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| From | "floatingunder" <Steven.Durben@cignabehavioral.com> |
| Subject | Re: Close Encounters of the autograph kind |
| Date | Fri, 04 Jun 2004 18:13:19 -0000 |
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--- In audities@yahoogroups.com, <nonstoppop@c...> wrote:
>
> Elvis was the first famous person I'd ever met, and the encounter
was during my first-ever time backstage at any concert, so I was
doubly nervous...so nervous, in fact, that I didn't realize until
after the fact that Tommy Stinson of the Replacements (the openers)
had been milling about my general vicinity the entire time I was
waiting to talk to Elvis. When my friend Jim and I finally got up to
him, Jim said something along the lines of, "Great show, Elvis."
Elvis replied, "Thanks, thanks a lot. It was bit hot, though; I
probably should've taken my jacket off." And I offered up the line
that haunts me to this day: "You're a genius." I was starstruck, I
was in awe of meeting a guy whose music I'd come to love, and I meant
it as a straightforward, if over the top, compliment. Unfortunately,
coming as it did after his comment, it came across much more
like, "Way to go, dumbass," which, ironically, is now the phrase I
hear in my head when I re-live the moment. Elvis too!
> k his leave of us at that point and began chatting up someone
else, and we never managed to get either an autograph or a photo.
But God knows I'll always have the memory...whether I like it or not.
>
>
Hi Will,
OK, I wasn't there and maybe I'm grasping at straws for
you...BUT....could it be that Elvis was just chatting, in the moment
small talking with you guys about the show. Then your calling him "a
genius" is something that he's heard a lot and simply took him out of
that moment. So, he get's kinda uncomfortable and then just moved
on??? Just a thought, but I'm routing for this version!
I have a friend who, back in the day, was a huge John McEnroe
fan. We finally got to watch McEnroe play. After the match, my friend
decided to get his autograph. McEnroe said to him "there you go
son". To quote my friend he was "just sick about this comment". For
my friend was like 30 at the time. God knows, McEnroe probably hardly
noticed whom he was handing this to. My friend is 6 and half feet
tall.
This isn't meant for Will at all. Really just thinking out loud
(again). I'm just fascinated with relationships. Anyway, it must be
weird to be a star of any caliber and be on the other end of moments
with fan after fan. The moments for us become locked in our brain and
take on all kinds of meaning. Trust me I have more then my share too.
It's just such a skewed moment. The moment for them is yet another in
thousands, millions they have had before..(for some of them anyway).
For example, the last time I caught Sloan I said hello afterwards.
One member was very warm and appreciative and cool about it. The
other member kind of looked through me when I gave him praise. I
repeated it in a different way and same reaction. I first felt
disappointed in his response and thought what a jerk. However, it
could be he's a jerk, or shy, or tired, or looking at the gal next to
me (and really who'd blame him, right)....etc. Yet, this is my one
moment with him to express something. It's just such a strange,
momentary relationship that is oddly skewed and takes on such
meaning.
I'm not saying this to excuse bad behavior or mimimize bad
behavior of stars. Really, and I know this point is kinda obvious,
but "our moment" becomes another routine moment for them. So, I'm
betting for the average star we catch many aspects of their
personality and moods of who they are (just like someone would
watching us at work). .So, while some are jerks or great guys, I'm
betting many of them we just happen to catch an aspect of whom they
are in that moment.
Best, Steve
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