The #HighlySoughtAfter Talk Show

6. How to create super fans on social media – Ben Tan

January 25, 2021 Eric Feng
The #HighlySoughtAfter Talk Show
6. How to create super fans on social media – Ben Tan
Show Notes Transcript

In this episode of #HighlySoughtAfter, I had a chat with influencer-turned-actor Benjamin Tan. In 2018, one of his super fans went to extreme length to support his acting dream. This led to this first big break on Toggle TV as Ron in Emerald Hill High.

Since then, Ben is a familiar face on our national TV. He has also built up a large following on Instagram with over 70K followers who adore him and support him in his acting career. 
 
Pay special attention to 26:56 when Ben revealed the #1 secret to building a tribe of super fans and a loyal following. Failure to do so will result in shallow & superficial relationships with your followers. Do this and your followers will fall madly in love with you and even go to great lengths to help you succeed!

Also listen out for Ben’s answers to the following questions. 
 
· How did you get started as an influencer on social media? – 1:29
· Did you do anything different from when you had 1K followers and 10K followers? What led to your rapid growth? – 6:53
· What’s the one thing that’s essential to doing well on Instagram? – 9:54
· What are some of the sweet things your followers have done for you? – 26:03
· What is the ‘Ben’s Magic’? Why are you followers so nice to you? – 26:56
· How have you stayed authentic, and how will you continue to remain authentic as an actor and influencer with such a big following? – 29:45
· What advice do you have for those who are building their personal brand and loyal following? – 30:40

If you want to keep in touch with Ben, you can reach him on Instagram @bentanzx.

Read these books to become highly sought after in your own industry -> www.pickericsbrain.com

Thank you for listening to this episode of #HighlySoughtAfter! 

If you enjoyed this episode, please help me hit the ‘subscribe’ button if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or hit the ‘follow’ button if you are listening on Spotify. 
 
I would also love to hear your biggest takeaway from this episode! Here’s how: take a screenshot of you listening to #HighlySoughtAfter and tag me on Instagram. My handle is @ericgoesglobal. This way, I can personally thank you!

Benjamin Tan:

I'm really grateful to followers who help me along the way-

Eric Feng:

How do they help you?

Benjamin Tan:

Oh my god, so I got my second show called Lion Moms, okay, it's the third season. I didn't know about the audition, in fact, it was my follower who submitted my profile to the production house.

Eric Feng:

You have the best followers.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, and after that, after when the production house actually confirmed and said, "Oh, maybe we want to get him down for an audition." Me, get me down for an audition? That's when he told me, "Oh, actually I sent your profile to this production house."

Eric Feng:

"And we like it and please come for audition."

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, I'm like, "Oh my god," if it's not for him, I wouldn't know there's a audition going on.

Eric Feng:

Hi, this is Eric here, and you're listening to #HighlySoughtAfter.

In today's episode of #HighlySoughtAfter, we have with us a very young charming man, who's here on the studio with us. He is an influencer on Instagram, and in 2018, he had his very first big break on Toggle TV, as Ron in Emerald Hill High, and ever since then, he's seen on television, he has also been very popular on Instagram, but what's most important is we managed to get him out of his busy schedule to spend some time with us, we're going to walk down memory lane, and extract some very helpful lessons on how he rise to fame. Ladies, and gentlemen, Benjamin Tan.

Benjamin Tan:

Hi.

Eric Feng:

If you look him up on Instagram, he's known as Benvoda, so maybe we start with that, why Benvoda? Is that Yoda, or-

Benjamin Tan:

That's a very interesting story, people have said, "Is it Yoda, is it vodka, you like drinking vodka is it?" I'm like, "No."

Eric Feng:

So why?

Benjamin Tan:

You know back when we started vlogging and stuff, you have to create a URL, a username, so, "Okay, it has to be Ben," it's my name, Ben. So it has to be something Ben, or Ben something. So I'm like, "Okay, let's think about it." It took me one whole day, and I was in the study room, and I was like, "Okay, looking around and was like, oh, that's my phone box." I was using Blackberry from back then, it was a Vodafone, so that's like "Benvoda".

Eric Feng:

I'm so glad you didn't have other things around you, can you imagine, you have a condom? Imagine if you have a condom box, Durex. Then it'll be-

Benjamin Tan:

Benrex.

Eric Feng:

Benrex. Benrex might actually be nice.

Benjamin Tan:

That's quite nice.

Eric Feng:

Benrex, yeah I kind of like it. So, tell us a little bit about your backstory. How do you got started in the influencer world?

Benjamin Tan:

Wow, it goes all the way back to Secondary Three?

Eric Feng:

Wow, I never thought I would hear the words 'secondary three'.

Benjamin Tan:

I know, I think that's like-

Eric Feng:

Wait, people might not be familiar with Secondary Three, because we have people outside of Singapore, so Secondary Three would be when he was 15 years old.

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, that's a good 11 years ago? Oh my god, so vlogging was the 'in' thing, among classmates, be for personal diary, or just for putting fun stuff out there, or blog shops, in fact. So I'm like, "Okay, let's try to do it." So I set up my own blog, and back then I always read Sasheer's Blog.

Eric Feng:

Sasheer!

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, so she was-

Eric Feng:

She was on our very first episode on #HighlySoughtAfter.

Benjamin Tan:

Oh yes, I saw it.

