Celebrity and Entertainment

Our favorite celebrities can range from movie or television stars to sports stars, politicians to musicians. In fact, getting autographed celebrity photos from musicians can be some of the most rewarding experiences available. Many musicians love to get the chance to meet their fans and talk about what their music means to each fan. Music can be a very important thing to a person and having the chance to meet a favorite musician can be a very fulfilling experience. It makes for a great story and a great piece of memorabilia which can be treasured forever.

There are a number of different ways to get these autographed celebrity photos from your favorite musician, however. One of the easiest and most rewarding ways is to go to a concert of the musician. This allows for a night of enjoying all of your favorite music from the performer as well as hopefully getting a chance to meet them. Sometimes the performer will come out into the lobby to meet their fans and this is a great way to get a photo signed. Additionally, sometimes there is space near the stage door where you can wait for a chance to see the star.

Another way to get an autographed celebrity photo from a musician is by entering a contest. Sometimes prizes within the contest can be these autographed photos, or even a chance to meet the celebrity themselves. This gives you an opportunity to have something signed yourself as well as a chance to interact with the star in a special location. This will certainly provide for a great deal of memories. Granted, winning a contest is not something which a person can completely rely on, however. Other options must be pursued.

Most of these musicians will have agents which will accept fan mail from all of the fans. This gives you an opportunity to write a letter to your favorite musical celebrity, telling them how much you admire them and will let you ask them for an autographed photo. It is generally wise to include a photo that you wish to be signed as well as a self-addressed, stamped envelope. This ensures that all that the musician has to do is sign the photo. It is rude to assume they will provide the photo or pay for the postage and this is why many people do not often receive a reply.

Finally, many musicians will often have meet-and-greet signings upon the release of a new album. These are often held at large, popular locations and many people will take up the opportunity to meet one of their favorite musicians. It does, however, give you the opportunity to get an autographed celebrity photo as well as meet the star which you so admire. If none of these options work, you could always find an autographed celebrity photo on the Internet which may be available for purchase. Between all of these options, however, you should have some fun in tracking down and obtaining the autographed celebrity photo which you have been hoping for!

Americans, and indeed many people around the world, are hooked on celebrity news and gossip. Our media centered world feeds this obsession. By all accounts, this Hollywood star worship continues to grow.

We can discern three reasons for this phenomenon:

1) Identity– Here an individual identifies with a particular celebrity. This is the image and personality he or she would like to be in the imagination. Even the meek and downtrodden can dream of being Bruce Willis or Sylvester Stallone defeating the bad guys in high style. How many coming of age baby boomers wished they were Elvis, a Beatle–or Ann Margaret?

2) Diversion– Psychologists know that a depressed individual will become less so when he or she can focus on some outer experience, any neutral or pleasant experience that breaks the obsession with self. Although most celebrity seekers are not depressed, this plays into the celebrity centered life. It’s pleasurable for the individual to see images of very attractive and well known stars and it’s a break from day-to-day routine activities.

3) Esteem Build-Up– We’ve all done it even if we know it’s not our best moment. We feel momentarily good about a celebrity’s messy and very public life, especially for a multi million dollar earner with many adoring fans. These public humiliations make us feel that perhaps our lives are more successful than we take credit for. We may not make millions of dollars or appear on the big screen, but at least most of us have not engaged in drunken brawls, entered luxury re-hab for the fourth time or driven a car with a baby on our lap!

Backgound

Hollywood’s influence has been felt in American culture for decades. Movie fan magazines began in 1911 and prospered through the decades with names like Photoplay and Modern Screen leading the pack. By the late 1940ss and 1950s, America’s growing wealth spurred adolescents and young adults to buy and read these magazines in even large numbers. Magazines of this era included Photoplay, Modern Screen, Silver Screen, Movie Fan, Movie Story, Screen Album, Screen Stars, and Screen Stories. Features were typically lightweight and often centered around shopping dilemmas for hounded stars or stories from the set of a new movie. The slick color photos were really the centerpieces of these magazines.

By the 1960s, specialty magazines such as Screen Legends and Film and TV Careers featured celebrity profiles and interviews. It was in this period that many magazines began featuring more salacious material to boost circulation. That led to this era’s tabloids which include the National Enquirer, the National Examiner, Star and US. Although some stories are largely fabricated, readers want to believe it and it’s the writer’s job to make each story sound credible. Although most celebrities decry the tabloids, their own publicists often suggest story lines to magazine editors. One fact is certain, sensational news is big business and the demand for this type of entertainment continues unabated.

Television and celebrity news are an ideal match. Sound, moving images and an enthusiastic host makes for addicting viewing. Entertainment Tonight began broadcasting in 1981 and set the benchmark for slick and fast paced half hour episodes focusing on Hollywood news with a focus on controversial star behavior. Cable TV outlets such as CNN, A&E, and even your local newscast often include celebrity centered programming. E! network owes its very existence to celebrities and their foibles. And Hollywood celebrities still make of the majority of late night shows’ guest lists.

