“Long ago, and oh so far away I fell in love with you, before the second show…”  Superstar by the Carpenters 

Ever since I was a little kid, I loved music.  Listening to the radio, buying 45s, LPs, tapes, CDs.  I couldn’t get enough of my favorite singers and musicians.  I remember my very first concert.  I was nine years old and went to see The Osmond Brothers.  I was in heaven!  There they were right in front of me on stage.  Those nice boys singing those love songs.  Watching them interact with each other and chatting with the audience, they were just so sweet and sharing the love with everyone.  They really were nice. 

Over the years, I have continued with my undying love of music, although my tastes have changed.  My favorite outing is still going to concerts because I feel there is nothing like experiencing the music live.  Having that give and take with the musicians is priceless.  And they are so appreciative of the audience.  After all, we are their bread and butter, right?  We’re the people who spend our hard earned money on their music in various formats, right?  So, of course they are appreciative.  And the more we see these artists live, the better we feel we get to know them.  They are on stage smiling, joking, and having just as great a time as we fans are.  They are gracious on the meet and greet lines, taking photos, signing nearly everything put in front of them – they really are terrific people.  After seeing and hearing our favorite artists over and over, we feel we know them.  They have shown their personalities and smiled a million smiles to us.  And how great is it when one of them remembers your name?  We know them and love them.  But how well do we really know some of these artists?  How much of this is an act? 

Fast forward to 2008.  Just recently I had the opportunity to spend some “quality” time with a well-known musician; a musician that I personally have spent money on through the purchase of CDs and concert tickets.  This is someone who has been around for years and years; someone who has enjoyed more success than most others; someone who makes people smile and who others are just in awe of.  However, my perception of this person was completely shattered when he opened his mouth.  Away from the bright lights of the stage and the cheer of the crowd, he was arrogant and rude.  He was visibly annoyed at having to wait around at the meet and greet line.  He made comments to staff assisting him about how cheap his fans were to not buy the CD on the table.  And to try to change that, he refused to sign anything other than THAT CD.  While most comments were made to staff, which he apparently thought were not fans, some were made directly to the folks in line.  And the fans were referred to as “these people.”  Some fans took all of this in stride, just happy to be in his presence.  Others I viewed had their smiles replaced by confusion and then sheer disappointment. 

Now, before SmoothViews gets hate mail, I want to say that this is not the norm that I have experienced.  Most of the artists I support are truly caring, appreciative folks.  And more importantly, they subscribe to the theory of “what-you-see-is-what-you-get.”  But in the smooth jazz world where many artists make themselves so available to their fans, we all feel a closeness; a baring of souls with these talented folks and feel we know them.  We take for granted that they will always be happy to interact with us.  We believe that they care about the two minutes of chat time in a meet and greet line, know it means the world to us, and are happy to oblige.  However, sometimes we may find that our illusions are shattered.  I know I did.   

Typically there is a mutual respect between artists and fans.  They are giving of their talent and fans are giving of their time and money.  Each relies on the other for entertainment and livelihood.   For musicians, without their fans they may as well be singing/playing on a street corner or in the shower.  When that mutual respect is taken advantage of by either party, then the dream is shattered.  That is the reason I felt betrayed by this particular musician.  Somewhere along the line, he seemed to have lost the respect for his fans and forgot that this is supposed to be a reciprocal relationship.  It was truly eye-opening and saddening at the same time.