How to Keep Your Cool When You Meet a Celebrity

Meeting a celebrity is a momentous occasion, but there are definitely wrong and right ways to do it.

It's easy to imagine everything that can go awry when you meet your favorite celeb for the first time. Avoid that stress with this handy list of things to do in order to avoid making a fool of yourself.

1. First, remember that it's totally okay to be starstruck. It's not every day that you encounter a star your admire, so those emotions are completely natural. Still, that doesn't mean you should lose your cool.

2. Introduce yourself like you would any other person. Be assertive and friendly, greeting them and letting them know who you are. After all, you probably want them to remember you, and knowing your name helps! If all goes well, they'll introduce themselves, too—not that you needed any introduction.

3. Follow their lead. Don't assume they want to shake your hand or give you a hug just because that's what you desperately want to happen. No touching or invading personal space unless they say it's okay.

(Bob's Burgers via Bento Box Entertainment)

4. Try to be normal. After are, they may not seem like a "normal person" to you, but they are. They're only human, and you should treat them as such.

5. Strike a balance in your attention to them. Your gut may tell you to lead by telling them you love them and gush about how much they mean to you, but that's not the best way to make the first impression. On the other hand, don't try to ignore or snub them to act like you don't care. You'll want to find a spot somewhere in the middle, treating them with respect without going completely overboard.

(SpongeBob SquarePants via United Plankton Pictures)

6. Try to stand out. If a line of 30 people in front of you asked for a selfie with the person, they may appreciate a meaningful conversation instead of another photo request. They just might remember you for it.

7. Find common ground and build a conversation around it, especially if it's relevant to the current situation. Maybe they're wearing a shirt of a band you love, or the venue is one of your favorite locations. Let an organic conversation spring from the circumstances.

8. If you want to talk to them about an aspect of their lives, stick to information that's commonly known and widely available. Don't bring up some obscure bit of trivia you read about them in a rare book. It might come off as creepy.

9. If you're going to compliment them, be specific. Bring up a work of theirs that touched you, and explain how and why it did. Compliment time is also the perfect opportunity to finally rave about them, but keep it reasonable.

10. If you have a question for them about their work, be original. People really don't like answering the same obvious question over and over and over again, so try to catch them off-guard with a thoughtful question they probably haven't heard before.

11. Don't be something you're not just because it's what you think they want you to be. Don't pretend you've seen a movie or television show, or even that you enjoy specific kinds of food, just because they ask you about it. They'll pick up on—and appreciate—the honesty.

12. Don't assume it's okay to snap a photo with them. Ask first if it's cool, and if they cooperate, you'll get much better results.

(via Getty)

13. If there are people in line behind you also waiting for their shining moment with the star, don't hog the space. Even if you want to spend the rest of time in their presence, the polite thing to do is to use your time with them wisely before moving aside for the next group.

 

Need more help to prepare for your big encounter? Click HERE for everything that goes through your head when you meet your favorite musician.