Celebrity SC's.

[Bella_Vixen]

Does anyone else remember the Candace Cameron story and who originally wrote it?

[CrankyPants]

My sister works at a pharmacy/convenience store (think "pharmacy that America trusts") near The Island...

Sister called me at my workplace one Sunday afternoon, "Guess who I just checked out!?" Who? "Tori Amos!" Who does, indeed, have a house out near The Island.

She said she didn't realize who it was until Tori signed the credit card slip! My sister even chatted with her a bit, saying how much I enjoyed her music... and she was very nice about it.

(Back in the early 90s, Tori and her parents used to come into the record store I worked at - she was always quiet and polite...)

~

Buddy of mine used to work at a well-known bookstore, and he used to serve/help Neil Gaiman (also a friend of above-mentioned Tori Amos, who wrote the introduction to his first Sandman graphic novel)... From what I understand, this area is the Florida town mentioned in Anansi Boys.... but I am not sure about that claim!

~

This area is actually teeming with "celebs" because we're just north of the popular West Palm Beach and a bit southeast of Orlando.... and we have The Island.

Oh man I LOOOOVE Tori Amos!!! She's my absolute all time favourite (hence the quote at the bottom of my signature).

But I don't want to meet her. I think I'd start crying and never stop. And I'm not a gushy person, but I would probably totally make a fool of myself in front of her. I'm not surprised you said she was nice. I can't imagine her acting like a diva.

My all time fantasy is to take piano and singing lessons from her and go on tour with her as a hanger on when she does one of her world tours.

Oh well, I'm sure that in a parallel universe, I'm doing just that and having an absolute ball!

[Pinkie]

Cheesehead...

About 90% of the Packers Football Team present and past.


Nightwolf.....I grew up in Wausau and am a huge Packers fan. Even bought stock when they offered it back in the 90's. Have you ever met Brett Favre? I love his enthusiasm for the game. Makes it fun to watch the game when he's behind the ball.

[Jester]

Sorry for the length of this one!

I have met MegaDeth who even signed an extra poster for me at a record signing (the limit was one per person, but my neighbor was really into them, so they let me sneak an extra through)...they were also really nice guys!

My experience with MegaDeath was not nearly as pleasant. Again, it was due to my working for the college radio station. MegaDeath was doing a signing at the Tower Records that was LITERALLY right next door to the station, so myself and another of the management team head over there to get signatures for posters for the station and to get a station ID from them. Well, the other guys in the band made no impression on me good or bad, but Dave Mustaine was a total asshole. He grabbed the tape recorder out of my hand with an exasperated expression on his face, fired off a generic ID ["This is Dave Mustaine from MegaDeath, you're listening to KXXX, blah blah blah..."], and basically was a jerk from the get-go. Didn't ruffle my feather that much, as I was never a fan of theirs (but was forcefed their music by my friends), but the coworker I was with was so pissed off about the treatment we received. I have heard from my little sister, who IS a huge MegaDeath fan, that Mustaine was a total jerk to one of her friends in a separate signing. She was very unamused, to say the least.

and in an odd bit of job crossover Cameron Crowe and Nancy Wilson were doing an instore signing to promote the premiere of his new Elizabethtown film.

Nancy Wilson, as in Heart? Only my Personal Goddess from my Favorite Freakin' Band of All Time!

Kirsten Dunst came by a few times too.

Kirsten Dunst, as in Kirsten Dunst? It's official now....I hate you.

I haven't had a celebrity SC but I did see a look-alike back in August.

I actually met a dude that was the spitting image of Luis Gonzalez, star outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, my baseball team! I knew it wasn't Gonzo, because it was the middle of baseball season and I knew the D-backs were on the other side of the country from where I was, but this guy looked SO much like Gonzo that I had to get my picture taken with him. The dude was a good sport and very amused by the whole thing.

John Madden - He was a generous guy when he was staying with us. Tipped awsomely, and always took time to talk to you if you wanted to talk football. Big guy, but man was he a joy to talk to. Sign anything and everything for ya. I delivered some winter cloths for him one playoff year. He was very cool.

