Your thoughts on meeting celebrities

[Adrenaline]

What are your thoughts on celebrities? Do you go gaga over them? If you know a star is going to be somewhere, do you go out of your way to go there to try to get a glimpse? Say at the muchmusic video awards, or during the film festival in Toronto?

Would you care if you met a celebrity that you've never heard of just because they're a celebrity? Or would you have to know who they are to care?

Before I've met big name celebrities, I used to be the type that said "oh, they're just people, celebrities are not a big deal." But then when you're in a room full of celebrities and you recognize their faces you can't help but feel star-struck. You just want to go up to them and say "hi, I recognize you, you're so and so, I'm a big fan." It's just human nature.

From my experience, the bigger the name, the nicer they are. The local pseudo celebrities tend to be more stuck up and full of themselves and seem to have a much bigger ego than the bigger stars, at least that's my experience from my own personal interactions with them.

 

[james t kirk]

From my experience, the bigger the name, the nicer they are. The local pseudo celebrities tend to be more stuck up and full of themselves and seem to have a much bigger ego than the bigger stars, at least that's my experience from my own personal interactions with them.

I can believe that. The really big celebrities don't have anything to prove.

I know a woman who works for Canada Customs and she's had to process many a celebrity.

Apparently the "best" (aka normal, or friendly) were:

U2 (Bono came through with his wife and introduced himself to the agents, then caught a cab downtown like everyone else)

Wayne Gretzky - a complete Gentlemen by all accounts

Rolling Stones (Keith was joking around, Mick quiet, but smiles)

Rod Stewart (very decent)

Brad Pitt (very decent sort, friendly, etc.)

Worst:

Mariah Carry

 

[Aardvark154]

Doubless much of it also has to do with the person's personality and ego.

We all know that there are people who like meeting other people and are polite about it. Then there are those who have the personality of a stepped on Rattlesnake.

 

[Medman52]

I have met a few in my business and I find they open up more if you talk about everything else EXCEPT what they do for a living.

Talk with them about their hobbies, kids, vacation places, favourite cars, boats and they are exactly like the rest of us.

I had a long conversation with a well known male actor who started on a sit com and has done many films over the years about ....garlic!! We chatted for quite a while and we never once discussed films.

 

[Never Compromised]

I've met a number of celebrities over the years, and I never treat them differently than any other stranger. I know that having fans come up and invade your space is part of the cost of doing business for them, but I treat them as I would want to be treated.

 

[buttercup]

I have met a few in my business and I find they open up more if you talk about everything else EXCEPT what they do for a living.
Talk with them about their hobbies, kids, vacation places, favourite cars, boats and they are exactly like the rest of us.
I had a long conversation with a well known male actor who started on a sit com and has done many films over the years about ....garlic!! We chatted for quite a while and we never once discussed films.

Can't agree here.

I was once at a reception, talking with Anton Kuerti (famous concert pianist, for those who don't know). Upon shaking hands, I made the fatuous joke that I mustn't squeeze so hard as to damage even a fingernail -- he laughed as if he'd never heard it before.

He asked me if I played. He asked me which Beethoven sonata I liked the best. I said, the Waldstein, of course. I asked him how on earth he managed to play that passage in the Waldstein where the right hand does a trill with thumb and forefinger, while the little finger of the same hand simultaneously picks out the melody, over an octave away. He explained how simple it was -- that the trick is to make it not quite simultaneous. And he put down his glass, and demonstrated for me, with his hands, on an imaginary keyboard, in slow motion, before my very eyes.

 

[out4fun]

Can't agree here.

I was once at a reception, talking with Anton Kuerti (famous concert pianist, for those who don't know). Upon shaking hands, I made the fatuous joke that I mustn't squeeze so hard as to damage even a fingernail -- he laughed as if he'd never heard it before.

