Nothing brings more prestige to your event quite like the star-power of an A-list celebrity.
They bring a distinction, credibility, and awareness to your event that is unmatched by any other strategy.
Perhaps that’s because today we live in a celebrity-obsessed culture and so we elevate them to a place of reverence.
They can seem untouchable so when deciding to bring a celebrity on to a project to promote your event the idea might knock you off kilter, especially if you haven’t worked with one before.
Here are 7 actions to take if you want to look less like a groupie and more like the professional you are:
Be Professional
Seeing these people in movies, on tv, and in music videos can leave us with the impression that we know them. As a sign of respect, choose formality over-familiarity. Address them with Mr. or Ms. where appropriate; never by their first name unless they explicitly ask you to do so.
Another aspect of feeling as if we know celebrities is that we have ideas about how they would be “in real life”. Try to temper this inclination. You may find yourself disappointed when their public persona is vastly different which could affect your working relationship. Always remember you’re at the workplace when dealing with them.
Stay on track when you’re speaking with them. Venturing outside the topic at hand is never acceptable and a waste of their time. This can look like asking them personal questions, inquiring about upcoming projects or current gossip circulating about them.
During your meeting is never the time to ask for a selfie or an autograph. In fact, many celebrities refuse to give either. However, knowing that their fans want such mementos, some will initiate the offer to do so which is the only time to take that opportunity.
Stay Calm
People have a wide range of reactions when coming face-to-face with a celebrity, in particular, if it has never happened before.
If your first inclination is to squeal in delight, stare with your mouth agape or lose the ability to speak, you’ll have to work on that.
For celebrities, this is just one aspect of who they are. They may have a lot to offer in terms of creativity and insight that could accentuate your event and the job for which you’ve hired them. If you’re too focused on that one aspect then you’ll miss their other potential contributions.
Use Discretion
Working with celebrities is one of many instances where you may be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement or confidentiality agreement. This is a contract that parties agree to sign stating that information discovered through carrying out their business with one another will not be disclosed.
However, this isn’t always requested. In the event one isn’t required, the best thing to do is assume that one is always in effect.
Due to public perception being a large component of one’s celebrity, a slip of the tongue can ruin a career. If a celebrity feels you can’t be trusted, not only will it ruin this relationship in particular, but it could affect any future business that might have come your way as a result of a good word from this person.
Nothing brings more prestige to your event quite like the star-power of an A-list celebrity. Click To TweetBe Brief
Respect the celebrity’s schedule. These people are pulled at from every angle; many want a piece of their time. When you decide that it’s time to brief your celebrity, consider how you can go about this in the most time-efficient way. Ask for the least amount of time available to get all the issues addressed. Perhaps the meeting can be held online rather than in-person.
Avoid Overload
A celebrity’s appearance at your event does not typically include memorizing a folder of information. If you’ve hired one to convey a message to the audience, be concise with the message you want to be communicated. Create a short bullet list of information and have a cheat sheet on site for them to consult at the necessary time.
Don’t Put Them On A Pedestal
More often than not celebrities are largely unaffected by their status and would prefer others treat them that way too.
Making your interactions with them about their celebrity creates a disconnect between the two of you which may affect your work on the project. It’ll be hard for them to respect you and have confidence in your ability if you’re gushing over them.
Do Your Homework
While keeping in mind that you should stay on topic and stay away from the fan-zone, it’s always a good idea to do some research on them. The fact of the matter is we don’t follow or even like every celebrity. You may not focus on their particular body of work as you would for another person for whom you had a greater affinity. However, knowing a little background on your celebrity choice can mean a less awkward moment down the road should the topic arise.
These tips will help keep your professional image intact when handling celebrities to ensure you cultivate a relationship that’s beneficial for both of you – hopefully for years to come.
Have you ever had celebrities at any of your events? If so, how did you make sure it was the best experience for everyone involved? Let me know in the comments below.