Tony Papard wrote:jllWAfan1982 wrote:Is shaking a hand or getting an autograph really meeting someone if you don't have a conversation? I don't think it is.
Of course it is. That's all many fans have done with many artists. What can you say that they haven't already heard a million times anyway?
Sounds as if you are expecting an interview. The most you can expect is a quick handshake, perhaps an autograph and some quick comment.
It's different for a handful of fans who have been around Jerry for a long time, they can communicate as friends. Whenever I've met him or other singers like Little Richard, I never know quite what to say apart from 'great show', 'I liked your last album' or 'may I have your autograph'.
Somehow I never got round to discussing the philosophies of Hegel or Marx with these guys.
Well, I did do just this thing I am suggesting with the Pet Shop Boys less than a week ago and I found it to be very satisfying. The cost for the special VIP tickets that allowed me to do this was only $100 more, and the seats were row 3, so excellent all around. I got to chat about whatever I wanted for about 3 minutes. Some fans got as much as five minutes; it depends on the city and the number of people. I got a private audience. It was all very nice. They greeted me; inquired about me. I got to ask them a few questions.
I agree that for most fans all they can expect is a handshake or an autograph. That is why I am suggesting a paid meet and greet, so you can get something beyond that which is personalized and meaningful. You can ask the question you want to ask or thank them for how they touched your life, etc. Of course the time is very limited and it is an artificial surrounding; you are paying to meet them. But in my opinion it is a lot better than a quick handshake or autograph. Some people might not like the idea of paying or think it is an artificial set up, but if Jerry did it for free, he would be inundated with thousands of fans, and he wouldn't have time to make it a personable and memorable experience.
I think you can say something original to these guys that they haven't heard before. I am pretty sure
some of what I said to the Pet Shop Boys was new to them, though I wasn't trying to. But you wouldn't even need to talk about the music. You could just talk about how they are doing, their life outside of music; talk to them as a human being without hero worship. Could talk to Jerry about things he likes, like westerns, etc.
And if there was a personal meet and greet for 3-5 minutes, you could actually ask about political philosophers like that, though of course Jerry wouldn't know who they were, and would you want to spend your time talking about that? But you would have the chance, which of course you would not have if it was a rushed autograph outside a venue or at an airport.
And, no offense to anyone, but I don't consider it meeting a celebrity or anyone for that matter unless you actually talk to them a little bit yourself, even if it is just a few quick exchanges.
