For Heaven's Sake, just one question...

July 20, 2010 7:50 PM

I'm attending a B&N album signing event for Carol Channing on Friday. I am hoping to be able to record just a moment of digital video, during which I want to ask her a question about her work with Pearl Bailey. What are the odds of my getting shut down/shut out or pissing off an elderly Broadway legend in the process?

Facts:

• I'm putting together a screening event in August paying tribute to Pearl Bailey.

• Channing and Bailey had a show together many years ago.

• I have an unobtrusive digital video recorder that could be held by a third party while I get my album signed. I wouldn't hide what I'm doing, but I wouldn't be causing a scene either.

• Even just a few words and a wave from her on camera would be enough to satisfy me.

• This is one of the gayest questions ever fielded by AskMetaFilter!

Anyhow, I know the drill for these signings -- they run the people through the actual signing process as fast as humanly possible, even when the star in question isn't 89 years old. Is my plan worth attempting? Am I cruising hellbent toward disappointment? Is there any chance that getting in touch with the B&N people beforehand would work to my advantage? Please share your wisdom with me.

posted by hermitosis to Media & Arts (16 answers total)

In my experience, so much depends on the celebrity's/public figure's mood at the time. I say go for it! You could run it by the bookstore people to see if they can help prep her for it, but they may not give a flying fig.
posted by dorothyrose at 7:54 PM on July 20, 2010

I don't think your odds are great, but you never know.

However, I would think the better step would be to try to get in touch with her personal management. The B&N people are there to protect her from perceived hassle, but if it's something she is interested in personally then they would be likely to accommodate it.
posted by drjimmy11 at 7:55 PM on July 20, 2010 [1 favorite]

Yeah, you might have better luck going through her representation, and actually booking 15 minutes with her before or after her event. You could try the publicity department of the album company. Or, she probably still has a manager and/or agent. You can try phoning SAG (in LA) tomorrow morning and asking for "agency information." If she's still got her SAG card they'll most likely have some info on a rep for her. In my experience, lots of older performers enjoy this sort of thing, so you may have a nice shot at a yes, in which case you can have an actual conversation with her, and not just rely on whether or not you get lucky.
posted by BlahLaLa at 8:03 PM on July 20, 2010

(I see that her booking contact info is here.)
posted by BlahLaLa at 8:05 PM on July 20, 2010

A lot depends on the question and the type of response you hope to get. If you want the sneaky way to do it, get the camera person behind you in line, and have them film the entire encounter as if they're just filming Carol Channing at the bookstore rather than you asking the question. Then act natural and ask the question as if it were part of your conversation and the person filming just happened to capture the moment. This would probably work as long as you keep it really brief and smooth.

If you want something longer, I'd show up and look for a handler and ask them, or just putter around and hope things die out to the point where you might get more than a cursory five seconds.

Or you could just TMZ it and wait outside and try to flag her down as she leaves.
posted by MegoSteve at 8:05 PM on July 20, 2010

If you hope to use Channing's likeness in any work for public consumption (whether commercial in nature or not), you are going to need to obtain a signed consent waiver from her. Which means, unless you expect to have an unprecedented amount of access to her at the signing, you should probably take drjimmy11 and BlahLaLa's advice of formally getting in touch with her people.

There is also the issue of Barnes & Noble's policy on such things* and getting clearance from them if your footage has any identifying logos or whatnot.

*I've seen footage from their events on BookTV and other media contexts, so clearly they sometimes give people permission to do this sort of thing. But I don't think it can be assumed.
posted by Sara C. at 8:09 PM on July 20, 2010 [2 favorites]

My experience with this is that she might be into it, but it will be highly dependent on whoever is managing their time there. They tend to just want to move people through, so I think your best chance at a real response would be the surreptitious route. Film yourself asking the question as you get whatever signed, totally natural. It might be a good question that she'll want to answer well, but y'know...if you start holding up the line to get the lights out it's likely someone will step in and say "enough." I mean, you might ask first, "Hey I'd like to talk to you about Pearl Bailey, can I talk to you later or should I just ask one question now?" I'm no diplomat, so adjust as desired.
posted by rhizome at 8:28 PM on July 20, 2010

I worked with Carol many years ago. At that time her agent, protector, body guard was her husband.

She was the most gracious, open, approachable "Broadway Star" I have ever met and I have met several. I would suggest that some type of contact before the actual moment be made as nobody, even the most gracious of us, likes to be surprised.
posted by leafwoman at 9:06 PM on July 20, 2010

if you do go the serreptitious route, i'd say ixnay on the camera. instead ask a friend who has one of those new-fangled cellular telephones that shoots hd to help...the lighting in b&n is pretty good, and you're much less likely to be told that filming is not allowed. pretend you are not with filming-friend. also, i'd cut right to the chase..."what was it like working with pearl bailey?" *clutching autograph book, excited fan-face*
posted by sexyrobot at 11:32 PM on July 20, 2010

OK, so I'm somebody famous, I've planned my day to be sitting at a table, signing autographs -- I'm in the mindset of asking who to make it out to, writing my 'autograph' signature, and shaking a lot of hands. I'm about halfway into it, when somebody comes up and expects a different track: a camera appears and suddenly you're in an ambush interview on memories of previous work. Of course, there's nothing salacious about your question, and many people can totally roll with it (I'd expect Channing to be good at that), but it's still not the right-place-right-time for it.

Plus, really, is "just one question" the best? Do some footwork and arrange even 5 minutes to sit with Channing and ask a couple questions. Be completely honest about who you are and your reason for wanting to talk to Channing -- that will also let her be prepared for the kind of questions you'll be asking. Work with B&N to arrange a quiet area where you can have your camera ready, have a glass of water and two or three starter questions ready, and do it right. Asking her an unexpected question and hoping for something more than, "Oh, Pearl was wonderful, who do I make it out to, nice meeting you, next!" is a lot to ask in the autograph line.
posted by AzraelBrown at 4:12 AM on July 21, 2010

As a former B&N events manager, my best advice is to call the store and ask to speak to the events manager. The usual rule is no photos, but some signers waive that rule. The store's CRM (or whatever they're called now -- I was last with B&N in 2003) is your point person. They may even be able to arrange time alone with Channing in the green room before the signing.
posted by kidelo at 4:54 AM on July 21, 2010

Response by poster: Thanks everyone. I will make a couple of phone calls and send a couple of emails before resorting to a (gentle) ambush.
posted by hermitosis at 8:57 AM on July 21, 2010

Response by poster: I've spoken with the events team at B&N and they sound skeptical but have agreed to do what they can.

Meanwhile I've also approached Carol's publicist directly.

You can bet there'll be updates.
posted by hermitosis at 11:29 AM on July 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Be prepared to be asked for money, fwiw. I don't know how much an 89 year old retiree commands for appearances of a few seconds on something that will not be broadcast on tv, but they may well ask for something.
posted by shmegegge at 1:36 PM on July 21, 2010

If they ask for money you'd better get more than one question.
posted by rhizome at 6:11 PM on July 21, 2010

Response by poster: Follow-up:

I did attend the signing (which was lots of fun) but didn't get to talk to her about Pearl Bailey. Her publicity team, however, was very gracious and have done everything they can after the fact w/r/t honoring my request.

Doesn't look like it's going to happen in time for my show, I'm afraid. But it was an interesting adventure, and I thank you all for your very good advice.
posted by hermitosis at 7:11 AM on August 9, 2010