Celebrity Encounter Etiquette

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Whether you're a local or a tourist, hanging out for any length of time at LAX is different from having a long layover in any other city. Not only is LAX an international airport, but there's a decent chance that you'll catch a glimpse of a celebrity on their way home from their work on a project or on their way to an on location shoot. If you see someone in sunglasses indoors, avoiding eye contact with others, it's a good bet they're someone famous. As exciting as that is, there are a few ground rules you should know about.

Play it Cool

When you first meet a celebrity you might feel bubbly and starstruck, but the best way to get the coveted invitation to share their limo is to play it cool. Sure, it's great to have someone fawn after you, but many celebrities get tired of that, and long for more genuine human interaction. Don't run up to them and burble about being their biggest fan and the crush you've had since you were 10. Instead:

  • Introduce yourself and express your admiration for their work. For example: "Excuse me. Hi, my name is John/Jane Doe, and I loved your performance in (name of movie)."
  • Respect their space. Don't touch them. Many people fail to remember that celebrities are human beings. How would you feel if a stranger came up and started hugging you?
  • Make small talk. Don't forget that this is a person you have never met before, and it is inappropriate to dive into taboo subjects immediately. Stick to something light.

Once you've struck up a conversation you have an infinitesimal chance of being invited to come along with them, but in the off chance you are invited, you'll need to know how to behave in a limo.

Once You've Scored a Ride

The thrill of sliding into a celebrity's limo is second to none, but if this is your first time using a limo service, like LAX Car Service, you might not know the basic rules of polite limo use. Fortunately, they are pretty simple and straightforward. 

  • Don't make the celebrity late. Once you're invited, keep up!
  • Be polite to the driver. Would you enjoy being heckled at work? The driver is on a job, and should not be bothered.
  • Don't stand in the limo with your head outside the sunroof. Yeah, it looks cool in movies (and your celebrity companion may even have done it on film a time or two), but it is outrageously risky and not allowed.
  • Don't smoke in the limo. Unless the celebrity you're with owns the limo, chances are very good that smoking is prohibited for the comfort of other passengers after your ride is over.
  • Don't do anything illegal. Don't drink if you're underage or use illegal drugs. Doing so puts your celebrity host in an awkward position, and the driver may be obligated to eject you from the limo.

If you behave in the limo like you would in any other public space you'll do well. People get in trouble in limos when they take advantage of the privacy provided by the tinted windows and privacy screen between them and the driver, or forget that luxury is not permission to misbehave. 

Meeting a celebrity is exciting. Being invited to share their ride is even more exciting. There are a lot of ways to make mistakes in these situations, but now you are better equipped to conduct yourself with civility and poise. Just remember these simple rules and you will be well on your way to having a story to share with your friends and loved ones unlike any other.

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19 March 2015

Navigating Public Transportation in a Big City

I come from a small town. It's so small that there is no public bus service—you can walk everywhere within city limits. People drove their cars if they wanted to leave town. At home, I rarely saw a taxi, and subways were something I only saw in movies. Moving to New York City was a shock in many ways, but learning how to get around using public transportation was one of the biggest hurdles that I faced. I didn't know how much to tip a taxi driver or how to find my way around on the bus. However, I did eventually learn. I know that there must be many people who are facing the same learning curve that I was facing a few years ago. I started this blog to help other small town natives like me learn how to get around in the big city.