The Coolest, Kindest Celebrities I Met While Working at a Hotel

I’ve worked at a fair share of interesting places during my life, most of them involving the entertainment industry.

I served as a shuttle driver, bellman, and front desk agent at a hotel during my final two or three years of college.

But working at the hotel was probably my favorite part-time job “growing up.” In fact, my wife recently pointed out it’s the job I often bring up as the most fun and one I miss. (No offense to any of my other former employers who read the blog! 🙂 )

I now work as a photo editor and a voiceover artist in the entertainment industry. But the hotel gig served as an early introduction to that world. The hotel where I worked was where most celebrities stayed when they came to town. We’re talking about bands playing concerts or people in town for personal appearances or speaking engagements.

A lot of these people might be like you — professional road warriors. Except they also have magnifying glasses on them because they’re famous.

I remember reading something Jay Leno once said. It was something to the effect of, if you’re a famous and act like a jerk to someone, they will tell ten of their friends. Those friends will then tell ten of their friends and it goes from there. Word spreads. So why not just be nice? It is not that difficult.

Between my time at the hotel and now 25 years in the entertainment business, I’ve worked with plenty of famous people and even become friends with a few. I don’t have many Such-and-such celebrity was an absolute jerk! stories.

My hotel days were years before digital media was an everyday presence. TMZ and Radar Online were still ideas, if that. No one’s cell phones had cameras that could record a celebrity doing something and then post it to social media five seconds later.

Some of the celebrities and most of their personnel would chat us up during our shifts. They enjoyed learning about the area, especially if it was their first time in the city. They’re also away from their families and homes for months at a stretch. These folks get lonely; chatting with people who aren’t fans can be a welcome opportunity.

Many people love stories about celebrities. Given that this blog focuses on travel, I figured I’d meld the two and share some of my favorite celebrity experiences from my hotel years.

The Rolling Stones

The circus came to town in the form of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, the now-late Charlie Watts, and about 110 of their traveling group. Family members, crew, backing musicians, and others accompanied the Stones.

They came to town one evening. Those of us scheduled to work were given something like a 5:00 PM call time. Their charter was scheduled to land around 5:30 PM but maybe 7:00 PM. Then it got pushed to 8 PM. But I needed to be available at any time in case something changed. At 6:30, I got a call telling me to be at work in 20 minutes.

I don’t know if the time changes were intentional so no one would tip off the press Or if it was a band operating on Musician Standard Time (if you know, you know, and I say this with some affection).

We brought them in through a back entrance and the well-organized machine went into gear.

They bought out about 95% of our hotel. We placed covers over our lobby elevators’ displays that indicated where the elevators were at a given time. (This way, no one could see where the elevators stopped when/if they spotted one of the band members getting into them.)

The band had been touring the world for over 30 years at this point. So, their crew knew had everything down to a T. (Side note: one of their tour staffers told us, “I think this is probably it for us. I don’t see us doing another tour after this. Maybe one more.” That was in 1998 or 1999.)

Our bell staff brought bags into each band member’s room. I accidentally put one of Charlie Watts’ bags upside down (“Oh, F——- hell!” He cursed at me in rough whisper. “It goes the other way!” I apologized and corrected the problem. Then he stared at me and shooed me out the door. Whenever he saw me after that, he said dryly, “Oh. It’s you.” To be clear, all of this apparently was his sense of humor. I was all excited. I told my dad, “Dad! Charlie Watts swore at me! How cool is that?!)

Ronnie Wood and his family were all sweet. Keith Richards wasted no time getting into his suite and starting a party. He was held court while music played and people milled about when we delivered his bags. I made eye contact with him, nodded, and said, “Welcome, sir.” Mr. Richards raised his beverage, grinned, and toasted me with a “Hi!”

(I later said to my father, “Dad! Keith Richards toasted me! How cool is that?!)

Mick Jagger was much more subdued but also kind.