Eric Feng:

Awesome, okay. You have a fan.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes. So you know she's like the goddess back then, everybody... I mean, now she still is. But back then, she's up there, she's way more higher than celebrity. So be like, "Okay, I'm going to be like her, I want to be like her." So I create a blog, you know, trying to do blog design here and there, but I failed doing it, so...

            I even watched a guide to learn how to Photoshop my photos, so that's how I actually started.

Eric Feng:

So you got introduced to the blogging world.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes.

Eric Feng:

Okay, and then? What happened next?

Benjamin Tan:

Correct, and then I think people helps. I have this friend called [Yutakis 00:03:34], he actually introduced me to my first ever event as a blogger, and it's a big event at HTC, so when HTC was still around in Singapore, so I'm like, "Oh wow, I can go to this concert under HTC. Okay, let's just go and have some fun and make some friends." 

Eric Feng:

Correct.

Benjamin Tan:

So I went and had fun at the concert, and fast forward one month down the road, HTC contacted me and said, "Hey, Ben, we actually would like to work with you, and we'll be sponsoring you new phones every now and then, and tablets." So yes, I got free phones and tablets back then.

Eric Feng:

At 15 years old you have many free phones and-

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, and that was a big thing back then, you don't have to get paid or anything, getting freebies was like, "Whoa, I made it already." 

Eric Feng:

How do you feel?

Benjamin Tan:

I feel like I made it, it's kind of like, "Whoa, I'm a nobody, so now I'm working with big brand like HTC." And that's my first ever brand I work with.

Eric Feng:

Your friends, how did your friends react?

Benjamin Tan:

Wow, my friends were like, "Oh my god, you got free phone? Give me one." Every month, I change one new phone, and they would be like, "Wow, you're so rich." And I'm like, "No, it's free." And they're like, "Whoa, even better, free phone?"

Eric Feng:

At 15 years old, that's probably give you a very big ego boost, right?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, it was really a big ego boost.

Eric Feng:

And then, from there? How did you got on to social media?

Benjamin Tan:

From then, okay, so fast forward one, two years later, Instagram happened.

Eric Feng:

Which was in 2010.

Benjamin Tan:

10, yes. Instagram happened, and it was very new back then, so nobody actually really use Instagram. We're like, "Oh, there's this new app that can post photos and share with your friends." It's like a Facebook but without the text, right?

Eric Feng:

Yep.

Benjamin Tan:

So I'm like, "Okay, let's just try it." And back then, it was with the old vintage logo, and they even have templates with frames, oh my god, it was so long ago.

Eric Feng:

So what did you first post? Let's take a look.

Benjamin Tan:

Oh my god, my first post.

Eric Feng:

Let's take a look at Ben's very first post.

Benjamin Tan:

I remember it was a photo of my hamster.

Eric Feng:

Okay, thanks, hamster. So animal pictures as well.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, so this was my very first photo.

Eric Feng:

Hamster, alright.

Benjamin Tan:

It is.

Eric Feng:

Can we see it?

Benjamin Tan:

His name was Sugar, I think.

Eric Feng:

Sugar. Oh, "Baby Sugar", yeah you're right. And by then, he already had 71 people engaging with them, right?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, correct.

Eric Feng:

So, what were you initially posting a lot of?

Benjamin Tan:

It was more about food, random stuff.

Eric Feng:

Random.

Benjamin Tan:

Nobody actually creates their content back then.

Eric Feng:

That's true.

Benjamin Tan:

Everybody was just like, snap, post. 

Eric Feng:

Snap and post.

Benjamin Tan:

'cause nobody ever knew where Instagram would bring us back then. It was just like, "Oh, a platform to post photos and put some caption, done, that's it."

Eric Feng:

I see, then I noticed your photos started changing, right?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes.

Eric Feng:

Is there a reason why?

Benjamin Tan:

They happened to be the trend back then, so it started off with just snapping random photos, and that was the period where by minimalist is the theme.

Eric Feng:

I got it, yes. Also, in the early 2010 as well-

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, very long-

Eric Feng:

... which is the reason why all your photos have very, those, some-

Benjamin Tan:

Just one hand, one phone, one photo, one candy box, as I try, just keep it simple and clean-

Eric Feng:

Sometimes I wish life continues being a minimalist life, right?

Benjamin Tan:

Oh my god, yeah, really.

Eric Feng:

So okay, that was Phase Two, then how did it transit? What was the next phase?

Benjamin Tan:

The next phase was just... I think after you gain more confidence about yourself, you tend to post more photos of yourself to show your friends, like, "Oh, I'm doing this cheeky, okay, I did this, then I did this today. With [inaudible 00:06:35], hi today."

Eric Feng:

So a little bit more documenting what you do in your life?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, so I transit from posting random photos, to following trends, and then, "Oh, it should be about me now." 

Eric Feng:

Do you still remember when you hit your one thousand followers?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, it was on Chinese New Year back in 2015. 

Eric Feng:

Okay, so let's backtrack, so you went to Instagram, you got on Instagram, in '010, 10.

Benjamin Tan:

Around there.

Eric Feng:

5 years later, you got your one thousand followers.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, after 5 long years.

Eric Feng:

But that's because you were not even intentionally trying to get followers, and-

Benjamin Tan:

Precisely, yes. So I was very excited, I remember I was in Batam with my family for Chinese New Year, and I saw the notification, I was like, "One thousand likes? Wow."

Eric Feng:

Which one feels better, getting a free HTC phone, or getting one thousand likes?

Benjamin Tan:

It's different phase, so it's not comparable, but I think hitting the one thousand mark is like, "Whoa."

