Thread: Restaurant dancers: What do you do when a celebrity comes to your restaurant?

Hello, ladies,

I have been dancing at restaurants in Atlanta for the past three years, and this past weekend was the first time I have ever encountered a "celebrity appearance" at one of my restaurants.

The evening started off like any other--it was a Saturday evening, and the restaurant was mostly full. I danced my first set, and then the restaurant owner (who I have known and worked with for two years, VERY nice guy), informed me that Alton Brown, celebrity chef of Food Network/Welch's Grape Juice fame, had just been seated with a large party. He wanted me to pay a little extra attention to his table, and make sure that they were suitably entertained. I was a little nervous, but I went back out and performed another set. Neither Alton nor anyone at his table wanted ANYTHING to do with me....in fact, Alton seemed like he was deliberately trying to avoid looking at me at all costs. So, I just gave them their space, and didn't dance around them or interact with them. Later on that evening, the restaurant owner told me again to make sure and entertain them, as Alton was kind of an "honored guest." Again, just being in the general vicinity, I got the feeling that his whole table wanted me to go away. To be honest, it was a bit awkward.

So, this beckons the question: ladies, what do YOU do when a celebrity guest comes to the restaurant you are performing at? How have you handed this sort of situation in the past? I am very interested to know! Any stories or advice that you can give would be very helpful!

Thanks a bunch, and happy shimmies!

-Maddie :)

It sounds like it was just the owner "thinking" Alton Brown wanted the special attention......actions were confusing. I think you did the right thing by noticing his reaction and adjusting yours.....you were being professional.

It sounds like you handled it as well as could be expected. You were caught between the owner's expectations and the Alton Brown party's "leave us alone" vibes.

I used to watch Alton Brown's shows when I had cable TV, and while enjoyable and rather zany on camera, he also appears to be extremely fastidious and picky, so maybe he's just not a fun, outgoing, belly dance-loving kind of guy in real life.

I've danced for Joe Montana and Kobe Bryant. I just sort of acted like they were just regular people...didn't ask them to dance or anything. It all depends on the vibe.

Oh and does Willie Brown count? He's a politician...and he REALLY wanted nothing to do with me.

i'm guessing it must depend on the celebrity, and the situation, as to whether or not they want to be "on" at the center of attention, or just relax.

There was one night i was dancing in SF, and the restaurant was pretty quiet. The owner came back and said "two people just walked in, and one of them is Robin Williams". What??

I knew there were only a few tables, and it was going to be like dancing at a small dinner party but with an Oscar winning actor sitting a few feet away, Jeeeez!

I started my show, and one table had already left, so hello! it was like, oK, there's a dozen people here, and one of them is really, really famous, but everyone was chill, people just settled in, didn't make a big deal of it. He was there with his son, they smiled, clapped at the end of each song. I greeted them, gave them an opportunity to get up and dance with me, they politely declined, which was fine (although I think his son wanted to!)
He was so mellow! nice to see a big star be able to just watch you dance and enjoy their evening

just gotta go with the energy in the room, i guess. The owner told me later, "he was smiling and said they'll be back" Yay!

Some people want the red carpet treatment, some not so much. I danced at another restaurant when there were several pro-football players there......alot of money flying around, the owner was exceptionally attentive, and that was EXACTLY what they wanted.........

You never know, but you'll get a sense of what to do as soon as you start your show.....

Originally Posted by tabitha

I've danced for Joe Montana and Kobe Bryant. I just sort of acted like they were just regular people...didn't ask them to dance or anything. It all depends on the vibe.

Oh and does Willie Brown count? He's a politician...and he REALLY wanted nothing to do with me.

Willie Brown will tell you he is a celebrity.......but you count more than he does..l;, You're the supa-star in that scenario!

You did the right thing Maddie! I would have done so too! He doesn't want special treatment when he goes out! He just wants to eat a good meal.

