In which I give you the play by play about meeting one Mr. Rhett MillerJuly 5th, 2007 @ 7:01 am
Before you go any further with this post, I need you to think about someone famous that you like. Really, really like. Maybe you love Duncan Sheik or maybe you love John Krasinski.
I’ll give you a second to think about who it is.
Got it? Okay, let’s keep going.
You all know that I love Rhett Miller, the lead singer of my favorite band the Old 97’s. I have made no secret of my deep and abiding love.
The King and I have been watching the tour dates for the Old 97’s all year. They were never scheduled to come to Seattle. We decided we’d just have to fly and see them play someplace else. Unfortunately with The King busy building us the new house and with a one year old, plans have never been made.
We obsessively check their website for updated tour dates. We finally saw they were coming to Washington for the 4th of July. Unfortunately they were coming to be part of the Willie Nelson Family BBQ at The Gorge. This was something we had no interest in at all. Since we aren’t Willie fans we didn’t want to pay $80 to get into this show only get to see the Old 97’s play a few songs. Plus, you have to camp at this place and what would we have done with Babboo? It just didn’t make sense for us to go.
I kept hoping that the Old 97’s would do a show in Seattle before they headed out to The Gorge for the 4th. I never heard of anything. Finally The King heard on the local radio station that they were planning on doing a live in-studio event.
I knew I had to go.
So last week I e-mailed the radio station to find out how I could be a part of the in-studio audience. The DJ wrote me back and said it was only open to Gold Donors of the station. Being that I did not donate over $500, that was not me. The DJ gave me an e-mail address of someone else at the station who sets up the in-studio events. So I e-mailed her. She wrote me back and said that this particular in-studio taping would not have room for anyone other then the performers, the DJ and the sound engineer. There would simply not be any room for audience members.
After the e-mail from the radio station I got online and looked up Rhett’s publicist. I drafted a little e-mail to her and asked if she knew anything about a show in Seattle or how I could get into the radio in-studio performance. She wrote me back in less then 5 minutes, which was very cool. Unfortunately she told me that she is no longer his publicist. Not cool. She suggested I contact Rhett through his Myspace page since “he’s really good about getting back to people.”
I can’t access Myspace at work anymore. It’s blocked.Which is probably a good thing since I’m sure people can spend forever on that damn thing. I’m not *cough* one of them *cough*. I typed up a letter to Rhett, e-mailed it to The King and asked him to log onto my Myspace account and forward the e-mail.
And then I e-mailed to Rhett’s manager, the Old 97’s publicist and managers and even their booking agents. I spared no one. They were all going to get an e-mail from some crazed fan out in Seattle. In my e-mails I mentioned my blog and how much of a true fan I really was.
And then I waited to hear back from someone. Anyone.
Monday before I headed into work I decided to check my Myspace account at home. You know, just in case. I just about screamed out loud when I saw this message in my inbox from Rhett himself:
I will tell the KEXP folks to let in [insert my real name] +1. I don’t know where or what time, so if you can figure that out, I will see you there.
yrs,
Rhett
Holy crap! I couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear. The King was skeptical. He wasn’t sure that we’d be able to get in. I mean, the radio station had already told me that I was not invited. I didn’t care. I had an e-mail from Rhett. That was enough.
The in-studio was the next day. Since I can’t access the radio station’s website at work, I had to have Mrs. Squirrel log on and get the information for me. I’d have to leave work early. The King would have to miss a few hours at work. Oh well, we were on the list.
I spent most of Monday discussing what I should wear. I decided on an outfit that was hip enough, but still dressy enough to show Rhett that I took this little meeting serious. Of course heels and lip gloss were involved. The King thought we should ask them if they wanted to go to dinner with us that night. He figured what else would they have to do? He assured me he would be in charge of asking them.
I was able to find our only Old 97’s CD not packed away in our storage unit for the band to sign. I put the CD and a Sharpie in my purse, next to my camera and business cards on Tuesday morning.
I had The King print out the message from Rhett, just in case there were any problems with us getting in to the radio station. He didn’t like this part. He could just picture me waving some printed e-mail in the face of radio security screaming; “but I’m on the list!” I promised him I would do all the talking before we got inside the station. After that, he was in charge of doing the talking.