Eric Feng:

It was a big break for you.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, there's always different milestones, right?

Eric Feng:

Correct.

Benjamin Tan:

First, you get sponsorship, then that's off the list.

Eric Feng:

Check.

Benjamin Tan:

Second one, must hit one thousand likes, check. And next one, you have to get the 'K'. It's always on the-

Eric Feng:

So 10K?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, it's always about-

Eric Feng:

... so you can do the swipe up.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes.

Eric Feng:

Do you do anything different, from one thousand followers to ten thousand followers? Right now, Ben has about forty thousand followers, plus-

Benjamin Tan:

Forty-

Eric Feng:

Yeah, going to hit fifty. But during your first phase, that one thousand to ten thousand, was there anything that you did different?

Benjamin Tan:

I think back then, no, there wasn't much of a difference per se, because people were just posting photos. Obviously, we want to post something nice, so we just edit the photo-

Eric Feng:

So you started being more conscious about the photos your post?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, but that's about it, you see. But fast forward, when the years come, when more photos are getting higher quality photos, more influencers out there fighting with you and stuff, wow the game really changed.

Eric Feng:

How has it changed for you?

Benjamin Tan:

For me, I wouldn't say that I changed much per se, I still keep to what I do best, because I realize that-

Eric Feng:

Which is? What do you do best?

Benjamin Tan:

I will post lifestyle photos, yes.

Eric Feng:

Okay, maybe explain to the people watching this. To you, what is a lifestyle photo?

Benjamin Tan:

Lifestyle photo is usually... it's still created in the sense that you're taking a selfie, but you don't purposely pose, "Oh, I flip my skirt out here," and that.

Eric Feng:

Correct.

Benjamin Tan:

[inaudible 00:08:42] those photos don't work for me.

Eric Feng:

Okay, so what works for you, just sticking a camera, just snapping a picture? And then telling them what you're doing right now.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, it's mostly selfies, like, "Oh, you see I'm doing an interview right now here," or I'm-

Eric Feng:

Do it, show us. So, okay, let's say for example, you're all alone right now, you're preparing for the interview, how would you do it? How would you take the selfie?

Benjamin Tan:

So what happens first, I will take my photo, "Oh, he's preparing, we're going through his script and stuff." So just take a photo and maybe with him in the background, with [inaudible 00:09:07] a cup of water, and something like that, and take a photo, just edit here and there, and then I'll post. And the thing is, caption wasn't planned as well, it was-

Eric Feng:

Back then, it wasn't that important.

Benjamin Tan:

Back then, it wasn't that important, it was just... let's say I post a photo of my food, I would be like, "Oh, my lunch today," full stop.

Eric Feng:

Oh, just like that?

Benjamin Tan:

It was just like that. Or, interview would be like, "Oh, we're having an interview now. Looking forward to it." Full stop.

Eric Feng:

So two things, I'm sure everybody wants to ask you this. Could it be that because of the way you look, that's why you get all the followers? Do you have that concern?

Benjamin Tan:

Wow, I don't think so. 

Eric Feng:

No? Because they said, on Instagram, it's a lot about the visual.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes.

Eric Feng:

So if you look good, you tend to have a lot more followers, is that true?

Benjamin Tan:

I guess yes, obviously everybody want to see something nice on their feed-

Eric Feng:

Yeah, correct.

Benjamin Tan:

... if you post a photo of pimples, people would be like, "Oh, no." But yeah, that helps a bit, but to me, I've always been not very confident of my own looks as well, so I always doubted myself.

Eric Feng:

So how do you overcome that?

Benjamin Tan:

Overcome... I think it's really thanks to my followers, because my followers always will be encouraging and be like, "Oh, you look so good." And after they add in the Direct Message function on Instagram, I get more of those, because some people are just shy posting in public comments.

Eric Feng:

Yes, so they privately comment.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, they'll comment me, so that really helps, because you know that people out there, as much as you don't know them, is just virtual.

Eric Feng:

And the key thing is to, I always tell them, go where you're celebrated. Because you put your photo out there, there might be 5 people who like it, 5 people who do not like it, and you focus on the 5 who like it, and these are your fans.

Benjamin Tan:

You have the feel good of posting that photo, that's the important thing.

Eric Feng:

Wait, say that again, I think that's an important point, what do you want-

Benjamin Tan:

You have to feel good posting that feeling out there, because if you don't feel good about it yourself, there's no point having 1 million people like it, but you don't like the photo.

Eric Feng:

So post it for yourself first.

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, I mean, Egg can also get so many millions like.

Eric Feng:

Yeah, that's true-

Benjamin Tan:

Oh my god, egg.

Eric Feng:

... I remember posting a cat picture, cats work.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes.

Eric Feng:

But I post it without thinking too much about it, but when I analyze, I was very demoralized, 'cause I realized when you put my photo beside a cat picture, the cat actually got a lot more likes than me-

Benjamin Tan:

Sometimes, it's always the unexpected photos that does better than the rest, if you realize this.

Eric Feng:

Okay, so the crazy, unexpected... is there any other posts that did very well for you, on Instagram?

Benjamin Tan:

Did very well for me?

Eric Feng:

Yeah, do you remember any posts, that shocked you, that go like, "Whoa, I didn't expect that this post would get so many likes."

Benjamin Tan:

Wow, memorable one, there's quite a few here and there, but it's really those kind of, just take a selfie. Mostly selfies, it's very weird. That's why I say, for me, it's very tough to strategize what to post, because those created ones, "Oh, let's go to this café and take some nice photos-"

Eric Feng:

[crosstalk 00:11:34] correct, flat lace and all that, doesn't work for you?

