Jesus Christ! Peter Stampfel (of the Holy Modal Rounders) wants to HAVE DINNER WITH ME. The Ukulele Lady ran into him outside of work in Lower Manhattan and said “my husband is obsessed with you” and he thanked her and said he never got “fan stops.” ANd then her said “Let’s have dinner!” And then he FOLLOWED UP by email.
He’s one of my musical heroes! I have no idea what to say to him over the course of a meal aside from “Uh…I love your work.” How would you handle this? My initial reaction is to run like a rabbit.
I’m reminded of an NPR interview on the day of Georgia OKeefe’s death, with a middling artist who met her. The artist happened to be passing through Santa Fe, and just rang up to see if he could come by for a visit. Yes, and an appointment was arranged for the next day, when they chatted for a couple of hours. The interviewer asked if he felt uncomfortable in her presence. He said “One always feels comfortable in the presence of a truly great person.”
Hey that will be fun! I suspect you’ll get comfortable, if you’re half as comfortable with yourself IRL as you are here on the 'Dope. I mean that in a good way!
Sounds like he wouldn’t mind a bit of praise like he’d gotten in the past and it sounds like you’re prepared to give it to him. The recipe for a fine dinner. Ask him for one story - see how many you get!