On the way to the station we were listening to the radio in the car. The DJ was talking about it. He said that Rhett and Murry of the Old 97’s would be there shortly. Crap, the entire band wasn’t going to be there. Oh well, Rhett is my fave and Murry is The King’s fave. That’s fair.
Once we got there we got right in to the lobby. I told the girl at the front desk that we were there for the Old 97’s event. The girl asked me my name and checked it to the list she had on the desk. I got a glimpse of the list. Mine was the only name on it. Just seeing that got me all twitterpated.
The King and I sat on the couch and waited until 3:00, when the interview/performance was scheduled to begin. A guy came and got us and took us back to the recording room (I’m sure there is an official name for this room, but I don’t know what it is). The King and I sat behind the sound engineer. There was a glass window separating us from where the DJ and Rhett and Murry would be. The sound engineer started to do a countdown while the DJ and the boys came in the room got set up.
There were a couple of radio people in the room with us. All of us laughed when Rhett or Murry said something clever. We all paid attention while Murry was talking about the church he plays at every Wednesday or when they were talking about their hunt for a new producer for their upcoming album. Every time I looked over at The King he was smiling. We were enjoying ourselves.
They would sing a song and answer some questions and then sing another song and answer more questions. The whole thing lasted about 30 minutes. When it was over the people in the room with us just left. They didn’t go in and talk to Rhett so I wasn’t sure if it was allowed. The King left to go to the restroom. I got nervous being all by myself. I didn’t trust what I would say if I saw Rhett. Thankfully The King was fast. He said; “okay let’s go. I need to get back to work.”
“But wait, aren’t we going to go in and talk to them? I have to tell him thanks for inviting me.”
“Okay, then go!”
I walked right up to Rhett and introduced myself as the girl from Myspace. The first thing he did was apologize. He said he had just had lasik 6 days before and he wasn’t able to wipe the goobers off his eyes. He said; “now you’re going to tell people you met me but I had these weird goobers on my eyes!” His eyes looked perfect as far as I could tell. Perfect.
We started to talk. I introduced The King, they shook hands, they talked. The King told him about how he had just seen him perform in Malibu a few weeks back. They talked about that show and discussed how “low brow” the venue was. I told him (again) about this little blog and how I’m embarrassed that he might read it. He promised me he wouldn’t. He said he never reads things like that. Then he asked me what it said. I told him the truth; that I just say “I love Rhett Miller” over and over again. The King said; “it’s not that bad!”
Rhett told us how hungry he was because he hadn’t eaten today. He said he was afraid he was going to forget some of his lyrics when they were singing earlier. Yes, this would have been the perfect time for The King to see if he wanted to go and grab a pizza with us. But he didn’t. Nice. I’ve since forgiven him. (Sort of.)
Then we started talking about our kids. Us breeders, we always like to talk about kids. He told me I looked good for just having a kid a year ago. I flipped my hair and thanked him. We talked about marriage and how having kids can put a strain on it. We talked about The King building the house and never being home. We talked about what it’s like to travel with kids. We told him about our upcoming trip to New York in September. Rhett lives in New York and so he asked us when and where we were going. He said he’s trying to book some gigs during that time so I should contact him again and he’d give us the hook up. He said he wouldn’t forget me since Babboo and I have such unusual names.
I forgot to have them sign the CD. I wasn’t too upset since I’d gotten his autograph last year. But still, it would have been nice to have it another one with Murry’s autograph next to it. I asked if I could get a picture for my website. I gave The King my camera and stood in close to Rhett. The King got all frustrated when he realized the camera was still set on “record” from the last time I had used it. It just meant I would have a video of Rhett and I together to share with the interweb.
Click HERE and HERE to watch the 15 second accidental videos on Vimeo.)
It’s actually a good thing that The King got a few accidental videos. It made up for the one horrible picture he took. (The head tilt is back!)
When The King got back to his office he found out he had won free tickets to the Willie Nelson/Old 97’s show the next day. This sucked since we were throwing a pool party at our place that day. The King gave the tickets to someone else at his office and we tried to forget about that.
What did this experience teach me? Don’t be afraid to do a little legwork for your idol. I told Rhett about all the people I had e-mailed in my attempt to meet him. I told him that I was so impressed he was the one that actually responded to me. I told him that alone said something about him as a person. He said that when he read my message I just made it all seem “so easy”. I told him what I wanted and he just had to put my name down. That’s right, I’m easy.