Many younger fans get their news primarily from the internet. A recent Google search brings up over 18 million hits for “celebrity news.” RSS news feeds are available to bring the latest news of your favorite stars right to your desktop. Recent upstart TMZ has become an internet powerhouse. TMZ has the corporate backing of AOL and Telepictures Productions, a division of Warner Bros. The web site has garnered attention from other entertainment outlets by publishing Mel Gibson’s DUI police report, showing an image of Tom Cruise and Katie Holme’s daughter’s birth certificate and presenting a cell phone video of Michael Richard’s racial outburst at a comedy club.

The internet is a solid match for those looking for images of their favorite stars. A single site can hold many thousands of images, all cataloged by name. Web searchers can copy and paste these images for their own personal use. Popular destinations include personal blogs, My Space profiles or other social networks, and as computer desktop screen savers and wallpaper.

Is this modern day obsession with celebrity harmful? As with anything, if it interferes with conducting your daily life, it just may be. But as a leisure time activity, it’s no more than a harmless and enjoyable diversion.

Cougars! The latest description of women who like younger men.

[At least it's no longer called "robbing the cradle" or "perverse."]

Throughout history, there have been older woman-younger man pairings but without the surrounding publicity we now have via celebrity news and instant media. And because of this, the use of the term cougar has gone from a pejorative term to one that is positive and has hit the popular mainstream of today’s media love of anything sexual.

Historically men have been involved with younger women [often very much younger women] and that was acceptable. But women involved with younger men had not been so well received; that is until now. [And the younger man in the relationship was never belittled as much as the older woman.]

So – you want to be a cougar? Yes? Then go for it!

The 1st step in being or becoming a cougar is to not worry what others might think of you. If you worry about how those “others” view you – you need to develop some tough skin as there are some, maybe even your friends, who will not approve of your “going cougar.”

The 2nd step is to look your best. I’m one who thinks we all “look our age” because we are our age and that’s how we look. But that said – the more general population has myths about how older woman look.

Can we look younger? I’m not sure of that in reality, but we can meet the societal mythology of “you don’t look your age.” And we can do that by looking the best we can look.

And how do we look our best? And especially, how do we do this if we are over 40, 50, 60 or even 70?

Not by trying to look “young” in teenage type clothing! Sorry – but teen clothes are for teens – not grown woman. Few of us can carry off that skin-tight-belly-hip-showing style without looking like – well woman trying, sadly, to look like teenagers.

Instead be a great example of who you already are! Be as lean and lithe as your body will allow by exercising and stretching by doing yoga. Wear clothing that complements your body, take care of your skin, keep your hair trimmed and neat – even colored if you wish – and try wearing some soft eye makeup. You’ll look and feel good and you’ll be ready and set to go.

Get out there and be a cougar!

Anyone who has been on the internet lately understands that blogs are the next big thing.

From politics and pop culture to the latest fashions and celebrity news, there are blogs covering just about every subject imaginable. One of the most unique, and most useful, of these blogs is the wedding planning blog.

==Creating A Real Sense Of Community Among The Users==

A wedding planning blog is just what the name implies. It is a place for those planning weddings to gather to share information, swap stories and just generally have a good time.

From serious subjects like avoiding wedding scams, to frivolous pursuits like swapping pictures of the most hideous bridesmaid dresses, wedding planning blogs can create a real sense of community among their users.

==Places To Find A Wedding Planning Blog==

There are many places to find a wedding planning blog, and many ways to create your own.

Simply typing wedding planning blog into any search engine will give you plenty of places to start, and there are any number of excellent blog sites on the internet where you can set up your own way to talk about wedding planning and all that entails.

Some blog sites are free, while others charge a monthly or yearly fee for their services. The type of blog you choose will depend on the features and benefits you need.

==You Will Generally Need To Sign Up To Post==

Once you have found the blog or blogs you want, you will generally need to sign up in order to post.

Most blog sites need only a minimum of information, such as your name and your email address, so signing up should not be too much of a burden. Once you are signed up and approved, you will be ready to go, free to ask questions, swap stories and pictures, or just enjoy planning your wedding.

== Wedding Planning Blogs Are Becoming Increasing Popular==

Even though it is an exciting time, planning a wedding can be a difficult thing to do. There are so many things that must be taken care of, from the wedding cake to the wedding dress, from the perfect wedding rings to the perfect rehearsal dinner.

Having a place you can go to commiserate with others who are in the same situation can be a big help, and that is why wedding planning blogs are becoming increasingly popular.

