What to expect when meeting Shatner?

[BlueMetroid]

I'll have the opportunity to meet the Shat this weekend, and honestly, I'm extremely nervous. I've heard all the horror stories, but has anyone had a positive experience when meeting him? What should I expect during a signing/photo op? Is there any fan interaction, or does he just do the bare minimum?

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

You should expect to babble and possibly swoon.

 

[Maurice]

Never met the man, but what I do when I meet well-known people is to comment on something of their work that isn't obvious or they haven't heard a thousand times before. Sometimes you get the brush off, sometimes they engage you because you mentioned something they never get asked about.

Not to name drop, but a few fer instances...

• James Cameron—told him how much I appreciated a keynote he gave about VFX...he gave me his business card
• Richard Williams (animation director on Roger Rabbit)— told him I didn't want an anything from him but that I was there just thank him for all his work...his wife even asked me my name, so I made some impression or other
• Henry Selick—I didn't discuss Coraline or Nightmare Before Christmas, instead expressed my disappointment over Disney canceling the previous film he'd been working on, and we ended up chatting about what he was thinking about the approach he might take to his next film
• Todd Rundgren—I mentioned how much I liked his 1985 album A Cappella, and he replied "that's obscure!"

I'll be interested to hear what you say and what your experience is.

 

[Delta Vega]

Never met the man, but what I do when I meet well-known people is to comment on something of their work that isn't obvious or they haven't heard a thousand times before. Sometimes you get the brush off, sometimes they engage you because you mentioned something they never get asked about.

Not to name drop, but a few fer instances...

• James Cameron—told him how much I appreciated a keynote he gave about VFX...he gave me his business card
• Richard Williams (animation director on Roger Rabbit)— told him I didn't want an anything from him but that I was there just thank him for all his work...his wife even asked me my name, so I made some impression or other
• Henry Selick—I didn't discuss Coraline or Nightmare Before Christmas, instead expressed my disappointment over Disney canceling the previous film he'd been working on, and we ended up chatting about what he was thinking about the approach he might take to his next film
• Todd Rundgren—I mentioned how much I liked his 1985 album A Cappella, and he replied "that's obscure!"

I'll be interested to hear what you say and what your experience is.

Wow, Todd is among the three people in the world I would love to meet.
Shatner and Brian Wilson being the other two.
Living in Glasgow, Scotland the likelihood of meeting any of them, is unlikely.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I would not bring up Shatner's 1970's rendition of "Rocket Man." Apparently he gets feedback on that all the time, and it's surreal to him because that was ages ago and it wasn't supposed to be a big deal.

 

[Push The Button]

Mention the horses, he loves his horses.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Living in Glasgow, Scotland the likelihood of meeting any of them, is unlikely.

Try living in Shetland, even less chance up here!

 

[Botany Bay]

I was thinking along similar lines as Maurice when I went to get an autograph from the great man, so I took a CD of one of his albums to sign, and I complemented him on the album. Alas, no reaction, but he smiled and I was promptly moved along, with hundreds in line behind me waiting for their turn.

I later had a picture with him, and when I said something along the lines of 'thanks for all the great entertainment over the years' or something, he heard my Australian accent and reacted, saying 'you're welcome'. The flash went off, and I was, again moved on, elated and completely starstruck. The big no-no with him is handshakes, and you will probably be reminded about this a few times.

So no huge amount of interaction, but a thrilli ng moment to meet my favourite celeb, and something I'll never forget.

Years later he came to Australia, I missed that convention, but my wife and young son went. He came out of his shell when my son started talking to him, and apparently said 'my, you're a very bright young man'. And yes, I am very jealous!

 

[Robert Comsol]

I'd say first and foremost be natural and yourself. William Shatner is just another human being like you or me who just happened to be lucky to be cast as the main character in a 1960's TV series that's still talked about today.

Just make absolutely sure you don't ask the actor Bill Shatner about Star Trek things only the fictional James T. Kirk could answer.

Back at the Berlin premiere of TUC at the Zoo Palast theatre (just re-opened recently in its original glory) we had a terrible interviewer and here is the question he asked Bill Shatner and the reply he got:

Interviewer: How does it feel when you "beam"?
Shatner: It's like having sex with your girlfriend

It's difficult to "connect" to these people unless you know what it is they are interested in at any particular moment.

I managed this only once during a convention with John de Lancie ("Q"). He was complaining about the soft drinks being served at the panel. It clicked it my head, I went to my car, grabbed a small cannister and handed it to him - Judging by the shape of the cannister he knew that's what he wanted: a sip of Scottish whiskey.