What else did it teach me? That people are just people. Seriously, while meeting Rhett was amazing and a dream come true, it really was just like talking to an old friend. A friend who I’ve admired, respected and looked up to for years.
Who knows, maybe The King and I will get to meet him again in NYC and talk some more about our kids.
So tell me, what would you do if you got to meet your idol?
Addictions
Erika
said,
July 5, 2007 at 5:05 pm
THAT IS SO AWESOME. He seriously just sent you a Myspace message? I’m not sure I would have recovered. Some how I don’t think getting to my idol will be this easy. I was wondering if you would mention to him when you saw him at that album signing when you were pregnant and The King ran your name choices by Rhett.
Operation Pink Herring
said,
July 5, 2007 at 5:06 pm
The video is great. you are my idol for persisting until you got to meet Rhett!
When I met my beloved Duncan, I turned into a complete flake. I was so nervous, I thought I was going to start crying. I wanted to say something cool and clever, but I think I said “your music speaks to me at the deepest level of my soul”, or something equally psychotic. And I forgot to have him sign my CD.
HollowSquirrel
said,
July 5, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Awesome! I’m all about contacting people directly. The worst they’ll do is not respond. But that’s how I get free into my fave band’s shows every time. The first time I met them, however, I said something like “I LOVE YOU” and ran to my car. Seriously. Sadly.
I’m SO happy you made it to the event & Rhett didn’t have eye boogers. That’s an idol-killer.
-R-
said,
July 5, 2007 at 5:14 pm
I am so excited for you!!!! Did he ask if you had a place to stay in NYC? Maybe he will offer you and the King his guest bedroom!
As for what I would do if I met someone I admired, I would get super sweaty, blush, and be too self-conscious to say anything. Go, me!
Ella
said,
July 5, 2007 at 5:16 pm
I love the “so we got video” - you sound so excited. Congrats on meeting your idol.
heidikins
said,
July 5, 2007 at 5:27 pm
What a fantastic story! Love every minute of it! I’m not sure if I’d go into hyper-animated mode or hyper-quiet mode if I met my idol… Either way it would most likely be a complete disaster. Eh, I’m ok with that - I’ll just continue to stalk him online.
xox
Jeannette
said,
July 5, 2007 at 5:32 pm
That’s AWESOME! It’s great that your didn’t give up after getting the first email that turned you down. And it’s great that your meeting was nice and that he is a nice guy.
I’m sure you’ll meet him again in NYC… and that time, you’ll go and have a pizza with him!
A bit late but… Happy 4th of July! How was the pool party?
Rachael
said,
July 5, 2007 at 5:42 pm
I AM 100 SHADES OF GREEN WITH ENVY.
Steph
said,
July 5, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Girl, you’ve got skillz. I’m impressed that you worked your way into the studio. AND you look hott in the photo! Yay for meeting idols. I got an email a few months back from the author of a book that I loved after I blogged about how wonderful her book is. I still can’t believe that she took the time to email me. Do you think you can hook me up a meeting with Brad Pitt?
Julie
said,
July 5, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Congrats on meeting your idol! I have to admit I’ve never heard of him before but I will go check him out now.
Carrisa
said,
July 5, 2007 at 6:56 pm
I’m so happy for you!!!! I fear I may never get to meet J.K., but I did go see his new movie the other night!
Liza
said,
July 5, 2007 at 7:05 pm
I sent Molly Ivins two fan letters that generated no responses whatsoever. But I emailed Judy Blume once a few years ago, and she wrote back the kindest, nicest author response I could imagine.
Christar
said,
July 5, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Seriously, that was a freakin’ awesome story! It brought me back to my Hanson days, haha! Even though I didn’t meet Hanson during the prime of my obsession, I did meet them years later and it was awesome to be able to live out my childhood dream.
And I guess I’m really lucky, because the only other idol that I have, I met! I absolutely LOVE the band, The Calling, and I met them and the lead singer Alex Band, not once, but TWICE! AND, he remembered me the second time I met him! It was so awesome! I have pictures of me meeting them both times, not to mention my poster that still hangs above my bed with all the bands signatures. Oh, and when Alex signed my CD he personalized it and told me I had a beautiful name. It was AWESOME!
Frema
said,
July 5, 2007 at 9:29 pm
I love that you worked so hard to see Rhett Miller. I’m trying to think if I currently adore any celebrity that much, but I don’t think so, though I do love me some Howie Mandel, Kiefer Sutherland, and John Krasinski.
