I am now going to tell you two embarrassing stories.
The minute I walked into my first-ever tricking event, I saw him: Vellu. He was my favorite tricker at the time, and I couldn’t wait to meet him. Seriously—I couldn’t wait, and I didn’t. I walked directly across the room to where he was sitting and chatting with his friends, and I plopped my ass right down next to his. He was in the middle of telling the others something, so I sat there waiting, the odd man out of a very private conversation, just grinning like an idiot and hoping that at some point he would turn around to say hello.
The truth is, I have absolutely no memory of when or if I managed to introduce myself. I just remember awkwardly sitting next to my tricking hero, realizing I had completely jumped the gun, and thinking, I am being Extremely Fucking Weird right now.
And by god, I wasn’t gonna let that happen again—from now on, I was gonna play it cool. So at my next tricking event, I found myself chatting with Tommy Tiegs. Of course I knew who he was—I had been watching his clips for ages. He asked for my name, and right away I said, “I’m Jeremy. And you?” Nailed it, I thought to myself. Just gonna be casual, act like I don’t even know him.
Except then I saw his brow furrow, and a confused look came over his face. “I’m… Tommy,” he said. “Tommy Tiegs..?” And in those words I could hear, “Dude, you seriously don’t know? What the hell?” He wasn’t being egotistical; he just knew his position in the tricking community, and by pretending like I was totally unaware, I had somehow done it again: I was being Extremely Fucking Weird.
Just act natural.
So there you have it, folks—two horrible ways to talk to your tricking heroes. And to be fair, no one really tells us how to do it well. We’re just suddenly thrown into the same room as people we’ve admired for years, and we’re supposed to act like we’re not freaking the fuck out inside. It’s difficult, it really is! So what are some major do’s and don’ts? Well reader, I’m glad you asked, because after many years, I think I’ve finally learned the secrets. Keep the following tips in mind the next time you’re at a gathering:
DO approach them and introduce yourself. You know you want to! Just wait until they’re not super busy, going hard on the floor, or talking privately with a group of friends. Try it when they’re stretching out before or after the session, for example.
DON'T go straight for the hug, especially if they’re not the same gender as you. A fist bump, dapping them up, hell even a handshake is fine. Honestly just do what feels comfortable, and if you’re chill about it, they will be too.
DO acknowledge that you know who they are, with a short, simple compliment attached. A good script: “Hey, you’re Tiki, right? I’m Jeremy, nice to meet you dude. Love your tricks.”
DON'T be a total fanboy or fangirl. “Omg I’ve watched your sampler like 5, no, 10 times! I think of you when I touch myself at night I mean what haha” NOOOOOOOOO. That falls under the category of being Extremely Fucking Weird.
"Hey I love you haha just wanted to say it again!!!"
DO remember that they’re human, too. “Some of the best trickers in the world are a bit socially awkward,” Kyle Skelly of Plan Zero tells me. So if they seem sorta uncomfortable with meeting a new person like you, don’t take it personally. Just smile and be chill. And don’t sweat it if they can’t remember your name at the next gathering—how many times have you forgotten someone’s name, even someone you’ve enjoyed talking to?
DON'T ask super-personal questions about their life, at least not right away. Given the depth and reach of Plan Zero’s videos, Kyle says that new trickers sometimes come up to him already knowing everything about him, while he knows literally nothing about who they are. Then they start making hyper-specific comments about his family and his girlfriend, and things get, well, weird. “It’s all harmless and really nice sometimes, but it can create a lopsided dynamic of getting to know each other,” he explains. So start with surface-level conversation topics, and go deeper if it feels right. Just don’t come across as a creepy stalker person.
DO get a mutual friend to introduce you, if you know someone who knows your hero. It’s less awkward and less daunting, and that way your hero will see, “Oh, this new guy knows my friend ____. I bet he can hang.”
DON'T seductively run your fingers through their hair. I can’t believe I have to say this, but it has actually happened.
DO take a picture with them if you want to, but only if they seem to be in a decent mood. This is also best done at the end of the event when you’re saying your goodbyes.
“What if they don’t like me?” Don’t worry, with these tips you’ll be good to go.
DON'T take up too much of their time. A quick chat for one or two minutes is perfect to start, then go off and do your own thing for a while. You can always come back and talk more later, and they’ll respect you way more if you’re not being clingy.
DO ask them for one (ONE) specific tricking tip if you’re curious. Again, just be sure they’re not too busy, and don’t try to turn them into your personal tricking coach. You get one ask from them, so use it wisely: “Hey dude, I’ve always loved your raiz technique. Could you take a quick look at mine and tell me if anything’s off?”
DON'T try too hard. This is possibly the most important piece of advice I can give. Don’t try to be cooler, funnier, or more interesting than you normally would be. It will almost always seem forced, cringe, and yes, Extremely Fucking Weird. You also have to accept that no, you’re not going to be best friends with this person right away, as much as you might want to be. The goal is simply to become a familiar face, a person they’ll see at the next gathering and think, “Oh I remember that guy, he was cool.” So don’t worry about trying to make them laugh or impressing the shit out of them. Just chill out and be your normal self, and who knows? Maybe a real friendship will grow over time.
Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression, so be smart, read the room, and have fun.
P.S. Vellu and Tommy, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry—and I still love your tricks.
Jeremy Price is a longtime martial artist and tricker repping the Muggle Slayers and Team TrickStrong. He also writes about tricking, stunts, and heavy music for VICE, Alternative Press, and more. Follow him on Instagram at @jpricetricks