Met any celebrities?

[Bluemofia]

Nope. Nothing unusual happens around here.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

I wish that I had met Sid Meier. THat would be awesome


BTW-100th post

 

[CruddyLeper]

What do you do when you meet famous people?

I suck at networking and don't do anything. People say I talk myself down when everyone else talks themselves up, but the truth is that I am scared of screwing up under cross-examination. I am not very quick on my feet

Practise relaxation - it won't give you witty one liners but it will help you not to say the wrong thing.

Dialectic reasoning -question/answer, question/answer, question etc etc.

If they haven't asked a question, you ask one. On anything. See where it heads. If you don't know much about a subject, much better to say, "I don't know much about it - tell me more" than bluff it.

And practise. Eventually you'll feel that meeting new people is actually quite fun, once you get over the shyness/awkwardness.

Met a couple of game programmers - Geoff Crammond, David Braben. Oh yeah, once had a conversation with Ice T but I really can't repeat the words on this forum.

Let's just say he wasn't complimentary - but I still think he's a great performer.

 

[Drewcifer]

Ah, I've never been there -- I don't think of myself as much of a nightclub person.

Too bad about the Nye's shooting though. Haven't been there in a while, but it's still a neat place.

Just saw this. Yeah, he was friends with a couple of people I work with. They have all been very down lately - and understandably. Someone that young shouldn't die - let alone be murdered. Sometimes I hope there IS a hell.

So I don't go too far off topic I will add that Nye's (along with the Bryant Lake Bowl) was one of Winona Rider's favorite hangouts in town when she was dating Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum. I knew most of the people in that band pretty well (except Dave) having worked with Karl the bass player for two years in a downtown bar (even a B-grade rock star needs a day job) and having lived in that Uptown rock'n'roll social scene for a long time back in the day. I once saw Karl threaten a bouncer with never getting another drink unless he stopped telling people that the bartender was in Soul Asylum. The band is good, friendly, everyday folk (though I don't love their music) with the possible execption of Dave, who is probably just weak and impulsive rather than truely bad - I don't know him well enough to say. After their first big hit, he dumped his girlfriend of many years to shack up with the movie star and it seemed like it was mostly because he could. That is so not cool, plus she was a much better woman than Winona. There may have been other things going on though, I only heard her side.

 

[Rambuchan]

I've met and know quite a few (musicians, DJs, actors and actresses, there's a politician in the family [who I don't really talk to] and so on).

They are all just human beings who get hungry, lonely, ambitious, scared, tired and so on. I feel sorry for those who live in the public spotlight, it's a really unfair pressure in most cases.

 

[Drewcifer]

I've met and know quite a few (musicians, DJs, actors and actresses, there's a politician in the family [who I don't really talk to] and so on).

They are all just human beings who get hungry, lonely, ambitious, scared, tired and so on. I feel sorry for those who live in the public spotlight, it's a really unfair pressure in most cases.

It is mostly interesting when you find out who the real asses are. The Minneapolis vibe toward famous people tends to be - "So you are good at what you do? Cool. We all know people who are good in creative fields, most of us try ourselves, some of us hit it. That makes you like my friends (or self)."

It is interesting to watch some LA style stars run into that aspect of the local culture because it is very different than the way LA works. Here, even if you are famous you are just a person, you may be respected for being good at something but it doesn't go much further than that. There if you are sucessful in the fame biz you are IMPORTANT. It can be a rude awakening for some. You tend to hear about who the real people are, the jerks also. You come to a busy restaurant without reservations and say "Do you know who I am?" you better be Prince or the Pope because otherwise you are waiting like everybody else (we may make an exception for Kevin Garnett but I hear he calls ahead to make reservations like a normal person, Prince does too sometimes).

 

[Rambuchan]

Yes I agree. LA must be very unfriendly place at that level. Everyone looking out for themself.

I'd say that there are a few friends and acquaintances who have been negatively affected by their fame. These are mostly confined to the models, politicians and unfortunately some of the film producers. They do have a slightly pumped up sense of self worth and I do see an air of condescension with them. Many expect preferential treatment at restaurants, bars and clubs and the thing is they get it often.

