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

Say That Again

from the connecting-with-fans dept

Thu, Mar 17th 2011 1:40pm — Mike Masnick
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.
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Filed Under: connect with fans, reddit, stephen tobolowsky

17 Comments

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

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

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    :Lobo Santo (profile), 17 Mar 2011 @ 1:45pm

    Speaking of Amazon Electric publishing...

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

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Dark Helmet (profile), 17 Mar 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....

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 17 Mar 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).

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      stellarwaif (profile), 17 Mar 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.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 17 Mar 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.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Janet Reno, 17 Mar 2011 @ 2:56pm

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

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    GeneralEmergency, 17 Mar 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.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]


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