I’ve always wondered this. Whenever I see a touring band, comedian, etc., I’ve always wondered how they are ushered from the venue when the streets are bustling with traffic because everyone else is leaving, and how they’re able to keep their stay location(s) a secret from the general public. Do they have food delivered? Do they stay holed up the entire time?
Thank you in advance for a breakdown of how this works!
Edit: I can’t respond to each reply but just wanted to thank you all for the responses!
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They use their personal agent to book everything (hotel, food, cars, security)
They have staff that will handle all of this.
Hotel that caters to the rich and famous will also have all sort of services offered to those people.
They will sometimes use false names, but rarely.
I worked at an Apple Store and Ludacris was touring in the major city near our store and he had a legit problem with his phone and needed help. We tried to help him in the store like a normal customer but fans and the crowd got so crazy that we had to take him into the back of the store to help him. Fixed his problem and he left out the back door.
Manager calls hotel: “hello I’d like to speak to the general manager” “hi this is the general manager.” “Hi general manager, I am Celebrity’s manager, I’d like to book out 3 dozen of your rooms for 2 nights if you will sign this NDA and guarantee us access to your service elevator and loading dock.” “Okay sure”
Depends on the celebrity… Taylor Swift and Malcom Gladwell are going to have two completely different experiences.
For private flights they’ll go to a completely different part of the airport. If their flying 1st class they’ll usually have a lounge to hang out in before boarding which may connect to a completely different jet bridge. If they’re flying coach then they almost certainly aren’t famous enough for it to be a problem.
former hotel night manager here: usually they get the penthouse suite in our place and they use one elevator that will only go to that floor. Food is not much delivered since they tend to find restaurants to eat but when they do the delivery person just meets with their security on the lobby. The fans usually are a “just a matter of time” issue and with that we with local PD would cordon off the entrance way come time they have to leave or come back.
There are some who prefer a deluxe suite instead of the bigger penthouse, that one usually they still book all the rooms on that hallway. We can make a lot of accommodations and usually already contracted on their stay months ahead
I’m an airline pilot who flies from New York to Los Angeles and back on a semi-regular basis. I see a lot of celebrities – movie and tv stars, rock bands, etc. I even fly the occasional sports charter.
Rule #1: Don’t make a fuss. Treat them politely, as we would any other passenger. It’s six in the morning. The superhero just wants to take his or her seat, put on a sleeping mask, and conk out for a couple of hours.
Rule #1a: No selfies, no autographs, none of that nonsense. I don’t care if it’s Wayne Gretzky (and it was Wayne Gretzky, a while back!). “Thank you for flying my airline. Have a nice day.”
My airline has a special VIP service that people can pay for. We’ll use a special car to take them to the jetway so they don’t get mobbed in the terminal, and someone will escort them up the stairs from the tarmac. Some celebrities use it. Others like to hang out in the gate area and sign autographs. You never know.
Back in the 80’s Iggy Pop played in Sacramento. There was a brand new luxury hotel in downtown, not far from the venue. My roommate, a huge fan, figured he must be staying there. She called the hotel and asked for James Osterberg’s room – which is Iggy Pop’s real name.
Iggy picked up the phone and they had a brief pleasant conversation.
Can’t speak for major celebrities, but even as a small time performer I’ve noticed events tend to buy out the whole floor of an hotel for their talent and staff. Usually these are also the hotels that require you to scan your card in the elevator to even access that floor.
This is just one part of the security that gets combined with all the other things everyone else has already mentioned.
Fun story, Pink performed in Australia earlier this year. She, and her crew, went to have dinner but denied entry at Manly Skiff Club because she didn’t have ID on her.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.smh.com.au/national/nsw/pink-invited-to-go-sailing-after-being-denied-entry-to-manly-club-20240215-p5f57l.html
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