Benjamin Tan:

... oh my god, no. It still garner likes and good comments-

Eric Feng:

But not as much.

Benjamin Tan:

... no. 

Eric Feng:

So people followed you because you're unassuming, and it's just a photo of yourself?

Benjamin Tan:

I guess they're able to relate better, as like a... so-called, what people say, boy next door, kind of thing. Not so much of a pretentious shot-

Eric Feng:

So you need to continue being the boy next door.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes.

Eric Feng:

Now I want to ask you something. When you started getting your free phones, and you got your thousand follower and all that, that get in your head?

Benjamin Tan:

Oh, yes, that's the big part, that's a very big issue. When you start getting so-called fame, gain more followers and stuff, and you work with more brands, you tend to feel like, "Oh, this ego boost." And that kind of ego boost is really very big, it's huge.

Eric Feng:

How did it manifest for you?

Benjamin Tan:

For me, it got to my head to the sense that it makes me feel like I look down on some other people. Like, "Oh yeah, that's an influencer with that amount of likes."

Eric Feng:

So you started looking at people by the number of influencers.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, it reflects as a person, when you meet me, you feel it from me, and online presence as well, back then.

Eric Feng:

Okay, let's go into that, because obviously guys, he's not like that, I spend... he has more followers than me right now, and I wholly don't feel it, but I want to know what were you like before? So, let's say you met somebody who has half your followers, how would you respond around him?

Benjamin Tan:

I would just say, "Oh, hi." But that's it for the night. 

Eric Feng:

Ben is an actor, okay? So let's do a bit of show and tell. So imagine I only got one thousand followers, how would you say hi to me?

Benjamin Tan:

Okay, so obviously the middle person would introduce us, "Oh, this is who, who, who." Oh, I'll be like, "Oh, hi."

Eric Feng:

Oh, hi. Nice to meet you.

Benjamin Tan:

Then after that, the rest I just walk away already.

Eric Feng:

Okay, so that's one thousand followers. If I got ten thousand followers, how would you respond?

Benjamin Tan:

Oh my god, back then, ten thousand followers I would be standing around there, trying to make eye contact, then "Oh, this is nice, right?" Try to make small conversation.

Eric Feng:

Oh, yes, very nice, the water is very nice to drink.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, do you want me to take a photo for you?

Eric Feng:

Oh, okay, let's take a photo.

Benjamin Tan:

[crosstalk 00:13:26] it's so fake. Looking back-

Eric Feng:

So superficial.

Benjamin Tan:

... I'm like, "Oh my god, who's that person?"

Eric Feng:

Wait, but I have to give you credit, because it means that before you come for an event, you kind of already know how many followers are there, each person has.

Benjamin Tan:

You can roughly sometimes know who will be there-

Eric Feng:

Feels like a computer game where you go into the scene, you see people's life there, and the level five, like DOTA like that.

Benjamin Tan:

Oh my god, yes.

Eric Feng:

Level ten, level twenty. So all those less than you one, you will ignore them?

Benjamin Tan:

It helps that back then, the influencer community is very small, so you kind of know who is in it, who is not in it.

Eric Feng:

Okay.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes.

Eric Feng:

So those that have low, you don't even talk to them? But those equal amount with you, would you talk to them?

Benjamin Tan:

Oh yes, we would hang out together, they'll be like-

Eric Feng:

You hang out?

Benjamin Tan:

... yeah, and we're like, "Hey, let's go to this event together, let's go."

Eric Feng:

So then the highest one, you take photos with them?

Benjamin Tan:

The highest one, yes, it would be like, "Oh my god, that's who, who, who."

Eric Feng:

And then what do you do?

Benjamin Tan:

And then we just stand... sometimes, they're too high level, just stand one side, fanboying over them.

Eric Feng:

Do you manage to take a photo with Sasheer back then?

Benjamin Tan:

Whoa, yes, I think I have one, long time ago.

Eric Feng:

[crosstalk 00:14:26] how did you approach her?

Benjamin Tan:

It was my friend who went to her, I was like, "Eh, help me, I want to ask, I want to take a photo." He said, "Oh, okay, I help you ask." Then he just went and said, "He wants to take a photo with you." And she was very nice, despite her achievements and everything, she was like, "Okay, sure." So she just take photo with you.

Eric Feng:

Okay, so that was how you hustle.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes.

Eric Feng:

I mean, obviously you're not like that now, what changed? Why suddenly you became a lot more grounded, and you don't judge people based on the number of followers they have? Something happen?

Benjamin Tan:

After entering the working society, there's a lot-

Eric Feng:

That's like a slap on your face.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, it was like, "Wake the hell up, man."

Eric Feng:

Okay, what happened? What was your first job?

Benjamin Tan:

My first job, I worked in a PR agency, so I was interning there initially, so that was where I become the person behind the screen. I have to work with influencers, I have to work with clients, so I have to manage on both ends, and that's how I realized, actually for the PR person, it's actually very tough job. You have to handle the attitudes of the influences, which I know why is it so tough for people back then, because I was the one giving attitude.

Eric Feng:

Yeah, oh my god, you got a taste of your own medicine.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes. Karma.

Eric Feng:

Yeah, I think karma really comes one round.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, it just slaps me in the face again.