He asked me if I played. He asked me which Beethoven sonata I liked the best. I said, the Waldstein, of course. I asked him how on earth he managed to play that passage in the Waldstein where the right hand does a trill with thumb and forefinger, while the little finger of the same hand simultaneously picks out the melody, over an octave away. He explained how simple it was -- that the trick is to make it not quite simultaneous. And he put down his glass, and demonstrated for me, with his hands, on an imaginary keyboard, in slow motion, before my very eyes.

I see why you go by Buttercup.

 

[Aardvark154]

I've met a number of celebrities over the years, and I never treat them differently than any other stranger. I know that having fans come up and invade your space is part of the cost of doing business for them, but I treat them as I would want to be treated.

That I believe is a huge percentage of it. If you are in a social situation you treat them as you would someone else that you are meeting for the first time. If on the street you treat them as you would anyone else, you don't invade their space and ask for an autograph.

 

[tboy]

I am definitely not one to care one whit about meeting a celeb or not. For the life of me I can't see the point of these radio contests where you meet the band backstage. Why would anyone want to? It isn't like you are going to become best buds and they will invite you along on their european tour or anything.

Maybe because back in the day I used to roadie and met many a rockstar and frankly, they were just work lol....

I guess maybe what nailed it for me was when I went to a TIFF party and wesley snipes was there. I went to the bar to get a round for the table and I guess I got too close because one of his body guards shoved me away.

One of my exes was all gaga and starstruck and I just couldn't understand it....

(like the crowds that gathered when Bruce and Demi opened up the Hard Rock Cafe down on front, wtf? lol)

 

[Adrenaline]

I would never ask any celebrity for an autograph, no matter who it is. Think about how silly it is, you're asking for someone to sign their name for you, it's as if you're worshipping the ink of the pen that they've held in their hand. Anyways...

I've gone up to many celebrities at events that were by invitation only, and even in my suit I've went up to them, introduced myself, and told them that I was a big fan. As I've mentioned, the more famous they are, the nicer they were to me. Whereas the local pseudo celebrities, like a certain CBC radio host I met a few years back whose name I won't mention, for example, tend to brush you off if you're not famous yourself. They want to rub shoulders with the actual celebrities, and can't be bothered conversing with people who won't elevate their status. After a few encounters like that, I now just stick to speaking to actual celebrities, and just ignore the pretentious local pseudo celebrities...it works well.

 

[Medman52]

Can't agree here.

Whatever. I was speaking about my experience.

I thought we were taking about actors. My mistake.

So what have you spoken to actors about?

 

[cynalan]

I've met a few through business and quite frankly, could care less. Just because someone has a public profile does not mean that they're any better or worse than anyone else. In fact, many that I've met seem to have some belief of entitlement. I suppose it comes from everyone always wanting a piece of them. When it comes to star gazing, I don't. I would rather meet someone who has contributed something tangible to society, e.g. scientific researcher, doctor, humanitarian, than someone obscenely paid for a relatively minor skill, e.g. throwing a ball through a hoop, acting, etc.

 

[ogibowt]

im a cynic...if there were a dozen celebrities socializing in my condominiums party room, id sooner stay in my suite and read a book...if they talk to each other like as if they were being interviewd by a late night talk show host..id probably end up vomiting in my mouth...can you imagine the self absorbed babblings of the likes of P Diddy, or Mariah Carey, or Barbara Streisand...i,d sooner drink iodine..lol..

 

[The Fruity Hare]

The celebrity adulation has been over the top for years in the U.K., growing exponentially with princess Diane and British TV and media stars. It was refreshing to come to Canada in the 80's and not see it so much at that time.

Unfortunately, times have changed. I was walking by a Yorkville hotel during TIFF a few years ago, and a crowd had gathered at the entrance. One person asked a girl who she was waiting for. She said, " I don't know, anyone! I also don't understand the fixation with these people, from their clothes, the functions they attend, etc, but it is a huge market and one that does not appear to be diminishing anytime soon.