But I don't think this is entirely an ego thing. When I was producing I did this as well. I was empolyed or employed or simply mixed with many so-called celebs/important people. There were restaurants, bars and clubs which I expected to be given a better table at or given a good sofa area in. But this is only when I was with the 'celebs' for instance. I think this was more of a business thing. I needed to have that treatment because many of the people I was entertaining were 'important' and sitting at a crappy table is not good for maintaining that image. If I had not expected this treatment, I would have been doing a bad service to my clients and associates. It's weird but that's where it comes from in my experience. And yes of course I loved it at the time . I'd be lying if I said I didn't. But now that I've left the film world these jumped up folk are generally not the ones I have stayed in touch with.

Those who take it all in their stride and remain chilled tend to be the DJs, actors, musicians and artists.

 

[Drewcifer]

But I don't think this is entirely an ego thing. When I was producing I did this as well. I was empolyed or employed or simply mixed with many so-called celebs/important people. There were restaurants, bars and clubs which I expected to be given a better table at or given a good sofa area in. But this is only when I was with the 'celebs' for instance. I think this was more of a business thing. I needed to have that treatment because many of the people I was entertaining were 'important' and sitting at a crappy table is not good for maintaining that image. If I had not expected this treatment, I would have been doing a bad service to my clients and associates. It's weird but that's where it comes from in my experience. And yes of course I loved it at the time . I'd be lying if I said I didn't. But now that I've left the film world these jumped up folk are generally not the ones I have stayed in touch with.

Interesting, perhaps cultural differences or expectations drive such notions. Here expectations run in the other direction, probably becuase of the fading remnants of the old socialist culture of the place. Slug, the rapper from Atmosphere is a major culturally notable person around Minneapolis these days. His music is everywhere in this town. He is a regular at the restaurant I run. If any of our staff went up to him and acknowledged him as such and make conversation with him about music or touring, shows, etc., he would probably never come back. Bob Dylan is the prototypical local celebrity. You never acknowledge the fame or sucess of a customer who is local. If you do they never come back. You treat them like everybody else, that is generally what they want.

 

[Rambuchan]

Interesting, perhaps cultural differences or expectations drive such notions. Here expectations run in the other direction, probably becuase of the fading remnants of the old socialist culture of the place. Slug, the rapper from Atmosphere is a major culturally notable person around Minneapolis these days. His music is everywhere in this town. He is a regular at the restaurant I run. If any of our staff went up to him and acknowledged him as such and make conversation with him about music or touring, shows, etc., he would probably never come back. Bob Dylan is the prototypical local celebrity. You never acknowledge the fame or sucess of a customer who is local. If you do they never come back. You treat them like everybody else, that is generally what they want.

Hehe this is funny. You make me realise how subtle this celeb dynamic is. I didn't realise it before but in the instances above it would have been unacceptable for anyone to come up and go "Hey, can I get your autograph?", staff or otherwise, and that more than likely would have been enough to stop us going there. Now this doesn't mean that the 'celeb factor' wasn't acknowledged. It was but never spoken or deliberate. Just the manner of treatment said it and that level of subtlety was good service in itself. Bizarre isn't it?

 

[Drewcifer]

Hehe this is funny. You make me realise how subtle this celeb dynamic is. I didn't realise it before but in the instances above it would have been unacceptable for anyone to come up and go "Hey, can I get your autograph?", staff or otherwise, and that more than likely would have been enough to stop us going there. Now this doesn't mean that the 'celeb factor' wasn't acknowledged. It was but never spoken or deliberate. Just the manner of treatment said it and that level of subtlety was good service in itself. Bizarre isn't it?

Indeed, and we give good anonymous service to everbody. Which is exactly what most of them want - to be in peace, treated well but like everybody else.

 

[Rambuchan]

Indeed, and we give good anonymous service to everbody. Which is exactly what most of them want - to be in peace, treated well but like everybody else.

Being treated like everyone else is after all comforting .