Are you someone who is interested in getting the perfect gift for someone in your life? The truth is that this is something that can much easier said than done! When close friend, relative, co-worker or spouse has been around for a while and when he loves buying himself things, it can be hard to find the perfect gift that is going to impress him or her. Take some time and make sure that you consider what your options are. If checking the newest Sharper Image catalogs isn’t doing it and if you don’t want to make him something, you will find that there are still quite a few things that you can do.

In the first place, if that person is a collector of vintage items, you will discover that there are many different sites that can cater to their hobby. A lot of people out there are history buffs and whether the focus is the second World War or movie posters from the fifties, you can find plenty of memorabilia that will please him or her. Take some time and look around their home. What does he have and what kind of gaps does he have in his collection? With a lot of collectors, there is always going to be one more thing that will help them round out their possessions and when you are looking to see what he needs, make sure that you take notes.

One great example of a perfect gift is going to be a vintage movie poster. Does she have a love of the classic gangster movies, or does she have an interest in the old movie posters that were used to promote the movies of the 1930′s? If you know where to look, you can find rarities like the movie posters that were used to promote the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz and other posters of that type. This is a chance to own a piece of Hollywood history and if the person that you are purchasing for has a love of history or the arts, a good chance for him or her to touch something that was an integral part of the era.

Take some time and consider what your options are going to be when you are thinking about moving ahead and getting the right kind of gift for the special person that you care about. If you find the right site, you will discover that movie memorabilia won’t be all that anyone can have access to. For instance, you will find that you can also look into sports memorabilia and political memorabilia, ranging from the equipment that was on the field to things that were used to support presidential campaigns. You can even find things like a letter signed by John F. Kennedy or rare celebrity autographs.

Consider what kind of gift you want to give to the important person in your life. Consider where their interests are and then make sure that you can get them a wonderful, one of a kind item that is going to be most memorable experience. This is something that can make a huge difference to them, so think about what your choices are.

Have you ever bought something that was endorsed by a Celebrity? Did you buy it because you really wanted it or because you thought the celebrity using it was pretty, cool, smart, etc. so you assumed the product would do the same for you?

I have a photo with Bill Rancic who shot to fame with The Apprentice. I have used that photo often in the past and it always gets the attention of several of my clients. It gives the impression that Bill and I are friends or acquaintances and that he supports what I do.

Celebrity endorsements can be some of the most valuable type of endorsement you can receive for your business or service, but people are often perplexed by how to actually get to the celebrity.

Well there are a few things you have to know about using celebrities in general, why it is a powerful tool, and then I will also give you a few tricks of the trade to get them to “help you out.”

1) Make sure that the celebrity you are using makes sense to your Customer. Bill Rancic is a well recognized entrepreneur and small business owner as are so many of my clients. So, they get the connection.

2) You have to either follow the terms outlined in your agreement with the celebrity or use the photo with integrity. Even when you just have a “photo op” like the one above, you will be amazed how many “Cease and Desist” letters you can get if you did not the likeness in a way that was complimentary to the celebrity.

3) Contact the Booking Agent to Hire a Celebrity. In order to get one to come to your event, or offer their photo or endorsement, you will usually have to negotiate all terms with their agent or speakers bureau. You will only be considered a stalker if you pursue them on your own.

4) Switching Gears…The best way to get a photo with a Celebrity is to attend an event where they will be speaking or in attendance. That way the photo is usually at no charge and you get to meet a celebrity.

5) Another good way is to be creative. You can have fun with photo shop and create a photo of you and your favorite celebrity as long as you cover yourself legally. Don’t act like it is “real” make sure you poke fun at it so people will understand that you are doing Outrageous Marketing.

6) Go to their Movies or Restaurants. Take a photo next to their painting if they have one hanging in their restaurant. Scott Tucker did this some time ago with Mike Ditka and it was pure marketing genius. He connected himself to a celebrity just by taking a photo of himself standing next to a Mike Ditka painting. You can do the same thing in front of a movie poster. Not only does this connect you with the celebrity, but it can potentially sky rocket your SEO.

7) Celebrities come in all Shapes and Sizes. We often think of “Celebrities” as movie stars and they are. But there are also news anchors, athletes, local actors and actresses that host commercials, authors, “5 Minutes of Fame” celebrities like contestants on reality TV and people in the news. You can use all of these types of celebrities as long as you have their permission, or you are referring to them in your marketing, and of course, if you have hired them and are following your terms of agreement, and finally, they make sense to your customer.

Use it! Now that you have it, how are you going to use it? Remember that so many people out there love celebrities. We have an almost unnatural attraction and fascination. So, use that to your advantage and figure out how this celebrity connection can help to promote you and your business.

So the next time you set out to do some marketing, stop and decide which celebrities could help to support your business. Right now, professional athletes, like Apolo Anton Ohno and Shaun White are popular because of the Olympics and of course, so are the Oscar winners, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Bridges and the other nominees.

