Emily Faulkner, Campus Carrier Entertainment Editor
No matter what happens in your life, you will meet someone famous. It could be someone huge like Johnny Depp, or you could meet someone small like the bra fitters from “Double Divas.” During my third attempt to converse with YouTube celebrities, I noticed that my interactions were a lot different from people who might have been there for the first time. People are (how can I put this nicely) insane. I’m surprised by how people just don’t understand the basic rules when meeting famous people. Maybe they were just never taught them, I don’t know, but I think it’s high time you guys know. So, maybe when you run into Josh Peck outside of your hotel in Chicago, you can do something other than stand and eat your McFlurry in amazement.
The first rule, which I think is a hard one, is to not freak out. I get it. It’s them. Right there. In front of you; or in your general region. You want to scream, and shout, and let it all out, but don’t. You’re better than that. Just go up, talk to them if you can, take a picture or two, and be on your way. You can always freak out when it’s all over and you are at a safe distance. I mean, imagine how many people act like that around them on a regular basis. I’m sure it is refreshing for them to talk to admirers that aren’t screaming their name and running at them.
That leads me to rule number two (and this is a big one for me) do not, I repeat, do not run after them. At the YouTube convention in Orlando, I saw far too many people running and screaming after boys that they admire. I even saw girls scream and knock down a barrier just to get to the man they were after. If you see your celebrity running, or even walking purposefully, you need to not go after them. What I was told when I first heard that rule was that if they’re in a hurry, they’re probably going to the bathroom. Don’t be that guy. Just let them go. Nine times out of ten, you will see them again.
I know what you’re thinking though, “Emily, that’s a dumb rule, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.” Trust me, it doesn’t end well. I have in fact broken this rule before, and it ended with me falling down an escalator and embarrassing myself in front of the man that I potentially want to marry. Just, trust me, don’t do it.
My final rule that I would like to bestow upon you would be to remember that they are just normal people. Yes, they are in fact just like us. They put their pants on one leg at a time. If you can muster up the courage to talk to your celebrity of choice, then just act like they’re one of your friends. Make silly jokes, compliment them, make fun of them, whatever it is you do. You’ll thank yourself later when you are reliving your memory over and over.
Also, if you act normal, they might remember you for that. In Orlando, I thought all the people I met would have forgotten about me, but every single one of them remembered who I was. Maybe it’s because I say stupid things, maybe it’s because I acted normal. I honestly don’t know. What I do know is that I have and will continue to stick to the rules set before me by fans long since passed and I hope you will choose to do the same.