The event ultimately has no effect over the evening as a whole. To be honest, the incident is meaningless beyond that initial moment of impact.
For the most, it can be said that this memory is irrelevant to the words that follow.
Still, the fact of the matter is this: if a man wants to sit on a table, it should be within his right to do so. Sure, the round, off white, concrete picnic table had (and I am sure still has) matching crescent shaped benches below. But in a three person party, sitting on the table worked better and beat the alternative of staying in a warm concert hall, saving generic general admission spots between opening acts. To my detriment, I was being asked to remove my shoes before entering. This should have been a rotund, ‘Security’ t-shirt wearing Sword of Damocles.
Venue staff was bound to be dickish.
And until recently I maintained this as a non-negotiable part of my worldview; even after briefly becoming acquainted with a security guard in a different town. It has now inexorably been altered.
~.~
Defense of ILoveMakonnen’s music is best left to other, more qualified, writers.
Not enough of the music has been heard for this author to craft of an opinion of significant weight. Naturally, though, the author is also more than willing to contribute his two cents to this water drinking fund.
A description, too, is well within the merits of fair play.
ILoveMakonnen’s songs have a certain runway fabulous quality to them. Any snobbery is not purposely implied. Rather, the fetishist manner in which millennial audiences consume music is recognized. Files galore reflect lifestyle choices and support self-identity. For ILoveMakonnen, this equates to executing his well-honed, coquettish charm. Sounds are crafted as stylishly as possible. The result is a Factory-like, canned, high art quality.
Still, as aesthetically pleasing as these sounds are, those same qualities predispose the author to passive listening. My friend Makonnen can only teach me how to whip it so many times before adding nauseum.
Perhaps saying the author is not completely sold on the man’s music is more accurate. But remember, this is not about the music. For what it is worth, it does not even matter that the impetus is ILoveMakonnen.
Whether it is a local musician or a beloved favorite national act, attending any concert is equivalent to be party in an implicit contract: in exchange for money, entertainment, and everything it entails, will be provided. Free speech for performers, as well as vocal audiences members, should maintain a pristine status. Not all expression is timely or appropriate. The ability to recognize that possibility is part of the human experience. Possessing the cognizance not to act like a complete moron is only expected.
Regardless, this maxim is not universally accepted.
The video will not be embedded out of principle; but a link has been provided and a brief description follows. A total fool reaches out to the onstage entertainment - as fans are ought to do, if but to smell the sweet scent of fame for a moment - and proceeds to punch him in the face. Afterward this wayward soul runs out of the venue. Not a single person stops him
Against populist belief, security is apparently necessary
This is not intended as a screed against any content providers. More ways to spread messages ultimately means more messages to spread (or more people spreading the same message, whatever). Video, audio, and text hosting sites are a platform; it is the people contributing to them who have to power to police content.
Plus, spending any amount of time recording a live performance is wrong. But to each their own; as with internet video appreciation choices.
In sports it is a tired cliche: the fan experience ends where the field starts. Beyond the physical barrier at the foot of first row seats, a work environment unfolds. For what it is worth, though, streaking does come with inherent joy. Nothing matches the exuberance of exploiting live television. Regardless of how unscripted and inappropriate, some individuals take it upon themselves to break with decorum. The crime is victimless and generally amusing crime (unlike beating down a first-base coach for no reason at all).
This same basic principle applies to live music performance; or any other job, to be fair (and probably minus the streaking).
A clause in the aforementioned contract does state that the fourth wall can be broken. This right, though, is exclusive to the realm of a performer. Unless the premise is flouted, and the audience is suddenly part of the show like a Keith Moon fantasy. Concert goers’ responsibility is to be entertained; nothing more, nothing less. Try not to get too drunk, and if any humping happens make sure it is always consensual.
Sure, crazy things tend to happen in life. I once accidentally elbowed female acquaintance in the face while skanking at an Aquabats show. Another time I got stuck catching twelve year olds who thought stagediving was an amusement park ride at a DRI concert.
Punching a performer in the face is obviously different. Having someone record makes it fairly evident the act was not impulsive. Somewhere, at sometime, planning must have occurred. Assumption aside, the idea was, is, and continues to be idiotic. Overlooked, too, is the fact that someone was assaulted while busy at work.
If nothing else, security provides some insurance for the promoter and venue’s reputation.
The biggest take-away comes after the colon: punching somebody in the face is easy.
I could literally go out tonight, purchase a ticket to a live performance, and punch somebody in the face. To reach a stature in the entertainment industry where people pay to witness your presence, though, is very difficult.
Contrary to popular belief, being famous does not come first. Recognizability is a result of excellence. Get good at film, plastic arts, or music and a following develops. Brand awareness is necessary to moving units and progressing careers (different, of course, from moving the craft, or product, forward). Additionally challenging is the balancing act of combining personal expression with mass appeal. For this reason, nobody is lining up to see some nobody cold-clock a known face unsolicited unless there is a team involved with the word money in it.
People will line up around the corner to see a novel entertainer.
Self-insertion into any performance is only of note because the victim has public profile. The crime is not more or less egregious when fame was eliminated. Still, a very real exists difference between an Sacha Baron Cohen interviews and boxing Lil B in a coffee shop (who coincidentally just rapping “Everybody can’t do it but everybody tryin’ t’do it”).
Satire removes the mask of a facade. Hitting someone for no reason just removes the mask covering up an asshole’s face.
Pranks of the above nature are thirst, pure and simple. Other than basic morality, the main reason why I do not punch people I pay money to see is the same reason I do not pretend I am their friend: we do not know each other. Both parties are complete strangers; neither person is superior. Like walking around town, some people you know and some people you do not know. But by and large, strangers are left alone.
