Celebrity: Meh
Posted on: Thursday 01/29/2015 05:57:40
Living and working in Nashville, I tend to run into people that are often put on a pedestal.
Being somewhat unfriendly, it isn't a problem for me to treat them as average people who are probably tired of being "on," anyway. Since I work in people's homes, I will sometimes get the call from a sales rep, telling me that such-and-such is the guitarist for some crap band that I usually haven't listened to anyway.
This week, I have been working at the home that Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood are building. Atop a hill, just north of Nashville, the place is large, and will be extravagant, to say the least.
I posted a picture of their view of the town on Facehole earlier, but wasn't about to drop names. We were informed to not address them directly with any questions about the construction. They come in a few times a day, looking things over, and generally keeping the plans straight. They also wasted $30,000 on a steel beam idea that they decided against. The walls are structural steel, rather than wood, because (I'm told) she "doesn't want to see any blemishes" in her walls. (Sometimes screws pop out in drywall, forcing someone to patch and paint. Not them.)
I just see them as a nice couple. As they passed me yesterday, I smiled and exchanged greetings, and then left to pull more wire.
I don't listen to their music, but have heard his crap about the rodeo, and remember that he made good use of an obscure Billy Joel song back in the day.
Another time, I got the call to drive out to Leipers Fork to service Mike Wolf's alarm system. He's one of the guys from "American Pickers," who had built a home near Nashville. When I called, he was just like the TV personality, and proceeded to dicker with me about arrival time.
"Nah, that's not gonna work... I'll have to leave to check on the new store, so we'll just have to reset."
That was fine with me; all I was to do was demo his alarm system, and I was saved a long drive.
Last year I ran into Steven Tyler while walking one of the dogs. We were at a hotel downtown. We must be the only people who vacation in their own town. Bastard was talking to some groupie sort in the doorway, and acted like he couldn't be bothered to step aside. I wanted to blow snot at him for having written "Rag Doll," but thought the better of it. I do like Aerosmith from the 1970s.
Anyway, enough rambling. How do you guys greet celebs? How about ones that you don't particularly care for?
Being somewhat unfriendly, it isn't a problem for me to treat them as average people who are probably tired of being "on," anyway. Since I work in people's homes, I will sometimes get the call from a sales rep, telling me that such-and-such is the guitarist for some crap band that I usually haven't listened to anyway.
This week, I have been working at the home that Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood are building. Atop a hill, just north of Nashville, the place is large, and will be extravagant, to say the least.
I posted a picture of their view of the town on Facehole earlier, but wasn't about to drop names. We were informed to not address them directly with any questions about the construction. They come in a few times a day, looking things over, and generally keeping the plans straight. They also wasted $30,000 on a steel beam idea that they decided against. The walls are structural steel, rather than wood, because (I'm told) she "doesn't want to see any blemishes" in her walls. (Sometimes screws pop out in drywall, forcing someone to patch and paint. Not them.)
I just see them as a nice couple. As they passed me yesterday, I smiled and exchanged greetings, and then left to pull more wire.
I don't listen to their music, but have heard his crap about the rodeo, and remember that he made good use of an obscure Billy Joel song back in the day.
Another time, I got the call to drive out to Leipers Fork to service Mike Wolf's alarm system. He's one of the guys from "American Pickers," who had built a home near Nashville. When I called, he was just like the TV personality, and proceeded to dicker with me about arrival time.
"Nah, that's not gonna work... I'll have to leave to check on the new store, so we'll just have to reset."
That was fine with me; all I was to do was demo his alarm system, and I was saved a long drive.
Last year I ran into Steven Tyler while walking one of the dogs. We were at a hotel downtown. We must be the only people who vacation in their own town. Bastard was talking to some groupie sort in the doorway, and acted like he couldn't be bothered to step aside. I wanted to blow snot at him for having written "Rag Doll," but thought the better of it. I do like Aerosmith from the 1970s.
Anyway, enough rambling. How do you guys greet celebs? How about ones that you don't particularly care for?
Simon Says:
The only celebrity I have conversations with is Angelina. My analyst says I shouldn’t talk about it to anyone else though. He says other people might not understand.
Easy Sleeper Says:
We are understanding people here.
kittenheel Says:
Celebrity greeting isn't a regular part of my life down here in Tullahoma. And honestly, short of someone like President Obama I doubt I'd recognize anyone. I'm terrible with faces. All through college I thought two brothers (not twins) were the same person.
lunamor Says:
I haven't ever met a real celebrity (i.e., truly famous). The closest I've come is meeting Al Jarreau on my honeymoon, and as we'd just seen him in a concert, wanted to have our photo taken with him. He was really sweet and agreed to it right away.
I suppose if I was doing work for them I'd probably try to make it no big deal, but if it was someone I really liked/admired, and they didn't seem bothered, why not say hey, I like your work, want to get a picture with me so you'll be even famouser for being nice?
