Local Teen Broadcasts his Life OnlineBy Judy Spooner - South Washington County Bulletin
The only time 16-year-old Dylan Reichstadt’s life is not appearing live on the Internet is from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. when he’s in class at Park High School.
Other than that, you can tune in at Justin.tv/dylanlive to watch his life, which also includes sleeping and a view of the shoes in the closet by the front door when he leaves his Cottage Grove home.
Viewers can talk to Reichstadt, or to each other, in the chat room next to his broadcast screen. But beware; he boots you out of the room if you abuse the privilege of watching or commenting on his life.
Dylan Reichstadt, wearing his “hat cam” is broadcasting the reporter while she takes his picture for a news article. (Bulletin photo by Judy Spooner)
Dylan Reichstadt, wearing his “hat cam” is broadcasting the reporter while she takes his picture for a news article.
“People like to watch real people living real life,” he said in an interview at his home Nov. 5. Much of the interview w as broadcast live on his Web site to about 40 viewers who also commented on the conversation taking place. “They see through my eyes,” he said.
Reichstadt said his highest viewership was 2,905 people.
“I look at the viewer count numbers,” he said, “because that tells me what’s interesting to them. If someone sees something they like, I’ve got ‘em.”
His mother, Jodi Reichstadt, said her son’s willingness and ability to broadcast his life surprised her.
“This floors me,” Jodi said. “My son’s great. He’s very uninhibited.”
On Thursday, Nov. 6, Reichstadt broadcasted from play practice at Park High School, where he is preparing to be the husband in “A Christmas Carol,” next month.
Reichstadt’s work is supported by a solo music artist on the East Coast named Nick Consone. Consone bought Reichstadt’s laptop computer and pays for his portable Internet connection in exchange for mentions on the Web site.
Reichstadt had contacted several artists, and Consone was the one who chose to accept his proposition.
If you run into Reichstadt around town, comb your hair quickly, because you could be part of his live broadcast. His camera is attached to his baseball cap.
Last summer broadcasting his life led to a chat with local police.
While riding home on the bus from his summer internship at 50 Records in Minneapolis, Reichstadt was broadcasting from a camera fastened to his shirt. Thinking his behavior somewhat odd, someone reported him to Metro Transit.
After a conversation with an officer who greeted him when he left the bus, Reichstadt decided to end his bus broadcasting.
He broadcast a ghost hunt from his basement with his father, Randy, taking part.
He also hangs up a disco ball and holds solo dance parties.
Clips of past broadcasts are available on the site.
For now, Reichstadt is learning all he can about video by participating in school broadcasting and preparing to learn how to record and broadcast school board meetings.
As to the future, he is sure video will always be a part of his life, but he also wants to learn how to fly airplanes he said.
“I love new things,” Reichstadt said.
*
Link to original article*
