I met Jack, he didnt like me.

[arewhyehen]

I thought an eyeroll was a sign of displeasure..

Ha - me too!

Thanks Ryan. These gosh darn interwebs! [waves walking stick in the air}

Haha, sorry. I'm pretty sarcastic, so don't take most things I say too seriously. Who knows, maybe I'm even being sarcastic about being sarcastic, right now.

[jrfhoutx]

I don't think Jason was expecting more he was just sharing his story & from what i've read felt kind of embarrassed/bad that he might have displeased Jack...

You've got more guts than me, if i ever met Jack "It's My Fault For Being Famous" would be in the back of my head & i'd be too scared to say anything.

I'd have 'Take, Take, Take" playing in my head and just turn around and walk away... every time I hear that song I think that's probably the most accurate view of what it's like being famous...

[mmshuster]

Sorry man that would suck pretty bad. I walked up and introduced myself to Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler at a Greenhornes concert and PK wasn't overly friendly but then again I'm a stranger and I totally get why someone wouldn't want to talk but Little Jack hung out with me for like thirty minutes and we talked music for a while. He told me he didn't like playing bass and always wanted to be a guitar player which was shocking but he was really nice. I would be pretty disappointed if they had me kicked out though sorry to hear that, I doubt it was you though he might have just had an off night.

[DBCooper]

So here's the story, I had a backstage pass for the wiltern, my friends didnt. I hung out for a little bit, maybe 15-20 mins after the show. I was gonna leave because my friends were waiting but I really wanted to ask Jack to sign my blunderbuss (I have the lightning bolt). That is where I went wrong, I suppose.

Like I said, my friends were waiting, so I didnt want to take all day. When I saw the chance, I said, 'Hey Jack, hows it goin? I'm a big fan, I went to all of your LA shows.' To which he replied, "Oh Yea, thats great, You're a big fan." It kinda sounded like he was mocking me, but I couldnt really tell, I dont know how he normally talks. Then I asked. 'Hey Jack, I hate to ask this, but would you mind signing Blunderbuss for me?' To which he replied, 'Yea sure, give me a second.' I was really excited, and said thanks.
I had an Amoeba bag with blunderbuss in it, along with some other things, kind of like a man purse, and I started looking for my sharpie. Before I could find it, Jacks assistant?, or someone, tapped me on the shoulder and said they had to escort me out. (I assume Jack motioned for him to throw me out, because I don't think anyone else heard our brief conversation.) I said I could just leave, but he said that he had to escort me all the way out and make sure I dont return. So I left.

I would have appreciated a simple "No" as opposed to mocking me and having me thrown out, but I reckon beggars can't be choosers.

I was just wondering If anyone had any similar stories. Did I catch him on an off night? Has something like this happened to anyone else? Something totally different? Does he just truly despise being asked for an autograph? Am I 100% to blame for asking in the first place? Ive seen enough of his autographs on ebay to think he must do it sometimes, although I suppose they could be fakes.

If your input is "don't ask for an autograph," I already learned that lesson. Message received loud and clear.

were you wearing a von bondies or lacoste tshirt?

[Kaber]

I think as a fan the only time of Jacks that is 'yours' is when he is onstage.
I think asking for a sig when you have a backstage pass is plain wrong.
It is his time and you are intruding into it.

[theeradicaleclectic]

Sorry man that would suck pretty bad. I walked up and introduced myself to Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler at a Greenhornes concert and PK wasn't overly friendly but then again I'm a stranger and I totally get why someone wouldn't want to talk but Little Jack hung out with me for like thirty minutes and we talked music for a while. He told me he didn't like playing bass and always wanted to be a guitar player which was shocking but he was really nice. I would be pretty disappointed if they had me kicked out though sorry to hear that, I doubt it was you though he might have just had an off night.

i guess you didnt talk to him about how he felt when it came to playing banjo? that would have been a great conversation to get in on

[anonymousbrunette]

I think as a fan the only time of Jacks that is 'yours' is when he is onstage.
I think asking for a sig when you have a backstage pass is plain wrong.
It is his time and you are intruding into it.

Listen to the man. He knows his etiquette.

[Musicsoul78]

man, that's weird. sorry it didn't work that time around.
i met him at frank hot dogs at sxsw in 2011 and he actually came into the restaurant to eat. there was seasick steve as well, sippin on some coffee and chewing on his mustache.
i approached jack, and he actually put his hand up in a 'stop' motion. i assumed that meant that he didn't want to talk to me, so i went back to the bar, feeling sorry for myself.
i glanced back over where he was and he was getting out of his chair and walking towards the hallway to the bathroom. he quickly glanced at me and motioned hurriedly for me to come over there. i, of course, immediately obliged and racewalked over to him. he opened the door to the bathroom and told me to come in with him and i paused for a second...
"what the hell? am i going to have girl talk with jack in the f-ing bathroom at a hot dog restaurant?" i stopped asking questions and walked in.
immediately, he pulls out 4 different sized bags of cocaine.
"WHOA, man! it's f-ing 9:23 am, mister!"
then i looked up at him and realized that it wasn't jack white at all. it was just some drug dealer.
anyway, i bought the biggest bag he had to offer and i don't remember anything after.
all in all, i'd say jack white is a pretty nice guy.

