what ceashel said.....

Sometimes there's a thin line between being fooled and being defrauded. And this line which can be different for different folks, is an important factor in being entertained.

Much entertainment involves at least some misdirection. Jokes are usually funny if you don't expect the punch line - you're following one path of thought and then the humor comes out left field.

We generally don't feel we've been cheated if we get the impression that Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee got along. Some of us are more sensitive than others to folk or blues artists not giving credit to their sources.

Entertainment value can be a factor with products.

Like most of us, I feel ripped off when I buy something that doesn't do what it's supposed to. Like if I bought something guaranteed to kill bugs and got a spray that only gummed up the area. But if I got two pieces of wood and instructions to place the bug on one piece and then squash him with the other, I'd laugh. I'd find that entertaining. (The price might influence just how entertaining I'd find it.)

So . . .

I'm sorry. What was the question again?

I understand what you're all saying, as I've been conducting my own "boycotts" as well without calling 'em such. I pretty much stopped watching TV & listening to commercial radio (cept sportscasts in both cases) about 30 years ago or more. Everything on TV is stupid, including the nightly news.

As for radio, whether it's talk radio or music radio, I have no use for it. There's no "good" radio out there today. The few talk shows that even allow a guest with an opposing viewpoint to the host deteriorate into shouting, interrupting, & name-calling until nobody knows what the hell is going on. As for those that don't welcome guests, I have no desire to listen to a "host" talk "at" me for hours, whether he's a conservative or a liberal.

As for music, I decided long ago that to hear the good stuff, you gotta get into the clubs or you gotta find out what your favorite musicians listened to. Music radio is worse than ever now, with it's emphasis on rap "music" that isn't really music at all---just somebody talking over a driving beat. There's just no way this stuff will last or ever be important to anybody in the long run, coz they don't reflect the lives & experiences of their audience. Most rappers drone on about the "gangsta" culture or about how rich they are, the big cars they drive, the lines of women who readily undress for them---99% of their audience won't identify with any of this stuff. Eminem is trying to be "angry" in the manner of the Woodstock era singers or the early Brit punks, but he's mostly angry about his own life---his mother, his ex-girlfriend, etc.---& nobody will be able to relate to him for long, either. (BTW, I'm not necessarily anti-rap---got a couple Kurtis Blow 45's, "The Breaks" & "Tough", coz they include real instruments & they're funny & I can relate to the down-on-his-luck character who can't keep a job or get a date.)

Anyways, this is a rant that I could turn into a book. Here's an interesting question:

Suppose Arlo were coming to your town, playing a venue that you don't like coz of the way you're treated there. Being a Blunderite, you email Arlo about the situation but he sez it's too late for him to back out, it's already under contract. Would you go or would you skip the concert? (I'd skip it. I missed seeing Dylan from about 1992-2000 coz I didn't like the local outdoor venue where he was playing.)

I'd go. Nothing not even a bad venue would keep me from seeing Arlo if he was in my area... <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

Great question Joe.

I'm with Cheryll. I'd go.

I have problems with a couple of venues. But I won't let them make me miss shows I want to see.

I guess there's a subconscious cutoff. But I imagine that it's a lot like weighing how much time I have and how far I have to travel to see someone. So it doesn't qualify as a boycott.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by P. Pittsburgh Joe:

Suppose Arlo were coming to your town, playing a venue that you don't like coz of the way you're treated there. Being a Blunderite, you email Arlo about the situation but he sez it's too late for him to back out, it's already under contract. Would you go or would you skip the concert? (I'd skip it. I missed seeing Dylan from about 1992-2000 coz I didn't like the local outdoor venue where he was playing.)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Been there, done that... the Keswick Theater in Glenside... they aren't the nicest people around and rush us out. Now, maybe if it were someone other than Arlo, I'd say nah, I can live without going... but it's ARLO! Why would I purposely miss a show just because of the venue? Unless they were overcharging... astronomically, that is.

Well, from MY perspective ... I've been to a LOT of concerts in my day and I usually knew what venue it was before going. The ones I chose not to go to made me wonder ... WHAT was I there for? the musician or the place. The musician always won. So, I would definitey go and see Arlo. I don't really care where he would be playing. I'm with Terrie about ridiculous ticket prices. That might prevent me from attending but that's the ONLY reason I could think of.

HAPY NEW YEAR BLUNDERITES!!!!

...well, i suppose i have a different perspective as i have to consider the accessiblity issue.....i can walk some, so can go to shows that full time wheelers can't..... like Passim's.....which is a basement....and i make the effort to see Arlo and others there.....
....i never really expect performers to make a big deal about accessibility, but always hope they have awareness of it....lots of their fans can't go to concerts/clubs because they can't get in...
....last summer i passed on an arlo concert because the w/c seating was the last row in a theater that held 1000 folks.....i'm too spoiled by smaller venues......<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/wink.gif" width=15 height=15>...

Well Joe I've never really had a problem with a venue but I guess I would have complained about it to management.
Actually.. Arlo's concerts here last June were at services clubs (Returned Services League). I don't usually go to them, they have bars, poker machines and entertainment, just not my scene. But it was all fine except in the concert hall they have a couple of bars and I think I would have prefered a place without them..Hey, I've got nothing against someone having a drink...but I think most of the wankers that kept yelling out.."Sing Alice's" had had a few too many and we could have done without it.
It won't stop me going back when he comes again........... on the other hand if it were another type of place where they had something like scantily clad waitresses or something I would have to stick to my principles and stay away.(I have boycotted restaurants like that, and I'm not a prude or anything just don't enjoy boobs or a fishnet covered butt in my face or being in a venue that is obviously catering to men only,obviously assuming that they are paying. Heck I'm sure Arlo would't play somewhere like that anyway.

Interesting comments. There's no right or wrong answer to my question, obviously, but I think the responses answer Lauralee's initial question, i.e., some folks will tolerate certain things from their favorite entertainers.

I agree about the Keswick. I remember they kicked Todd outta there once & no one could find him lol. I hate how the Birchmere searches ya for cameras when ya go in. Who carea about the camera, let us have some pics of the show ya know. I hate that lol...

Joe, I agree with most of what you say. I also believe that if you don't pay some attention to what is going on around you, you become ignorant. And yes, I have gone to see Arlo in a venue I don't really care for...it was one of the best shows I've seen in my life.