Eric Feng:

Yeah, so okay, so you got a chance to experience it, and then how?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, and then I felt that, when it comes to life, really come back to Earth, when you're on Earth, you really feel like sometimes you will be genuine to people, because no matter how much you've achieved, if you are bad personality or character, you won't be well-liked by a lot of others. 

Eric Feng:

How do you know that you're not well-liked, did anyone talk about you?

Benjamin Tan:

Oh my god, yes, and back then, Twitter was still a thing, at least in Singapore, it was still a thing back then-

Eric Feng:

It's still popular, Twitter is still very popular.

Benjamin Tan:

I guess in Singapore, no more-

Eric Feng:

No more?

Benjamin Tan:

Not really.

Eric Feng:

Not really?

Benjamin Tan:

It's still around, but hardly-

Eric Feng:

I think the business people will use it, we use that to read news and all.

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, I guess it's more popular in the States than-

Eric Feng:

Correct.

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, so people open 'at mention' me, and say, "Oh, this person is so disgusting, he's so ugly but he acts like he's everything."

Eric Feng:

Shit, they say that?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, they say that, every single thing they can think of, they will say.

Eric Feng:

How do you deal with it? Do you read them?

Benjamin Tan:

Oh I read it, I read every single one of them-

Eric Feng:

What are the most memorable, horrible stuff that you ever read about yourself?

Benjamin Tan:

"He looks so ugly, he's just blame his mother for giving birth to him to this world." I was like, "Oh my god."

Eric Feng:

That's the worst, number two?

Benjamin Tan:

Number two will be... I guess it's all about looks, like, "Oh my god, with his face, people still follow him, and he still thinks that he can get sponsorship?"

Eric Feng:

Oh, okay, that was quite good, quite evil.

Benjamin Tan:

Third one will be like, "Oh, did he just got run over by a truck? Because it just looks like he tried to recover from it, but it's still in the midst of recovery."

Eric Feng:

Wow, I don't envy your world, man.

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, so it's that bad.

Eric Feng:

So mean.

Benjamin Tan:

And because I think as a 15, 16 year old back then, it was-

Eric Feng:

[crosstalk 00:17:05]

Benjamin Tan:

... it's very hard to manage all these things back then.

Eric Feng:

Okay, how do you deal with it, do you cry, or do you-

Benjamin Tan:

Cry, really cry. And you go to event, feeling you're so depressed, because you never knew which one of them are there. "Is it you?"

Eric Feng:

Yeah, it looks like the guy who ate the satays are looking at me right now.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, you get very self-conscious of your surrounding, and become so... you just close up entirely from the whole... wow, it was bad.

Eric Feng:

Wow, I respect you for that, and then do you have any positive countermeasures that help you to feel better?

Benjamin Tan:

Oh my god, no not really.

Eric Feng:

So you just take all that in?

Benjamin Tan:

You just take it in, and I'm a very introvert person, so I don't really talk about problems to my family, friends, nobody, I always keep it to myself. So when I go through this phase, my family and friends just see the good side, like "Oh he's getting sponsor," but behind the scenes, it's really a lot of this kind of sh-

Eric Feng:

So, how do you deal with it?

Benjamin Tan:

Just cry.

Eric Feng:

Cry it out, and then moved on.

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, just moved on. It's really tough, but you just have to really bite it and just go through it.

Eric Feng:

And so, that was that phase of your life, where Ben is not Benvoda, it's Ben-ego, right? The Ben-ego phase. And then you went to work, and you realize, you get a taste of your own medicine, and that's when you start to kind of ground yourself a little bit.

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, I guess age also plays a part-

Eric Feng:

Not... you're still very young.

Benjamin Tan:

I'm not that young.

Eric Feng:

But you have experienced something for yourself.

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, I think experience, work experience, experience with life and society really builds your character, and as a person.

Eric Feng:

Hey, this is Eric here, just dropping in to check-in on you, are you getting value so far from this interview? 'cause if you are, I'm very happy for you, and I'm really curious to know what are some of the key takeaways, so after the interview, go to social media, screenshot your learnings, and tag me, alright, so that we can connect. Okay, I'm going to leave you to listen to the rest of the interview, enjoy.

            So who are the people who follow you right now?

Benjamin Tan:

Wow, follow-

Eric Feng:

Forty thousand followers, are they all Singaporeans?

Benjamin Tan:

No, surprisingly... they're mainly from Asia, but mostly, they're from Hong Kong, Taiwan-

Eric Feng:

Oh, yes, that reminds me, guys, how do I know Benvoda, was one day, I was hanging out with my friends in Hong Kong at a networking event, and then I introduced myself, I said, "I'm Eric from Singapore." And then, "Oh, you're from Singapore? Do you happen to know this guy, he's an influencer, his handle is Benvoda." Benvoda? Is he from Star Wars or something? [crosstalk 00:19:35] I was like, "No, I have no idea who he is." And that was two years ago, so that's how I got to know you.

Benjamin Tan:

Whoa.

Eric Feng:

How do you have followers from so far away? How do people from Hong Kong and Taiwan know about you?

Benjamin Tan:

Wow, that's the thing, with all the algorithm thing in play and stuff, we never know how to grow the numbers, and we never know where they come from, that's the thing. We do know where they come from, but we don't know how did they [crosstalk 00:19:55]-

Eric Feng:

How they got to know you, amazing.

Benjamin Tan:

... we just looked through 'Explore feed', you can see people from all around the world now, from the States, everywhere, so it's a tough game now.

