michael_grig 464 Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 This is the thread for anyone who wants to tell about their encounter with John Williams! Tell us about the circumstances of your meeting and your emotions about it! Also feel free to post your photos or souvenirs of this special moment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 I never met John Williams. I never met Aznavour too. Who's the most internationaly well-known star I ever met? SCAN IN PROCESS. michael_grig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JohnTheBaptist 57 Posted September 6, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2021 I saw John Williams at a grocery store in Los Angeles last year. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a douche and bother him and ask him for photos or anything. He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?” I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying. The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter. When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly. Not Mr. Big, Loert, Taikomochi and 4 others 1 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_grig 464 Posted September 6, 2021 Author Share Posted September 6, 2021 wow, so even for this story being made up, it's not good But at least you have a funny way of writing, I guess... What kind of sweets does John Williams like to eat? Is he really the Milky Way type? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,173 Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 This is all I have to say to the above post: Loert and michael_grig 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_grig 464 Posted September 6, 2021 Author Share Posted September 6, 2021 Richard Strauss' operas are rich for witty quotes by music fans Well, to be honest, I thought that many in the forum have already met Williams in person. But well, then it is now just a thread of this kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,173 Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 28 minutes ago, Michael G. said: Well, to be honest, I thought that many in the forum have already met Williams in person. But well, then it is now just a thread of this kind. Only those who were lucky enough to do so years ago. Williams has become very inaccessible since the early 2000s, and if you've seen the crowds who try to get close to him when he steps out of a hotel to go to the concert hall, you can understand why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MrScratch 294 Posted September 7, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 7, 2021 I’ve met him twice, they aren’t terribly interesting stories but here is the first time meeting him: I flew to Boston to see Williams conduct the Boston Pops in 1996, I was 20 years old. It wasn’t a film music concert or anything and he didn’t conduct any of his own music. I asked the Pops staff if it would be possible to meet him, and they let me go backstage to meet him (I can’t even remember if it was before/after the concert or during intermission). Keith Lockhart was back there too, though he wasn’t conducting that night. I said hello and shook his hand. I got to spend a few minutes with JW, I can’t even remember what I said, probably just fanboy gushing. I was nervous as hell. Williams was very nice and thanked me for coming all the way from Baltimore to see him. He signed my Star Wars Anthology disc 4, which I then got framed. I didn’t get a picture with him, but I would on my next meeting… Brando, DrTenma, Martinland and 3 others 3 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bryant Burnette 654 Posted September 7, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 7, 2021 I've never met him, and do not need to. He's got better things to do than meet people like me! Plus, I know him via his work. Good enough. Jurassic Shark, Smeltington, Naïve Old Fart and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,392 Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 There was a guy here at the forum that claimed he had dinner with John Williams' doctor. However, things escalated and the thread quickly became an all out war with FSM. Sometimes I check this thread when I want to have a good laugh, it's hysterical. michael_grig and Brundlefly 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taikomochi 1,136 Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 3 hours ago, Michael G. said: wow, so even for this story being made up, it's not good But at least you have a funny way of writing, I guess... What kind of sweets does John Williams like to eat? Is he really the Milky Way type? It’s a famous copypasta. People just type in random celebrities into it. michael_grig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,272 Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 I think John Williams is a pretty cool guy he writes music and doesn't afraid of anything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,465 Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 Never met him, although I've seen him live twice (hopefully three times by October). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,030 Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 I met him in a dream inside a dream... 7 hours ago, JohnTheBaptist said: I saw John Williams at a grocery store in Los Angeles last year. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a douche and bother him and ask him for photos or anything. He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?” I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying. The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter. When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly. I had the exact same experience! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,498 Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 10 hours ago, Bryant Burnette said: I've never met him, and do not need to. He's got better things to do than meet people like me! Plus, I know him via his work. Good enough. Agreed, and I have better people than Mr. John Williams, to meet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuartalHarmony 542 Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 Sunday 30th June 1996, The Barbican, London. I’ve just finished watching JW conduct the LSO in an outstanding concert, including the premiere of Summon the Heroes. I’ve gone with a mate and we stay behind in the queue to meet him. He signs my copy of StH, I manage to squeeze out a strangled Thank You and shake his hand. That’s it. I spend the next 25 years wishing I could have found something slightly more meaningful to say to him. Mark michael_grig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Sandor 796 Posted September 7, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 7, 2021 I've told this story before, but back in the Summer of 2010 my wife and I spent several weeks in the US. We started of in San Francisco, went to LA, Vegas, the Grand Canyon and we drove as much as we could of the historic Route 66 to Chicago. From there we flew to Florida and after a week or so took a plane to New York. Just before heading out to Washington DC, we -on August 3- drove to Tanglewood for my first -and only- John Williams concert. Now I knew it is quite rare to get an autograph at Tanglewood, let alone have the chance to share a few words with John Williams, so therefore I was very content with the prospect of 'just' seeing the maestro conduct. Upon arrival, I got my first chance to see the program of the evening. To my slight disappointment, I saw that Williams would only conduct the second half of the concert and that Keith Lockhart would conduct until intermission. Just before the concert started, my wife whispered: 'Isn't that John Williams?' I wanted to respond with something like: 'No, that is Keith Lockhart...', but I noticed she was pointing at someone in the audience. And there he was, sitting about 20 meters away from where we were seated: John Williams (can you spot him?) He wasn't backstage waiting for his moment to shine, no: he was sitting enjoying the concert like anyone else attending that day. At the start of intermission, I expected Williams to make his way to the dressing room or whatever, but I noticed he stood up and amicably talked to some people around him. With my heart pounding I slowly approached John Williams and from there things start to get blurry. I know I got to shake his hand and he signed the program booklet I got at the entry point. I know John Williams was the one who suggested signing it on the upper left corner since there is would be most visible. And I know I said I came all the way from The Netherlands and he said: 'Oh, that's wonderful! Enjoy the rest of the concert my friend!' 