597: Admiration How-To

Do you tell the people that you admire that you do? Why or why not?
Full episode script If you go to conventions or are a particularly ardent fan of … well, pretty much anything… you’ve probably heard the horror stories. Celebrities or creators interacting with fans that are… well, fangirling. I’ve done it myself in the past, and it never fails to be a somewhat awkward and totally embarrassing experience. Probably on both sides, honestly.
 
Experiences like this are why it can be really tough to tell the people that you admire that you, well, admire them. But even if they’re a huge celebrity (even if it’s only in your mind) then taking the time out of your day to say nice things is probably worth it. So… how?
 
Lily Herman wrote a great guide in The Muse that I would suggest reading in its entirety. The very short version is:
1 – Keep it short. Don’t pour out your life story, just tell them that you appreciate them or their work, and why.
2 – Be specific about what you love or appreciate.
3 – Don’t ask for anything.
4 – Let it stand on its own. Don’t keep following up and expecting something.
 
Of course, all of these rules could be made to be broken in certain situations. There are times telling people exactly what it is about your life that connected you with their work could mean pouring out your life story, for example.
 
The big thing is, just respect the rules of whatever space your in. And if you’re not sure what the rules are, err on the side of old-fashioned basic etiquette and say thank you.
 
After all, as Victoria McNalley wrote in Revelist, quote:
If you find yourself at a conversation with someone you really admire, there’s no point in pretending you’re not a huge fan and that they didn’t have an impact on your life. If hearing about Jared Padalecki’s battle with depression, for example, helped you get through your own dark time, don’t be afraid to tell him that if you find yourself standing in front of his autograph table. Everyone likes to hear that they’ve made a difference in someone else’s life, no matter how cheesy or dorky you might think it sounds. Trust me, they’ll be happy to know they had such an impact on you.  
This script may vary from the actual episode transcript.