You have 10 seconds with Mike. What do you do/say?

Weymolith


"Give me call later when you have more time to talk."

Would this actually work?
 

say this:
 
Every time I try to talk to someone it's sorry this and forgive me that and I'm not worthy

"You've changed my life. Thank you"

gmillerdrake


"i can has blast beats?"

THIS!

The first time I met Mike at a Meet & Greet (2007 Jones Beach) I told him that the picture he had just taken with my wife was going on the wall in the living room... he looked up at me with a truly surprised expression and said "thanks man!"
 
The picture (they split us up and then allowed us to have a photo with DT together) shows Mike with his shirt pulled up.  Right before the picture was taken I yelled out "come on Mike, do something crazzzy... that's my wife man." 
 
Just be yourself and be honest... he will appreciate it.
 
... or dress up like him.

  I've met Mike one time at 'Funky Monkey Music' in Kansas City at an in store appearance. I hand drew him a 'Dream Theater' picture in a tribal-esk style script that I have developed over the years. When I reached the table I said to him 'I have a gift for you', handed him the picture and immediately asked 'Could I take a picture with you?' He said sure.....MAHBRUUTHA took the pic and I quickly was getting out of the way for everyone else and got about 10 foot from the table and Mike said loud enough to get my attention 'Hey Man, thanks for the Gift.'
   I thought that was real cool of him to go out of his way to grab my attention and say 'thanks' in the midst of the hectic atmosphere of an in store appearance. I did later spy the picture I gave him on one of he and Jordans backstage video clips at the Uptown theater in KC, so I know that it at least made it back with him to the venue.

gmillerdrake


  I've met Mike one time at 'Funky Monkey Music' in Kansas City

 
Wow, sounds like my kind of place

Reading all your positive experiences from meets with Mike, I realize how such events would suck if everyone was like me – uninterested for it. It's nice, it's meant to be crowded and it's super cool how MP cares to make it pleasant, relaxed for confused fans. Professional but warm and personal. I even might change my habits and catch the next opportunity. Mike gets my signed drumsticks, I'm sure he won’t misunderstand  it. It'll be just an unfair exchange – pour guy 
 

Unbelievable21


Dress up like him (the whole shi-bang, beard included) and when you get your turn, say "..Excuse me, sir, but you're in my seat."

While this idea is brilliant, it probably would have held up a lot better without the MP impostor from years back.

An actual MP imposter? I was unaware of that.

Unbelievable21


An actual MP imposter? I was unaware of that.

Yes, and a rather nasty chap, as well. Given to many forms of criminal activity...

I'd say, "I'm always looking for a versatile drummer to write and record with. You want in?" Then I give him my card. I'm not quite the shred monster JP is, but I can hang. You never know...
 
P.S. Mike, my influences include Zappa, Rush, Iron Maiden, UFO, Pain of Salvation and of course DT.

In all seriousness, what I would do is be as specific as possible about what his work has meant to you. I'm sure he's heard all the general, high level accolades hundreds of time, but he's never heard how YOUR life has been affected by his music.
 
For example, when I met Geoff Tate at an aftershow in 1999, I told him how "Beside You" was an important song to me at the time because it correlated with events in my life. He seemed genuinely surprised and appreciative (which can be a stretch for Mr. Tate), and I thought that was cool.
 
My doofus example is the first time I met MP. It was at an aftershow on the Met2K tour in Feb 2000 and was my first DT show. I was still a DT newbie and I guess a little nervous, because I told MP he "shredded" even though I knew damn well that he played drums. One other memory from that aftershow is my pic with MP, where he happens to be holding a bottle of Heineken. I think it was pretty shortly afterward that he got sober, if I have my timelines right.
 
Anyway, my advice is to be specific.

^^^ This.
 
My daughter (age 7 at the time) and I had the privilege to meet Paul Stanley in a one-on-one scenario in North Carolina.  He was very polite, but when I introduced my daughter and explained that her name was Beth and that I sang "Beth" and "Yesterday" to her every single night before she went to bed, it was like a switch went off.  Even with the baggage of that song (it's Peter's song, and Peter had just left the reunion not long before that), there was a connection, and Paul got down on one knee (pre-hip replacement) and literally spent five minutes talking to my kid.  Asking about her earrings, her shirt... just making her feel like the most special person on the planet.  From her perspective, that this "important" person chose to show her attention is impactful to a kid.   To this day Paul Stanley and Kiss rate right up with Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. 
 
I actually only did have 10 seconds with Paul as a result ;) and I made a point to thank him for that and flat out called him a "class act".

^Awesome story.

So there's an interesting conclusion to this thread.
I met Mike yesterday and said what I wanted to say -- Introduced myself to him, as well as telling him I'll support him in all that he does. Those were the two main things I wanted to get across.
 
However, as well as introducing myself.. I mentioned that I am an MP forumer, told him my name, and casually mentioned that I started the "if you have 10 seconds" thread.
He ended up telling me that his wife saw this thread, and ALMOST sent me a private message/email that was going to contain "inside information" that only she would know. Then I would approach him at the meet & greet and tell him things like, "remember you need to get Melody from school Wednesday" or "trash night is tonight, don't forget". Hahaha.. would have loved to do this, would have been great.
 
Anyway, it was awesome to get the "extra 30 seconds" as Mike called it with a funny story.
 
