As I was clocking in I was immediately notified of a VIP party of 30 I would be commandeering around closing time. Hollerrr! Not only do I get overtime but a party of 30 means moneytime. After much deliberating with our event planner he revealed to us that it was not just any ol' party, it was Steve Martin party. He had a show at Club Nokia and would be bringing with him his band mates along with an impressive list of VIP clients.
Immediately my mind began a montage of Steve Martin. Classic images of him with the arrow through his head, clips from him as the best father in the universe in Parenthood, close-ups of him laughing.. all underscored by dueling banjos then wrapped with a "Well, excuuuuse me!"
That's pretty much the extent of what I know about Steve Martin. And then for whatever reason I began to panic. See, although he was not a person who was directly influential to me I know he was an inspiration to many people I admire. For this reason and because of his legacy of then and now, it felt like a new milestone in Raymond Lee's life was awaiting me. He hosted SNL 25 times for crying out loud! (For those of you who don't know already, hosting SNL someday is my life's dream.) And seriously, who didn't love Father of the Bride? I began to create dialogue to what Steve Martin and I would muse about. Perhaps his stellar biography I've still yet to take off my shelf. Maybe the stand-up I haven't done yet because I'm scared. Or the banjo I can't play. The movie I've still yet to shoot? I couldn't find a common denominator between us and this made me panic all the more. I gathered myself and thought "I'll say the first thing on my mind and that's what it'll be."
***
He's arrived through the back entrance and I see him under his dapper fedora. OK, since I've been given the task of tray passing hors d'oeuvres engaging in a short conversation him with will be completely fine and unimposing. If I can make him laugh or if he can maybe crack a joke my way I'd probably be good for the rest of the week. The crowd around him was too big the first time so I'll take the second tray over. He's having a seemingly serious conversation with Kevin Nealon and wife Susan Yeagley, not a good time. It looks like he's making his rounds and saying bye to some people. Here's my chance to make a great impression, inspiring him to write a movie about his estranged Korean son and his dreams of becoming the next him. He's right in front of me!
"Hello Mr. Martin... would.. you.. care for a bacon.. wrapped scallop?"
"No, thank you"
***
And that's all she wrote.. I don't know why I chose to dedicate an entire blog about this. Maybe it's because I thought it was going to be a life-changing moment and this was my attempt to make it one. Or maybe it was a reminder of my lameness. Whatever the case, he inspired me tonight. My interaction with him and just being around him inspired me. I don't know how yet but I'm inspired. I think.
Thanks for reading! I love you all.
reading Born Standing Up - Steve Martin
listening The Crow: Songs for the Five String Banjo - Steve Martin
(not really)
5 comments:
man you write some very thorough blog postings. steve martin sounds like a douche.
yea.. it's been a while since my last post so I felt like I owed mr. bloggy a thorough one.
he wasn't douchey so much. more uninterested than douchey.
I love Steve Martin. I love Shopgirl the movie and the book(read/seen 8 times if not more)LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. I LOVE STEVE MARTIN!!!!!!!!
so.. wait. im guessing you love steve martin.
Hi Jen!
It's always weird when I see a celebrity in 'real' life. I forget that they are not the characters they portray on screen, the entertainer on stage, the player on the field/court, or the self in reality TV. I remind myself they are just normal people but putting them in the level of normality makes me think they probably have a certain level of douchebaggery too and then that makes me like them a little less. Also, you are never sure if you can go up to them and meet them unless you're a cute little kid, but not even that secures your chance that he/she won't totally give you the "please leave me alone" demeanor.
I guess after awhile in the business, and with many things in life, one can become jaded and in this case, celebrities can forget/unappreciate the influence they have on others. I'm probably jumping the gun and the issue here is most likely related to my own internal complexities rather than what they are doing wrong, but you get what I'm saying.
Plus, I probably feel this way because I mostly want to jump into their arms, wrap my legs around their waist, look at them with my big browns (actually small because I'm Asian) and have them tell me to reach for my hopes and dreams... sigh. *bats eyelashes* (excuse me if my comment sounds retarded, haven't had my morning joe yet).
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