Comments on: the artist’s privilege http://mwengerd.blog.usf.edu/2007/08/07/the-artists-privilege bassist.student.educator Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:59:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Chuck Welch http://mwengerd.blog.usf.edu/2007/08/07/the-artists-privilege#comment-4772 Chuck Welch Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:52:47 +0000 http://mwengerd.blog.usf.edu/2007/08/07/the-artists-privilege#comment-4772 Biro claims to understand Jarrett's frustration. The big difference is Biro expects there always to be a bad apple. Jarrett acts as though he has a zero-tolerance policy. The difference is: Jarrett is the performer. I think musicians, in any stage performance, have the right to set the rules of their environment. That's their room, not the audience's venue. Daniel Biro obviously has a problem with Keith Jerrett's personality. He spoke of numerous instances where he didn't like Jarrett's attitude. That's fine. His responsibility as an audience member is to watch respectively or leave. I do want to clear up a couple of small, but important points. Biro inaccurately quotes the video. It doesn't have to be loosely transcribed. it was easy to get it correct: "(clapping) I do not speak Italian. So someone who speaks English can tell all these a**holes with cameras to turn them f***in off right now. (laughter) Right now. (laughter, clapping) No more photographs, including that red light right there. If we see any more lights, I reserve the right -- and I think the priviledge is yours to hear us -- but I reserve the right and Jack and Gary deserve the right -- to stop playing and leave the g**dam city." That quoted text took 34 seconds for Jarrett to speak. A far bit short of the "two minutes of verbal abuse." Maybe there was some more past this recording, but, except for the curse words, I don't think Jarrett was unreasonable. I've seen the problem handled more delicately. Natalie merchant once has a person set off a flash from 4 feet away in the front row. After her song ended she asked to see the camera. She proceeded to take pictures of members of the front row*, her guitar player's hand, a mic stand, etc until the film was used up. She handed the camera back to audience applause. We didn't want to see the flashes anymore than she did. *- I wish I had asked the guy for Natalie's picture of my wife and I. Biro claims to understand Jarrett’s frustration. The big difference is Biro expects there always to be a bad apple. Jarrett acts as though he has a zero-tolerance policy. The difference is: Jarrett is the performer.

I think musicians, in any stage performance, have the right to set the rules of their environment. That’s their room, not the audience’s venue.

Daniel Biro obviously has a problem with Keith Jerrett’s personality. He spoke of numerous instances where he didn’t like Jarrett’s attitude. That’s fine. His responsibility as an audience member is to watch respectively or leave.

I do want to clear up a couple of small, but important points. Biro inaccurately quotes the video. It doesn’t have to be loosely transcribed. it was easy to get it correct:

“(clapping) I do not speak Italian. So someone who speaks English can tell all these a**holes with cameras to turn them f***in off right now. (laughter) Right now. (laughter, clapping) No more photographs, including that red light right there. If we see any more lights, I reserve the right — and I think the priviledge is yours to hear us — but I reserve the right and Jack and Gary deserve the right — to stop playing and leave the g**dam city.”

That quoted text took 34 seconds for Jarrett to speak. A far bit short of the “two minutes of verbal abuse.” Maybe there was some more past this recording, but, except for the curse words, I don’t think Jarrett was unreasonable.

I’ve seen the problem handled more delicately. Natalie merchant once has a person set off a flash from 4 feet away in the front row. After her song ended she asked to see the camera. She proceeded to take pictures of members of the front row*, her guitar player’s hand, a mic stand, etc until the film was used up. She handed the camera back to audience applause. We didn’t want to see the flashes anymore than she did.

*- I wish I had asked the guy for Natalie’s picture of my wife and I.

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