There are several pubs that I occasionally visit, and because they are low key there have been a number of Leaf players who come by, sometimes alone or with their families. Gilmour, Cujo, Lindros, Tucker, when they were with Toronto came in for drinks or dinner. They were acknowledged with a nod, and allowed to get on with their private lives. Cujo was in with a group of friends and they appeared to be doing their NFL draft picks. Just because they are well paid and relatively well known, doesn't mean they don't want to do the everday things just like the rest of us.

Some years ago I was at a lottery kiosk downtown, and Mike Eastwood who played for the Leafs at that time came by and bought a lottery ticket. He was making about $300 000 a year then. For the rest of us, playing for the Leafs at that time may have seemed like winning the lottery, but he was just another guy hoping to improve his luck.

Late eighties or early nineties, I was in a furniture store in Scarborough and heard a little girl nearby ask her father if she could have a certain bedroom set. Her father said no, it was too expensive. As I turned around, I recognized him as Mike "Pinball" Clemons. Who would have thought that he would be shopping in a discount furniture store and not be able to afford a bedroom set for his daughter?

Celebrities are just people too, and some of them don't mind answering the same questions over and over, laughing at the jokes as if it's the first time they have heard them and putting up with invasions into their privacy. It's the price they pay, but I'm sure many of us would not like to live in their particular fish bowls.

 

[themexi]

I have met a few in my business and I find they open up more if you talk about everything else EXCEPT what they do for a living.

Talk with them about their hobbies, kids, vacation places, favourite cars, boats and they are exactly like the rest of us.

I had a long conversation with a well known male actor who started on a sit com and has done many films over the years about ....garlic!! We chatted for quite a while and we never once discussed films.

Excellent observations,

Best things to keep in mind are pretty simple... They're people... Some people are cool, some people are diks..& the majority are in the middle hovering around normal.

Most people need to take a break from their job... Acting is a job & a high profile one at that... anything you say or ask them tht is industry related they havle likely heard & answered a million times before.. If you want an utograph or are working with them... fawn or talk shop... But like everyone else... if you really want to get to know the person, get to know the person, because people like to be treated like people, not sources of entertainment.

 

[Scarey]

Brad Pitt

My Wife's ex is a graphic artist and did some work on Brad pitt's movie that was Done in Alberta.Said he was very down to earth and talked to him for over 4 hours about a variety of subjects, including the film.Depends on what kind of day they are having like everyone.

 

[GotGusto]

I don't go gaga over people that I don't know. I may like somebody's body of work, but that doesn't mean I would like that person on a personal level. If the celebrities that you're referring to are actors, musicians, and athletes - most of these people would bore me to death if I got to know them. They're ordinary (or even subpar) people who happen to be talented in a specific discipline that is recognized by society. For example, some of the very people that get on stage, sing wonderful songs, and command stadiums full of people are essentially illiterate. Some of them are socialites that were born with silver spoons in their mouths and use their inherited power and influence to create and market their fame. Some of them are grown men and women who make a living by pretending to be things that they're not - similar to what kids do on playgrounds every day or on Halloween.

However, they all have one thing that I want: their money. They can keep the fame and everything else. I cherish personal privacy above most things. If I had a fraction of the wealth of these celebrities, I'd be a very very happy boy.

"In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women." - Tony Montana

 

[lurkerjoe]

I may like the movies/music/whatever they make but I don't give a fuck about celebrities themselves. Who are they that makes them better than the rest of us? I couldn't care less.

 

[tboy]

I may like the movies/music/whatever they make but I don't give a fuck about celebrities themselves. Who are they that makes them better than the rest of us? I couldn't care less.

Kind of the way I feel. Take Tom Cruise for example. He's really not that good an actor but he's made millions off of his choices. I mean, take Bruce WIllis too. Does he play any other role? Even in the Sixth Sense he really didn't stretch his acting ability........

 

[luckyjackson]

I see why you go by Buttercup.

Ooooooo....rimshot!