How to Befriend a Celebrity

Celebrities need friends too! A hectic work schedule and a multitude of phonies can leave celebrities feeling a little short on friends. That's why you'll often see celebrities with people they've known a long time. (Think Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King.) Take these steps to add a celebrity to your circle of friends.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Try to renew a friendship with an old friend who has since turned famous. If your friend has returned home to visit family, call and see if she would like to go out for coffee. If she's hesitant, public recognition might be the problem. Offer to meet at your home instead.
2. Build a new relationship slowly with a celebrity. Greet him with a reminder of where he knows you from, such as, "Hello, again. Larry Jones. We met at Sandy's party last month." Celebrities meet lots of people. They may need a reminder that you both belong to the same circle of friends.
3. Focus on shared interests that have nothing to do with the person's celebrity status. Maybe you both love dogs or believe saving the environment is a worthy cause.
4. Wait until after several encounters to invite celebrity friends to do something. Be specific. A celebrity might be shy about making the initial contact. If you're not certain if the time is right, try sending a short, friendly email.
5. Understand when a celebrity declines an invitation. It may just be bad timing or he may not want to pursue a relationship with you at this time. Leave the offer open with something like "That's fine. If you change your mind, let me know." The ball is now in his court.
6. Reciprocate if a celebrity friend invites you to do something or calls or emails you. Friendship is all about give and take. She doesn't want to just talk about her life. She wants to hear about yours as well. Share information she might find interesting.
7. Allow your friendship to grow naturally. Limit calls and emails to a frequency for casual friends. Too much contact too early may overwhelm a celebrity and make him wonder if you're a stalker.