First of all, I have to say that this is the best response to any post ever!
Second, I am in the music industry and a green room that allows backstage passes is totally fair game for autographs.
Technically, Jack was still working and having you kicked out was a dick move. If you are a vault member, I would even go so far as to send an email to Swank about the situation.
While I agree that well-known musicians can't win in any situation, mocking you then having you escorted out is unacceptable. You didn't do anything wrong...Jack was just being a diva (Sorry, it had to be said.)

[theeradicaleclectic]

man, that's weird. sorry it didn't work that time around.
i approached jack, and he actually put his hand up in a 'stop' motion. i assumed that meant that he didn't want to talk to me, so i went back to the bar, feeling sorry for myself. then i looked up at him and realized that it wasn't jack white at all. it was just some drug dealer.
anyway, i bought the biggest bag he had to offer and i don't remember anything after.
all in all, i'd say jack white is a pretty nice guy.

First of all, I have to say that this is the best response to any post ever!
Second, I am in the music industry and a green room that allows backstage passes is totally fair game for autographs.
Technically, Jack was still working and having you kicked out was a dick move. If you are a vault member, I would even go so far as to send an email to Swank about the situation.
While I agree that well-known musicians can't win in any situation, mocking you then having you escorted out is unacceptable. You didn't do anything wrong...Jack was just being a diva (Sorry, it had to be said.)

Your point of view is important as a professional and yet its also somewhat idealistic when you reach the levels of personal vs. contractual commitments...
As i mentioned before its possible that the man was in great pain and has been doing his best to fulfill his performance commitments to the best of this ability given his spinal dysfunction... its unlikely that the contract stipulations allow for random backstage passes to be used for individual gratuity... promotional and informational purposes possibly but when the friend of a friend of a friend gets into boundaries of 'beyond contractual' then all bets are off ... i say check the rider

maybe there was some divatastic reality to own up to there but since when does greenroom mean Ollie Allee In Come Everyone Free?? i have yet to meet a performer who doesnt expect some management and protection from fans when they are coming off stage and possibly checking to see if all their concerns are in order before they have a go and another round at public appearance... back stage right after a performance is not time to stand in a mans way to the john either but that doesnt mean that he is going to tell you about it or wishes for you to be there when he is having one of his 'oh shit moments'... so... win some/loose some

i like this thread and its range of responses and just wanna make sure that no one thinks that i believe myself right as opposed to believing that i may see options

[Alabama Woody]

I thought an eyeroll was a sign of displeasure..

Ha - me too!

Thanks Ryan. These gosh darn interwebs! [waves walking stick in the air}

Haha, sorry. I'm pretty sarcastic, so don't take most things I say too seriously. Who knows, maybe I'm even being sarcastic about being sarcastic, right now.

I just tried joking around with you on another thread and you bit my head off. Your right......who knows what kind of mood your in at any given time.

[arewhyehen]

I thought an eyeroll was a sign of displeasure..

Ha - me too!

Thanks Ryan. These gosh darn interwebs! [waves walking stick in the air}

Haha, sorry. I'm pretty sarcastic, so don't take most things I say too seriously. Who knows, maybe I'm even being sarcastic about being sarcastic, right now.

I just tried joking around with you on another thread and you bit my head off. Your right......who knows what kind of mood your in at any given time.

You mocked me and sounded like you were pissed to lose the auction, I didn't know it was a joke.

[arewhyehen]

..and at least I didn't eat your face off..

[Grimtale]

I've had opportunities for sure but would never ask as it falls into the not-cool book imo. You are in his space, not him in yours.
Now, if Jack decides to come into a public space like the TMR store front, line at a show, etc, that's a different story.
Not flaming anyone, just stating my opinion.

Grim

[Aquamarine]

Second, I am in the music industry and a green room that allows backstage passes is totally fair game for autographs.
Technically, Jack was still working and having you kicked out was a dick move. If you are a vault member, I would even go so far as to send an email to Swank about the situation.
While I agree that well-known musicians can't win in any situation, mocking you then having you escorted out is unacceptable. You didn't do anything wrong...Jack was just being a diva (Sorry, it had to be said.)

I had been wondering what the point of the backstage pass is, if etiquette demands you don't approach the great man.

[theeradicaleclectic]

I've had opportunities for sure but would never ask as it falls into the not-cool book imo. You are in his space, not him in yours.
Now, if Jack decides to come into a public space like the TMR store front, line at a show, etc, that's a different story.
Not flaming anyone, just stating my opinion.

Grim

i have to agree with this idea because its how i feel about 90% of the time when it comes to 'celebritizing someone' who otherwise just has other things on their mind

Simply put, something about asking for autographs seems like asking for money to me... One of the only times that i asked for an autograph was more about wanting to see what they would write on their own album if given the chance as a part of being in a relaxed conversation and the other time i remember asking for an autograph it was relative to already being in line listening to them talk about 'where they were from' while selling merch and i recall asking for an autograph just for the sake of showing respects to them because it was making their day and making more time for them to 'get social' which they wanted to do anyway.. they were nice because it was such a beautiful day and they were a relatively new band that were incredibly amazing so it seemed like signing autographs was a 'pay off' for them

Also the fact is that sometimes its just too awkward to ask for an autograph when you are the person running a show or responsible for shit getting done... fame or no fame it all boils down to this one bit of wisdom: Fans... Dont let Jack White eat Bath Salts or he might just eat your face off...