Eric Feng:

Maybe let's talk about TV. How do you got your first big break, in 2018?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes.

Eric Feng:

Emerald Hill High, right?

Benjamin Tan:

Wow, okay, so backstory would be like, I started off as extra with my friend, for two whole years, thinking that... I love acting since young, I always wanted to be on TV, go up the stage and say, "Oh, thank you mom and dad for-

Eric Feng:

Do you actually do that at home, do you take your shampoo bottle and-

Benjamin Tan:

Yes I do that at home when I was a kid.

Eric Feng:

I did that too, but see where I... obviously didn't happen.

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, [crosstalk 00:20:33]. 

Eric Feng:

Okay, so you wanted to be an actor, and then?

Benjamin Tan:

But because of lack of confidence, I'm always very shy in front of cameras, so it's a miracle that I'm... in front of three cameras today.

Eric Feng:

There are three cameras right now, yeah.

Benjamin Tan:

So, I'm very shy, I can be very outgoing, very spontaneous, at home in front of the mirror, but once you put me in front of the camera I'll be like... I'll freeze up. So it's very weird.

Eric Feng:

Okay.

Benjamin Tan:

So two years, three years back, my friend said, "Eh, why don't we go be extra?" I said okay, since I can't act, maybe I go be extra and we see what's going on behind the scene.

Eric Feng:

What shows were you on?

Benjamin Tan:

So I was on this Chinese show called Doppelganger with Fan Wong, Christopher Lee, all the big stars, so I was... Rebecca. Then I was like, "Oh my god."

Eric Feng:

Did you take pictures with them?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, a lot.

Eric Feng:

So, extras are allowed to interact with the actors and actresses?

Benjamin Tan:

I think as long as you know the limits, don't go overboard. Yeah, I think they're fine, usually they're fine.

Eric Feng:

Yeah, and you do your typical selfie Ben?

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, I'll be like, "Can I take a photo with you?" They'll be like, "Okay, sure." I'm like, "Oh, they're nice too."

Eric Feng:

Did they follow you back? You tag them-

Benjamin Tan:

Obviously no-

Eric Feng:

It's okay-

Benjamin Tan:

One day, goals.

Eric Feng:

Goals, what's goals?

Benjamin Tan:

My life goals.

Eric Feng:

Oh, you life goal, one more check for you, right?

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, man.

Eric Feng:

Then how did the extra for two years led to your big break?

Benjamin Tan:

Okay, so from the two years, I remember my very first extra role, was an extra in Ah Boys to Men.

Eric Feng:

I'm going to try and find you in that movie. Ah Boys to Men-

Benjamin Tan:

I was doing river crossing.

Eric Feng:

One year... sorry, the first one-

Benjamin Tan:

No, I think it was the third or the fourth... was there a fourth?

Eric Feng:

I don't know how many there are.

Benjamin Tan:

I think the fourth one, the last one.

Eric Feng:

The Navy one, the water one?

Benjamin Tan:

No, the Army one. So there was the river crossing, I was the one river crossing.

Eric Feng:

You were there?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, I was the one doing the river crossing.

Eric Feng:

Guys, let's go spot him, we'll go find him.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, so that was my first ever extra gig. I was like, "Oh, it's quite nice, people are nice, the crew is nice, and I get to see how people actually film everything, behind the scene." So I was like, "Okay, this is how it works." 

            But after two years, I'm like, "You can't pay the bills, because the amount that you get from extra is very little."

Eric Feng:

How much... do you mind sharing?

Benjamin Tan:

Oh, I don't mind, it's maybe $30-$50 for one whole day.

Eric Feng:

And a lot of waiting, right?

Benjamin Tan:

A lot of waiting, but that's the phase you have to go through, at least for me, I felt like it's an experience, at least I get to learn, because I've never been to acting classes or anything, so that itself is a lesson for me.

Eric Feng:

I agree.

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, so I wasn't complaining, my mom was like, "Oh my god, it's long hours, it's more than 12 hours per day, you earn $50?" I'm like, it's not about earning the money.

Eric Feng:

Yeah, it's like going to Universal Studio, except that you get paid for it.

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, correct. So I'm-

Eric Feng:

So then, so how did it happen?

Benjamin Tan:

... after that, two years I'm like, "Okay, I got to find a job," 'cause I got into a real job, so I went to work, and halfway through, around... in 2018, around March, that's where the first production house actually approached me and said, "Oh, we have this new Toggle series coming up-"

Eric Feng:

On Instagram? Contacted you on Instagram, or?

Benjamin Tan:

Through email.

Eric Feng:

Oh, they found you? Okay.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, so they said, "We have this production coming out, we would like you to play Ron, this character Ron. Would you like to come down for an audition?" And I'm like, "Sure, why not?" No losses and everything, just go. 

            So I went for the audition in March, and initially, they told me that the filming will be in June, but up to May I didn't hear a single thing from them, and I'm like, "Okay, it's okay, let's move on with life, it's nothing new." Getting rejected is nothing new to me.

Eric Feng:

Oh really? So you went to a lot of auditions before?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, but I was afraid, because I was so scared-

Eric Feng:

Scared in front of TV?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, correct.

Eric Feng:

Okay, camera.

Benjamin Tan:

So, I'm like, "Nothing new, let's just move on." But in July, that's when I got an email that said, "Hey, do you remember us? We would like to cast you as Ron." I was like, "Oh my god, is this happening? Is this happening?"

Eric Feng:

Did you save that email? I mean, all email is saved, but do you have it?