I am a huge Raiders fan and Madden fan as well, and actually my summer vacation was centered around attending his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Seriously. Which made things amusing, when I would tell the tourists here in my tropical island paradise that I was going on vacation...to Ohio!

Beyond seeing one of the local newscasters naked I've never met any real celebs.

Now, you KNOW you are going to have to tell us that story!!!

She recognized me from the pic I sent her once, walked up to me and gave me a big hug saying "I finally get to meet you."

I actually had something similarly surreal happen to me a few years ago. I was out in LA visiting some friends, and through some connections of mine had scored a reservation at the Magic Castle. Now, the Magic Castle is a private club, and the only way you can get in is to have an invitation extended to you. I got mine from a friend of a friend...magicians can be really cool to one another. Also, for those not in the know, the Magic Castle is the MECCA of the magic community in America, and to some extent beyond it. It is like Nashville is to country singers, if you get my drift. Anyway, the very first act we saw there was a great magician named Cody Fischer doing a parlor act. Now I am sure most of you have not heard of him, nor had my friends...but he was appearing at the Magic Castle. Which for a magician is the bomb.

Anyway, after his act, I approached him to thank him for a great experience, and introduced myself, saying I was a magician down in Key West. His response? "Oh, you're Jester! I was wondering what you looked like!" He had recognized me from a magician's discussion forum...and actually remembered me! (Though I did not know he would be at the Castle, nor had I mentioned anything on that forum about going there myself.) I about fell over...as did my friends. Here I am, a relative newcomer to the magic scene, and I am being recognized at the Magic freakin' Castle by a guy who is being paid to perform there!

A lot of other cool stuff happened at the Castle, but that is one I will never forget! (And if you get a chance to ever see Cody Fischer perform, take it....great performer, great guy.)

[MadMike]

My experience with MegaDeath was not nearly as pleasant.

Just out of curiosity, what year was that? Dave Mustaine, the lead singer of Megadeth (they spell their name without the "a" in "death", btw), had a huge drug and alcohol problem up until about 1990 or so when he got himself cleaned up. If it was during his druggie years, that might have something to do with him acting like a jerk.

I've seen them in concert 3 or 4 times, and they always put on a great show. But I've never had any personal dealings with any of the band members, so I can't really say whether any of them are nice guys or if they're assholes.

[JustAGirl]

Since I'm a smartass, I probably would have replied with something along the lines of "Yeah, I know who you are. You're someone who hasn't had a hit since about 1984, and is still trying to live off past fame...even though you're 15 minutes are long over. Shut the hell up already"

Nonono, what you say is:

"No ma'am, I don't"

DG: "I am deborah gibson, aka DEBBIE gibson!"

"OH, you are the one who sang 'I Think We're Alone Now' RIght? AWESOME song!"

DG: "**grumbles**"

(yeah I know ITWAN is Tiffany, but that would totally piss DG off!)

[Knifeman]

Nonono, what you say is:

"No ma'am, I don't"

DG: "I am deborah gibson, aka DEBBIE gibson!"

"OH, you are the one who sang 'I Think We're Alone Now' RIght? AWESOME song!"

DG: "**grumbles**"

(yeah I know ITWAN is Tiffany, but that would totally piss DG off!)

Actually it's "Tommy James and the Shondells"

Tiffany did a cover... which honestly doesn't even touch the original.

[karl hungus]

Nancy Wilson, as in Heart?

Yes!! She's married to Cameron Crowe. She's a total sweetheart.
She even made me look cool at the Elizabethtown premiere party. I was talking to a couple of girls when she came up to me and asked me if I knew if Jim James from My Morning Jacket was still there. The girls that I was talking to just had that kind of gee-you-know-Nancy-Wilson-AND-Jim-James kind of look that was sorta cool.



Yes. That Kirsten Dunst.

[Jester]

Just out of curiosity, what year was that? Dave Mustaine, the lead singer of Megadeth (they spell their name without the "a" in "death", btw), had a huge drug and alcohol problem up until about 1990 or so when he got himself cleaned up. If it was during his druggie years, that might have something to do with him acting like a jerk.

