I was really nervous the first time I met Taylor via meet & greet. I mean REALLY nervous. The occasion was thrust upon me out of the blue and I had no time to prepare for it. The second meet & greet in Concord I knew it was going to happen, had time to prepare and was nervous but it was different. "Cool as a cucumber" when I approached the table as my friend Andrea said. I sort of go into another frame of mind and just try to really talk to him. I hope I have a chance to try out my "frame of mind" soon.
Going through the trash...I would never do that! Honestly, what would you do with most of it? Wait, don't answer that...
I felt like such an idiot when I met him in Concord. I was just going on and on about nothing...Im sure I made him feel uncomfortable. I was just so excited to actually be there, though. I found out that I won the M&G a few days before and I had already said that I wasnt going to Concord...I bought the tix when they went on sale early in the spring and then I had that bad flare in early June. All my plans for the summer went down the tubes because I wasnt up for travelling.
So when David and my mom convinced me to go (and Im so glad I did because I met you all!!), it was a bit reluctantly. I mean, I knew the ride was going to be tough on me, I knew we were going to have to leave the same day the concert was...oh well...
I felt stupid and silly...I mean, here was this fat chick with her husband and the cane helping her "walk" to the table...then because of the MS, I stammer and cant remember anything, I go blank...felt so stupid...I gave him my red MS Band of Hope (similiar to the Lance Armstrong yellow bands)...I gave it to him and asked him to wear it only because I know he wears (wore) that black band. He said no at first because I think he thought it was something very special to me--it was, but I thought that even if he wore it for one concert and someone noticed the red band, it could raise awareness. But did i even spit that out? NOOOOO...because I was nervous and tounge-tied!
I did say, "If you promise you will wear this, I dont mind giving it to you because I can get another." He looked at me and said, "Are you sure?" And he sort of looked at Bill as if to say, "Do you think I should take this?" (Its only a red rubber band, after all--its not worth anything) I repeated, "Youre gonna wear it, right?" He said, "Oh, I dont know..." So I touched his black band and smiled, "Youre always wearing this one, why not mine?" And he got a bit shy and smiled and Bill said, "Oh well, thats something different!" He said, "I cant take this," I was like, "No, I want you to have it," "Are you sure? Can you get another one?" "Sure...please take it," And then he was like, "Okay...lets take a picture," Bill had us pose and you can see from the pic I was gushing and he looks, well, a bit weirded out...
But I redeemed myself by introducing David and Taylor stood up and shook hands with him. David said, "Hey man, enjoy your music. Have a great show."
I think Taylor enjoys it when guys enjoy his music too.
Everytime I think of my M&G I want to cringe. If I can (and I know I will) do it over again, I wont be such a HS goofball. Ugh!
I wonder where the band is now...I was sort of hoping he would wear it during the concert at Concord, it probably got thrown in the bus w/everything else...
I hate being a fan sometimes...he seems too accessible and, well, he really isnt.
Kimberly,
It is a strange situation....you only have approx. 2 minutes to sit and get a photo and give a gift (perhaps) and try to say something to a man who you (think) you know well and admire yet you are a total stranger to him. He appreciates you for being there and being a fan club member but he may not feel like greeting 20 to 30 people that day.
I was second to last in a VERY long line of fans in Concord. I made eye contact with Taylor twice while in line (very pleasant experience!
) but after I handed my camera to Bill and sat down and introduced myself as "Andrea", Taylor did not look at my face....he stared at my nametag "SegerHicks" from the pre-party that I forgot to take off. He seemed shy with me but maybe he was just tired. At least I got a chuckle out of him when I gave him a Patriots hat and said he should wear it when he's in New England even tho he's a fan of another team(s).
I think many of us have a regret or two and plan the perfect encounter but it just doesn't go down that way. Good news is Taylor won't remember any of it!!
There's always next time!
We have totally hijacked this thread!!
Andrea
Totally hi-jacked
Oh well...there isn't a whole lot going on right now.
Eye-contact is nice.
Seger, I only met him once, in Portland (city of dreams LOL)
I had a Chakra M&G in Concord, but that
was one of them that got canned at the last minute-bummer! I
think we need a Meet & Greet stories thread
Back on topic, yes, I agree that might be a cool book for Taylor
to read to gain some tips from someone that's been there (although
Barry was never as HOT as Taylor
so it might not be quite
the same
)
Disclaimer: I am not gay-bashing!!!
I have a hard time understanding fans who go ga-ga over male artists who are gay. I understand being a fan of their voice or songwriting ability or stage talent but I am talking about really getting into them and screaming for them and the equivalent of thudding. Some older women fawn over Barry Manilow.
Clay Aiken was on The View recently and had a bunch of Claymates in the audience who were holing up pics of him in Spamalot and freaking out. Whoppie said "what are Claymates?" and he tried to explain but seemed a little uncomfortable...he said they scream for him on Broadway and he wishes they wouldn't because it is not a concert....there are lots of other actors up there with him.
I was REALLY into Elton John in college....for his MUSIC. I think one of my all-time favorite artists was gay....Luther Vandross....don't know if he ever came out. I have seen him twice in concert and own many CDs and think his voice and love songs are very sexy.
Please don't think I am narrow minded on the issue....it's just my personal feelings.
I can't get fangirly for a male singer who is feminine. 
Andrea - maybe they see those artists differently than you (or I) do.
Different strokes for different folks.
Seger -- I am trying to think if I've been fangirly over any gay male celebrities, and I can't think of any..
When Elton's first few albums came out I thought he was interesting, between his voice, his songs, and musicianship, but when he went into the Captain Fantastic phase, I lost any attraction I might have had.
I find George Michael attractive, and a great singer, if he was straight I could see thudding for him..
but since I always assumed he and the other guy in Wham were an item, I wasn't fan girly...
In the case of Clay, I've noticed a bit of denial going on among some fans.. compounded by the fact that he has never acknowledged that he's gay... which is his business, not mine. I have been watching Season 2 on American Idol Rewind, and I gotta say he has no sex appeal for me whatsoever. He's funny and personable on talk shows (when he isn't getting himself in hot water), but no sex appeal, none.
I've always wondered if Barry Manilow was gay also, but I haven't heard anywhere that he is, actually quite the contrary, at least when he was younger. His book mentions at least 3-4 women he was involved with long term, including his wife, Susan. But who knows...could be bi . He strikes me as on the feminine side too, but girls do fawn over him -STILL!
My theory on the gay-fawning... these guys are so flamboyant and effeminate that women see them as "safe". Check out the women doing such fawning. Do they seem like the type to not like sex? Do cuddling and chaste kissing figure largely in their fantasies? It's a safety thing. Like the girl that goes to prom with the gay guy, because she knows he won't make a move on her.
Not that I know anything about that.