gary veynerchuk — Build-A-Beard

"2010 will be a really big beard year..." -- Gary Vaynerchuk

The beard, or lack there of, on the face of VaynerMedia co-founder Gary Vaynerchuk (aka @garyvee, the host of Wine Library TV and author of “Crush It!”) has been a topic of discussion in the Build-A-Beard halls since we crossed paths with VaynerMedia staff, and documented our hairy meeting with the post: VaynerMedia - Now Is The Time To (Grow Beards).

Since that time, we've been checking in with their head honcho regularly to get him on the bearded ball, and follow the lead of his staff by listening to our hairy call... then, out of the blue, through all of the cussing we managed to gather that Gary is planning on growing a "Playoff Beard" in 2010 (so that to focus on growing his new biz assets @vaynermedia and @corkd). The bearded calling came out during Loic Le Meur’s Fireside Chat with Gary at Le Web 2009 in Paris earlier this month.

Given Gary's recognizable clean shaven face, we were understandably weary; that is we were, until today... when Gary went public with his hairy ambitions:

Then once our staff pinged Gary with the #proveit request, we received -- along with the rest of his Twitter and Dailybooth communities -- the below mildly hairy proof...

Granted, this isn't the flowing beard we all expected out of the hyper passionate and cause dedicated style that Gary is known for, we are certain that by the end of 2010 (aka the year of the beard), we will all be put to shame with Gary's facial mane.

We don't know about you, but we'll be on the look out... listening, engaging, crushing it, Build-A-Beard style.

Update on 2010-01-01 00:34 by Buildabeard

Update #1... way to go Belorussian DNA!!! #hesserious

Update on 2010-01-03 01:47 by El Beardo

B-a-B is impressed with the Veynerchuk hair genes... well done, now our #garysbeardwatch is in full effect!

RT @garyvee it is most certainly coming...

Update on 2010-01-05 19:54 by Buildabeard

And the beard is off... to the airport. You know how @garyvee rolls, he hustles, and is indeed taking his Playoff Beard on the road, through those revolving doors, into the terminal, through security and onto the plane...

Some (i.e. @GreenLanternJet) made it a point to tell Gary the he must now be more careful with security given his new grizzly self... Yes, this is reality, a sad reality but a reality nonetheless, for us beardos... but remember... it's a small price to pay, and no worse than a physical (when you're 40+)... the only place that wont detain our kind frivolously is probably Beard Airport (in Cumberland County, NC), and maybe one day it'll become an international hub for Beard travel everywhere... a boy can dream.

Update on 2010-01-11 00:38 by El Beardo

Glad your beard didn't get you into any trouble in the various airports you were in this week (and that you made it back in time, with AJ's help) Congrats on yet another win by the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS Gary! The playoff beard is looking good, on local TV or otherwise... keep it up fellow beardo, keep it going strong.

Grow it out, grow it proud!

Update on 2010-01-16 20:33 by Buildabeard

He is still at it and going strong! We will always be here to support you Gary.. so to answer your question, "what do we think"? Well, we love it (of course), and are very proud of you! Speaking of, congrats on your 800th WLTV episode, it was a great one... your dad should grow a beard too. We'll start a #sashasbeardwatch ASAP if you green light this.

Update on 2010-01-29 02:31 by Buildabeard

it's all over now...it's ok to cry

It was brought to our attention by our staff writer and friend, Russ Marshalek, that the employees at VaynerMedia were rocking some p-r-e-t-t-y sweet facial hair persuasions at Gary & AJ Vaynerchuk's office. #crushit

And although the highly talented Gary has been saturating our airwaves and personal NYC island with ways to "cash in on your passion," he is not crushing it when it comes to his beard. In fact, he should prob stop concentrating so much on how to help others "build brand equity," and start concentrating on ways to grow a 'stache.... or even some scruff! #crushitFAIL

Example:

Lucky for him, B-A-B decided to interview the bearded fellas that make the day-to-day run smoothly for his brand consulting agency with a penchant for social media. Special thanks to Sam Taggart who submitted his fellow employees, but did not participate. Wonder why?

(Editor's note: a while after our post, Gary did grow a beard... and then... well... go see for yourself)

So without further ado...

Name: Caleb Brown

Title: Web Developer (VaynerMedia)
Random Fact: I've had some kind of facial hair since my senior year of high school.
Worth Noting: When I do shave, I use a 1940s Gillette Aristocrat Razor.

B-A-B Thoughts: We like the way you shave, Caleb. No, seriously - we're highly impressed with the choice in your instrument. *raises martini glass to you or odd cup of yellow substance as in the picture below.

Name: Marcus Krzastek
Title: Project Manager (VaynerMedia)
Rockin' It For A Cause: Protest of Turkish non-recognition of the Armenian genocide.

B-A-B Thoughts: We're not sure what lil' project is happening on your face, specifically below your lip, but you're definitely not managing it. Also, the sweater... dude... come on it's 2009.

Name: Matt Sitomer
Title: Chief of Staff (VaynerMedia)

View Askewniverse Fetish: First grew the beard so I could be Silent Bob for Halloween in 2004, and everyone told me to keep it.

B-A-B Comment: Respect points on the Kevin Smith love, but you need to get that beard thicker and grow it over your upper lip. Also, stop posing like it's MySpace.

Name: Kyle Bragger

Title: CTO (Cork'd)

Why You Want To Sleep With Him: I dream in German
B-A-B Comment: Winner!!! We heart your pirate look - bonus points for the perfectly tweaked ends - although we had to look past your almost-too-much-asymmetrical-haircut, odd bathroom background, and shameless use of iPhone.