Proper Etiquette for Fans
For a fan, there may be no greater thrill than getting to meet the celebrity you idolize. However, just like any other social interaction, there is etiquette to follow when meeting (or even spotting) stars. Following these simple rules will help you be a better fan.
The FanStuff Guide to Fan Etiquette advises that fans at sci-fi and fantasy conventions vary the questions they ask. Stars tend to get annoyed at being asked for the umpteenth time what it was like to work with so-and-so, or whether the rubber mask they wore in a certain movie was uncomfortable (Yes! Yes! It was uncomfortable.). Instead, think of an original detail from the artist's career to ask them about, such as the small, critically acclaimed film they made before they became involved with a megahit franchise. They might be happy to get off the beaten trail and talk about their other work.
At sporting events, where excited crowds mean that things could get out of hand fast, proper fan etiquette is even more important. Waving foam "wiggle sticks" to distract the NBA player shooting a free throw has become part of the game (though, according to this scientist writing in Slate, it doesn't work) but it is considered extremely rude to do the same to a tennis player serving at a tournament. Likewise, this writer in Brentwood, Tennessee wishes sports fans would drink a lot less and curse less around the kids.
Wthout a doubt, football hooliganism of the kind that is popular in Britain is out of line. No matter how amped up you and your mates are about Manchester United, it's not worth cracking heads over.
If you are a fan of movies or music and you see an actor or pop star in a restaurant, do not interrupt their conversation in order to ask for their autograph, according to etiquette expert Lisa Mirza Grotts in the Huffington Post. They have a right to go about their business without being bothered. Do not expect them to act like their onscreen or onstage persona, either. They get a hefty paycheck to play that character, and they aren't on call all the time for your entertainment. If you are actually introduced to a star you admire, you may tell them you are a fan of their work, but do not ask them to jump-start your own music career or have your baby. Trust us, they've heard it all before.