Bad news, TV fans and fans of perfectly poised selfies: Selfie sticks are banned from the Emmy Awards on Sunday night — both the red carpet and the ceremony itself in Los Angeles' Microsoft Theater. But never fear, you'll still be able to indulge in capturing the Hollywood glitz, the glamour, and that once-in-a-lifetime selfie opportunity with Mad Men's Jon Hamm. I've got you covered with some tips for taking your Emmy night selfies without the stick, because trust me, we'll all be able to survive this somehow. On Saturday night, New York magazine writer and Veep exec producer Frank Rich broke the news to the internet with a tweet that included a photo of the ban and broke many selfie-loving hearts.
"We all enjoy shooting selfies at the Emmys, but due to safety concerns, selfie sticks are prohibited on the red carpet, in the Microsoft Theater, and at the ball," says the text of the ban Rich posted. Yup, that's right — even the ball. And if celebrities are expected to party the night away without selfie sticks, I guess we'll have to cope without them, too. After all, the Emmys join Coachella, Disneyland, Cannes Film Festival, the Pope, and Japanese train stations in refusing people the right to capture a photo of themselves and their friends with a gigantic stick.
But you know it and I know it — we don't need those selfie sticks. In fact, this can still be the best Emmy night ever — with the greatest selfies Instagram has ever seen. And here's how.
1. Use Those Long Things On Your Upper Body
It has a hand, an elbow, shoulders, and stuff. Oh, it's called an arm, aka an old school selfie stick! It's not the best solution — not everyone has super long arms perfect for selfies, after all. But your non-gigantic, limited range arms will have to do the job for now, until Hamm gets here.
2. Use A Drone
This is Lily, a photographing drone that can become your personal paparazzi. Just throw it into the air and the done will start taking photos of your red carpet experience. You don't even have to tell it about the importance of wanting, nay, needing a selfie with Hamm — even electronics know. Wait, drones are being banned in most places, too? Well, I won't tell if you don't.
3. Bring That Shiny Portable Reflecting Thing That Justin Timberlake Sings About
It was a really big deal in Snow White and Sephora seems to have a lot of them everywhere — remember mirrors? No, not the Justin Timberlake song, but actual mirrors! They made the original limited-time selfies for a pre-Snapchat world and let you check your makeup/hair, too. You can hold up the mirror and then aim your cell phone at it to try to get the right angle and there you go! Totally natural and in-the-moment selfie.
4. Speak To Another Human Being & Ask Them To Take It
I'm not sure where you'll be able to find another qualified, trustworthy, and tech-savvy individual on a red carpet and awards ceremony filled with celebrities, cinematographers, camera operators, entertainment reporters, and photographers, but somewhere in the crowd, you might see a friend. When there's a lull in the conversation, you could ask them to snap a pic of you. They'll probably ask you to do the same. And who knows, you might take one together, but just beware — you'll have to ask another person to take it of you both.
Or maybe your friend has long arms.
5. Get Jon Hamm To Take It
The man may not have an Emmy for Mad Men yet, but he's definitely got selfie skills. Last year, he took a bunch with a Don Draper wax figure at Madame Tussauds, showing he knows how to rock an iPhone camera aimed at himself and the wax figure modeled to look like himself. Plus, he's got long arms, looks good in a mirror, and you're going to take a million with him anyway. Just get him to hold the phone.
And once Hamm and his hand sweat touch your phone, you'll never wash it again. See, that wouldn't never happened unless the Emmys decided to ban selfie sticks. I think some thank yous are in order, people.