Back in my teenage years, I would’ve done anything to meet Tori Amos or (gulp) Mariah Carey. The day I found out I was going to see Tori in concert, I cried for twenty minutes.
Laurel
said,
July 5, 2007 at 10:35 pm
OMG that is awesome!! What a cool experience.
Maybe I need to write my favorite songwriter, Matt Nathanson, a MySpace message…
Molly
said,
July 5, 2007 at 11:56 pm
How awesome for you! Way to keep at it until you got to meet him!!
Liz
said,
July 6, 2007 at 12:40 am
You’re my hero.
And seriously? I’m now stalking the band for their fall dates in the city.
Way to go! And WHAT FUN!
debra
said,
July 6, 2007 at 1:21 am
Congratulations! If any of my faves left me a message, I seriously think I would end up in the cardiac unit.
I get excited when Chris/Rude Cactus leaves me a comment! I think he’s just cooler than Christmas.
Oh, yes, and “twitterpated”? I have needed that word for ages and didn’t even know it existed. Thanks!
angela
said,
July 6, 2007 at 2:17 am
Wow, that is quite the story! I’m so proud of you for being so persistent. I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t have been able to follow through like that. I wouldn’t have even had the nerve to email the radio station in the first place!
Needless to say, if I ever met a famous person, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to make small talk or anything like that. I’d probably just stare and look like a weirdo.
Art Nerd
said,
July 6, 2007 at 4:36 am
You are a rockstar, Isabel. You go on with your bad self!
I met the artist whose work I wrote my MA thesis on. OMG- I totally geeked out, gushed, stumbled and subtly dry-heaved at this woman’s presence. Also, I had about 3 broken nails, so smooth! You handled yourself much much much better than I did!
MK
said,
July 6, 2007 at 2:31 pm
1st of all - I think you look great in the pic and you do look great for having had a baby last year! Really!!
That is soooo exciting!!!1 Yeah for you! You go girl on getting what you want!
Are you guys taking Babboo with you to NY? We leave on Wed for our trip to NJ and NY
Heather B.
said,
July 6, 2007 at 3:32 pm
I was grinning the entire time I read that. That’s beyond awesome. I’m so happy for you and just…wow!
Audrey
said,
July 6, 2007 at 8:53 pm
This is such a great story — I’m so happy for you!
If I ever met an idol-type person, I would undoubtedly turn bright red all the way to the tips of my ears (yes, I am a major blusher, and i hate it SO much!) and say something stupid and nervously laugh at my own bad jokes. I would never manage to be as cool as you!
SJ
said,
July 6, 2007 at 9:06 pm
I’m so happy that you and The King go to meet your idol! How awesome….
And such a great story to tell Babboo one day
Lisa B
said,
July 6, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Ahhhh. (Am screaming out loud for you. And grinning really big!)
AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU. HOW COOL IS THAT! And he sounds like a wonderful, salt-of-the-earth guy. So happy you got to meet Rhett.
Your news has made my week. SO HAPPY FOR YOU!
Stefanie
said,
July 7, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Oh my word; I had no idea it was that easy to get in to a private performance like that! Good work, Isabel. I am swooning just reading about that.
Poodle
said,
July 8, 2007 at 12:42 am
OH. My. God. That is so frickin’ cool!!! I’m jealous of your massive cajones and that Rhett had his arm around you. How stinking cute is he?!
Lindsey
said,
July 8, 2007 at 2:47 pm
That is an amazing story. I can’t believe that you got a private meeting with your idol. That totally rocks and you looked totally cute and perfect. How totally awesome. If I met Jessica Simpson I think I would freak and stumble over my words. LOL Yes, she is my idol. I’m a freak. I have more substantial idols too…I think…
ReDinkyDink
said,
July 9, 2007 at 1:41 am
Thanks for the suggestion about hair extensions. I knew nothing about it and had never considered it.
So, I just looked it up. Wow… This might really work for me. Thanks!!
Now I don’t have to shave my head or wait two years for it to grow out.
metalia
said,
July 9, 2007 at 2:41 am
OMG. You lucky girl, you; I asolutely ADORE Rhett Miller. Well done, my dear.
