How I "Broke" Darren Criss from Glee - and Other MMVA After Party Celeb Sightings

Darren Criss and I outside Maison Mercer

After leaving the LMFAO-hosted Universal Music MMVA after party at Maison Mercer, and unknowingly passing Wu-Tang's Ghostface Killah and Raekwon on the way out, I found out from an autograph collector friend of mine who was waiting outside the club that quite a few celebs had actually gone inside. All that time I spent on the dancefloor waiting for the right moment to ask RedFoo for a photo, which I eventually got and was one of only 4 fans to do so, I could have been taking pics with Conor Maynard, NHL douchebag PK Subban (I hate him because he always picks on my former-future-NHL-husband Sidney Crosby), Marianas Trench, Lucy Hale (from Pretty Little Liars), Chord Overstreet (Trouty Mouth from Glee), and my fave actor from Glee (besides Lea Michele, of course)...Darren Criss! 

Unfortunately, I had already left the club with no hopes of getting back in (my friend Erika who had won a contest to be on the VIP Guestlist had gone home for the evening and her name was the one on the list). And so started the waiting game, across the street from the club. During the hour or so of waiting, a slew of Z-List celebs like Down With Webster, Victoria Duffield, and Canadian rapper Classified rolled through, along with some NHL players I did not recognize - I was told Tyler Seguin of the Boston Bruins was one of them.

I was tired, bored, and my feet hurt like a mother******! Standing and dancing in 5-inch stilettos for periods of over 5 hours is not recommended. And after hearing from the autograph collectors that Darren Criss was not that nice to fans and probably will not take a photo with me due to his overzealous handler, I was about ready to pack it in. But then, a publicist comes out...

Rule #1 of Celeb Spotting: Always watch for the publicist. Once the publicist comes out, the star is soon to follow. 

How do I know which one is the publicist, you ask? Look for a pretty girl in her 20s, wearing a blazer and flats, talking on a cell phone (calling the driver). Oh, and she always has a huge purse! 

Sure enough, a minute or so later, Darren Criss and Chord Overstreet come out of the club and wait on the steps behind a big crowd for their car to be pulled up. 

Rule #2 of Celeb Spotting: Watch for the vehicle. Usually a large black immaculately clean SUV with tinted windows. Once the vehicle is pulled up, get your camera/memorabilia/Sharpie out because it's GO TIME!

I cross the street towards the front of the club and stand with two other fans that had been following Darren from party to party, hoping to get a photo with him. Then I see Darren being ushered away from the club by his handler. Fortunately for me, the handler is leading him in the opposite direction of his vehicle (velvet rope was in the way and they had to walk around). That gave me more time to approach and as soon as I did, I ask Darren for a photo. "He's not doing any photos right now," says the handler as he is pulling Darren towards the car. "I'm sorry, not right now," says Darren. After hearing that, those two other fans started to walk away. Amateurs. My response, and the one that "broke" him: "Please Darren, I've been waiting outside for you all night, in 5-inch heels!" Lies, but it worked! He turned around, grabbed my camera, and took our photo (which those stupid girls tried to photobomb). Mission accomplished, as always. 

(Note: Someone remind me to crop that photo a bit more...)

Rule #1 of Taking Pics with Celebs: Never take no for an answer. They may surprise you in the end! Oh, and making them feel guilty doesn't hurt either. 

So, those are a few tips if you're going to attempt a bit of celeb spotting on your own. I hear Jake Gyllenhaal is still in town filming. Happy hunting!

- S