No way to answer without a photo of the plant.

If it's more green than brown, brown as in death crisp and not natural coloration, you have a viable air plant. Ditch the vendor instructions and do a little reading on general tillandsia care. If you're keeping it inside and you don't live in a sauna you'll want to soak it for an hour two or three times a week, and keep it where you get bright and indirect sunlight.

If you post a picture it can probably be identified pretty quickly. There's a lot of ionanthas glued to porcelain pumpkins this time of year.