Ah, the ubiquitous line that is always uttered when bumping into an old pal, encountering someone on e-mail that is coming into LA, or ending a call with old colleagues or pals. This is the classic get-away line that gets people off the phone, allows them to get back to their dinner or lunch, and off the conference call. But what do you think is the chance that the two people will ever actually get together? You got it. It is the most disingenuous line on the planet. After toiling 12 years in the ad business and many years in the entertainment business, I realized that everyone says this to everyone not because they really mean it but because it’s a polite way to get the hell out of there. In other words, “okay, I’ve had enough of talking to you. I need to get back to dinner and better friends so if I just say ‘let’s get together’ you’ll be on your way.” At this point, you are to say “cool, that would be great”. But never does anyone whip out their blackberry or iphone at that moment and say, “okay, what looks good for you. I’m busy next Tuesday but Thursday looks good!” Can you imagine? Uncomfortable looks would abound and the relationship of whomever you inflicted with your superior organizational skills would be decimated. It’s just not done. “Let’s Get Together” is code for “Let’s not. But let’s act sincere and pretend we will.”

This happens with girlfriends and pals as well but I am convinced we are a nation of lazy ass friends and colleagues. There is a not a line that exists that has a poorer history of follow-up. Many times after I’ve misread the line, I fully expected, as is proper protocol, that the person who announced it should be the one to reach out and set up a time to get together. If they really wanted to “get together”, then they would e-mail, “Hey great running into you. Let’s grab a glass of wine at Il Pastaio at 8 on Friday.” Never happens unless you are the one that actually sets it up. I am the consummate follow-upper. If I say this to someone, I always set up the details. Maybe I have a bit more class than most or maybe I’m just desperate for companionship but there are rare others that do this as well. And when they do – it is a complete shock and surprise. More people should stand behind this line because the takeaway I get when someone actually does have integrity and follows-up their intention is that they’ve got their shit together. I don’t think anyone is oh-so-cool because they’re so busy they can’t follow-up on their word. Right now I’m calling for a professional ban on this line unless you mean it. And if you are the first one to say it, then you are the first one to set up all the details. Yes, it’s a responsibility but don’t say it if you really just want to get back to your Rainbow Roll.

Just recently, I ran into a friend at Barney’s in Beverly Hills and we caught-up in a flurry of friends-catching-up chatter near the make-up counter as girls do (pissing off the sour saleswoman who was probably late for her call-back). As the conversation was finished, my friend uttered the classic get-away, “Hey, we should get together sometime.” Promptly after this was thrown out, I said, “Great, So I’ll be expecting an e-mail from you then on dates, times and places. Agree – think it’s a fab idea!”

I never did hear from her.