I did not start working at the college station UNTIL 1990, so if your timeline is accurate, it would have been after his d&a issues. I do not, however, have the slightest idea when my little sister met the band, though I do think it was at an earlier time than when I did, as I vaguely remember her telling me about it when I related my experience to her. And I knew the spelling of the band's name but forgot, as frankly, I am not exactly a huge fan.

Nancy Wilson, as in Heart?

Yes!! She's married to Cameron Crowe. She's a total sweetheart.
She even made me look cool at the Elizabethtown premiere party. I was talking to a couple of girls when she came up to me and asked me if I knew if Jim James from My Morning Jacket was still there. The girls that I was talking to just had that kind of gee-you-know-Nancy-Wilson-AND-Jim-James kind of look that was sorta cool.



Yes. That Kirsten Dunst.

*sigh* It's now definitely official. I hate you.

[Cosmic Cat]

Avril Lavigne literally ran into me at work. Then she called me a stupid bitch for getting in her way.

[karma_gypsy]

I have met Ken & frank Shamrocks father in a Toys R Us, once.

I must say, I am jealous, although Ken isn't my favorite - more like least favorite - still, that's cool.

Sister called me at my workplace one Sunday afternoon, "Guess who I just checked out!?" Who? "Tori Amos!" Who does, indeed, have a house out near The Island.

We had tickets to go see Tori in concert, but alas, gave them away since we didn't have the time or had to work or somethin' like that.


Lee Greenwood was singing at a local theater and my hubby was sort of a 'bouncer' (pretty little for a bouncer though!!). Hubby was standing at the back door, making sure no one got in during the concert. Lee finished the show (didn't stay for autographs), ran out the back door, gave my hubby kind of a dirty look (probably thinking my hubby wanted a signature or somethin) and jumped in a crappy little car and drove away. Don't worry dude, we weren't interested in your autograph anyway . . .

[CreepyCarrie]

Avril Lavigne literally ran into me at work. Then she called me a stupid bitch for getting in her way.

Why am I not surprised? After all, she's, like, soooo punk and stuff.

[Cyanocobalamin]

My only celebrity run in would be Mike Holmgren, the Seahawks head coach. It was a few weeks after the Super Bowl, and he came in with his wife. They were discussing Sharpie markers for signing autographs. I asked if they were doing alright (usual sort of greeting) and left them alone... figured I'd let them shop in peace.
I think a few Mariners have come in and shopped but I've never waited on any of 'em.

[Casino Jockey]

I had Paul Tracy step on my foot in 2004. I was at the gold coast cart race, and he was too busy talking on his cell and he almost barreled into me - i managed to step back, but he stood on my foot insted.

he eneded up breaking 2 toes and signing me an autograph.

[Mike Taylor]

Don't know if I've posted it before, but one of my previous jobs used to deal with celebrities of all sorts. FAO Schwarz, the upscale toyshop that used to be on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, had all kinds of big names come through its doors.

I've met Mel Gibson, who was very civil if low-key, Brian Dennehy, man is he a giant, Javier Lopez, very nice guy. At another job in Chicago, I met George H Coors and a pre-jerk Sammy Sosa. I never had one who was a sucky customer, but I have heard stories.

One of the store managers at FAO had to deal with John Malkovich, who took it upon himself to throw a pile of plush animals on the floor and sit in the middle of them. One of the associates spotted him, approached him politely and asked if ne needed assistance. He replied rather snottily, "No...." and then got up and left his mess.

Other horror stories included the gold digging wife of a Cubs baseball player who treated her own baby like it was some repulsive "thing". So the staff had their revenge by doting on the baby and being kind to the nanny and dealing with the gold digger in the way she treated her baby.

The crowning jewel isn't a story involving a sucky celebrity customer, though. It's how a celebrity customer unwittingly became the tool of payback. See, we had this suck-ass HR manager who screwed up paperwork and hired every mouthbreather that walked in the door. She was horribly obnoxious. One day, she loudly proclaimed that we would no longer be allowed to watch Jerry Springer in the break room and ranted on and on about how the show was bad. Well, this being Chicago and all, Jerry's studios were just up the street from us. Two days later, he just happened to come in the store to shop... guess who the HR manager was introduced to?