How can these celebrities endorse your small business, coaching program, training event, speaking booking…think about it, and then use them to the fullest!

Magazines give a lot of detailed information on celebrity weddings and as a wedding planner, when you read these descriptions, think about how you can modify their expensive wedding planning ideas and make them budget friendly and usable for some of the weddings that you plan.

Here are ideas from 8 celebrity weddings that you can use:

1) From the wedding of Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie to actor Josh Duhamel

When using a black and white color scheme, carry it out in the invitations and the attire of the wedding party. Accent a white wedding dress with black and white brooches. Dress bridesmaids in black and have them carry bouquets of gardenias and white roses.

2) From the wedding of singer Natasha Bedingfield to Matt Robinson

For an outdoor wedding, sprinkle rose petals on the ground instead of using an aisle runner. And, if the bride doesn’t want a traditional wedding cake, just have a dessert bar with a variety of pastries.

3) From the wedding of American Idol judge, Kara DioGuardi, to Mike McCuddy

Use cream, white and natural beige as wedding theme colors at the reception. You don’t need a lot of color in your decor because guests usually add a lot of color by wearing bright clothes to weddings.

4) From the wedding of reality television celebrity, Khloe Kardashian, to Lakers basketball player, Lamar Odom

Place a “candy station” of gummy bears, M&M’s, ring pops, candy necklaces and chocolate bars in clear glass jars and glasses at the reception. Give wedding favors of organic cupcakes frosted and decorated in the colors of the groom’s favorite sports team.

5) From chef, author and reality television star Bethenny Frankel’s wedding to Jason Hoppy

Highlight the wedding dress by using a white bouquet with ribbons that match the wedding color scheme, rather than a bouquet of flowers in the scheme’s colors. Colored flowers can distract from beauty of the wedding gown itself.

6) From singer Carrie Underwood’s wedding to Ottawa Senators hockey player, Mike Fisher

Design an elegant and girlie wall-to-wall pink reception ballroom. Have a cupcake tower for a wedding cake. If the bride or groom enjoy hockey, instead of using escort cards, give guests hockey pucks with their table assignments printed on them.

7) From MTV VJ, LaLa Vazquez’s wedding to Denver Nuggets basketball star, Carmelo Anthony

For a red-themed wedding, use save-the-date cards that look like Valentines and send them out for Valentine’s Day, if the timing is appropriate. Carry out the red theme with a red velvet wedding cake frosted with red buttercream and decorated with gold details.

From Chelsea Clinton’s wedding to Marc Mezvinsky

For an elegant, understated wedding, use a plain white aisle runner and a canopy made of branches, leaves and flowers. If gift baskets are given to guests, fill them with locally purchased specialties to show them what the area has to offer.

Brides love reading about celebrity weddings and pick up details from them so keep up with the latest news and you will be able to help them incorporate the ideas into their weddings.

First there was the movie 33 where the King Leonidas, gloriously portrayed by hunky Gerard Butler, bids a grim goodbye to his equally lovely wife Queen Gorgo played by Lena Headey. In the movie, Butler and the rest of the men are shirtless, they was that red flowing cape off on one chiselled and broad shoulder. He looks into his wife’s eyes, the scene is captivating, not because of two beautiful actors, not because of that dramatic moment, but because of his pure machismo.

Anyone who did not react or squirm on their seats when watching this movie is forgiven. If they got a little bit distracted with all those gorgeous muscles and wonder how they would look like if they were in Butler’s place in the skimpy costume is forgiven.

Butler’s body was not what it used to be. His shoulders were massive and corded with tight muscles. His biceps were three times what they’d been, and his forearms, well. His stomach, his belly were ribbed with strength and his legs, hard and heavy roped thighs.

This body was not an overnight result. Neither were the bodies of Hugh Jackman for Wolverine, Taylor Lautner for Twilight: New Moon and Ryan Reynolds for the soon to be released Green Lantern. They did not just spend an overnight indulging in a workout that gave them the bodies to cry for, but they spent months working out, eating the right foods and getting down and dirty on a regimen that is painful, but gainful.

For Butler, he and the rest of the male cast members had to undergo a gruelling workout now called the 300 Workout. The 300 is not because of the title of the movie, it is because of the gruelling number of repetitions.

This was a gradual workout in a period of six months, and the finale is the most gruelling of them all. After months of constantly working out, eating protein and drinking protein shakes religiously, the actors were submitted to their finale of the 300 reps.

The media were wrong to print that the actors worked out every day, no, they did not. Instead, there was a plan drawn out for them to follow which included weight lifting, training with medicine balls and kettle bells which are cast iron weights with handles. Then, at the very end, to build the mass, they were given 25 pull ups and more pull ups, and 50 of each of dead lifting at 135 lbs, push ups, box jumps, floor wiper, and last, clean and press. That is a total of 300.