Fraulein N
said,
July 9, 2007 at 3:01 pm
That is really, really awesome. I don’t even know who this guy is and I’m so excited for you. I can’t think of who I’d be crazy psyched out to meet, but I’m sure I would say something dumb and humiliate myself. That, or my severe shyness would make me come across like a bitch.
hola, isabel » Blog Archive » A lesson learned, the hard way
said,
July 9, 2007 at 3:47 pm
[…] For those of you that missed my meeting with Rhett Miller of the Old 97’s, check out that post from last week. And for those of you who aren’t sure who Rhett Miller or the Old 97’s are, go to their website for free downloads of their music!! I promise you, you’ll like it. And then you’ll thank me. Plus hello, free downloads!! […]
Emily
said,
July 10, 2007 at 2:05 pm
You crack me up. If I ever need anything like that done, I’m contacting you. You seem like the gal who can get things done.
alison
said,
July 10, 2007 at 9:41 pm
What is this crazy radio station that only lets you attend their events if you donate! I’m glad you were brave and actually got to meet him!
kerrianne
said,
July 10, 2007 at 9:47 pm
So I think it was pretty awesome that when I first read “Rhett Miller” I thought to myself: “The chacter from Gone With The Wind? What the?”
Sleep. I need SLEEP.
» My tastes are all over the place, I know.
said,
July 16, 2007 at 2:11 pm
[…] I was turned on to Rhett by his number one stalker fan. I figure if she can go to all the trouble to stalk him meet him, then I could at least check out some of his tunes. Rhett Miller is now doing solo projects, but was previously a member of the Old 97’s, if you’re familiar with them. You can find his myspace profile here. It seems that Rhett is classified as rock even though there are pop and country flares to some of his stuff. He really is good Isabel. I can see now why you like to watch him sleep at night blog about him so much. […]
liz
said,
July 24, 2007 at 6:11 am
i am so jealous…i met rhett last year but it certainly wasn’t as intimate as your encounter. we have tickets to see the old 97s on august 3rd…i’ll be about 39 weeks pregnant at the show, so hopefully my water won’t break while i’m there.
hola, isabel » Blog Archive » DC vs. NYC: a photo comparision
said,
September 11, 2007 at 6:27 pm
[…] (note the see-through sheets, shared bathroom, missing crib and remote control that I’m positive was used in some weird sex act that involved someones asshole and the bathroom towel. Amsterdam Inn, you are dead to me. And also, your website lies. You are no more a “boutique hotel” then I am Mrs. Rhett Miller. You can suck it.) […]
hola, isabel » Blog Archive » Let’s talk about Rhett Miller some more. And then look at some fun pictures.
said,
November 28, 2007 at 7:35 pm
[…] You must watch THIS CLIP of Rhett performing an awesome Elvis tune. It will make you fully understand my deep, dark love for Rhett and his music. […]
In which I try to figure out what it takes to have it all | hola, isabel
said,
March 21, 2008 at 6:20 pm
[…] I’ve blogged about Smelly’s proclamation before. And yet, I still can’t figure out what my final thoughts on it are. On one hand I’m madly in love with Babboo. I’m happy to be his Mom. I love The King and am happy to be His Wife. On the other hand I really like Isabel. I like that she likes to read novels and wear pretty clothes. I like it when Isabel gets to walk, alone, around The City. I like that Isabel can sit on the couch and watch whatever the hell she wants on TV. I like that Isabel likes to go to the theater with her friends. I really like that Isabel gets to go to shows and met people like Rhett Miller and Ben Lee. […]
Farewell to 2007, and hello to 2008 | hola, isabel
said,
April 16, 2008 at 7:13 pm
[…] And then I went on to talk about the 4th of July pool party we were throwing and the fact that I was going to finally get to meet Rhett Miller, (lead singer of my favorite band the Old 97’s) in just a few days. (Here’s hoping I’ll actually get to see Rhett Miller perform in ‘08!) […]
The post that will make you popular with all your friends | hola, isabel
said,
May 2, 2008 at 5:35 pm
[…] -Prepare to amaze friends & family. I like to get little cotton pants to go with the onesies & make it a complete outfit. I’ve done striped pants with a jolly-roger pirate onesie for a pirate-themed outfit, a flaming AC/DC onesie with bright orange pants, or little baby jeans with random band onesies (as per the mom-to-be’s obsession, be it Battlestar Galactica or Rhett Miller). And since they’re so cheap to make, you can give away 5 at a time without breaking the bank. Hooray!!! […]