Absolute W...kers !!!!

Subject: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 08:25 AM

Recently I went with my family to see a well known Australian Balladeer. I've been to three of his shows and enjoyed them all. As my grandson was with me on this occasion we went to get a signed poster. He came in the Foyer to sign CD's etc. The W...ker was too rude for words. Unpleasant and uncommunicative. We didn't ask him to come out. That was his idea. I know there are a lot of you guys that perform for the public. Can you be sure you haven't 'become one'?

I truly hope you haven't, because I find it hard, even after being a fan for years, to listen to this guy again.

Ask yourself truthfully before you answer.

Best Wishes all.

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Bagpuss
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 09:18 AM

Maybe the guy was just having a bad day - we all have them...

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 10:33 AM

Unadorned GUESTs have them all the time, I believe.

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Kim C
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 11:07 AM

Not knowing who we are talking about, I can't really comment. But I can say that I know how important it is to be nice to people who like your music. Yes, sometimes I get tired of being nice, especially when I've been playing all day and it's suppertime and I am in the car getting ready to leave and someone comes up and taps on the window and says, "Can you tell me what this song is my granddaddy used to sing?" That really happened to me. All my friends know, when I'm hungry, the world stops. But this lady didn't know that. Even though I had fire shooting from my eye sockets I talked to her for a few minutes.

Once in a while, though, someone says something that really means a lot to you and makes the whole day worthwhile. I think maybe that as fans, though, sometimes we expect too much from the artists we admire. They're only people, too. But I don't think that excuses bad behavior.

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 11:32 AM

Jeez, I hope it's not Eric Bogle. I'm going to see him on Wednesday night. All the best. Seamus

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: GUEST,The originator
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 11:44 AM

I think it important to add that the performer was still in the theatre and still presenting himself to his audience. He was not dining at the local restaurant or at the supermarket.

PS Seamus

No, it wasn't Eric B.

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: kendall
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 11:44 AM

I can say that even after 50 years of performing, I am so grateful to those who like what I do, that I can not be rude to anyone. (Not under THOSE circumstances anyway!)

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: GUEST,The originator
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 11:48 AM

Love to hear more about what you do kendall....

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: MMario
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 11:58 AM

though the lead off post strikes me as a troll flame-bait, it strikes home after this weekend. The weather was good and the ren-faire was crowded this weekend. We busted hump in the booth. This really obnoxious little girl kept coming back and asking truly stupid, irrelevant questions (and never played the game) While seething inwardly and furious with the parent who did nothing to control her child, I managed to grit my teeth and not only not skewer this excuse-for-humanity with an arrow, but even politely answer her totally inane irratating questions while continueing to keep the rest of the crowd moving, amused and make my boss money. (Why would a parent let a child do this? The child had no money, no desire to play my game. Her mother repeatedly let her come up to my booth while I had lines waiting and interupt me. )

now, in general I like kids, of all ages. But even the two year olds normally have enough sense not to bug Uncle Mario while he is busy! And if THEY don't their parents do...(okay, I was probably more pissed at the mother then the kid. But if my temper had snapped it would have been the kid that caught the brunt, even if I just ignored her and hurt her feelings.)

Then, about two minutes before close, the mother comes over and gives me an effusive thanks for "making the faire enjoyable" for her children; and tell me all her kids said the game was their favorite part of the faire.

glad I never blew up at her.

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 04:53 PM

I spent an hour yesterday clearing gravel from the church memorial garden (consecrated ground) to the gravel beds by the side, where smallish footprints on the single visible marker tells me that a child did the damage - this was at a wedding, in the church grounds. There was a whole bucket of rubbish left lying around, much of it candy wrappers and most of it in the memorial garden. Plus the large ficus (about 6ft and very heavy) had obviously been dumped in the pond. If my child started to behave that way in an ordinary garden, she would be out the door and off to bed before she knew what was happening - but hopefully I've trained her not to behave that way. To do it in a garden that is obviously consecrated is inexcusable. Children get blamed for a lot of things, but parental control has no substitute.

LTS

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Jed at Work
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 05:09 PM

You may find, Guest, guest - that your performer was sick. I have had that happen to me, at the end of a perfomance - where I was expected to visit for a while and be available for conversation, and I was feeling terrible. I was not rude, and I tried to be engaging, but while I'd had enough energy to get through the show pretty well, once it was over I was ready to drop. I'm sure I looked unfriendly, like I couldn;t wait to get out of there ... that's because that's how I felt at that moment. Some people may have been thinking "what an a*shole"

When it comes to your performer in this scenario, you might want to give him the benefit of the doubt, and judge a tree by its fruits - if you've enjoyed his work before, and felt an affinity with him, trust that there may have been good reason for his sour demeanor that day, and it was just a passing thing.