Most of their support staff was great and a real treat to work with. Watching their operation work was truly fascinating. They turned meeting rooms into tour offices. The tour managers provided specific instructions for calls, faxes, deliveries, questions, etc. I mean, it’s downright impressive how tight their group ran.

There were a less-than-pleasant individuals in the bunch — none famous (though they thought they were). But overall, working with the Stones is one of my favorite memories.

One of their road managers invited us to see the show and it was absolutely fantastic.

Def Leppard

I’ve loved Def Leppard since I was 10 years old. I was on duty when they arrived for a two-night stayed at our hotel. The boys from England (well, one from Dublin) were all smiles and “hello!”s when they entered the lobby.

Rick Savage (bass) and Vivian Campbell (guitar) were hungry and asked if the shuttle would please take them somewhere for a bite.

It didn’t need to be anywhere fancy, they said. A coffee shop was fine.

I suggested the Fry’n Pan, a 24-hour diner. Sounds lovely, they said.

Except, the Pan was closed when we got there. Of course it was. And it was getting late. Long story short, I took them to TGI Friday’s.

Hotel employees weren’t allowed to ask for autographs or pictures. It was discouraged to even really say anything personal to guests. But this band was one of the reasons I started playing guitar. I listened to their music through heartbreaks and good times. So, during the ride, I took advantage of the situation and thanked them for their music. I told them how much I enjoyed their new album (Adrenalize). They acted like it was one of the first times someone complimented them. (“Oh, wow, thanks!” “That’s great, thanks! I’m glad you enjoy it!”) True pros and true gentlemen.

I dropped them off, did an airport run, then came back to pick them up. A couple of over-served fans followed them out. These drunken dudes carried some sugar packets with them. (Actually, I think it was Sweet-N-Low.)

You may know where this is going.

“Guys!” one of them said. “Will you ‘pour some sugar on me’? Or ‘on us’?”

Sav and Viv looked at each other and shrugged. I think it was Sav who took the packets, ripped them open, and, yes, poured some sugar on these starstruck fans. I apologized as soon as the guys got back in the van; I felt somewhat responsible, seeing as how I couldn’t think of anywhere else open in Fargo that late that served an OK meal.

They assured me no apology was necessary and that it certainly wasn’t the first time someone made such a request. I was also asked if I was going to the show. If not, they’d add me to “The List.” (No need — I had tickets since 10 minutes after they went on sale months before.)

I saw Vivian Campbell’s side band, Clock, around L.A. a couple of times and introduced myself. He remembered the Fargo trip!

Shania Twain’s Band

Shania Twain and her band stayed at the hotel.

I drove her band around town for the better portion of a day. They were some of the coolest people I ever met. We talked about music, the music business, movies, and a variety of other topics.

They asked if I wanted to join them for bowling after I clocked out of work that night.

But I promised to take my then-girlfriend to a midnight screening of Gus Van Sant’s Psycho remake and meet up with some friends. I had to bail on the band.

I’m over it, though. In fact, I’ve almost completely forgotten about missing out on the chance to go bowling with a country-rock band. When instead I had to sit through a REMAKE OF PSYCHO.

Nope. Not upset. I never think about it. At all. Not even to this day.

Steve Miller

Steve Miller is the very first celebrity I ever helped at the hotel. I brought his and Mrs. Miller’s bags to their room. They were a very nice couple. I resisted the urge to ask them if they flew into town on a big ole jet airliner.

Megadeth

You’d think a band named “Megadeth” would be all sorts of scary and mean.

That couldn’t be farther from the truth.

They arrived the same night as Steve Miller. In fact, I picked up front man Dave Mustaine and their tour manager from a private jet.

“The rest of the band is taking the bus from Sioux Falls,” their tour manager explained. “They’re afraid to fly,” he snickered.

Mr. Mustaine is very well spoken and smart. He wasn’t particularly outgoing but he was pleasant enough. Their tour manager, however, was a kick. This guy made it a point to get to know everyone.

I helped the rest of the (sleepy) band with their bags when their bus showed up around 3 or 4 AM. Megadeth’s aliases were the funniest and punniest of any guest I remember.

