Editorial

By Ashley Burns

First time’s the charm

Over the past few years, working in the fields of journalism and publishing, I’ve obviously had the opportunity to meet my fair share of celebrities and personalities. And you know hat? After almost a decade of this business, I’m still star struck with each new meeting as I was the first time. That’s why we stress the importance of introductions, from handshakes and eye contact to steady voices and genuine laughter. We can’t stress the value of an impression enough, and we of course hope that you’re taking something from each article that we publish dealing with introductions.

I can’t remember the first celebrity I ever met, because growing up in a political background there’s a good chance that many politicians used my precocious infant smile for a photo opp. But I do remember the first time that I made a complete goofy fool of myself. In 1986, a month after my seventh birthday, my father took me to a baseball card convention, where our hero Pete Rose was signing autographs and meeting fans. After an eternity of waiting in line to meet Charlie Hustle, I met the legend face-to-face. My reaction? I looked at the ground, scratched my head and mumbled, “I like baseball.” And this moment has lived on in infamy because my social collapse— even though I was only a child—caused my father and Pete to laugh at me.

Two decades later, I’m a wiser man because of that childhood memory. A few years ago I met Dwight Howard at an Orlando Magic charity event and the setting made it difficult to steal more than a moment from the NBA superstar, but I had my opportunity and this time around I was more mature—obviously—and better prepared for such a meeting. What resulted was a strong handshake, eye contact—even though he’s just a tad taller than me—and a pleasant exchange. I don’t recall what we specifically talked about for that 30-second window, but I know it was something good. Good enough that when I met Dwight again this past summer at another event, he remembered me. Maybe not by name, but he remembered my face and the event. Even that kind of recognition goes a long way.

Celebrities meet new people every day. They have fans clamoring for their attention, while their personal lives are prodded for every detail. As we should expect and respect, our favorite stars, athletes, politicians, and other personalities aren’t looking for new friends or for extended companionship. But the role we can play is a break is the endless parade of hero-worship and eccentric fanaticism. And that happens with a quality introduction, with casual infliction and a laid-back, confident demeanor.

Just recently I also attended a fundraiser for an aspiring Florida politician. This was a small event— 15 people at the most—that included some pretty important people. In fact, we went around the room and introduced ourselves. The woman who preceded me, standing to my right, was a former U.S. Attorney General. How do you top that? Well, as I discovered, pretty simply— with a little confidence. By playfully but respectfully acknowledging her prominence and my slightly lesser stature, the rest of the room had a little laugh and my hand was taking appointments for the shaking it would be doing over the next two hours.

This is the sort of importance that we’re trying to teach through the great inspiration and lessons of our contributing writers. Life isn’t just about the chance to meet famous people and shake a few hands. It’s about putting your best foot forward and making a name for yourself. That all starts with introductions. Each new person you meet is a new hand to shake and a new set of eyes to connect with. The goal of an introduction is to cement yourself in the memory of a person—or group of people—so they will involuntarily remember you. People always say that you never get a second chance at a first impression. Well, why would you want one? Nail it the first time, every time.

This past year we’ve celebrated the 30th anniversary of Pageantry magazine. That means 30 years ago we introduced the world of fashion and glamour to the Pageantry brand. We’re pretty happy with what that first impression has turned into. Now allow us to introduce you to the next 30 years. ;