I would have a question for Bill Shatner, but I doubt he'd be too happy about it. During the "Captain's Summit" program Shatner made this little speech about how TOS was the first TV series going where no one had gone before.

Whoopi Goldberg (host) reminded him that there had been "The Twilight Zone" before, but Shatner wouldn't comment (which is rather odd because he had starred in two episodes of this series, so he should have known better).

Bob

 

[BoredShipCapt'n]

Wow, Todd is among the three people in the world I would love to meet.
Shatner and Brian Wilson being the other two.
Living in Glasgow, Scotland the likelihood of meeting any of them, is unlikely.

Brian seems to hit Glasgow normally on his UK tours.

 

[Commishsleer]

When I went to get my picture taken with him and Nimoy in 2009 at Vegas I was apprehensive.

I had heard rumours he was brusque and was afraid he'd tell me off or something (don't laugh at me).

The other more experienced people in the line (I was waiting an hour) said don't worry he never talks to you. They were right. He just talked to Nimoy who did say hello. I had no problems with this and was much relieved he didn't come out and bite me.

Quinto was at the convention too and apparently upset the organisers by actually talking to the people getting their photo so he slowed things down so people missed talks or something like that. So its not all the Shat's fault.
And I had heard he occasionally did say something to people in the autograph line. Like Botany Bay wrote I also heard he may talk to kids as I was thinking of bringing my 5 year old if I ever got his autograph.

I suspect he has heard everything after doing this for 45 years but you know he keeps doing conventions.

 

[EmperorTiberius]

Tell him you prefer Picard, but would like Kirk's autograph as well

 

[Jonas Grumby]

I've never seen Shatner in person, myself, but from reading the multitude of fan reports over the years, I've gotten the impression that three main things determine what kind of experience you can expect:

1. Time pressure (as in, number of fans in line vs. time allotted for event).

2. What kind of general mood he's in that day.

3. How dorky you come across.

The only one you have any control over is number 3. So, just be on your best behavior and don't sweat the rest.

 

[Relayer1]

Wow, Todd is among the three people in the world I would love to meet.
Shatner and Brian Wilson being the other two.
Living in Glasgow, Scotland the likelihood of meeting any of them, is unlikely.

Strange that all three were seen taking in a gig at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut last week then. Who even knew that they knew each other ?

 

[Maurice]

One other thing. Some artists aren't that flattered by compliments on work that is ancient history. Talking about something they've done recently and they have more of a connection to might get a bigger response.

 

[dub]

are you meeting Shatner Prime or nuShatner?

 

[sonak]

I read so many of these stories here about how rude he is at Trek events and it makes me wonder why he does them if he dislikes them so much. Unlike some of the other Trek actors, it can't be for the money.

 

[CaptJimboJones]

My only interaction with Shatner was very briefly on a flight years ago. He was in the First Class cabin (as was I) and with a woman who I believe was his daughter.

Passing by his row I leaned in for a second and said something probably stupid along the lines of "thanks so much for all the years of entertainment." He just smiled graciously and said thanks. I heard several other passengers make similar comments and it didn't seem to bother him.

It probably helped that I was in a business suit, not a homemade Starfleet uniform. He also may have just been in a good mood.

Interestingly when I got up to deplane and hoping to get another glimpse of him, his seat was empty! (Yes, I did for a moment wonder if he had beamed off the plane ... ) One of the flight attendants told me that it was standard practice at LAX that celebrity types were hustled off the plane right when it landed and taken in a shuttle across the tarmac so they don't have to walk through the terminal where the paparazzi hang out. Not sure if they still do that today (this was pre-911).

But overall I guess I had one of the rare "positive" meetings, although I wouldn't really call it a meeting - more of a brush with greatness.

 

[JT Perfecthair]

Sometimes it helps to have a non Trek item to talk to the celebs about. I'm sure Shatner has signed enough Kirk and TJ Hooker 8x10s to generate a yawn, but you'd get at least a brief exchange with him if you gave him something to sign from Barbary Coast, a brief role he played that deserved wider recognition than it received.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Interestingly when I got up to deplane and hoping to get another glimpse of him, his seat was empty! (Yes, I did for a moment wonder if he had beamed off the plane ... ) One of the flight attendants told me that it was standard practice at LAX that celebrity types were hustled off the plane right when it landed and taken in a shuttle across the tarmac so they don't have to walk through the terminal where the paparazzi hang out. Not sure if they still do that today (this was pre-911).

She was lying - he was hiding in the bathroom because there... was something... on the wing!