Forward from Heather Alexander

From: Mistress of the Blue Shift <quarong at eskimo.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 20:50:55 -0800

Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 00:09:48 -0800
To: "heather-gigs-l" <heather-gigs-l at telelists.com> From: seafire at heatherlands.com
Subject: [heather-gigs-l] Regarding Special Concerts List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:leave-heather-gigs-l-22426B at telelists.com> Reply-To: list-admin at heatherlands.com

Happy Holidays Everyone-

This is just a little posting mostly for my friends in California, but can be advice to all my fans. I'm coming down to do a concert in Palo Alto, CA in January, like I did in September, but I'd like to see a few changes.

I don't mind people having fun at my shows- in fact, you're supposed to have fun! I pride myself on the fact that my shows are relaxed, spontaneous and intimate. However, too much intimacy on the part of the audience can break down the respect and etiquette a performance (especially a $10.00 concert) requires.

A little gentle jesting from the audience can go a long way. In September, I had some members of the audience get a little over-zealous, and the commotion and distraction they caused made my job difficult. I also heard afterward that several of my fans said they would not come to another concert because of this behavior.

To my knowledge, this has never happened before, and I have to say that I am ashamed that it has happened at all.

If this continues, I will be forced to distance myself from my audiences and become just another musician doing just another show for just another audience on just another day. No risk, no connection, no magic.

That's not why I'm doing this, that's not why I honor my audiences and that's not why I come to California or any other place that wants something special in entertainment.

What do I need from my audience? Here's my holiday wish list:

1. CONSIDERATION FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. If you like talking to your friends while you're watching my show, sit in the back and keep your voices down.
2. PREDICTABLE PARTICIPATION. Sing on the choruses ONLY. Some people may never have heard the song before, and the verses are important and deserve the focus of the listeners. Some songs that are more ballad like or are technically challenging (like Stolen Child or Wanderlust) should be left to the singer. Not to be rude, but if you like singing along with my music, you can do that in your car or at home, but please, not where the people who have to listen have paid an admission price. Also, clapping during fiddle tunes (except songs like Faerie Queen or John Barleycorn) is fine, but forcing the beat is not. When there are fifty-plus people all at different speeds, it makes the music lose its effect and value.
3. EASY OPEN ATMOSPHERE I don't want to scare or intimidate anyone with the two previous wishes. I really do want to keep the rapport that I have with my audiences, and it just wouldn't be the same if everyone was minding their P's and Q's so tightly that no one feels they can cough or shift their feet. Things like sunglasses and hard hats (or even antlers) are still great fun, but a little consideration is needed.

Well, that's my Wish List. Hope to see you all at my shows in the New Year.

May Magic and Music Be Yours-

                         Heather--

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Philip R. Obermarck               email: list-admin at heatherlands.com
Sea Fire Productions                URL: http://www.heatherlands.com/

2811 Briarwood Ct. N.
Puyallup, WA 98374 Received on 12/22/98