Mina <---newly moved to Atlanta~

this doesn't happen much in san diego, but happened a lot when i was working in la. there was even a certain celeb who used to come in a lot and all the staff would cringe and cuss in the kitchen due to his "treatment of others" :/

just do your show, get paid and leave. same as any other night. special treatment is not warranted imo. some customers like the show, some don't care. its totally normal. you have to be the judge and not let star struck management push you to overdo the situation. you are the pro, trust your instincts!

I say just do your regular job like usual. Too bad your boss put you in that spot - awkward!

You did the right thing ..g.:

I have had my share of stars form here and the M-E at the restaurant where I dance. They usually just want to enjoy the evening without being bothered or have too much attention brought upon them...
If they want special treatment or attention they will ask the owner to close the restaurant to other clients and have the place all to themselfs.

i've heard alton brown is sort of an a-hole in real life, if that makes you feel any better ..l;,

Originally Posted by emtink

i've heard alton brown is sort of an a-hole in real life, if that makes you feel any better ..l;,

Oh no! I love him. Boo.

Originally Posted by MakedaMaysa

Oh no! I love him. Boo.

i was surprised too. his show is so quirky! but he did a local radio show and was a total wet blanket. not funny, stiff, kinda snotty. ah well, i still watch good eats!

Originally Posted by emtink

i've heard alton brown is sort of an a-hole in real life, if that makes you feel any better ..l;,

Wow, that totally ruins my fantasy. He seems so fun on TV!

I'm also disappointed to hear he's not as much fun in RL as he seems to be on TV. Of course, maybe after all these years he's gotten tired of fans expecting him to be funny and quirky all the time and is a bit more reserved when out in public.

It would be very hard for me to not at least slip him a note thanking him for his recipes for Potato Leek Soup and Orange Glazed Beets, though.

i'm sorry i bursted everyone's alton bubble ..l;,

maybe he was just having a bad day. nevertheless, the man knows his was around a kitchen.

Originally Posted by PassionWarfare

Hello, ladies,
... what do YOU do when a celebrity guest comes to the restaurant you are performing at? How have you handed this sort of situation in the past? I am very interested to know! Any stories or advice that you can give would be very helpful!
Thanks a bunch, and happy shimmies-Maddie :)

Many celebrities want the chance to be "alone" and relaxed. It exhausting being "public" all the time.

Originally Posted by tabitha

I've danced for Joe Montana and Kobe Bryant. I just sort of acted like they were just regular people...didn't ask them to dance or anything. It all depends on the vibe.

Exactly!

Originally Posted by Salena

There was one night i was dancing in SF, and the restaurant was pretty quiet. The owner came back and said "two people just walked in, and one of them is Robin Williams". What?? ...
He was so mellow! nice to see a big star be able to just watch you dance and enjoy their evening

just gotta go with the energy in the room, i guess. The owner told me later, "he was smiling and said they'll be back" Yay!
.....
Some people want the red carpet treatment, some not so much. I danced at another restaurant when there were several pro-football players there......alot of money flying around, the owner was exceptionally attentive, and that was EXACTLY what they wanted.........

You never know, but you'll get a sense of what to do as soon as you start your show.....

Robin Williams!!!!!!!!!
Really!? Robin Williams?!
SO nice to hear he was nice. He is SUCH a talent!

And yes, about the football players, sometimes the "stars" want to feel like a star. I used to bar tend and a lot of celebrities would come in. Some want the Big Treatment, some just want a quiet night. Bruce Willis, the cast of Angel, Motley Crew, Apoptygma Berzerk, Alan Thicke (ha, ha!), Incubus, The Rock (he was SO nice!), Samuel L Jackson (also a sweetie)....more. Anyway. PassionWarfare, I'd say your instincts were right. ..g.:

I would have died if I had met The Rock. *swoon*

This is totally unrelated, but funny. I have a friend, Dana, who is obsessed with The Rock. She had a dream about him while engaged to her now-husband, Carlos. In the dream, The Rock tried to kiss her. Dana says to The Rock, "No, The Rock! I can't! I'm engaged to Carlos!" When she told me this, I was all, "Um ... is he really referred to as 'The Rock' when you're talking to him? And why the hell didn't you let him kiss you??? It was a dream!"

