As a journalist, I have had the honour of meeting a number of “famous” people, most of them musicians.
My first was astrophysicist Carl Sagan. and boy what a way to meet someone!
Working at the university newspaper, I was given the assignment to of writing about Dr. Sagan since he was one of the people in the Distinguished Lecture Series. That assignment included a press conference…something I have never done. I was terrified!
A weekly, the paper came out that morning and low and behold but who was on the front page above the fold?????? My article on Carl Sagan!
I picked up my paper at a local convenience store close to the campus. I let out a scream (the cashier looked at me like I had lost my mind) and grabbed a handful of papers.
I was to attend the press conference and the lecture at the Civic Center that night. Wow, what a show, complete with shots from Voyager and Mars!
Anyway, back to the story; I sat near the front of the small room and as Dr. Sagan passed by I handed him one of the stack of papers I had gotten.
Scheduled for 30 minutes, the press conference was well attended with lots of questions. I have never used a tape recorder, it’s me, a pen, and paper. So, I am furiously scribbling notes and praying I can decipher my own handwriting later.
I am terrified of asking a question for fear of sounding really dumb.
But 25 minutes into the conference, I got a little braver. A big “Star Trek” fan, I played on that theme and asked about whether the success of the space program would depend on international co-operation.
Dr. Sagan looks at me and says, “that’s a good question, I’m glad you asked.” Whew! A BIG sigh of relief!
Afterward I asked him if he would autograph my press photo and he graciously did. Somewhere in my packed file cabinet of press releases, notes, hand written articles, and photos is that autographed picture of Carl Sagan.
One meeting I will never forget was the night I saw Johnny Matthis. My mother liked him and I heard him often as a child. Nobody compares when it comes to “Misty”.
So, after the show, I run into the Press Rep for the Casino who had brought his mother to the show. He says, stay with me. OK, not sure what’s happening but hey, the guy gets me into the shows.
Staying with the Press Rep turned into a meet and greet with Johnny Mattis. I don’t remember what outfit I had on but it was black or black and red because I wore my Scottish Balmoral hat.
The first thing Matthis says is, “I love your hat, we had scones for lunch.”!
Concerts at the Casino often include meet and greets in the concourse at the merch table after the show. I have stood in many a line to say hello and get an autograph.
Some of the artists on that list are Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees, Larry Carlton, Tony Orlando, Great Big Sea, Thunderhand Joe and the Medicine Show (Joe and I are not friends), Coco Montoya, and Gabriel Ayala after a Native American Music Awards event.
Way cool! 😎