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By Root 469 0

one of the celebs’ homes is in your town. Call your local newspaper office. Ask for the reporter who covers town happenings. He has his fingers on the pulse of the community. The reporter is often a freelancer, not a staff reporter. Try to get a cell number, since these folks are out and around for a living. (Great contacts, incidentally. Upbeat, very sharp, and with more contacts than an automatic dialer. Always frazzled, never dull.) Try to meet that person now.

Ask questions like:

Who are the celebs’ friends? Acquaintances? (Take names, numbers, and e-mails.)

Where does the celeb eat, drink, hang out?

Where does the celeb work out?

Where does the celeb recreate? The local tennis courts? Ball field? Golf course?

Who cuts the celeb’s hair? Where? When?

Then, make your daily genie appearances for instant interviews (Do 1) near the places the celeb goes. You can even stop in, pop an I.I., and just ask when the celeb usually comes in. Ask what the celeb likes and anything else they know about him. (Mere mortals acquainted with celebrities are eager to brag about what they know.)

Then, target your time to grant them an interview. Happen to show up. Drop your Magic Four Hello (Do 1) on that awesome person, who’ll be in awe of you.

Then:

• Compliment with your knowledge

• Listen well

• Exchange your card for contact information

• Follow up

You can pretty much take anything in their inner circle. It’s a position of power and excitement at any level.

Almost all celebs are basically the same. They live in certain areas, eat at certain places, marry certain people, raise their kids a certain way, and send them to certain schools. Oh, there are exceptions. Ask them and they’ll tell you they’re one. S-u-u-u-r-e.

Different fishbowl, same shelf. It’s called circumstances. They got what they wished and worked hard for, along with what they didn’t.

It’ll be a rollercoaster ride since they’re capricious and crazy. But they’ll pay you well if you show them your stuff. And you’ll never be bored.

Definitely a kick!

Do 56: Mixing and Matching at the Chamber Mixer

Chambers of commerce have been around a very long time. That’s because they work.

The lifeblood of any chamber is its networking. Without the interaction among members, a chamber’s newsletter, lobbying, and advertising wouldn’t sustain a membership base.

Call your local chamber office and speak to the CEO (various names but only one chief). Ask away:

Who’s looking for people?

What do they want?

What’s their business?

Whom do I call?

Who’s your favorite? Why?

Take notes. Then, “When’s your next mixer?” (if he hasn’t already invited you, and invited you again). And, “Would you please send me a chamber directory?”

You shouldn’t have to pay for the mixer. That’s why it’s called an invitation and you’re called a guest. If you can’t get in any other way, volunteer to set up or something. But don’t get behind a table giving out raffle tickets and name tags. You’re there to jump into the I.I. Mixmaster.

Look around for a table with thirtysomethings or older. It’s more likely to have someone who’s not starting a new business or looking for work and barter deals.

That’s where you’ll sit to eat, but you always interview standing up one-on-one in a room. Everyone’s listening to everyone else. That’s why they’re there.

Work the room for a few minutes. Look around for a person alone. Ideally, well-appointed and professional looking. Not very chatty, but very at ease.

Walk up and do a Magic Four Hello (Do 1) at arm’s length. (Don’t invade her space, just her mind.) The big thing now is keeping other mixers out of the mix while you’re matching.

After the Magic Four, drop a “What business are you in?” on her. Basic mixer talk. You might also try dropping, “Gee, this sure looks like the flamingo farm at the zoo!” on her.

If she doesn’t laugh, stand on one leg. (We can live with no laugh if she interviews well.) But let’s say she laughs. You’ve moved from mix to match.

Say “I just