? Now, imagine not only observing those raw, unscripted moments but also having the power to shape them. Welcome to an unprecedented social experiment where you—yes, you—call the shots.

For an entire year, my life will be broadcast live from a glass house in the heart of Times Square. This isn’t just about being on display—it's about surrendering control of my daily life and letting you, the audience, decide my journey. From what I eat and how I spend my days, to challenges I face and personal decisions I make, you will steer the course.

Through votes, polls, and interactive games, you’ll influence everything from my daily routines to life-altering decisions. If I fall short, the consequences will be in your hands. Cold showers, going device-free for a week, or surviving on just rice—whatever you decide, I’ll follow. For most of my life, others have had opinions about how I should live. Now, we'll see what happens when I actually listen.

This experiment is about more than entertainment—it explores conversations around privacy, vulnerability, and human connection. In a world where most of our lives are filtered, edited, and curated, this is a chance to witness someone’s authentic, messy, and unscripted reality. It’s about pushing the boundaries of transparency and seeing how real life plays out when we allow the public to intervene.

During the isolation of the COVID pandemic, I discovered new ways to stay engaged with life when resources were limited. This project will showcase those creative solutions and the incredible technologies available today, while challenging me to find joy, resilience, and fulfillment in a confined space.

Through daily live streams and a constant stream of voting and feedback, the experience will evolve day by day. With an open forum for the public to suggest new challenges and twists, you will be a key part of shaping the unpredictable nature of this journey. No two days will ever be the same, and you’ll play a central role in making it happen.

I’m raising funds to bring this concept to life, from the physical setup in Times Square to the technology that will make it all possible. I need your support to make this groundbreaking project a reality—whether by contributing to the setup, spreading the word, or simply joining in as a participant in this living art experiment.

Key Features:

Live Stream: A continuous, real-time video feed of daily life in the glass house, allowing viewers to witness the unfolding experience and make decisions that impact the project.
Public Forum: A space where users can post ideas, discuss challenges, and suggest activities. This forum serves as the heart of community interaction, allowing global participation in shaping the project.
Voting Mechanism: A feature that lets the public vote on specific aspects of daily life, from food choices to activities and challenges, influencing what happens next in the glass house.
Direct Communication: Channels for sending messages, asking questions, or providing feedback. This includes live interaction during scheduled broadcasts and opportunities for users to participate in real-time decision-making.
Behind-the-Scenes Content: Exclusive content, including interviews, updates, and reflections on the project, giving a deeper insight into the process and development of the installation.

Challenges:

Physical Setup of the Glass House: Constructing a glass house in the heart of Times Square for 365 days of exposure. Including the cost of construction, permits, insurance, and public safety measures.
Technology & Streaming Infrastructure: Developing and maintaining a 24/7 live-streaming setup, including cameras, sound systems, internet connectivity, and interactive voting tools. High-end streaming equipment, server and data costs, maintenance, and a team of technicians.
Sustainability & Comfort: Ensuring basic needs (food, water, sanitation, sleep, etc.) are met while keeping the experience authentic.
Legal and Logistical Hurdles: Securing permits for the glass house in a high-traffic area, liability waivers, ensuring participant safety, and handling unexpected legal challenges and public safety measures.

**We understand that Times Square is a BIG goal. If we encounter challenges with securing NYC as a location, we are open to other larger cities such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Though we do believe that New York is most fitting stage as we are allowing the world to participate!

Sponsorship & Partnership Opportunities:

Brand Integration: Brands can sponsor challenges, decisions, or even parts of the living space (e.g., branded furniture or meals). Sponsors can provide incentives for engagement, like offering prizes for viewers who suggest the most creative challenges or vote the most frequently.
Media Exclusives: Document the entire process as a TV special or ongoing segment. This content could be extremely engaging for their audience, providing a behind-the-scenes look at how the house is built, the social interaction within it, and the public’s influence on it. On-site or virtual interviews, behind-the-scenes footage or be part of live interaction, e.g., live chat sessions where they help shape the day's events or choose specific challenges.
Influencers: Special in-person guests, host games and co-host live-streams, project collaborations.

