That was Anthony. He’s been hitting the breakfast buffets all over town for our ongoing LVA study in the monthly newsletter and he was indeed at the Orleans that day (you can read about his experience there in the March issue). Bottom line: You should have said hello. Here's Anthony's take:
"I get stopped all the time and I'm always happy to talk to LVA members. Sometimes people want to take a photo (which I'm not so comfortable with, but that's only because I feel like a goofball posing in front of the camera). Sometimes they want me to sign their Member Rewards Book. Often, they simply want to say hello and tell me what bargain or hidden gem they’ve discovered lately. There are those who come up directly, without hesitation, even if I'm in the middle of a conversation with someone over dinner, while others simply smile or nod.
I confess I'm a little bemused by the attention and often wonder why people get such a kick out of these things, but I'm always happy to oblige and customers shouldn’t feel like they’re putting me out (unless I'm in the middle of a TV shoot or something, when the camera operators and producers tend to get annoyed by interruptions; if that's the case, just wait for a natural break to occur then come on over). I also learn a lot from the interaction -- whether it be about things members like or don't like about LVA, or suggestions they have for new features, or from their shared insights and observations from around the city, or to relate a positive (or otherwise) experience they may have had with one of our partner restaurants or hotels or casinos -- so that’s another reason I like meeting and talking to people."
The reality is, Anthony's in the casinos almost every day and is approached a lot, mostly because he’s recognized from all of his TV appearances. Some aren't sure who he is and he gets that "I know I know you from somewhere" line with regularity. It happens outside of casinos, too: AC tells the story of walking through a supermarket parking lot when one of two men walking together looked up, pointed, and said simply "coupon man." There will obviously be times that are less convenient than others, but in those cases he'll explain that he’s on his way to an appointment or otherwise engaged, so don't be offended.
Bottom line, by all means walk up and introduce yourself. It’s all in a day’s work for the Advisor.
