# You meet a famous celebrity. What do you say? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 1, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188 "2015-10-01T23:31:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/1 "2015-10-01T23:31:49Z")
As an example, say you’re a big fan of classic rock music. You walk into a bar, sit down, and notice Jimmy Page is sitting next to you. What do you say to him? “Mr. Page, I really love your music.” “What was John Bonham like?” “It was really cool when you used the bow on your guitar.” Those sound incredibly corny, boring, and patronizing. What can you say that _ **doesn’t** _ sound corny? ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/2 "2015-10-01T23:36:45Z")
Not sure why you would need to talk with him, but if necessary, starting with the weather or some non-controversial current event might be okay. Big stars probably get enough fawning that that’s not what they’re generally looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/3 "2015-10-01T23:43:59Z")
“I heard you was dead…” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/4 "2015-10-01T23:46:24Z")
I’d say “Mr. Page.” with a nod of my head and go back to my beer. Leave the poor guy alone, willya? The last celebrity I met was James Carville. I complimented him on his haircut. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/5 "2015-10-01T23:59:28Z")
I’d probably fix’m with a gimlet eye and go, “Mnagh… gurm… BORLOVOKA!” …just to see the look on his face. Of course, I’d adjust this course of action, depending on the number and size of bodyguards… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/6 "2015-10-02T00:00:35Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’d say “Mr. Page.” with a nod of my head and go back to my beer. Leave the poor guy alone, willya? Pretty much along the lines of what I would do. [A story](http://stng.36el.com/st-tng/trivia/tvguide_notes.html) from Patrick Stewart. > [@](#): > > TVG: What’s the strangest place you’ve been recognized? > > PS: About a year ago, I was working with a film company in Croatia, and one night, my girlfriend and I went to a restaurant recommended to me in the old town of Zagreb. We were ushered in by a very dignified and formal maitre d’, shown to a table, given menus. We didn’t speak a word of Croat, so we ordered everything by pointing. And when our salads arrived, sitting in the center of each-beautifully carved out of cucumber and green and red peppers-was a perfect little replica of the Enterprise! The other courses were served, and there was no change of any kind on this man’s demeanor; we paid our bill and left-without any other comment being made. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/7 "2015-10-02T00:10:31Z")
Yeah, say nothing unless addressed first and probably not comment on their celebrity even then. I have a great deal of sympathy for the sacrifices most celebrities have to make to their private lives. I figure any peace I can give them by not interrupting their down time is just courting good karma. Of course there are the occasional celebrity-type that is always on and relishes interacting with fans. But since I generally don’t know which is which I’m not going to assume any random actor or what have you falls into that category. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/8 "2015-10-02T00:14:54Z")
Although I’ve always been a huge Zeppelin fan I don’t think I’d even recognize Jimmy Page if I met him. If I met a celebrity that I respected (i.e. not a Kardashian) I would just very politely say, “Big fan of your work”. If it was a Kardashian etc. I just wouldn’t say anything (and if it was Bruce Jenner I’d just run away screaming\*!\*) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/9 "2015-10-02T00:15:44Z")
I’d say “Hi Mr. Plant”. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/10 "2015-10-02T00:17:56Z")
Well, when I encountered [John Mahoney](http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/section/movies/filmography/1/WireImage_1531812.jpg) walking in the park, I said “Excuse me, aren’t you John Mahoney?” He said “Yes, I am.” “You’re a very talented man.” He said “Thank you”, shook my hand, and walked on. He didn’t seem to mind, but I didn’t press it. Perfectly nice man. ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/11 "2015-10-02T01:00:39Z")
Just a simple, “I enjoy your work,” and then leave them alone. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/12 "2015-10-02T01:13:26Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > As an example, say you’re a big fan of classic rock music. You walk into a bar, sit down, and notice Jimmy Page is sitting next to you. > > What do you say to him? > > “Mr. Page, I really love your music.” > “What was John Bonham like?” > “It was really cool when you used the bow on your guitar.” > > Those sound incredibly corny, boring, and patronizing. > > What can you say that _ **doesn’t** _ sound corny? I might ask him if there’s a bustle in his hedgerow. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/13 "2015-10-02T01:33:52Z")
When I met Laurence fishburne he was standing alone in front of the same bar I was smoking. I said “Hi, love your shoes.” They were really cool. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/14 "2015-10-02T01:42:33Z")
For various reasons, in years past, I met a number of celebrities. I never commented on their work. Would have felt intrusive, I guess, since we were interacting in a non-public setting. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/15 "2015-10-02T01:47:45Z")
> [@Iggins](#): > > Just a simple, “I enjoy your work,” and then leave them alone. Yeah, that’s a perfect and acceptable response. A friend of mine was working as a hotel porter and was called upon to carry Paul Reiser’s luggage up to his room. He was an avid fan of _Mad About You_, but didn’t make a huge production out of it. He just said “I enjoy your show,” and left it at that. Didn’t bother Reiser one bit. I on the other hand, have terminal foot-in-mouth disease. I met Carly Simon in a bar once and asked her if anybody had ever told her that she looks just like Carly Simon. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/16 "2015-10-02T01:52:13Z")
For Jimmy Page… “Can I buy you a drink?” Or “I have some really kickass blow” ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/17 "2015-10-02T02:18:06Z")
If I met Bruce Springsteen, I’d say: "Love your work, caught you in Saginaw just before “The River” came out. If I met Steven King, I’d say: “I’m such a _big_ fan…of your son.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/18 "2015-10-02T02:20:23Z")
‘Nice place,’ and ‘Good band.’ To Dan Akroyd when we were the only two people upstairs at The House of Blues on Sunset. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/19 "2015-10-02T02:30:38Z")
Halloooooooo!!!.. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188/20 "2015-10-02T02:35:16Z")
I tried to sell a used car to Billy Gibbons last month. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-meet-a-famous-celebrity-what-do-you-say/733188.md?page=2)