'My friend.' Wow. Williams conducted the rest of the program, but I was in a completely different world at that time. In a way, I still am. It was a true highlight in my life and a memory I will cherish forever. Jay, Martinland, karelm and 5 others 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 I never fantasized about meeting JW, but I fantasized alot about meeting some users of this forum. That's perhaps a subject for another thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_grig 464 Posted September 7, 2021 Author Share Posted September 7, 2021 Wow, that's a very, very wonderful story. I'm amazed that he really sat in the audience, that's really cool. Oh man, John Williams is such a good person in all aspects 2 minutes ago, Bespin said: I never fantasized about meeting JW, but I fantasized alot about meeting some users of this forum. That's perhaps a subject for another thread! Are you thinking of a jwfan convention Sandor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taikomochi 1,136 Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 @Sandor, what a truly lovey post. Thank you so much for sharing. Sandor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 I never went to a JW convention, my mastering of english language would make it an obstacle. And when I'm nervous I stutter! Writing my idiosyncratic english is the best I can offer to this community... oh, and my discography, now well updated and very well by the prodigious @Junion! I could never thank him too much, the project at the base, to publish that comprehensive discography, was to be a collaborative project. Alone, we are nothing. I'm not a fan boy, I never asked a personnality for a signature, except two times in my life, for the same personnality, a character from my childhood. It took me all my little change to find the courage to ask for a signature!!! Junion 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinland 357 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 5 hours ago, QuartalHarmony said: Sunday 30th June 1996, The Barbican, London. I’ve just finished watching JW conduct the LSO in an outstanding concert, including the premiere of Summon the Heroes. I’ve gone with a mate and we stay behind in the queue to meet him. He signs my copy of StH, I manage to squeeze out a strangled Thank You and shake his hand. That’s it. I spend the next 25 years wishing I could have found something slightly more meaningful to say to him. Mark Nice, I was there too, at the Barbican in 1996. I managed to thank him for his music and inspiration, he in turn thanked me for coming to the concert. We shook hands and he signed the booklet of my brand new CD w/ Summon the Heroes. Will never forget this. QuartalHarmony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,639 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 This thread makes me realize that I am an envious, jealous, and small person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datameister 2,037 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 I doubt I'll ever meet him, and I've reached a certain degree of acceptance there. Still, given the opportunity to grab lunch with a famous person of my choice, the decision would be an easy one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve 589 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 I shook his hand, talked about the music. Then I woke up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,030 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 ... next to him in his hotel suite? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve 589 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 2 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said: ... next to him in his hotel suite? Oh yeah. I said "You need a better fan than I am". He replied "I know, but they are all dead". Martinland and Jurassic Shark 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,030 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 8 minutes ago, Steve said: Oh yeah. I said "You need a better fan than I am". He replied "I know, but they are all dead". So that's why Stefan, Lee, and Bloodboal don't post here anymore! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve 589 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 36 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said: So that's why Stefan, Lee, and Bloodboal don't post here anymore! Who? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,030 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 Exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brundlefly 2,385 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 On 9/7/2021 at 4:50 AM, Edmilson said: There was a guy here at the forum that claimed he had dinner with John Williams' doctor. However, things escalated and the thread quickly became an all out war with FSM. Sometimes I check this thread when I want to have a good laugh, it's hysterical. That thread was fun! Certainly transgressed a whole bunch of forum rules. Edmilson 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,465 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 On 9/7/2021 at 9:00 AM, Thor said: Never met him, although I've seen him live twice (hopefully three times by October). I should perhaps specify that I had the chance of meeting him briefly when he came into the Boston Pops concert hall back in 2014, but I had no intention of being part of the mob that swarmed him with autograph requests and the like (nothing against those who did, but it's not my style), so I took a selfie from a safe distance, as previously shared on these forums. Jurassic Shark and Martinland 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,030 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 That's a great picture. It shows you've got style, with a healthy distance from the fan boy attitude. Thor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Thor 7,465 Posted September 11, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 11, 2021 I also "sorta" met him during the concert itself, I remember now. When he received standing ovations at the end, everybody applauded, but I gave him a thumbs-up instead. Since I was sitting very near the stage, he locked eyes with me and gave me a thumbs up back. I think that's as close as I'll get. Brundlefly, Martinland and Manakin Skywalker 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandor 796 Posted September 11, 2021 Share Posted September 11, 2021 1 hour ago, Thor said: I also "sorta" met him during the concert itself, I remember now. When he received standing ovations at the end, everybody applauded, but I gave him a thumbs-up instead. Since I was sitting very near the stage, he locked eyes with me and gave me a thumbs up back. I think that's as close as I'll get. But…. that sounds extremely cool..! 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,465 Posted September 11, 2021 Share Posted September 11, 2021 True, but nothing compared to your actual meeting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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