![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
My Observations of Stan and Max
Mar. 8th, 2018 11:27 amA lot of us who know Stan Lee have been worried about him recently. Since the premiere of Black Panther, he really hasn’t been seen or heard from. We know he was in the hospital but since he came back home, no one I know has been able to go by and see him. And there have been a number of people that I know have been friends with Stan for years who have been unable to visit him.
One of those people is Max who has been Stan’s right hand man at conventions for going on 15 years now. They have been business partners and good friends for a long time. When I observe Max with Stan is feels more like father and son rather than just business partners.
I go to a lot of conventions with Peter. There are some conventions that have figured out that I am another resource that can be used on panels and the like. Other conventions, I am basically Peter’s support system and that’s OK too. When I am support system, I have more time to observe what is going on around the convention so I do so.
I have seen a lot. I have seen actors and their handlers deal with some fans that have seriously stepped over the line. I have seen creators listen to fans for longer than should be allowed with great patience. I have seen fans behave both badly and well. And in all this is the handler who helps the talent during autographing and their other activities during the convention. It is the handler that gets yelled at when someone is upset with the situation. They deflect for their clients.
Over the years I have seen Stan and Max at conventions. I have watched Max deal with all kinds of things that were thrown at him and some of those things have been doozies. And in all of those cases, he put Stan’s interests first. He was there for Stan first and foremost. This did cause some clashes and bad feelings but you respected the hell out of Max because he stood his ground when it came to Stan’s wellbeing. And as I watched Max, the more I respected him and knew that Stan was in good hands.
Max made sure that Stan had time to rest between his activities and a place to do so. Over the years that went to the green room where he was keep people from bothering Stan so Stan could catch his breath to a more private area allowing Stan to not have to deal with the number of people who wanted to interact with him in the Green Room. It didn’t mean Stan was isolated but rather Stan could choose how and who he wanted to interact people. Much less stress on Stan.
Max knows Stan and has stepped in and cut off autographing when he has seen Stan start to flag. He has been willing to be the ‘bad guy who wouldn’t let me see Stan Lee’ for years so Stan can stay everyone’s favorite uncle. He doesn’t let Stan be abused or pushed into thing that are not in Stan’s best interest.
His priority has been and will always be Stan’s best interests.
I have seen Max make sure that people who might not have the opportunity to meet Stan like little kids and young adults are given the chance. He has helped fulfill people’s ‘Make a Wish’ wishes. He has given things for the convention charity auction.
He is a good businessman and had helped Stan build his brand so it is a solid brand that is beloved to the fans.
Stan has a lot of stuff. We think we have stuff around here, but Stan Lee leaves our collection in the dust. There is artwork from things he has written. Fan art from famous artists both in and out of the comic book industry. Props from films that would not have been made if not for Stan’s body of work. Toys and posters that are signed to Stan.
Max had a bright idea to create the Stan Lee museum with these artifacts. It is a traveling exhibit with lots of interesting things for the fans to look at and oooo and ah over. I have seen it and can attest that the exhibit is really cool. A lot of fans can and have said the same time. It’s a neat free bonus at conventions.
I am grateful everything Max has done for Stan.
One of those people is Max who has been Stan’s right hand man at conventions for going on 15 years now. They have been business partners and good friends for a long time. When I observe Max with Stan is feels more like father and son rather than just business partners.
I go to a lot of conventions with Peter. There are some conventions that have figured out that I am another resource that can be used on panels and the like. Other conventions, I am basically Peter’s support system and that’s OK too. When I am support system, I have more time to observe what is going on around the convention so I do so.
I have seen a lot. I have seen actors and their handlers deal with some fans that have seriously stepped over the line. I have seen creators listen to fans for longer than should be allowed with great patience. I have seen fans behave both badly and well. And in all this is the handler who helps the talent during autographing and their other activities during the convention. It is the handler that gets yelled at when someone is upset with the situation. They deflect for their clients.
Over the years I have seen Stan and Max at conventions. I have watched Max deal with all kinds of things that were thrown at him and some of those things have been doozies. And in all of those cases, he put Stan’s interests first. He was there for Stan first and foremost. This did cause some clashes and bad feelings but you respected the hell out of Max because he stood his ground when it came to Stan’s wellbeing. And as I watched Max, the more I respected him and knew that Stan was in good hands.
Max made sure that Stan had time to rest between his activities and a place to do so. Over the years that went to the green room where he was keep people from bothering Stan so Stan could catch his breath to a more private area allowing Stan to not have to deal with the number of people who wanted to interact with him in the Green Room. It didn’t mean Stan was isolated but rather Stan could choose how and who he wanted to interact people. Much less stress on Stan.
Max knows Stan and has stepped in and cut off autographing when he has seen Stan start to flag. He has been willing to be the ‘bad guy who wouldn’t let me see Stan Lee’ for years so Stan can stay everyone’s favorite uncle. He doesn’t let Stan be abused or pushed into thing that are not in Stan’s best interest.
His priority has been and will always be Stan’s best interests.
I have seen Max make sure that people who might not have the opportunity to meet Stan like little kids and young adults are given the chance. He has helped fulfill people’s ‘Make a Wish’ wishes. He has given things for the convention charity auction.
He is a good businessman and had helped Stan build his brand so it is a solid brand that is beloved to the fans.
Stan has a lot of stuff. We think we have stuff around here, but Stan Lee leaves our collection in the dust. There is artwork from things he has written. Fan art from famous artists both in and out of the comic book industry. Props from films that would not have been made if not for Stan’s body of work. Toys and posters that are signed to Stan.
Max had a bright idea to create the Stan Lee museum with these artifacts. It is a traveling exhibit with lots of interesting things for the fans to look at and oooo and ah over. I have seen it and can attest that the exhibit is really cool. A lot of fans can and have said the same time. It’s a neat free bonus at conventions.
I am grateful everything Max has done for Stan.
