some years ago, my wife and i were at san diego comic-con and happened to be on a street near the convention center. i glanced into a restaurant doorway and saw rosario dawson walking out-- she had a comic book due to come out soon. without even breaking stride, but just glancing back over my shoulder, i said, "good luck with your comic!" loud enough for her to hear. (i didn't want to be a drooling fanboy or make her uncomfortable by being recognized in public.)

didn't even look back but heard "thank you!"

probably the oddest encounter either of us had at that con but fun and memorable!

••

Unfortunately, all too often this is where "taxpayer mentality" kicks in. "You OWE me! I PAY your SALARY!"

One of the many things that have caused me to give up the convention circuit entirely is those fans who simply DON'T GET IT. Who don't understand that meeting a Pro at a Con is something SPECIAL. It's something ABOVE and BEYOND the "job" of the Pro. And most Pros really do not enjoy being treated as autograph-robots who should be compelled to sign ON DEMAND, no matter what the time or location. (Both Frank Miller and I "enjoyed" the experience of comics being thrust at us under the stall door in the men's room. How often? Once each. But isn't that once too often?)

••

As many here are aware, my "oddest" celebrity encounter most surely has to have been with Julie Newmar. Paul Dini and I were standing in the hotel lobby when we saw her arrive. We crossed to intersect her path, and Paul said, quietly, "Miss Newmar. . . "

"Yes," she said, and kept on walking.

For the few cons I've attended, I've gone with the mindset that I will purchase something at the table from the artist/celeb/whatever.  A photograph they are selling, a TPB, a sketch, etc and get that autographed. I might have a couple comics to sign, those that really mean something to me (sometimes the tattered first issue that I ever read), but that's it.  I couldn't imagine being one of the guys with the hand carts with long boxes on them.  And certainly, my time with them is at the table.

••

Too many of those show no consideration whatsoever for either the Pro, OR the fans in line behind them.

Over the years I worked out many different attempts at controlling and reducing the abuse, but there seemed always to be some who were pushing for that "loophole".

••

A girlfriend I had years ago summed it up quite well. She noted, of course, that what is a one-off experience for the fan, usually, is a one-in-hundreds, even thousands for the celebrity.

She also noted, tho, that fans sometimes develop the idea that their role as consumer (an important role, make no mistake!) is something MORE. In the case of monthly comics, they begin to feel that a DIALOG is occurring between themselves and the creators of the books. And, when they meet those creators, they expect that dialog to continue. But, in the creator's mind, what is happening is a MONOLOG. Any "back and forth" is strictly in the fan's mind.

"A little consideration goes a long way."

***

Well said!

I think that sums up how people should relate to one another in all walks of life, irrespective of status.  But there certainly does seem to be some kind of inverse behaviour w.r.t famous people...as if "they owe you".