At best I can hope not to come off as a groupie. With any luck, perhaps I can spend a few mundane minutes interacting with an entertainer. Previously on a pedestal ,making sounds that cause me joy, ideally I can share in a bit of life with musician-x on a person to person basis; real human shit. Artists, after all, are people, not veal served on golden flakes.
But musicians are also service providers. The audience is a mass of anonymous customers.
Rarely do I even attempt writing on the subject of hip-hop; my reasons are plenty and varied. The following quote, though, bears repeating. It was Iceberg Slim that once wrote, “The pimp game is like the watchmaker’s art, it’s tough”
If accolades are desired, learning, mastering, and excelling at a craft is detrimental to this end. Otherwise, please behave. A man should be able to sit on any table without being told not to by security.
ILoveMakonnen’s songs have a certain runway fabulous quality to them. Any snobbery is not purposely implied. Rather, the fetishist manner in which millennial audiences consume music is recognized. Files galore reflect lifestyle choices and support self-identity. For ILoveMakonnen, this equates to executing his well-honed, coquettish charm. Sounds are crafted as stylishly as possible. The result is a Factory-like, canned, high art quality.
Still, as aesthetically pleasing as these sounds are, those same qualities predispose the author to passive listening. My friend Makonnen can only teach me how to whip it so many times before adding nauseum.
Perhaps saying the author is not completely sold on the man’s music is more accurate. But remember, this is not about the music. For what it is worth, it does not even matter that the impetus is ILoveMakonnen.
~.~
Whether it is a local musician or a beloved favorite national act, attending any concert is equivalent to be party in an implicit contract: in exchange for money, entertainment, and everything it entails, will be provided. Free speech for performers, as well as vocal audiences members, should maintain a pristine status. Not all expression is timely or appropriate. The ability to recognize that possibility is part of the human experience. Possessing the cognizance not to act like a complete moron is only expected.
Regardless, this maxim is not universally accepted.
The video will not be embedded out of principle; but a link has been provided and a brief description follows. A total fool reaches out to the onstage entertainment - as fans are ought to do, if but to smell the sweet scent of fame for a moment - and proceeds to punch him in the face. Afterward this wayward soul runs out of the venue. Not a single person stops him
Against populist belief, security is apparently necessary
~.~
This is not intended as a screed against any content providers. More ways to spread messages ultimately means more messages to spread (or more people spreading the same message, whatever). Video, audio, and text hosting sites are a platform; it is the people contributing to them who have to power to police content.
Plus, spending any amount of time recording a live performance is wrong. But to each their own; as with internet video appreciation choices.
In sports it is a tired cliche: the fan experience ends where the field starts. Beyond the physical barrier at the foot of first row seats, a work environment unfolds. For what it is worth, though, streaking does come with inherent joy. Nothing matches the exuberance of exploiting live television. Regardless of how unscripted and inappropriate, some individuals take it upon themselves to break with decorum. The crime is victimless and generally amusing crime (unlike beating down a first-base coach for no reason at all).
This same basic principle applies to live music performance; or any other job, to be fair (and probably minus the streaking).
A clause in the aforementioned contract does state that the fourth wall can be broken. This right, though, is exclusive to the realm of a performer. Unless the premise is flouted, and the audience is suddenly part of the show like a Keith Moon fantasy. Concert goers’ responsibility is to be entertained; nothing more, nothing less. Try not to get too drunk, and if any humping happens make sure it is always consensual.
Sure, crazy things tend to happen in life. I once accidentally elbowed female acquaintance in the face while skanking at an Aquabats show. Another time I got stuck catching twelve year olds who thought stagediving was an amusement park ride at a DRI concert.
Punching a performer in the face is obviously different. Having someone record makes it fairly evident the act was not impulsive. Somewhere, at sometime, planning must have occurred. Assumption aside, the idea was, is, and continues to be idiotic. Overlooked, too, is the fact that someone was assaulted while busy at work.
If nothing else, security provides some insurance for the promoter and venue’s reputation.
~.~
The biggest take-away comes after the colon: punching somebody in the face is easy.
I could literally go out tonight, purchase a ticket to a live performance, and punch somebody in the face. To reach a stature in the entertainment industry where people pay to witness your presence, though, is very difficult.
Contrary to popular belief, being famous does not come first. Recognizability is a result of excellence. Get good at film, plastic arts, or music and a following develops. Brand awareness is necessary to moving units and progressing careers (different, of course, from moving the craft, or product, forward). Additionally challenging is the balancing act of combining personal expression with mass appeal. For this reason, nobody is lining up to see some nobody cold-clock a known face unsolicited unless there is a team involved with the word money in it.
People will line up around the corner to see a novel entertainer.
Self-insertion into any performance is only of note because the victim has public profile. The crime is not more or less egregious when fame was eliminated. Still, a very real exists difference between an Sacha Baron Cohen interviews and boxing Lil B in a coffee shop (who coincidentally just rapping “Everybody can’t do it but everybody tryin’ t’do it”).
Satire removes the mask of a facade. Hitting someone for no reason just removes the mask covering up an asshole’s face.
~.~
At best I can hope not to come off as a groupie. With any luck, perhaps I can spend a few mundane minutes interacting with an entertainer. Previously on a pedestal ,making sounds that cause me joy, ideally I can share in a bit of life with musician-x on a person to person basis; real human shit. Artists, after all, are people, not veal served on golden flakes.
But musicians are also service providers. The audience is a mass of anonymous customers.
Rarely do I even attempt writing on the subject of hip-hop; my reasons are plenty and varied. The following quote, though, bears repeating. It was Iceberg Slim that once wrote, “The pimp game is like the watchmaker’s art, it’s tough”
If accolades are desired, learning, mastering, and excelling at a craft is detrimental to this end. Otherwise, please behave. A man should be able to sit on any table without being told not to by security.
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