Examples of Pubic Influence:

Daily Routine: Decide whether I wake up early or late, my morning routine, and how I spend my day.
Meals and Diet: Vote on what I eat for the day (healthy, junk food, vegan, etc.), or even decide if I should fast for a certain period.
Exercise Regimen: Choose the type of exercise I do, from cardio to yoga, or set daily fitness challenges. Possibly collaborate with fitness influencer!
Cleaning Schedule: Determine whether I should clean the house daily, or only on specific days, and how thoroughly (e.g., deep clean or quick tidy-up).
Wardrobe Choices: Let the public pick out what I wear each day, including theme days like “formal day” or “casual day.” Maybe I have a silly costume punishment?
Social Media Engagement: Vote on how active I am on social media, how much time I spend online, or even which platforms to focus on.
Skill Learning: Choose a new skill for me to learn and track progress—could be anything from a musical instrument to a new language.
Phone and Technology Use: Control whether or not I am allowed to use my phone, tablets, or any smart devices during certain hours or days.
Daily Challenges: Set challenges like surviving without sugar for a week, learning a TikTok dance, living without technology for 48 hours, writing and performing a song, or taking cold showers for a day.
House Decorations: Have a chance to select decor items or color schemes for specific areas of the house, adding your personal touch to the space.
Music Playlist: Decide on what music I listen to during the day, either based on genre, theme, or mood. Or maybe an annoying song plays for 48 hours straight.
Personal Development: Choose between personal growth tasks like meditation, journaling, or mindfulness practices. Potentially broadcast therapy sessions (or collaborate with mindfulness coach influencers to monitor mental health along the way).
Media Consumption: Choose what TV shows, movies, or content I consume during the day.
Budgeting and Spending: Decide how much I can spend on food, entertainment, or any other category for the month.
Visitors and Guests: Decide if, when, and whom I can invite to visit the glass house, or if I should interact with virtual guests. This could be talk-show hosts, romantic dates, etc. Am I alone for the holidays?
Special Events: Let the audience organize or vote on fun events or surprise activities me to participate in—anything from a talent show to a themed party.

Benefits for NYC: The glass house installation in the heart of New York City offers several significant benefits to the city itself, enhancing its reputation as a global cultural hub while creating unique economic, social, and tourism opportunities.

Tourism and Increased Foot Traffic: New York is already a leading destination for tourists, and this installation would further boost the city's tourism industry. By attracting curious visitors who want to witness the experiment firsthand, the project would increase foot traffic in Times Square, one of the city's most iconic locations. According to NYC & Company, tourism accounts for a major portion of New York's economy, and this installation would capitalize on the city's status as a must-see destination.
Cultural and Artistic Appeal: New York City thrives as a cultural capital, offering a platform for innovative art and social experiments. This project would contribute to the city’s reputation as a place of cutting-edge art, blending elements of performance, social media, and reality. The unique concept of surrendering privacy for public influence aligns with the city's tradition of hosting experimental art exhibitions and performances. The installation will offer local and international artists the opportunity to engage with a global audience, providing exposure and recognition to New York as a birthplace of bold new ideas.
Economic Benefits from Sponsorships and Partnerships: The installation will attract sponsorships from major brands eager to align themselves with innovative and high-visibility projects. Local vendors, restaurants, and businesses can also capitalize on the increased foot traffic around the installation by offering special deals or promotions targeted at visitors. Products and services can also be featured in the house.
Engagement with Technology and Media: As the installation will be broadcasted live and involve interactive elements like voting and polls, it will position New York City as a leader in the intersection of media, technology, and entertainment. The partnership between the installation and tech companies could provide additional visibility for NYC’s growing role in digital media and tech innovation.
Social Experiment and Public Discourse: This living social experiment will spark conversations around privacy, technology, and human connection. New York is known for its engagement with societal debates, and this installation will contribute to discussions on the balance between public and private life in the digital age. The project can attract media attention from major outlets, drawing global discussions to New York and positioning the city as a thought leader in contemporary culture.
Community Involvement and Local Impact: Local residents will have the opportunity to shape the direction of the installation, giving them a sense of ownership and connection to the project. By allowing the public to influence the day-to-day decisions of the experiment, it fosters a community spirit in one of the world's busiest, most diverse cities. Additionally, the project could provide employment opportunities, from staffing to technical roles, benefiting the local workforce.
Long-Term Legacy and Future Installations: The success of this project could pave the way for future installations, bringing continued attention and investment into New York City's public art scene. By showcasing how New York embraces creative, bold concepts, this project could inspire similar installations and public art projects across the city in the future. When the project is complete, the structure could potentially remain for tours as well.

Seeking Team Members: