The Medusa Fora

All of us dream about meeting our idols (I don't like the word but I can't think out alternative so let it be "idols") and the forthcoming reunion gives another portion of food for such dreams. But how many of dreamers will dare to fulfil them? One thing to dream about shaking hands, having pints, saying hello, keeping wise and interesting talk and another to do it in front of your idol. Can you imagine what it would be like? Something like strained "aah, hello, mmm, great to meet you in person, I always wanted to say what a great guy you are and what great music you do, it's great, you know"... and it's not the worst variant, the worst is to stand there with open mouth and protruding eyes. The end of all dreams about witty and fruitful coversation. Cruel reality at its best. Hard lot of devoted, but shy fans...

And what about musicians themselves? How do they feel about meeting their fans in person? As the main problem of such dream meetings is not that it's your idol in front of you and you can't utter much more than "hello, nice to meet you..." The problem is that you are supposed to carry on natural talk with a stranger. So maybe musicians (who are just human beings as we know) have the same problem. How to be nice and polite with someone you never met before and never will see again? How to act not to be called arrogant bastard ever after? Do you, our idols, realize that by talking to someone or shaking hands you are realizing their dearest dream? And how do you feel about it?

Well it was long intoduction. And now the main questions:
What was the most interesting talk with a fan you had?
What would you like to talk with your fans about? (Are there any topics for an ideal meeting or any you would rather avoid?)

Great topic MacRua

Every fan dreams/thinks of what they're going to say to their idol. I've often wandered what is it that I'll say? I want to make a difference I want to make an impact. I want him or them to say - we like you come back stage more often. I don't want to be just 'another fan'.

What do you say? - you say something different. but not too different to make you sound obsessed and crazy.

I think the majority of fans believe if they bring Shane a drink - they will be his best friend. Hmmmm

nah!!

What will I say? - I'll have to tell you after the tour

Well said, MacRua.

With a few - very few - exceptions, it's a gratifying experience, to meet
someone whose work you admire and be able to tell him/her so. I'm amazed at how polite and gracious people can be, faced with fans who are over-eager, tongue-tied, or downright rude. Not an easy business.

great topic and well said but looks like our idols were not interested...
pity, it could be useful discussing on the threshold of ReUnion..

I hope the lack of answers isn't the answer to your question.
Well, I'd still like to know what the stars think.

perhaps they havent seen it - you should move it to the misc section. I don't tend to travel into this part of the forum often..

The simple answer is, one chats to everybody in direct proportion to how well or how intimately one knows the other person. I have never yet met an uninteresting Pogues fan, and I don't think such a thing exists.

That said, I do actually prefer the Henry Higgins/Bernard Shaw/Alan Jay Lerner reply: "I treat a Duchess as though she were a flowergirl and a flowergirl as if she were a Duchess".

Philip--from you i would not expect anything but kindness. i think you have proven that already. keep on being a cool guy

That he is.

I was reading an article by Dermot O'Leary:-

"My whole thing with artists has always been - never meet your heroes," says O'Leary. "Growing up it was always Bruce Springsteen and Shane MacGowan and I've had the good fortune not to meet either of those two. I just don't want to be let down by them".

Who here finds truth in that? Would you hurry passed your idol if passed in a street in fear your whole life may crash and burn if they fobbed you off?

I'm intrigued.

What about passing idol by virtue of respect for his privacy?

Your totally missing my point - (as usual)

I'm just merely asking if people agree with Mr O'Leary.

MissWalshy wrote:I was reading an article by Dermot O'Leary:-

"My whole thing with artists has always been - never meet your heroes," says O'Leary. "Growing up it was always Bruce Springsteen and Shane MacGowan and I've had the good fortune not to meet either of those two. I just don't want to be let down by them".

Who here finds truth in that? Would you hurry passed your idol if passed in a street in fear your whole life may crash and burn if they fobbed you off?

I'm intrigued.

yeah i understand what Dermot is on about. by never meeting your idols then you will never dash your hopes of thinking they are great. whereas if you meet them, then it could be a big let down and you realise they are not the person you thought they were.

Well to be fair, no one of us is ever as great as we could be (or would hope to be).

I hope to one day be at least half as spiffy as my dogs seem to think I am.

back to the original question what would you say to your idol?

er...

Can you sing me happy birthday please?

Was mine. ..