As a professional musician, I know that the way I behave in public reflects upon me and also can reflect on the venue that employs me. I am also of the opinion that if I attend an event as a non-performer, my behaviour also reflects upon me. What I do within the privacy of my own home is my business.

I also believe that it is appropriate to discuss negative behaviour that took place in public in a public forum. That is a consequence of a person choosing to behave the way they did IN PUBLIC. I also think that by discussing the behaviour in a public forum, and naming names, it gives the person a chance to respond to the discussion. This is the difference between a public forum and just passing gossip back and forth over the phone or in a discussion in the pub.

What one does with the information is up to them. If someone decides that they will not support a performer's livelihood because of public behaviour, that is their decision and I have to respect that.

As for "mudslinging", that is never appropriate, IMO.

Deb Cowan