Fritz The Bootlegger Says:
I've met Alton Brown multiple times, and I'm on a first name basis with Kelly Cass of the Weather Channel. Because I worked concert security both in college and afterwards at a job at Six Flags I've met several performers. Davy Jones, Tracy Laurence, one of the guys from Firehouse, the dude that sang "Seminole Wind," Tiny Tim, Otis Day, and Scott Ian, among others. Scott Ian was probably the nicest guy of the bunch. I always just tried to be cool because they're doing a job just like I was, but for the most part none of them were going to make me flustered. If I met Roger Daltry I'd be like "I'm not worthy!"
Rockboy Says:
I think just treating them like another stranger would be the best approach
silverwraith Says:
When you live in Nashville, you just don't care about the celebrities. LOL.
But I would love to meet Alton Brown or Anthony Bourdain, just sayin'.
TwoBit Says:
Come to think of it, the first famous person I ever met was Pete Best, the Beatles' drummer that was replaced by Ringo. He spoke at our WKU campus in 1988. It didn't occur to me to bring something to autograph.
Easy Sleeper Says:
Susan sat on Norman Reedus' lap. Kelly Cass isn't nearly as famous.
Fritz The Bootlegger Says:
Kelly Cass has a greater impact on everyone's day than Norman Reedus. Plus, Matt, I'm willing to bet which one you'd rather see naked.
lunamor Says:
Everyone's? I never watch the weather channel. Unless I'm in a hotel lobby, maybe, and have no choice, but that's rare. Local news/weather all the way. I couldn't pick Kelly Cass out of a lineup.
Then again, most of the names in this thread, I don't know either.
lunamor Says:
I mean, is Kelly a guy or a girl? I'm assuming girl, or you wouldn't be bragging about the first name basis thing.
Easy Sleeper Says:
I would rather not see either of them naked. But I can honestly say I have no idea what Kelly Cass looks like. I never watch twc. As Luna points out, we have local weather people.
antic Says:
Gene Hackman twice, once in a small interior BC town and the next time in a restaurant in Vancouver, Christopher Reeves twice, once in Barbados and once in a blues bar, pre-accident, in Calgary. Was in a Miami airport waiting room and then on a plane to Nicaragua with Jackson Browne, Darly Hannah and Little Steven Van Zandt. Was introduced to Christopher and invited to a party in his hotel but didn't go. Gene Hackman said hello in the restaurant. Never spoke to the others because it just didn't seem right.
lunamor Says:
^ See, these are names I've heard of.
Fritz The Bootlegger Says:
I met Herman's Hermits, the entire band, back in 2008, I believe. Sat next to them on a flight from Milwaukee to Atlanta.
Fritz The Bootlegger Says:
lunamor Says:
Well, I'll give her points for spelling Albuquerque correctly.
snow Says:
Other than local celebrities, none for me. Your job sounds very cool.
Evil Fury Says:
I could very well have met all of the people Steve named and just didn't know or care who the fuck they are.
Herman's Hermits? Who are you? Richie Cunningham?
2B--Garth Brooks strikes me as a fairly friendly guy. I hope it's a pleasant experience even if his wife is super anal about drywall.
Easy Sleeper Says:
I'll admit I like Garth Brooks. I saw him in concert in 92-93 somewhere around there, and it remains one of the best shows I've ever seen not counting Phish, because that wouldn't be fair.
kittenheel Says:
OMG, "I met Herman's Hermits, the entire band, back in 2008, I believe. Sat next to them on a flight from Milwaukee to Atlanta." That's a great premise for a short story right there.
Fritz The Bootlegger Says:
I'm pretty sure I did. Unfortunately I have no idea how to find entries from July 2008. Might've even been July 2009.
Rockboy Says:
I met bob hope.
saw Clinton and swartskoff at the same hotel.
other than that Sinbad
Fritz The Bootlegger Says:
Schwarzkopf? Stormin' Norman?
Rockboy Says:
yep
it was the party where Clinton got busy with the burnette with the big nose that the highway patrol brought to his room
H3OsMama Says:
Sanjay Gupta, only because he is married to the kids' cousin. Jon got him drunk at the kid's aunts wedding, and his little girls are adorable. His wife is stuck up and pretentious. That's all I got. /homepage
lunamor Says:
DAMN! I'd so love to meet Sanjay Gupta and you're practically related to him!!! Jealous.
H3OsMama Says:
I guess his wife and the kids mom were really close, because I think she feels like I'm a replacement or something. She won't acknowledge me. I quit trying. At least Sanjay is nice to me. /homepage
Evil Fury Says:
^ Good for him! And his wife should be grateful for you! What a bitch!!!!!
lunamor Says:
Word!
mundane Says:
My cousin was Elvis' piano player, also Emmylou Harris, John Denver and The Crickets, I've met and visited all the mentioned and many others. Most of them were very nice and friendly.