First, it was the Alan Jackson incident. Now, it's being rude at the Ray Lamontagne concert. What happened to southern hospitality?

Ray Lamontagne (an internationally-known singer-songwriter) performed at the Heymann Center last night and, from what I am reading on Facebook, many members of the crowd were quite rude.

Some of the comments included "Who is Ray Lamontagne" and "I've never heard of him, had to Google". IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU KNOW THE ARTIST OR NOT! It's called common courtesy. And it's not just about being courteous to the artist; it's also about being courteous to the audience.

Deer hunters: imagine someone were to be sitting with you in your deer stand and, every time a deer gets near, that person makes noise and scares the deer away, how would that make you feel?

People who fish: imagine you find a honey-hole and you are pulling in fish after fish, and another fisher-person sees your success, motors over to your location, and starts fishing over your line, how would that make you feel?

Gas station patrons: imagine that you are fueling up on a quiet, beautiful day and a car comes alongside the next set of pumps with the radio blaring vulgar music, how would that make you feel?

Bookworms: imagine that you are halfway through an incredible book, and someone sees the title and says "Oh, she dies in the end, you know", how would that make you feel?

Homeowners: imagine your neighbor is walking their dog and that dog poops in your yard and the neighbor doesn't clean it up, how would that make you feel?

If you were in any of the above scenarios you would be, at the least, bothered and, at the most, extremely enraged.

I guess what I am trying to say is this: treat others as you would like to be treated.

Y'all, it's just 2 hours, try to have some empathy. If you really didn't want to listen to Ray Lamontagne's music, WHY DID YOU GO? Why ruin it for everyone else?

Even if the wife/husband dragged you there, and you REALLY didn't want to go, is it so difficult to respect the people who did want to enjoy the show with no distractions?

I know that it is the few who give the masses a bad name, and I have seen it all too many times: an artist comes to town to bare his/her soul, and there are members of the audience who continue to talk, laugh, and cut up like they have had no home training. Not only does it anger me, it also embarrasses me.

My next question: is it the alcohol that makes people act so rude? I get it: you are in a social situation, you have a few drinks to 'loosen up', and you want to visit with your podnuhs an 'em. Perfectly legitimate activity, until the show starts. Even if it is just the opening act, the proper thing to do is to take your seat and give the artist your undivided attention.

Should alcohol sales be shut off earlier in the show? The band Metallica has been ordering that alcohol sales be shut down before they take the stage for years. Metallica, y'all: let that sink in.

I really wanted to see Ray last night and, after reading the comments from people who were at the show, I am glad I didn't attend, as I would have been disappointed in my neighbors.

My mom always told me to look on the bright side, so here it is: at least no one threw a beer at him (and it's a sad day when THAT is "looking on the bright side").

 

 

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