Originally Posted by MakedaMaysa

I would have died if I had met The Rock. *swoon*

This is totally unrelated, but funny. I have a friend, Dana, who is obsessed with The Rock. She had a dream about him while engaged to her now-husband, Carlos. In the dream, The Rock tried to kiss her. Dana says to The Rock, "No, The Rock! I can't! I'm engaged to Carlos!" When she told me this, I was all, "Um ... is he really referred to as 'The Rock' when you're talking to him? And why the hell didn't you let him kiss you??? It was a dream!"

Yeah really! In dreams you aren't responsible for anything you do! The trick is to do it before you wake up!! ..l;,

Man, thank you ladies for responding with all the great advice and stories! I think ya'll hit the nail on the head when you said that it's best to, in this case, follow your intuitions and give the celebrities their space. Unless, that is, they WANT the extra, extra attention (I could see a group of pro athletes being more in favor of the latter!)

I must admit, I was pretty star struck with Alton Brown....if ROBIN WILLIAMS had walked into my restaurant....MY GOODNESS! Salena, MEGA props to you for keeping your composure and putting on a great show! I think I would have been a complete nervous wreck!

Tabitha- Kobe Bryant and Joe Montana?!?!? WOW! Oh, and sorry Willie Brown didn't want anything to do with you....his loss!

Emtink- Yeah, after I told some people the story of what happened that night, almost everyone I talked to said that EXACT same thing about Alton! One of my friends met Alton at some kind of food expo thing, where he was a "guest of honor", and she said that both he AND Bobby Flay were not very nice. I can see them being a little short with someone who is interrupting their family during dinner, but they get paid BIG bucks to show up at these food expos and conventions, JUST for the purpose of meeting and greeting fans! (Well, and selling their cookbooks). I was pretty disappointed to hear this, too. He seems like such a lovable, sweet, geeky guy! Oh, well....in the words of dear Satin, "No candy or shimmies for you!"

Mina- Welcome to Atlanta, darling! If you need gigs, I know some restaurants that are currently in need!

Love these great stories....keep 'em coming, ladies!

Originally Posted by MakedaMaysa

I would have died if I had met The Rock. *swoon*
This is totally unrelated, but funny. I have a friend, Dana, who is obsessed with The Rock. She had a dream about him while engaged to her now-husband, Carlos. In the dream, The Rock tried to kiss her. Dana says to The Rock, "No, The Rock! I can't! I'm engaged to Carlos!" When she told me this, I was all, "Um ... is he really referred to as 'The Rock' when you're talking to him? And why the hell didn't you let him kiss you??? It was a dream!"

He WAS entirely swoonworthy. Even moreso because he was SO polite, well spoken and gentlemanly....and...

Originally Posted by Fotia

Yeah really! In dreams you aren't responsible for anything you do! The trick is to do it before you wake up!! ..l;,

EXACTLY! I am not responsible for what I do in my dreams! (where's Johnny Depp when I need him? )

Ditto to what everyone said. I'd also point out that actors are different from other celebs in that if they *want* to be on they will be and they won't need any encouragement from you bar some encouraging eye contact. We can all tell when a person wants to join the show - a lot of the time The Famed just want to chill out and be normal.

The chances of me recognising a sports celebrity, which would be most likely here, would be close to nil, so if Dan Carter or someone was hoping for special dancer treatment he'd be out of luck from me!

I was hired to perform at Geena Davis' husband's bday party at a local famous Persian Restaurant. There were only 3 of them. it was a surprise show, and her husband is Persian so I guess it was not so surprising to have a belly dancer at a Persian party...I did my show got PAID :) well! and left. They were very respectful and enjoyable, and I also enjoyed dancing for them.
I dont even know Alton B. but of course if one of my fav actor/actress/singer comes to somewhere I am dancing I would love to be able to communicate with them thru my dance, but to me dance is Universal and I love to give out my feelings to whoever is in front of me watching me. If the restaruant owner (which happens a lot with famous/successfull/rich people) tries to please them with belly dancer :( and they are not so into it...oh well....I just do my job!
I think you handled well....