A year or two later, I again picked up the tour manager and Mr. Mustaine from the airport. Same thing: the band took a bus and the other two flew in.

“Welcome back to Fargo, gentlemen,” I said as I loaded their bags. “My name is —“

“Wait,” the tour manager said, “You’re — Chris, right?”

“Uh, yeah,” I said, stunned that he remember me. (That or maybe I had my name tag visible, who knows.)

“Good to see you, mate!” He said and gave me a firm handshake. “Let’s get going to the hotel!”

During the car ride back to the hotel, he asked me how college was. He remembered I went to the university “across the river.” (That would be Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota. It’s now called Minnesota State University—Moorhead.)

Mr. Mustaine told a road crew member about a scholarly book he just finished reading. The guy is crazy smart.

A decade later, one of the groomsmen at my wedding was a rock band tour manager (or “TM” as they’re called in the biz, I’m told). I told him about the Megadeth tour manager. I wondered if the guy had a crazy good memory, kept notes about people he meets on the road, or was just sort of a charming BSer.

“Probably a little of all three,” my friend said with a laugh. “But mostly the first two. It’s our job to meet and remember people. In case we need something for our band, the local people we form relationships with might be some of the first people we call for help. They usually know the town better than we do.”

The Secret Service

I showed up to work one day and one of my coworkers nodded toward a couple of men in dark suits.

“Secret Service is here,” she said.

“Oh yeah,” I laughed. “They do look like Secret Service agents, don’t they?”

“No, seriously,” she said. “They are the Secret Service.”

Turns out that someone very high level (who wasn’t the President) had a room reserved that night. But their schedule hadn’t been finalized. They were going to stay with us or in one of two other cities. (I want to say Sioux Falls or Salt Lake City, but don’t quote me on that.)

So, a Secret Service detail milled about the hotel.

Let me tell you: no friend, family member, or therapist will listen to you as intently as a Secret Service agent. They stare you in the eyes and see into your mind, heart, and soul when you answer questions such as “where are the conference rooms?” or “may I please get a wake-up call tomorrow?”

Around 8 PM, we received word that the protectee wouldn’t be coming to town. A few minutes later, the agents came over to the front desk. They were notably looser and ready for a night off. They asked for restaurant recommendations and patiently entertained all of our nerdy questions about Secret Service work and life.

Other Assorted Tales

Plenty of road crews stayed with us while their musical acts flew in and out the same day. Brooks & Dunn’s tour manager and crew were great. NSYNC’s crew were guests but the group popped into town and left right after the show. We got tickets to their concert. It was insanely loud — not the music but the teenyboppers screaming.

Dozens of professional wrestlers and their broadcast crew stayed with us for a WCW Monday Night Raw event. A few told our manager that they wanted some of the front desk crew to hang out in the bar with them after the show. We did — and drank Sprite, as per an agreement with our manager (no booze!). The wrestlers were so fun and nice. Even the bad guys. Weird, right? 🙂

Don’t say wrestling is all fake! We saw wrestlers with all sorts of injuries — including someone whose “getting-hit-with-a-folding-chair” sequence didn’t go quite as planned.

One of my coworkers’ favorite stories happened before I started working at the hotel. An older gentleman with dark-ish hair and all black clothes walked into the lobby. He carried a suitcase and guitar.

The guy placed his American Express on the desk and politely said, “Hello, my name is Johnny Cash,” kind of like from the At Folsom Prison record. “I’m checking in, please.”

“I stood there for a second, completely stunned,” my coworker said. “Sure enough, there was Johnny Cash, the Man in Black, dressed in black, literally right in front of me.” (I believe they changed the name on his room to something different.)

But There Had to Be Some Gossip!

Did anyone go full-on rock star and trash their room? Were any celebrities of the “No brown M&Ms!” variety? Were any childhood visions of That person must be so cool! that were completely ruined by a famous person acting out of line?

Stranger things have happened.

But the fun times and great celebrities are memories I’ll always cherish. I hope you enjoyed reading about them!