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 signed. The self-proclaimed quasi-celebrity sets out these and a few other rules as he embarks on his latest book tour. "Pin It")
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Alton Brown's Fanifesto makes sense
No hugging, but he'll stay at a book signing until the last person in line has gotten a book (but never a body part) signed. The self-proclaimed quasi-celebrity sets out these and a few other rules as he embarks on his latest book tour.
Wed, Sep 21 2011 at 2:47 PM
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Photo: djnaquin67/Flickr
Alton Brown has issued a Fanifesto on his blog. It's great. This Fanifesto is a set of ground rules for his fans, who he "sincerely appreciates" and is "beyond thrilled" that they like his work.
He says things that will probably tick people off and offend some of his fans, but really, everything he says makes sense. I love it when people make sense.
Why does the author of "Good Eats 3: The Later Years" need a Fanifesto? In his eyes, he fits into the category of "cable-ebrities" that fit into an "ever widening, Warholian spiral of quasi-celebrity" and doesn't have the superstar life. Here's what he wrote:
"Unlike the Liz and Dicks of the world, we live, work, eat, shop, worship, and recreate right alongside the rest of you. We don't have gated mansions, entourages, or bodyguards. We wait in lines, drop off the dry cleaning, and interact regularly with the 'citizens' around us (that's celebrity-speak for non-famous folk). This situation often stretches the very fabric of our society because we just don't have rules for this sort of thing."
If you've ever watched Brown's "Good Eats," you'll know that he's methodical and exacting. He likes to know things like why one chocolate chip cookie comes out cake-like and why another comes out flat and crispy. When he figures those things out, he likes to share it with his audience — his fans.
It seems to me this Fanifesto is right in keeping with all that. He's figured out what rules will make his relationship between him and his fans work, and he's just sharing them. Take a look at them and see if there isn't a single one of his rules that you wouldn't want if you were a celebrity or even a quasi-celebrity. These are my summaries of his rules; the actual rules have more detail and can be fairly entertaining to read.
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No photos of his family or he will go "freakin' ballistic."
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Don't ask him to talk to someone on the phone or star in a shout-out video for a friend who is not there. He'll happily sign an autograph for the person who is not there, though.
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Please understand that he can't respond to everyone who contacts him though social media.
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No asking for hugs. He doesn't like to spread his or your germs.
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He won't sign live things — body parts or pets.
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Don't block his exit.
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If he's in the restroom and you want to talk to him, wait for him to come out.
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Understand that if you are a super fan, your heightened level of fandom doesn't put him in debt to you.
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Don't get upset when he allows families with small children to move to the front of the line at a big signing so the parents can get the kids home at a reasonable hour.
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Bring a camera, but not your camera phone. Camera phones slow things down.
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If you're the last person in line at a signing, he'll still be there when it's your turn, but then he's going to leave.
Except for the camera phone rule, none of these rules seem like they should bother anyone. I'd hope that camera phones would still be allowed (even if not preferred) at a signing, since most people going to the signing won't have a copy of his rules before getting there.
What do you think of Brown's Fanifesto? Does it make good sense or do you think he's gone a little far?
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I used to work for someone much more famous than Alton Brown and I was always shocked at people's entitlement. People would ask insane things, really crossing the line, and they'd get so upset when the person said "Thank you, I'm sorry, but no." I think Alton is great to set the rules and I wish more people would use common sense, good manners, and put themselves in the shoes of the celebrity for just a second.
These are just rules of etticate everyone should follow with "celebrities" or "quasi-celebrities." WIth exception to the camera phone rule, I find all of these to be MORE than acceptable, and I wish fans will respect his wishes and take these rules to heart when it comes to meeting another celbrity.
My wife and I attended a signing. He arrived early and walked up and down the looong line and greeted people who were waiting. He was still signing at least two hours after the announced time. Truly, a gentleman that one would like to spend time with.
The camera thing makes sense, because if you meet him at a book signing, you aren't going to take your picture with him. You are going to hand the camera/phone to someone else and say 'take my picture, please'. And while I can open my phone, and have the camera loaded and a picture taken before my point&shoot powers on, the person behind me in line at a book signing can't.
The camera phone one is kinda strange but I understand everything else. Love him!
Author, former bookseller and total Alton Brown geek here. He is one of the best author appearances going. Not only does what he asks make sense. I bet most booksellers wish they could swipe them and post them for any event.
I'VE WATCHED HIS SHOW FOR YEARS HE SHOULD BE RATED AS ONE OF BEST-IN OTHER WORDS "A BIT OF ALL RIGHT"
I love Alton Brown, he makes me a better cook. I have been a fan from the first show.
It seems almost sad that society has regressed to the point where he has to make up rules to ask for things that should simply be common courtesy.
I could live with all these except the camera phone makes no sense at all. If anyone, I can grab a pic of someone faster with my phone, rather than having to dig out my camera, turning it on, waiting a 5-10 seconds for it to be ready for snap a picture, etc. How does a camera phone slow things down?
Because you can take a picture of him really quickly. But what happens at these events is, you ask him to take a picture with you, hand your phone to a nearby person to take a picture of you & Alton together, and THEY don't know how to work your phone camera.,,,slowing things down.
It's simple, have your camera no and ready before you get up there.
My cooking improved after watching his shows and I own 2 of his books. Now I wish he'd come to Albuquerque to autograph them! Love his work.
I don't think he's said anything unreasonable at all! I met him at a book signing in 2005 and like Bob said, despite the fact that he'd been there several hours and was visibly tired, he didn't let on the least bit of fatigue and stayed until the very end. This is a man who deserves all the success he has!
Alton Rocks!
Went to a Costco signing. My twelve year old son and I were at the end of the signing line. Alton spent 5-10 minutes talking with my son after he just finished signing for two hours. Alton Rocks as a Actor, Chef, and most of all as a Person.
Alton Brown puts on a good live show too. He is a very funny person and very entertaining. We saw him at a food show a few years back. There was a printing that says he'll be out for autographs after his show. We waited in line and never came out for autographs. Very disappointing.
I think all of them make perfect sense. The one with the camera phone can be worked around - it IS possible for to have the camera phone ready to go BEFORE you get to him.
I agree. It's just common courtesy he's asking for, and fans often don't think about these things. I'm a reasonable person, but I've been lucky to meet a few of my idols, and I was probably semi-obnoxious. You kind of blank out a bit when this happens. Alton's list amounts to reminders of how not to behave. Though I sure don't understand the phone camera rule. It seems like most people get pics with those things without setup time. Grab and click. Weird.
Absolutely makes sense. I don't think anything is unreasonable, and am even more impressed that he will stay until the last person gets a book signed. Here is a man who definitely thinks of his fans.
I don't think he is asking to much. Just nice manners. .
He is damn lucky anyone asks for his autograph. His manifesto makes him seem like a prima donna. He is NOT a celebrity. He is a host of a not so great cooking show on tv.
G, I don't know how you could be more wrong. When there's a Good Eats on my DVR, it's my first choice of shows to watch. It's not only informative, but amazingly entertaining. Alton is a celebrity at my house. His cooking show is truly great. Apparently, you are out of touch.
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