I’ve met a number of my favorite musicians, but many of them don’t really qualify as celebrities, at least not outside of the metal sub-culture. For a few of them, I fanboyed a little bit, but for the most part, I just enjoy striking up a general conversation engaging them like a normal person. It’s really cool to connect with someone I respect on a human level like that. Some of my favorite experiences were just hanging out with them, chatting about whatever random stuff came up.
For other more “legit” celebrities, I’ve met a few well known musicians and athletes and political figures. Frankly, those were generally less interesting experiences.
That all said, how I might react to meeting a celebrity entirely depends on how much interest I have in them. If I were to meet a random famous actor or whatever… meh, if anything, my curiosity might have me verify who they were, but that would be about it. If, however, it was someone I’d be interested in chatting with, I’d hope I could have a human conversation rather than “I’m a big fan” type of thing. Because, really, I imagine if I were a celebrity, hearing that kind of thing constantly would just get annoying.
Probably nothing. I’m not big on strangers starting conversations with me, so I do others the courtesy of not bothering them whether they are famous or not.
I would simply introduce myself, shake his hand, and thank him for the incredible music he’s created, then leave him be and go about my business as if he were any other person sitting in a bar.
I had a very chance meeting with Dame Julie Andrews myself. I screwed up my courage and quietly said simply “Thank you. For everything.” She put her hand on mine and smiled grandly and said “My pleasure.” She’s so cool.
I met John Banner (Sgt Shultz) and Barbara Feldon (Agent 99) when I was a kid. I met them both at Albany, NY airport, at different times. I told both I loved their shows and they thanked me, and gave me an autograph.
I met Joe Namath while camping on Lake George in the Summer of 1975. We were down at the beach, and my friend and I walked up to him and said hi. I asked him for an autograph, he signed “To Jill, with love, Joe Namath” on a napkin, using my back as a table. We sat on the beach and talked to him for quite a while. He was accompanied by a huge guy, I assumed was a bodyguard.
Another time when I was a kid, I called in to a local telethon to make a pledge and I was able to talk on the phone to Michael McKean (Lenny) and David Lander (Squiggy). This was at the height of Laverne and Shirley fame, I told each one I loved their show. David Lander shot back “I love your show too”
When I was little older, Mr. T came to the local YMCA to see the kids. My mother and I both worked there at the time, so we were able to spend some time with him. He was really very nice and soft spoken. I have a great picture of him and my mom, with his arm around her.
I was sitting next to someone who had a well worn rock star look when a fan of his came up and started gushing, telling him how he loved his music, and trying to get the guy to go have coffee with him. After the fan finally left I casually said, while never looking up from my magazine, “If it helps, I don’t have the slightest idea who you are.” He laughed and said, “Thanks.”
A couple of my friends had their wedding rehearsal dinner at Bruce & Kris Jenner’s place a few years back. They were both very nice hosts, I had the opportunity to hang out and talk with Bruce and he was very cool. Totally normal aside from a study full of Olympic memorabilia and a couple of framed Wheaties boxes.
One of my buddies walked up to him and said “I know you’ve got a copy of ‘Can’t Stop The Music’ around here somewhere, I wanna watch it with you.” This got a laugh and Bruce then showed him the movie poster hanging in the laundry room.
One B-list celebrity I did get a chance to talk with was Simon Townshend (Pete’s brother) after a solo gig in San Francisco. He always tries to hang around after shows to chat with fans. I mentioned that I had seen him back in the 80s when he started his career – he remembered the venue and made a humorous comment about some people dancing in front of the stage. He was getting ready to join Heart on their Canadian winter tour and I asked if he had warm clothes–he laughed and said no, but he was on the lookout for a heavy coat.
On the way to a gig in a hotel (carrying my Fender bass) I met Joan Baez in the lobby on her way to her concert venue. Like working musicians everywhere it was:
" Hi, Joan, have a good show tonight"
“Thanks, you have a good one, too”
Way back when, I met Julia Roberts. She had come to town incognito to attend a football game her cousin was playing in. I’d come into my office to get a little work done before the game and was the only person there. Julia and her handler came in so that he could use our restroom. He asked me if she could wait in one of my guest chairs. Naturally, I said yes. At first I just smiled and nodded to her, thinking she couldn’t possibly want to chat with me. But after a minute or so, I looked up and offered her a cup of tea. Out came that famous smile! I brought her the tea and we chatted for maybe a minute or so about her cousin, then her handler returned and she left. Afterwards I felt bad that I hadn’t said a thing about her work - and I’ve enjoyed some of it very much - but perhaps that was just as well. It was a nice moment.
I always wanted to tell Akroyd I have admired him since he was the first to say, “I’m going to rip off your head and shit down your neck!” (Doctor Detroit)
I used to work as a concert runner/PA and met quite a lot of musicians and celebrities.
I think my best story was Faith Hill/Tim McGraw playing Verizon Center in DC and I went into craft services to grab a quick dinner between running around. I got a plate of whatever they were serving that night, went over to a table and sat down across from a pretty, but plain-looking blond woman and a couple of kids. I made small talk for a minute then asked, “Are you here for the show?” She gave me very big smile and said, “Honey, I am the show.” Yup, it was Faith Hill. I wasn’t really familiar with her and I really only vaguely knew what she looked like, from the MNF opening, but here she was in a t-shirt and jeans, no makeup, hair not done, just eating with her kids. Anyways, I apologized, but she was extremely nice and we talked for a few more minutes before I got a call and had to run out again.
I took my son to Vegas for his 21st birthday and we were watching a poker tournament at the Bellagio. My son was fixated on the room and I was sitting at a mini-bar enjoying his excitement at seeing some of his favorite players. James Woods came over and sat next to me. I knew immediately who he was, but our conversation instantly went to the poker tournament. We talked for a good half hour about this & that. He bought me a couple of drinks. When it was time for him to leave I did say … “loved you in Against All Odds” and he just grinned. I think he appreciated that it wasn’t something I brought up in our initial conversation. Anyway, it was a pretty awesome experience for both myself and my son.