Benjamin Tan:

I do have that email, yes. I was like, "Oh my god." So I went down and was like, "Are you sure you're getting me to be Ron?" And they said yes and I was like, "Whoa."

Eric Feng:

And did they tell you why you got it?

Benjamin Tan:

Oh yes, so Ron is an introvert, is a very quiet, shy-

Eric Feng:

You're just being yourself.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, and shy character, so he was telling me, after the whole production wrap, that's when he told me, "You know, initially we were quite afraid to cast you, because you don't have much experience." In fact, I have no experience at all. He said, "But during the audition, you acted very well because you were just so shy and awkward in front of camera, that's totally Ron." But then in my heart I'm like, "But that's me, I wasn't acting, I was just-"

Eric Feng:

So you were just being yourself.

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah.

Eric Feng:

So Ron was Benvoda all along.

Benjamin Tan:

So it's funny how I got my first role because I was just being myself, being the awkward me in front of camera.

Eric Feng:

And how did that open doors for you?

Benjamin Tan:

I really have to thank the production house for Emerald Hill High, because of that, it builds up my confidence, because as [inaudible 00:24:47] in front of camera, as an actor in front of camera, the cast and the crew, actually really... they were very patient with me. They even guided me how to act, "Don't be afraid." And they were very patient, there was no losing of temper, no nothing, everybody was just very caring, so I guess that builds up the confidence of acting in front of camera, and working in front of a huge crowd, and in fact, filming in public spaces. So I'm like, "Wow, that really helps the build up."

            And because of that, followers grew also, and I'm really grateful to followers who help me along the way as well.

Eric Feng:

How did they help you?

Benjamin Tan:

Oh my god, so I got my second show called Lion Moms, okay, it's the third season. I didn't know about the audition, in fact, it was my follower who submitted my profile to the production house.

Eric Feng:

You have the best followers.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, and after that, after when the production house actually confirmed and said, "Oh, maybe we want to get him down for an audition." Me, get me down for an audition? That's when he told me, "Oh, actually I sent your profile to this production house."

Eric Feng:

"And we like it and please come for audition."

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, I'm like, "Oh my god," if it's not for him, I wouldn't know there's a audition going on.

Eric Feng:

And you went for the audition.

Benjamin Tan:

I went for the audition, and as the audition, I have to act as a 15 year old-

Eric Feng:

Introvert too?

Benjamin Tan:

... student. No, as a gangster.

Eric Feng:

Gangster, you hardly look like a gangster.

Benjamin Tan:

So all the roles I've gotten so far is never me in this way, if you think about it.

Eric Feng:

But this time round, fish in the water for you? Was it easier?

Benjamin Tan:

It was much easier, when I went for the audition, it was like, "Oh, okay, I got a script, so acct out in front." So I just act out. It was very carefree, it felt different, me myself I can feel the difference between now and previously, when I was auditioning way back, blindness and aimlessly.

Eric Feng:

Okay, and yet still no training, but that's how you got all your big breaks.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, confidence really helps a lot, and experience you get on set, the crew really helps a lot as well, that's really helps a lot, because if you have crews that are nasty and stuff, that would be a bad experience, very bad.

Eric Feng:

Were there any other sweet things that your followers done for you, besides submitting your portfolio to audition houses?

Benjamin Tan:

Oh my god, very same follower knew that I always had issues with eye bags and eye circles, so he went to bought one whole carton of eye cream and eye masks just for me.

Eric Feng:

Guys, I won't mind having a box of eye cream and eye lotion too, I don't mind-

Benjamin Tan:

It's really-

Eric Feng:

... being on TV too, so you can submit my portfolio, I would do something with Ben later on, you can submit that one, okay? Please?

Benjamin Tan:

Really one whole box, I was like, "Whoa, it's a one year's supply." And when I go for events, when followers know I'm at that particular event, that will be like, "Oh, it's 6PM." They went to buy dinner for me, and they'll be like, "Oh, it's 6PM your event, and we know that you won't have time for dinner," so these-

Eric Feng:

Oh my god.

Benjamin Tan:

... I was like, "Oh my god, I'm so touched, but don't spend money on me, don't ever spend money on me." It's very nice of you guys, but it's just... no, don't spend money on me.

Eric Feng:

So tell me what's the Ben magic you have there, why are your followers so nice to you? Is there something that you did, that got hem to be so nice?

Benjamin Tan:

It helps, for me, at least, is that for every single comment or direct messages I receive, I'll reply to every single one of them. So on Instagram, no matter 100 plus comments, or 5 comments, I'll always reply personally to every single one. Very personal, you have to build a relationship with them, instead of just being like, "That's just another follower, out of your many hundreds of thousands."

Eric Feng:

Correct, so that was one. Any other things that you have done that you felt caused them to be drawn to you?

Benjamin Tan:

It's the personal touch, it's just how they're able to relate with my photos and my postings from day to day, because I'm very... how to say? Nowadays, I'm more true to myself on social media. If I'm upset, I'll just say that I'm upset, this kind of thing. I won't purposely portray that, happy images. That's never real, come on, guys.

Eric Feng:

So would you say that Instagram became a canvas for you to document your life?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, but obviously, social media is a double-edged sword, right?

Eric Feng:

In what sense, what do you mean?

