I attended the Phoenix Dinner at the 41st Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Phoenix Award Dinner in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, September 24, 2011 and had the pleasure of meeting Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union. Based upon my experience, I wanted to provide some helpful tips on how to properly interrupt a celebritie’s dinner plans with style.
6-Steps for Stylist Interruption
1. Attend the Right Event: To connect with celebrities you have to attend the right high profile events. You then have to establish a strategy to survey the room to connect with celebrities they are not going to come to you. If possible do your homework prior to the event to identify people you want to connect with that will be attending the event. Most importantly, don’t try to meet everybody. The event I attended cost $750/ticket and it was the third time that I got up and walked around that I identified Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union (You must act swiftly!)
2. Walk with Confidence: If you noticed in the picture the security guard was giving me that look, like who is that guy? They key is walk with confidence past the security guards (Act like you own the place, but don’t come off arrogant) and have your one liner ready to address why you are connecting with the celebrity. I didn’t have to use my one liner but I was ready and I acted like I knew DWade even though he wouldn’t know me from Adam’s housedog. The key is you have to get through.
3. Be Camera Ready: Ideally you want to have a Smartphone with Internet capability that allows you to upload the photo in real-time. This allows you to share your celebrity moment with your online community. You can use a variety of photo sharing apps like Instagram or just upload the photo into Twitter or Facebook via a third party app. Worst-case use a digital camera in either case be ready to snap a photo quickly.
4. Work with a Tech Savvy Friend: Have a tech savvy friend (i.e. @WayneSutton ) to help, this is not a 1-person job you have to get in and get out. Using an innocent bystander who is a tech novice is a recipe for disaster they will jack your photo up. Remember you only have time for one photo.
5. Act with Brevity: Don’t tell them your life story (Remember: Nobody really cares about it but your mother.) Ask for the photo and leave them alone! (When I approach Dwayne and Gabrielle, I simply asked for a photo he didn’t care that I am the Brand Man, LOL!)
6. Apologize Digitally: Apologize digitally by posting a simple tweet about crashing their photo. This serves three purposes: (1) it communicates to them that you really appreciate their time, (2) it demonstrates that you are tech savvy, and (3) most importantly it creates social proof so either share on your Facebook wall or tweet (If they are on Twitter look up their Twitter handle to confirm that you have the right account.)
Note: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union were extremely polite and cordial. I was probably the 100th person to interrupt their dinner that evening. They were beyond nice and they didn’t have to be, but it was much appreciated.
Note (Dwyane if you read this post): If Gabby and you are in Detroit my wife and I would love to take you two out to dinner. I owe you one! Just DM me on Twitter at @HajjFlemings. If not thanks again for the photo.
Update: Pray that the celebrity retweets your post. I was very fortunate DWade was nice enough to RT my tweet.
Warning: Follow my tips at your own risk. It worked for me that is all I can say!!!!