Originally Posted by PassionWarfare

Emtink- Yeah, after I told some people the story of what happened that night, almost everyone I talked to said that EXACT same thing about Alton! One of my friends met Alton at some kind of food expo thing, where he was a "guest of honor", and she said that both he AND Bobby Flay were not very nice. I can see them being a little short with someone who is interrupting their family during dinner, but they get paid BIG bucks to show up at these food expos and conventions, JUST for the purpose of meeting and greeting fans! (Well, and selling their cookbooks). I was pretty disappointed to hear this, too. He seems like such a lovable, sweet, geeky guy! Oh, well....in the words of dear Satin, "No candy or shimmies for you!"

.w.: It must be a recent thing then. Only 3 years ago everyone I knew that had run into him him said he was totally awesome. I wonder if he's overworking himself...

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

Robin Williams!!!!!!!!!
Really!? Robin Williams?!
SO nice to hear he was nice. He is SUCH a talent!

Oh, I was totally nervous right before I went on! I mean, San Francisco is his home town, people have "sitings" all the time, but to see him sitting there, wearing a blue polo shirt and jeans, smiling and drinking tea........he was very gracious, but it was still nerve wracking!......And totally fun too!

Good topic, it was nice to see people's different experiences,

And Alton B. will come around, never underestimate the power of belly dancers!..l;,

Where I live in Fairfield County, lots of celebs live here, I treat them as if they were normal people. They have enough to deal Even I see them I leave them be. They deserve a little bit or normal in their hectic lives. They have to shop in the mall for stuff like the rest of us.Working in the luggage Store Diana Ross was one of my customers always buying luggage for her books. She must have a huge library..

The funniest celebrity story when I worked in Brookstone in 1994 I was cashiering and someone passed me a note saying something with "meatloaf for dinner". So my big mouth I asked who's having meatloaf for dinner? the singer Meatloaf was on my register checking out- He was laughing and so sweet and polite.this man even gave the entire staff autographed copies of Bat out of hell II CDS.

I also used to volunteer security at local NYC Star Trek cons I've met entire cast of Star trek, Babylon 5 Xena, Hercules, Stargate SG-1 and other Sci-fi shows. Had a lot of fun. The only star I had an issue with was Michael Dorn (Worf) Although every time he'd appear at the con: Michael Dorn did need a serious attitude adjustment.. go figure.


Alrana

Originally Posted by mehndidancer

...
I also used to volunteer security at local NYC Star Trek cons I've met entire cast of Star trek, Babylon 5 Xena, Hercules, Stargate SG-1 and other Sci-fi shows. Had a lot of fun. The only star I had an issue with was Michael Dorn (Worf) Although every time he'd appear at the con: Michael Dorn did need a serious attitude adjustment.. go figure.
....Alrana

Star Trek and SG-1!!!! (squeeeeeee!)

Originally Posted by mehndidancer

Where I live in Fairfield County, lots of celebs live here, I treat them as if they were normal people. They have enough to deal Even I see them I leave them be. They deserve a little bit or normal in their hectic lives.

This is what I was thinking. ,r:;

Samira, you met the cast of Angel? Really? I might have turned into a blubbering fan girl. (Yay, Buffyverse.) I'm happy to hear that the Rock is a nice guy in person! I had no idea that he was so funny until he guest starred on SNL. :D

Mehndidancer, I also might have had a fan girl moment over the cast of Star Trek, lol. It's too bad about Michael Dorn though.

Being an LA girl, I see Celebs all the time. Recently sat through a session at school with an up and coming actor. Did my first year with a former super model. It's a little surreal if you allow yourself to get into that mind set.

Most celebs simply want to be Frank or Cindy when they go out. They aren't looking for STAR treatment unless they have booked a private party. In the case of a foodie, I can understand the reaction of the restaurant owner. This is someone who has weight in the food world and potentially can elevate or destroy a reputation.

I think you did well. And I agree with the statement that, in your restaurant, you are the star!

There are advantages to being a Diva!

{{{HUGS}}}}