Meeting Shatner - What NOT to say & do

[AxelFoley]

Today William Shatner was announced as a guest at the London Film & Comic Con this year, which will be held on July 17-18th. He'll be appearing both days, have talks and photo-ops.

Naturally, I'll be going. I met Nimoy at a similar event last year, since then Shatner has been the #1 celebrity I've wanted to meet. Now, to the point of this thread...

Since Bill can be very... Shatnerian in his behaviour, what should I shy away from saying & doing, in order to avoid such behaviour? Is it best to just keep my mouth shut and get my autographs?

When I met Nimoy last year I told him I'd come all the way from Sweden just to meet him, he graciously replied "Aww, thank you!", I suspect if I say such a thing to Bill, he'll say "Get a life!", right after giving me a dropkick only Cpt. Kirk can do.

Everyone who has met him or know someone who has, how did it go? I'm all ears...

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

Be chill.

 

[JustKate]

I wonder if he'd like it if you referenced something he's been in besides ST? I would, if I were an actor.

Of course, if I were an actor who was mostly famous for Trek, and if I were appearing at an event where most of the people I was likely to meet would know me from Trek, I'd try to be gracious about Trek references, too, if for no other reason than that Trek was my bread and butter. But maybe that's just me...

 

[AxelFoley]

I'm actually a huge fan of Boston Legal as well, but I will be there for The Kirk. However, I won't be asking him anything about Star Trek, or tell him my favorite episode/movie & stuff like that. The most I would do is probably thank him for coming, say that I am a big fan and perhaps try to shake his hand once he's signed my autographs.

Though I've heard that his manager is a real bitch to the fans, always rushing them, having a short temper etc, keeping him so busy he doesn't even look up at the fans at times.

 

[Mysterion]

Be mellow, and...don't try....out....yourShatnerimpression!

 

[AxelFoley]

But... there's... GOTTA BE A WAY!

 

[Piper]

Don't punch him in the face. He doesn't like that sort of thing.

 

[KirkSpockTOSFan]

I went to the offical convetion for Star Trek last year in Las Vegas. And I there I ment Jonathan Frakes,Brent Spinner,Zachary Quinto,Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner. I think all them were really cool and really nice. I didnt get much of chance to say alot to each of them other than that I said they were my favorites or that I love them, and my reponses were "thank you" or "thank you for comming". But of course you dont get to say much because there are lots of people they still have to sign autographs and take pictures with, so thats expected. If was a smaller gathering which you could say be more face to face contact, you might have more of a chance then you would at a big convetion. Of course I did get to talk to Zachary Quinto the longest of all the others, and he was a very nice a sweet person, and very polite as well.I didn't get the much of chance to talk to Nimoy or Shatner, and of course I really did'nt know what to say to them either. I know after I had my picture taken with Nimoy & Shatner, Nimoy was very nice and said thank you. Anyways,I'm going to a smaller Star Trek convetion in Tulsa,OK in June. And Shatner is gonna be there, so I decied to go even though I ment him already. I like to say more to him this time since I really didnt get the chance the last time. But I'll still probly be lost for words, because I dont know what to say. I think the other Star Trek actors might be a little more easy to talk to then Shatner.Dont get me wrong I'm sure he might be nice person once you get to know him, its just kind of hard as fan to know when or what or not to say.So,I'm lost for words as well.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Dont mention the war. ( Or is that when you met Germans?)

 

[scotpens]

Don't make any toupee jokes. He's heard them all.

 

[Shazam!]

Ask him to sign a picture of Patrick Stewart.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

^

I have no idea. But i am happy jealous for you! Be sure to come back and let us know how it goes.

 

[Shieldsdown]

Ask him how many saddle-bred horses he has on his horse farm! (Just kidding!!......ducks for cover).

 

[Nick086]

I wouldn't ask him if he does it with the horses.

 

[AxelFoley]

Don't make any toupee jokes. He's heard them all.

Doesn't he have plugs nowadays though? I might say something about Takei, as in toupe.

 

[Brian]

I generally just thank them for coming to my city or thank them for the autograph and tell them to have a great day. When they're signing autographs, they just want to get on with it; they do not want your conversation. And the people behind you in line want it even less, I assure you.

 

[AxelFoley]

Screw the people in the back, they also want to chat with the Shat!

 

[Nerys Myk]

Ask him if he knows a good lawyer. (Not a Boston Legal joke, I just saw Shat in a commercial for a law firm)

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

My personal opinion is, as long as you act like a normal, considerate person and treat the actor like a normal person and not a demigod, you really shouldn't be worried excessively. And if someone is going to be a jerk even if you're polite, that isn't your problem.

Personally, I'm more interested in meeting a "celeb" who is lesser-known, and more down-to-earth, than someone who is full of himself. Someone with a frequent bad reputation in how they treat people is not someone I want to give any time to.

 

[Cap'n Caveman]

Don't compliment him about the tribble, especially if he doesn't have one.

No farting (and then looking around as if you weren't the one who cut it) would be nice.

Don't do what I did when I met Roddenberry (sweat profusely and then said something that sounded like an incoherent chipmunk on helium.)

Don't confuse him with Takei and ask him about his life partner.

Don't ask him to sign a picture of Chris Pine.

Do ask RobertScorpio, he spent 4 hours with the guy!