Experiencing fandom “In a Different Light”
October 11, 2009
The last Everclear photo I took last night
Well, now that I’ve written it all out, it sounds kinda petty. Just dance, enjoy the show, and don’t expect anything like courteous staff I guess. Like going to baseball games – buy the fan gear, sit in your seats, clap and cheer, but don’t expect concessions to work smoothly, any effort on the part of the players, a win, or any appreciation of your efforts supporting the team for years? Nah, doesn’t work. I think my disappointment is valid.
Lesson learned: Don’t go to an event with any expectations. I guess I have this personal problem – I feel part of an event if I can photograph it and I hold memories in photos. I’ve been a fan of Everclear for too many years to admit and have seen them whenever they’ve played locally, and by locally I mean Fairfax County and west of Baltimore. I’ve photographed them every time — at least when I remembered to bring my camera! I’ve found band founder and lead singer Art Alexakis to always be fan-friendly and engaging. I jumped for joy when I saw they’d be playing very locally at the State Theatre in Falls Church! I was also really looking forward to photographing them again now that my skills have improved over the years, as well as my equipment. But I was denied and disappointment unrelated to my confiscated camera only escalated from there.
I swear I read Art looked forward to seeing the photos fans took. So when I was told the strict “absolutely no photography” policy was set by the band, I was surprised and left wondering what the explanation behind it was. Okay, no problem, I still got to see the band I’ve been following for years and hopefully would get my camera back by the end to get a photo with the band, another custom. But we didn’t bother trying after the concert. And I was informed by security at one point to stop taking photos with my iPhone.
That “fan connection” felt like it was severed last night in a heartbreakingly painful way. It was such an awful experience, I don’t think I’ll be going back to the State Theatre. The acoustics in the building were awful (a fact we’ve noticed before). Our food orders (required for reserving a table) trickled out missing things we ordered and ingredients. Another concert-goer took exception to me standing and dancing. The staff, with the exception of our waitress and a guy outside I vented at, were rude and downright obnoxious. One employee even offered to take Mr. Chatter out back to settle something Mr. C disputed. Seriously? Is this junior high?
The sad thing is the place is an icon of history in our small town and only blocks from our house — a place we should be proud to visit and enjoy, sharing some historic kinship. My expectations were so high for this concert based on past experiences with Everclear and the thrill that they were playing walking distance from my house, that I was left feeling punched in the gut after the whole thing. We didn’t bother waiting in line for a photo and autographs. I didn’t want to risk any more disappointment.
But maybe I should have just taken it all in stride, smiled, danced, and enjoyed the show, just appreciating the fact I was present for the musical stylings that included only one new song. The lyrics suggest not taking crap from anyone, yet I felt like a steaming handful was thrown in my face by the night’s end. And I paid for that luxury. I even bought a t-shirt.
Posted in Personal
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October 21st, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I totally understand your disappointment. I’m a big fan of live music, and I’ve been to several hundred concerts, but I go to fewer and fewer each year because of experiences like yours. It starts with the hassle of buying tickets (outrageous “convenience” fees, difficulty in even being able to buy tix when they go on sale, sometimes having to resort to the even more outrageous cost of using StubHub, etc.), dealing with moronic security staff on the way in, being treated rudely throughout the night (they often act like it’s really annoying that you are asking them to sell you a $40 t-shirt), and then fighting traffic afterward.
Here’s a recent example. Nearly four weeks ago, I paid $100 in convenience fees to TicketBastard for an upcoming Springsteen show, but I still haven’t received the tickets in the mail yet. How long can it possibly take to print the tickets and stick them in an envelope? I guess I have to back down and start paying the extra fee for the privilege of printing the tickets myself using my own ink and paper.
Maybe it’s just that I’m starting to get old and cranky :-)
November 24th, 2009 at 12:16 am
hi….for the record….every venue i have ever played in has some kind restriction for fan photos…i have no problem with anyone taking photos whatsoever….if you take an image of someone with out their permission….it’s common sense that you can’t use it in a commercial way ie….make money off it….i assume fans are going to take pics of the bands they like to share…..that’s why people on myspace ask me for photo passes all the time and i almost always say yes(almost….?…..there are dishonest people out there)….i am truly sorry you didnt get to bring your camera in and that you feel slighted by the band….in the future
please write me at the myspace page and i will try hard to accomodate you
all the best
art
November 24th, 2009 at 12:24 am
holy crap, I can’t believe you replied! I don’t make money off my photos – just love to take them and share with fans! I fancy myself a budding photographer, but usually shoot baseball and wanted to try my hand with one of my favorite bands to see if I was any good at concerts. I was more disappointed in the venue than you guys. I didn’t know you could ask for photo passes ahead of time. And I did post on one of your myspace blog posts about it beforehand, but didn’t think about asking for a pass. Darn :( Hopefully you’ll come back to DC again soon and I can get a do-over! The music was awesome, as usual!
January 23rd, 2010 at 12:18 am
Hey MissChatter! I just wants to say how excellent your story about your trip to the concert to see Everclear was. I am a huge fan of Everclear and the hits they perform as sooo mellow. Seeing every band member cast an improv on the stage is classic act!! Not bad when you’re singing and playing an instrument simultaneously! I am so happy Art has a great future with the band. I look forward to getting the new album already out in stores in 2010! Art, keep up the good work and hears to getting another Grammy someday!!
January 31st, 2010 at 3:48 am
Beautifully said! “I feel part of an event if I can photograph it and I hold memories in photos.” I stopped by your site for the sheer love of baseball, but was caught by this post’s title and then by seeing “Everclear” in the photo and recognizing State Theatre’s marquee. No exaggeration – at that moment I was sure I’d had the misfortune of experiencing some of whatever you’d describe next. You said it so eloquently (and admirably bleep-free!), so I’ll try to limit my piling on…. Lousy acoustics and hit-or-miss food are tolerable if the rest of the experience is there. But State kills it. Their photography policy is absurd; I’ve shown them the page of an artist’s tour rider that specifically *allows* fan photos, but State sticks to their “artist’s request” story to the bitter, illogical end. It’s so odd. A wonderfully historic venue, great location, some great artists… and still the collective draw is essentially cancelled out by their intensely anti-service attitudes and actions. Next time, I hope Everclear will play at the 930 Club instead. Commute’s a little longer, but no power trip; cameras and dancing typically allowed :)