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

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

Wow! Total d�j� vu... Feels like I've already read this ... :-\
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: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...
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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).
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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....
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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.
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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.
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Janet Reno, 17 Mar 2011 @ 2:56pm

Ned??? Ned Ryerson??? *PUNCH*
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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.
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Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), 17 Mar 2011 @ 3:37pm

Re: Get rid of it.
Stephen? Do you want to field this one?
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GeneralEmergency, 17 Mar 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.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Mar 2011 @ 4:40pm

Re: Re: Re: Get rid of it.
But then who would they get to be in everything!?!
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Mar 2011 @ 5:16pm

Re: Re: Speaking of Amazon Electric publishing...
Send me a free copy, yo.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 17 Mar 2011 @ 6:01pm

Re: Re: Re: Speaking of Amazon Electric publishing...
Cant w/o yo email, dawg....
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Mar 2011 @ 6:13pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Speaking of Amazon Electric publishing...
Just post a mediafire link.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Mar 2011 @ 8:46pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Speaking of Amazon Electric publishing...
Shoe: Meet other foot.
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Marcel de Jong (profile), 18 Mar 2011 @ 2:32am

Re:
BING!
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Dark Helmet (profile), 18 Mar 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
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