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Say That Again

by Mike Masnick

Thu, Mar 17th 2011 1:40pm




Filed Under:
connect with fans, reddit, stephen tobolowsky


Actor Finds Tons Of New Fans Who Didn't Even Know They Knew Him: Go Talk To People On Reddit

from the connecting-with-fans dept

Wes sends in a very cool example of someone figuring out a unique way to connect with fans (and giving them some reasons to buy). Character actor, Stephen Tobolowsky, has appeared in a ton of movies and TV shows and many people probably recognize him, but have no idea who he is. For example, he played Ned Ryerson, the insurance salesman in Groundhog Day. Anyway, he's writing short fiction stories and figured he might as well play up his "who is that guy?" style of fame on Reddit and put up an "ask me anything" (AMA) post at Reddit that also linked to his works on Amazon (which he's also offering cheaply at $1.99 a pop). And then, of course, he stuck around and answered a bunch of questions. It's simple, yes, but it's a great example of someone connecting with fans while including a neat little reason to buy as well.
17 Comments | Leave a Comment

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  1.  
    icon
    Pickle Monger (profile), Mar 17th, 2011 @ 1:04pm

    Wow! Total déjà vu... Feels like I've already read this ... :-\

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    icon
    :Lobo Santo (profile), Mar 17th, 2011 @ 1:45pm

    Speaking of Amazon Electric publishing...

    Hey Dark Helmet! Is your book out yet? I still wanna buy a copy...

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Mar 17th, 2011 @ 2:07pm

    He also does a very good podcast where he tells similar stories about his life and the movie industry at www.tobolowskyfiles.com with David Chen from the /filmcast.

    I have not yet gotten around to reading Cautionary Tales, but if it is anything like that podcast, it isn't fiction (he claims in the podcast one of the rules for writing his stories is that they must be completely true).

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  
    icon
    Dark Helmet (profile), Mar 17th, 2011 @ 2:19pm

    Re: Speaking of Amazon Electric publishing...

    Stay tuned. One is, on Lulu, but I'm likely going to have at least one new one independently published on Amazon/iTunes while another is currently being reviewed in full by an agency (w/a promise for a decision by mid-April).

    On the other hand, let's not kill the thread with talk of my literary awesomeness....

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
    icon
    stellarwaif (profile), Mar 17th, 2011 @ 2:23pm

    That same podcast has been packaged up for radio. I hear it most Sundays on NPR. His monologues are usually very funny and fairly insightful.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Mar 17th, 2011 @ 2:26pm

    Re:

    I'm a fan. I once wrote him an email and was surprised when he personally responded. Connect with fans indeed.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    identicon
    Janet Reno, Mar 17th, 2011 @ 2:56pm

    Ned??? Ned Ryerson??? *PUNCH*

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  
    identicon
    GeneralEmergency, Mar 17th, 2011 @ 3:22pm

    Get rid of it.

    I stand as an American who has had enough of Patent and wants it abolished completely.

    It no longer serves the economic interests of the nation and only serves to line the pockets of lawyers.

    As Slavery passed, so must Patent.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    icon
    Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), Mar 17th, 2011 @ 3:37pm

    Re: Get rid of it.

    Stephen? Do you want to field this one?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  
    identicon
    GeneralEmergency, Mar 17th, 2011 @ 3:59pm

    Re: Re: Get rid of it.

    I have no idea how this post ended up here. It belongs in the one click Patent post.


    I am not advocating to get rid of Stephen Tobolowsky.


    ....At this time.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Mar 17th, 2011 @ 4:40pm

    Re: Re: Re: Get rid of it.

    But then who would they get to be in everything!?!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  12.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Mar 17th, 2011 @ 5:16pm

    Re: Re: Speaking of Amazon Electric publishing...

    Send me a free copy, yo.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  13.  
    icon
    Dark Helmet (profile), Mar 17th, 2011 @ 6:01pm

    Re: Re: Re: Speaking of Amazon Electric publishing...

    Cant w/o yo email, dawg....

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  14.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Mar 17th, 2011 @ 6:13pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Speaking of Amazon Electric publishing...

    Just post a mediafire link.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  15.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Mar 17th, 2011 @ 8:46pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Speaking of Amazon Electric publishing...

    Shoe: Meet other foot.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  16.  
    icon
    Marcel de Jong (profile), Mar 18th, 2011 @ 2:32am

    Re:

    BING!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  17.  
    icon
    Dark Helmet (profile), Mar 18th, 2011 @ 5:57am

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Speaking of Amazon Electric publishing...

    Here you go. Let me know in this thread or others if this doesn't work. And feel free to share as you wish with others!

    http://www.mediafire.com/?31tirhmjd20sj

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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