...ok, I admit it, I'm a coward without the courage of her convictions!

Last night I went to a nearby pub with a friend to see a local musician play. Now his singing and playing was great, but we decided to leave after the first set because we both found it far too loud for our liking, and it was hard work at times to understand the words. To be fair to the musician (Dan Plews) he DID ask us, the audience, several times, how the sound was, and made adjustments. Although I still found it uncomfortably loud after these adjustments, I didn't say so. Why? I think it was because other audience members, and the performer, seemed to be happy with things as they were, and I've been conditioned into having to accept 'suffering' amplified music, rather than enjoying it! If I'd sat there still saying 'No! It's STILL to loud!' at the end of each song, I'd have felt somewhat self-concious!!! So instead I sat, and smiled and clapped - and we made good our escape after the first set (sorry Dan, if you read this...you were very good!)

I suppose I feel that I shouldn't rock the boat and upset the 'we like our music loud' majority...but then again, perhaps the majority are sitting there, like me and my friend, and feeling just the same. And then maybe there are all those that simply stay at home in the first place, because they know it'll be too loud to enjoy...

Yours sheepishly,
Julie B