Book Signings and Celebrities

[Zero]

OK - so i went with a friend of mine down to pennsylvania to a booksigning with a bunch of horror writers. there was a guy there signing books that i liked, though he writes non-fiction books about horror films (my favorite books!) and he was really cool and we chatted about horror films for like half an hour and he knew a shit load, which was cool.

anyway, i'm not much of a horror novel reader, but my friend is and he was like almost in shock to meet some of these folks. the novelists were all pretty cool - there was some guy named Brian Keene who writes zombie fiction and another guy named Gary Frank whose stuff was more serial killers I think - anyway, I chatted with them and some others and they were both real down to earth and cool and i bought a few paperbacks etc.

But, what struck me was the way some of these horror fans acted like they were meeting GOD or something. There was a dude in a dallas cowboys hat who went and met this Keene guy and he was almost crying, i swear to god, his voice was shaking and everything. and this keene guy was like a dude you'd grab a beer with in a truck stop - not some big high and mighty horror god - just a good old boy. there were also lots of goths walking in and you could see their expressions change to awe and reverence when they spotted their favorite authors.

as for me i've never been into 'fame' - i ran into paul mccartney once on a beach in france and was like, 'hey how ya doin' cause let's be honest he's just a guy doing his thing. so, i'm just wondering how other people deal with meeting celebrities or horror figures, etc.???

[_____V_____]

Considering that I live in CA, I come across celebrities a lot. They are just like us, most of em down to earth simple minded folks, whether it be actors, writers, athletes and such.

I happened to meet Bruce Willis and Harrison Ford and both of them were so simple and easygoing, it was hard to associate that with their presences on-screen. Once you get to know em, the meeting runs sublimely, and the moments are cherished.

[The Flayed One]

I've meet celebrities at book signings, and some just out in the public.

I've met Marilyn Manson both ways. You can tell he really cares about his fans. I was pretty excited about meeting him. Even though when he was in public seeing a movie the second time I met him, he was still nice and shook my hand.

Some of them came into the restaurant I was working at. Lots of wrestlers. Kane seems pretty nice. Jeff Hardy was kind of a dick. I wasn't there, but Elijah Wood came in one morning when my cousin was serving. He said he was awesome, chatted with him a lot and even signed his Lord of the Rings book for him.

The guys from Nevermore were FUCKING AWESOME! They came in when it was really slow, so I happened to be playing Samael since I could listen to whatever I wanted. They chated with me for a while. They had a copy of the Audioslave demo before it was out, so we put it in and listened to it.

Most of the sports stars I've met in public were assholes. Evander Holyfield was nice, but he seemed really shy.

A couple of them were trying really hard not to be recognized, so I didn't bother them. Neve Campbell was one (Posher would've freaked) Jim Rose went so far as to completely deny he was Jim Rose, even though he obviously was.

I wasn't there, but at the theater I worked at Sir-Mix-Alot came in. They said he was in a fur coat with his arm around two women. I guess the guy in front of him was complaining about the price of popcorn, so he threw down a hundred dollar bill and told him to get whatever he wanted and go so he wouldn't be late for his movie. They also said when Ethan Hawke came in he was so drunk he almost fell down the escalator.

Most of the rest are members of Death/Black Metal bands who I've talked to after their shows. They all seem pretty cool, especially the singer from Nile. He was more than happy to hang around and sing autographs or shoot the shit.

[urgeok]

i never feel as nervous as i think i will ..
when you actually meet them they are just regular people - and they're cool - if you are.

i have seen a few of people act like dicks and what they get in return is a polite - but disconnected response.

a lot of these guys have lived pretty full, fast, rich lives and they've done it all and seen it all ... but they're just people ..

one thing you never expect is when you get to see them meeting each other for the 1st time .. because a lot of these guys are fans of each other too.

anyway - if you're somewhat intelligent and presentable - the 'celebs' seem to enjoy themselves. If you're obviously nuts (and they attract nuts like moths to a light) ..they are nice to you but they gingerly move you along.

as far as authors go .. its amazing that here in toronto - no one knows or cares who these guys are.

Brian Keene was here last year, and Jack Ketchum this past summer and neither guys would get more than a couple of people at the able at any time .. if anyone at all !

Andy Summers ...no more than 30 people came out to see him !


Toronto considers itself to be too cool for celebrities. you get mostly ebay sellers .. not fans.

its weird but a mixed blessing for the guests .. they get more 'true' fans than casual ones so they get into some decent chit-chat.

the ebay guys just move quickly through the lines getting their shit signed.