Benjamin Tan:

Okay, so you can put your life out there, but there's always a limit to how much you can put out there. You should never post too much emo stuff online as well, which is a thing that I'm trying to learn, 'cause sometimes we get too upset, post a lot of stuff, and that actually turns brands off, turns people off-

Eric Feng:

Oh, it turns brands off? Okay, because brands need you to be in a certain-

Benjamin Tan:

In a certain image and stuff, at least, because after all, you're representing their brand.

Eric Feng:

Okay.

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, so if you're too revealing, too sexy, or maybe too emo, people will be like, "Oh, maybe this is not the right one."

Eric Feng:

For the brand.

Benjamin Tan:

Correct.

Eric Feng:

So would you say that brands are looking for certain characteristic, are there, that universal two to three characteristics that brands are looking for, whenever they go for sponsors?

Benjamin Tan:

For brands, personality always works.

Eric Feng:

What kind of personality, or-

Benjamin Tan:

I think depends on the brand also.

Eric Feng:

Oh.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, so let's say if you're a sports brand, obviously you need somebody that's fitness, into fitness, and outgoing, and stuff. But if you're looking at beauty brands, you wouldn't be looking at guys, right? Most of the time you wouldn't you look at girls who uses that brand as well, that will relate it, make it more relatable. But the thing now is that, because of the algorithm on Instagram, nowadays it's very tough to manage all these expectations of the brands, because numbers works nowadays-

Eric Feng:

Works for them.

Benjamin Tan:

... yeah, works for them. You know they have to submit their reports as well, at the end of the month, so... but, because of the algorithm, my number is like.

Eric Feng:

[inaudible 00:29:51]... but I would say that having said that these are all just numbers, but having said that, the truth of the matter is that your followers really put you as number one star, and from you, I've learned that the reason's because you were very personal with them, and you are... what we see on Instagram is what we see in life-

Benjamin Tan:

Oh, I hope so.

Eric Feng:

... or at least an aspect of you that's authentic. How do you stay authentic? Or how are you going to remain authentic, in the next... you just started only, you know? This whole journey of being an actor, an influencer.

Benjamin Tan:

Wow, I think remaining authentic is one thing that people always have trouble with, especially when fame hits you.

Eric Feng:

Yeah, exactly, and it hit you once before, it's going to hit you again.

Benjamin Tan:

Correct, so it's always a constant reminder, so what I do is I will always ask my friend as well, "Do you realize any change in me recently, after I've done this?" And some of them, previously they would say, "Oh yeah, you turned a bit snobbish and stuff, and you're behaving in a small, minor micro-expressions from here and there, maybe if you could take note of that a bit and stuff."

Eric Feng:

Wow, that is also-

Benjamin Tan:

Yeah, so it's really a self-reflection, but ask people around you, 'cause when you ask yourself, most of the time, you won't find fault with yourself.

Eric Feng:

Yeah, it's a blind spot.

Benjamin Tan:

It's a blind spot, yes. So you ask your friends, and to me now, as long as you're doing something that doesn't harm others, that's good enough.

Eric Feng:

So, the people watching this video, I do not know, some of them may aspire to be a TV star like you, but what I do know is that many of them are in service profession, they're in financial service, they're in real estate, they're in direct marketing for health, they're all building their influence, but they may not have the platform like yours, TV. What advice do you have for them, especially they are right now on Instagram, do you have any tips for them, that will help them to build their following, and hopefully one day have followers that buy them stuff?

Benjamin Tan:

Right, for brands that are looking at getting... if you're looking at real estate, all these, it's always good to have some professionally taken photos and stuff, but you wouldn't want to get too commercialized, 'cause people will think, "Oh, it's a scam, it's another sponsored post," et cetera. Try to do something more relatable.

            For Singapore, at least we have the PropertyLimBrothers. They're very relatable, because it's them doing the videos.

Eric Feng:

So it's more about showing more of themselves on Instagram?

Benjamin Tan:

Correct, 'cause at the end of the day, when you're selling a house or insurance or whatever in the sales line, you're not only selling the product, you're selling yourself, that's the end of the day. You're selling yourself, because there are so many agents out there, why must I buy from you?

Eric Feng:

So would you say that what we need to do is have a good look at ourself, and ask ourself, what is some aspect of our personality that we can accentuate or amplify on social media?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, and also be true to yourself, because don't try to be somebody that you're not, because at the end of the day, if you try to act like somebody that you're not, people can feel it, even if it's through the screen.

            I've tried to be pretentious, I've tried to be like, "Oh, I'm up here and there." And people can feel it as well, they feel it's not authentic, it's not me. So always be yourself, sit down, and think what you want to do for your brand, and how you can bring something to the table, for your brand and for yourself.

Eric Feng:

Got it, I love it. So in other words, go back to think about two to three words that we would love, of ourselves, that is who we are, and focus on that on Instagram. Because Instagram ultimately, is still very much a personal reality show, right?

Benjamin Tan:

Yes, correct.

Eric Feng:

It's all about us.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes.

Eric Feng:

Well, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it, this is Ben on his upward journey to fame, and I think we love your story, and we wish you success-

Benjamin Tan:

Oh, thank you.

Eric Feng:

... in everything that you do, I think if there's one thing I learned from you, it's that if you truly have a dream, maybe things don't look the way it is, don't look promising right now, but if you keep your eyes and your heart on your goals, eventually, you will get there. 'cause people around you will help you.

Benjamin Tan:

Yes.

Eric Feng:

Thank you so much for listening to the entire interview, I trust that it was valuable to you. Now, it would mean the world to me if you could write me a review, so who knows, your reviews may be featured in the very next episode, so what are you waiting for? Go write a review now.