Marlene, I'm totally up for this, so next time don't hesistate!! Haha :)
 
Thanks for coming out Mike!

 
 

That is so cool!

Honestly, I don't know. I would be shaking.

Nice!!

"So do you really know Chris Jericho?...think you can hook us up?"
 
I don't think a simple thank you is enough, a hug might be a bit awkward for him

@ WeApOn... that is just awesome!!  I became a member of this forum in 2007 just to thank Mike and DT for being so humble and allowing the fans a chance to say Hi.  You just took that to the Nth degree!!
 
What an awesome way to meet Mike... just another reason to say the man is a class act!!  What a great guy!!

@ VTGRAD
 
Absolutely man. I've always felt the same way. Mike has always been great with reaching out to his fans, giving them opportunities to meet him, and just showing them a ton of respect. He legitimately cares and it shows alot.
 
I was happy enough just to meet him, but I never thought I'd be able to shoot the shit with him for one to two minutes, and get a personal story about something I said on his forums. It's so great to see someone who cares this much about his fans, it's the greatest show of respect a musician can have. It's a shame not many people are like Mike, but it's amazing to be a fan of someone as awesome and respectful as him.

Nice story.

Bump
 
 

jason01


"I'm not a big fan, but I had a pen and paper and thought 'What the fuck?!'"

Haha, good one.
 
I'd try to keep it cool, and just say "Hi, don't mean to bother you but I'm a fan." and shake his hand.  Plus I already fulfilled my geek fantasy by calling him when he was on Eddie Trunk and asking about the KISS tribute
 
 

Hey if Weymolith ever retires, could I become your moderator?
 
 

Nice 'tude. Point for paintedskies. 

''Hi...um..oh..no..uuurraaaaaaaaAAAARRRR--''And then burst into some very humiliating explosive diarrhea...

That's awesome haha
I've met MP 3 times and all 3 times he was just the coolest, most gracious and humble individual ever! The first time I was like 16 and it was at the Sam Ash in Carl Place out on Long Island and I was super nervous. I was the 2nd person on line and I had a drumhead for him to sign. I guess he could tell I was a little star struck haha when he asked who to make drumhead out to and I told him my name, Mike, he replied "How do you spell that?" and we both just couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The second time was a DT signing at Loony Tunes, a record store on Long Island (like a week before the place burned down, believe it or not!) and they were kinda jerks about the whole thing. They shuffled us in and out like cattle and then closed the store. They would let a few people back in but when I asked if I could go back just to get a pic they wouldn't let me in.
The most recent encounter I've had with Mike was this past summer at Long Island Drum Center (I was FINALLY able to get my pic with MP!) and again, he was just so awesome. I gave him a copy of one of my old bands CDs with a note inside thanking him for everything and expressing my gratitude for his impact of my life. I wonder if he ever read it :)

Can I bang your drumskin?

"Sup, dog?"

Ah, sorry, wrong Mike Portnoy.

^^ Soy Bomb?

I would ask him if I can smell him. I like to smell people, I'm just weird like that.

One day (I believe it was in 1998) I was walking around Sam Ash in Paramus NJ and I saw Mike walk by me and did a double take.  Then I turned around and called his name as if I didn't believe that it was actually him.  He turned around and and came over to me and talked for a couple of minutes.  Then Marlene was looking at some little speakers or something and she called him over, so I figured he'd just shake my hand and say goodbye, but he told me to come with him and we continued to chat.  He then asked me "what do you think should we buy these?"  LOL  I then asked for a piece of paper from the store (as I had nothing on me that he could sign) and he signed it and put a little note on it.  Then as I was checking out, he was right in front of me on line and we chatted some more.  I was actually buying some of his signature sticks and he said, are those mine?  When I said yeah he said, thanks I get about 12 cents for each pair of those.  LOL  It was an amazing experience and Mike honestly was as nice and down to earth as you could possibly be.  It's something that will always stick in my mind as it means a lot to me that he took the time to talk to me.  That was the only time I have ever met Mike (or anyone for that matter in a casual manner).  I met DT (minus JP) when SFaM came out and they did a signing at a music sore but that was different as it was not a one on one type of thing.
 
So to the original question on what I would say if I were to have 10 seconds with Mike (again)?  I think I would just thank him for completely introducing me to a whole new world of music with stuff like DT (which is where I originally heard and fell in love Mike's playing in 1993), Transatlantic, Neal Morse, and much more.  Not to mention some other music that I have purchased based on Mike's praise. 

WeApOn


So there's an interesting conclusion to this thread.

 
don't know how I missed this - very, very cool Weapon.  Glad you had a good experience.
 
Not that I'm surprised, of course.
 

octavarioum08

I would ask him if I can smell him. I like to smell people, I'm just weird like that.

 
Dude...you've got....issues...

DaRk0


"Did you actually have to grow a second ass for that album???"


;)

I Love this.  I would say this, thank him for the music, and the support he gives us, his fans on here. And ask what it takes to work audio for him.

I first met Mike at YMC's 2011 NYC gig. Being a Beatles fan myself, initiating the conversation was easy. The conversation went quite smoothly & the meeting was better than I could have hoped for. I met Mike twice after that & both times he remembered who I was, which was a real honor. I've met a few famous musicians (enough that the majority of my friends envy me), meeting MP was hands down the best experience I ever had.