It’s So Simple to Shake Their Hand

One of the challenges of writing about The Power of Nice is that nice behavior doesn’t often make headlines. Sure we hear about people who perform extraordinary and heroic acts, such as the New York City construction worker who risked his life to rescue a stranger from a subway track. And nice–guy celebrities like Tom Hanks and Jay Leno are often singled out for praise, as if common courtesy in Hollywood was as rare as uncapped teeth.

But for the most part, mean gets more press – from the espionage at Hewlett–Packard to the invectives of Ann Coulter.

So we were very pleased this week to read a New York Times story (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/16/arts/television/16gaff.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1174425102-tgcLLPHE8cKuAnP+2WCo/Q) about someone who is using the Power of Nice in a very creative and innovative way.

After each show on his thirty–city tour, comedian Jim Gaffigan looks out into the packed theater and offers to meet every single person who would like to. He then stands in the lobby, sometimes very late into the night (he pays ushers overtime out of his own pocket), and shakes hands, signs CDs, and poses for pictures.

When the Times reporter asked why he goes through this exhausting routine – in Charlotte, North Carolina alone he met five–hundred fans – he explained that he does not forget that a decade ago he often found himself performing for a handful of people in hamburger restaurants. “I don’t take for granted that people are coming and paying over 30 bucks to see me,” he told the Times. “It’s so simple to shake their hand and sign their ticket.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. By giving that extra bit of care to his audience, Gaffigan is creating a loyal fan base – and getting himself some great press.