Comments on: Being a Micro-Celebrity Means You Walk the Line http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12 Social Media from a Junkie's point of view Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:02:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Tabitha Grace Smith http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12&cpage=1#comment-12 Tabitha Grace Smith Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:28:34 +0000 http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12#comment-12 I love it, totally spot on Hittman. I love it, totally spot on Hittman.

]]> By: Hittman http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12&cpage=1#comment-11 Hittman Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:22:21 +0000 http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12#comment-11 The attitude you take towards fans makes all the difference. We can narrow it down to three approaches. 1. *You*, the fan, are a bit smarter, hipper, and cooler than the rest of the world, including me. I am, therefore, honored and humbled that you're a fan. 2. *We* are a bit smarter, hipper, and cooler than the rest of the world. 3. *I* am a bit smarter, hipper, and cooler than the rest of the world, including you. #1 and/or #2 keeps your fans happy and coming back for more. I find combining them, leaning a bit more toward #1, works well for me. #3 is death. If you really feel that way fans will pick it up no matter how hard you try to hide it. You'll be perceived (correctly) as being arrogant and pompous and your fans will abandon you, no matter how great your talent. Ask Yngwie Malmsteen. ("Who?" you ask. "Exactly," I answer.) This has got to be real, not an act. If you can't really enjoy your fans and consider them as equals (or superiors) find something else to do, because you're not going to get many, and they won't be around for long. The attitude you take towards fans makes all the difference. We can narrow it down to three approaches.

1. *You*, the fan, are a bit smarter, hipper, and cooler than the rest of the world, including me. I am, therefore, honored and humbled that you’re a fan.

2. *We* are a bit smarter, hipper, and cooler than the rest of the world.

3. *I* am a bit smarter, hipper, and cooler than the rest of the world, including you.

#1 and/or #2 keeps your fans happy and coming back for more. I find combining them, leaning a bit more toward #1, works well for me.

#3 is death. If you really feel that way fans will pick it up no matter how hard you try to hide it. You’ll be perceived (correctly) as being arrogant and pompous and your fans will abandon you, no matter how great your talent. Ask Yngwie Malmsteen. (“Who?” you ask. “Exactly,” I answer.)

This has got to be real, not an act. If you can’t really enjoy your fans and consider them as equals (or superiors) find something else to do, because you’re not going to get many, and they won’t be around for long.

]]> By: Tabitha Grace Smith http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12&cpage=1#comment-9 Tabitha Grace Smith Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:41:43 +0000 http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12#comment-9 Yes, I can see that - people will love you for who you are (as long as who you're giving them isn't fake). I guess what I meant was the idea of being professional, which some people view as a form of censorship - they'd rather just "be themselves" and say whatever comes to them. I believe it's important to keep at least a semi-professional filter on what you say in public places. Yes, I can see that – people will love you for who you are (as long as who you’re giving them isn’t fake).

I guess what I meant was the idea of being professional, which some people view as a form of censorship – they’d rather just “be themselves” and say whatever comes to them. I believe it’s important to keep at least a semi-professional filter on what you say in public places.

]]> By: 0zymandias http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12&cpage=1#comment-8 0zymandias Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:37:37 +0000 http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12#comment-8 Even without knowing you and not having fans of my own, I'd still argue that there really *isn't* a fine line between being true to one's self and true to one's fans. You've acquired your fan base by producing excellent content. Fans keep coming back for more - among other reasons - because you're not just erm - "going through the motions" so to speak. The quality of the podcasts reflect just how much you love what you do. If doing what you love isn't being true to one's self then I'm certainly doing it wrong. :-) Just 2 cents from a non shuffle celebrity. Even without knowing you and not having fans of my own, I’d still argue that there really *isn’t* a fine line between being true to one’s self and true to one’s fans.

You’ve acquired your fan base by producing excellent content. Fans keep coming back for more – among other reasons – because you’re not just erm – “going through the motions” so to speak. The quality of the podcasts reflect just how much you love what you do.

If doing what you love isn’t being true to one’s self then I’m certainly doing it wrong. :-)

Just 2 cents from a non shuffle celebrity.

]]> By: Indiana Jim http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12&cpage=1#comment-7 Indiana Jim Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:23:20 +0000 http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12#comment-7 It's such a simple motivation. What it lacks is greed. Some people do this to make people love them, or make people listen to them. They hunger for that celebrity because they want to feel important. They want people to listen to their podcasts and listen to their podiobooks because they want to get "the big deal," or what not. Nothing wrong with getting a book deal, but to establish yourself in this community strictly for the purpose of financial gain? Crazy. You're also a very good pod-friend to people. It’s such a simple motivation. What it lacks is greed. Some people do this to make people love them, or make people listen to them. They hunger for that celebrity because they want to feel important. They want people to listen to their podcasts and listen to their podiobooks because they want to get “the big deal,” or what not. Nothing wrong with getting a book deal, but to establish yourself in this community strictly for the purpose of financial gain? Crazy.

You’re also a very good pod-friend to people.

]]> By: Tabitha Grace Smith http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12&cpage=1#comment-6 Tabitha Grace Smith Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:11:55 +0000 http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12#comment-6 I think the point is we don't deserve it, but we've gotten it/earned it/received it because of those who enjoy what we produce. So we owe them big time. For my fancasts - I've said from the get-go that I do them as a service to other fans. Because I enjoyed the fancasts I listened to when I first started in the Joss Whedon fandom. I enjoyed Old Wounds and said we should do a Buffy audio drama. Etc. Because I like being creative, and I have the ability and the resources and I think I hve something worthwhile to say. I think the point is we don’t deserve it, but we’ve gotten it/earned it/received it because of those who enjoy what we produce. So we owe them big time.

For my fancasts – I’ve said from the get-go that I do them as a service to other fans. Because I enjoyed the fancasts I listened to when I first started in the Joss Whedon fandom. I enjoyed Old Wounds and said we should do a Buffy audio drama. Etc. Because I like being creative, and I have the ability and the resources and I think I hve something worthwhile to say.

]]> By: CarrieP http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12&cpage=1#comment-5 CarrieP Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:11:43 +0000 http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12#comment-5 Great post. Would love to see this get some play. Great post. Would love to see this get some play.

]]> By: Indiana Jim http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12&cpage=1#comment-4 Indiana Jim Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:07:01 +0000 http://socialmediajunkie.com/?p=12#comment-4 Very interesting blog post. Very on point, and I've seen the good and the bad. I've probably BEEN the good and the bad. I wonder whether we deserve any bit of 'celebrity' that we get, but then again I don't think mega-celebrities deserve the attention they get either. What do you see as your purpose for doing this thing that you do that has brought you micro-celebrity status? Very interesting blog post. Very on point, and I’ve seen the good and the bad. I’ve probably BEEN the good and the bad. I wonder whether we deserve any bit of ‘celebrity’ that we get, but then again I don’t think mega-celebrities deserve the attention they get either.

What do you see as your purpose for doing this thing that you do that has brought you micro-celebrity status?

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