Listen btw, I might pitch up at your restaurant one day. I won't be making a booking but I sure in hell will be expecting your finest table, waitresses and wines . Treat em like they're everyone else but let them get their way, they need to have that .

 

[Drewcifer]

Being treated like everyone else is after all comforting .

Listen btw, I might pitch up at your restaurant one day. I won't be making a booking but I sure in hell will be expecting your finest table, waitresses and wines . Treat em like they're everyone else but let them get their way, they need to have that .

If it is at 7 o'clock on a Saturday night you better have reservations!

Edit: Keep in mind that if you are a B-grade celebrity my press kit is almost as big as yours. I don't care who you are unless you are somebody I personally like.

 

[stormbind]

Practise relaxation - it won't give you witty one liners but it will help you not to say the wrong thing.

Dialectic reasoning -question/answer, question/answer, question etc etc.

If they haven't asked a question, you ask one. On anything. See where it heads. If you don't know much about a subject, much better to say, "I don't know much about it - tell me more" than bluff it.

And practise. Eventually you'll feel that meeting new people is actually quite fun, once you get over the shyness/awkwardness.

Met a couple of game programmers - Geoff Crammond, David Braben. Oh yeah, once had a conversation with Ice T but I really can't repeat the words on this forum.

Let's just say he wasn't complimentary - but I still think he's a great performer.

This is me in action...

"This is Tim Berners Lee!"
"So, what does Tim Berners Lee do?"

I have a theoretical connection to just about anyone, but I'm in a friggin studio flat currently doing IT consultant/PM work which I get from cold-calling with no contacts

I can sell anything (actually I quit sales years ago due to suffering from a conscience), but I cannot network to save my life. It is so pathetic it's enough to bring me to fits of hysteria

This is perhaps why some people have personal assistants, but that is just a guess.

 

[Rambuchan]

If it is at 7 o'clock on a Saturday night you better have reservations!

Edit: Keep in mind that if you are a B-grade celebrity my press kit is almost as big as yours. I don't care who you are unless you are somebody I personally like.

Hehehe. Sounds like we're in LA now. hehe. Happens so easily. hehe

 

[Shaihulud]

I have seen Terry Pratchett.

 

[stormbind]

Terry Pratchett used to do book signings at a store I know of, but he stopped (or his agent stopped him) for non-business reasons - or so the story goes

Shame really. He is probably the only author who I would want signing a book.

 

[Shaihulud]

he came over to Perth 6months ago to sign books. I didn't know that he was here until I saw a long queue outside the bookshop, inquisitive I peeked in and lo saw Terry Pratchett signing books. Unfortunately I had an Exam in a few hours and had to leave with no proof of the encounter . It was a pleasant surprise as it was totally unexpected.

 

[Drewcifer]

Hehehe. Sounds like we're in LA now. hehe. Happens so easily. hehe

Nah, it's not like that.

There are sheep and there are doers, culturally speaking. The sheep are easily impressed. I cook in a community of doers. Half our wait staff have put out CDs, written stuff, made and sold art, etc.. I only go LA if a customer is putting on airs, thinking they are important because somebody has heard of them, otherwise we are all just regular folks in a room; you, me, Franco Harris, Slug and everybody else.

 

[Riesstiu IV]

Let’s see… When our family lived overseas in Indonesia (my dad worked for an oil company), we lived next-door to the chauffeur of President (dictator) Suharto. I once met and talked with current governor of Idaho, Dirk Kempthorne. He was out campaigning for office outside the commons building handing out pens with his name on it. Not really that amazing considering most of Idaho is like a cross between Mongolia and an Amish village.

When my family went to Austin Texas we caught a glimpse of then governor George W. Bush.

 

[SJSerio]

I have had close encounters with celebrities. Reba Macintire walked right in front of me (surrounded by a swarm of people) when I was in Italy. I also got to stand behind Robin Williams once during a USO visit and following a stand-up routine. He was hilarious... and short.

Finally, I had some hack named Afflack (or something like that) pass right by me when I was standing watch in Bahrain. He didn't even have the decency to give me a curtousy nod as he passed by! What a jerk!