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 05:31 PM

Guest, thanks for clearing that up. I didn't think it was Eric from what I've seen of him in the past. Kendall I'm on your bandwagon. I can't be like that to people who have paid to see me, and are buying my CDs, especially kids. I mean these folks are paying my wages. Jed, I've often felt under the weather and knackered at the end of a show. But if I choose to go out and sign CDs for folks who are buying them, I can put on an act for another 20 minutes or so, and fake it. After they've gone, you can go backstage and puke or punch a hole in the wall. ALL the best. Seamus

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 06:57 PM

Not being a musician (Meaning being paid to play) I thought at first this thread didn't apply but I can relate. You see, reenactors get the inane questions etc also. I don't get paid for Civil War reenactments. It is a labour of love. Believe me when I say it becomes a real labor when you're wiped from an hour long skirmish in 90 degree weather and someone asks "Aren't you hot in that?" or my all time favorite, "Which of you guys are the Americans?" (Correct answer for our friends not familiar with American History; Both sides.) I keep level headed most of the time even though the people asking are Americans and should know better. I'll try to make a joke and then answer their question. After all, just like a musician, the audience is our bread and butter. I trust the performer in question had a bad day or wasn't feeling well. May you find him in a better frame of mind next time, reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 04:56 PM

Irish - same sort of question happens to us. We're carrying a big (15 feet) giant around, she's made of steel and other things. We put her down, porter crawls out dripping sweat, profanities and steaming. Question from MOP - is that thing heavy? We had to physically restrain our porter on more than one occasion!!

Another good one is - is she real? DUH!

LTS

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 04:56 PM

Irish - same sort of question happens to us. We're carrying a big (15 feet) giant around, she's made of steel and other things. We put her down, porter crawls out dripping sweat, profanities and steaming. Question from MOP - is that thing heavy? We had to physically restrain our porter on more than one occasion!!

Another good one is - is she real? DUH!

LTS

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 04:56 PM

Irish - same sort of question happens to us. We're carrying a big (15 feet) giant around, she's made of steel and other things. We put her down, porter crawls out dripping sweat, profanities and steaming. Question from MOP - is that thing heavy? We had to physically restrain our porter on more than one occasion!!

Another good one is - is she real? DUH!

LTS

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 04:57 PM

Whoops!

Sorry! Maddening rush of timeouts there.

LTS

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 09:57 AM

We can all have bad days from time to time But I did once have the experience of going to see a certain Irish band in concert. They performed two, exactly 30 minute, sets and as they rose to leave at the end of the second set the leader remarked "and it's no good you clappin' for we're not doing an encore!"

I'd rather be locked in with good music that turfed out from a performer who doesn't care for their audience.

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Midchuck
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 10:11 AM

I understand the sentiments expressed here, but, speaking for myself, I am often "high" while I'm performing, and, when I set down the guitar at the end of the last set, come down hard. Then all I want to do is get the gear packed up, and get the hell out, so I can go to sleep as soon as possible. I know perfectly well that part of my job as an entertainer is to be pleasant to the audience members afterwards, hawk tapes and CD's, answer questions about future gigs or possible gigs, etc., but it's very difficult for me, I have to force myself to do it.

My wife, on the other hand, is at her highest at the end of a gig, and seems to love the socializing part. I think it's just a matter of metabolism.

So give the performer the benefit of the doubt, especially if he puts on a good show while he's on stage. He may just have a metabolism like mine.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: reggie miles
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 12:18 PM

I've been exhausted physically after performing even one set at times, (it depends who I'm performing with). It's perhaps different for each performer and every performance. Most shows have a break included after 45 minutes of performing you get 15 minutes break. Some shows I've played straight through 2 or 3 hours. It becomes a delicate balancing act to accomodate questions and individual attention between sets and have time to get something more to hydrate myself with and all the other little tasks that need to be done before continuing to play. It's all part of the show. Afterward, dehydration, fatigue, hunger, things that are supressed while in the midst of the high of performing can emerge. Couple those physical needs with what amounts to a heck of load of work at the end of a show, packing up gear and preparing for the sometimes lengthy trek home and you have a recipe that can very well produce a tired person. This communication that comes between or at the end of a performance with our friends and supporters is all a part of it. Sometimes in the midst of this juggling act we drop the ball a time or two. Hey if it was easy everybody'd be doing it.

There could have been any number of reasons why the particular performer in question could have been distracted or otherwise nonresponsive to your needs on that given day. Life happens. None are immune to the ebb and flow of it. Keep moving forward or whatever direction you're most comfortable with. Thanks too for your concern about this matter. We should all try to do our level best to make as many people happy as we can.

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Willie-O
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 12:31 PM

Yup Mmario, it pays to be polite as long as you can possibly stand it, even if you don't feel its deserved ...I work in a hardware store and very frequently people quiz me in detail about some tiny little thing that they're trying to figure out how to do. In a lot of cases I could say "I don't know" cause I often don't, but I make a point of trying to help them find the right little widget, asking enough questions so I know what they're trying to do rather than just what they think they need, and offering additional tips if they look like they need it. Now a lot of times I'm doing this while thinking "sheeez, that's a dumb question and I've already answered it three times", but almost always, whether or not we find what they need, they end up thanking me for good service. Which puts a whole different character on the exchange for me. People are nice, if you give them enough slack. Routine politeness takes awhile to come back to people who have forgotten the habit--but it usually does.

Willie-O

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 05:34 PM

funny, I posted to this thread on the 24th...wonder what happened...

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 06:38 PM

Liz: I am glad to know we ain't alone!!! Neil (AKAIrish Sergeant)

Subject: RE: Absolute W...kers !!!!
From: bob jr
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 09:32 PM

these thread names are getting confusing i thought i was gonna be reading about a sequel to that british musical absolute beginners and i thought to myself well they got a real good name for it considering the first film instead i get people talking bout how someone wasnt as nice as he/she should have been what a letdown!!!!