Hi folks, its Mike (and not Mike Turner I frequently deal with e-mails for him) and this my second view. Over the past month the webmasters at this site have indulged themselves by forcing their views on other people. For the most part, its pretty popular! People seem to like being preached to. I guess thats kind of the idea behind religion. Does that make us reverends and nuns? (mike runs off to ask stacy) I'm not totally sure about that idea (mike adjusts his halo) Stacy is away right now so I will write a little about fan etiquette while I wait for her or the american equivalent (kate).

   I was on #ClumsyCongress a while ago and low and behold in comes to the channel none other that Mike Turner himself. I knew what his IP was and what his nick would be from past experiences and word had spread that he comes on from time to time so the channel was packed. As soon as he got in the channel, people starting flooding him with greetings and no doubt queries and DCC requests so they could have their own private little chat with Mike. So I'm watching, and everywhere from every nick comes "Hi, Mike!", "Hows it going Mike?", "I saw you in Hamilton Mike!", "Do you remember me Mike? I'm from the Philly show!". It got to be pretty annoying really watching them badger him like that. So I thought to myself, "What would I say if I was put in a situation to meet the band?".

   I am figuring the band wants to be treated like normal people. So I try to adjust my reaction to the situation according to how I would want to be treated. Unfortunately for me, if I was Mike I would probably want to be left alone. In other words, I don't say a thing. However, I have my own selfish wishes. I can't pass up the oppurtunity to meet them in person can I? These, are the guys I travel across counties, regions, and provinces to see and hear. I have the oppurtunity to meet them in person 1 on 1. How the hell do I even strike up a conversation?

    Believe it or not, I think the situation is much like seeing a pretty girl or for the ladies a cute guy on the street. How do you approach them? So I applied the rules for that situation with this situation and this is what I came up with. Here they are MIKE'S RULES FOR FAN ETIQUETTE:

#1 Do not go crazy or draw attention to yourself- You have to remember that its not only you that your drawing attention to. If you keep screaming "Oh My God!" or "I Love You Guys!" chances are people are going to look. People are going to stare to see what the commotion is about. Which ever band member it is may get embarassed and try to avoid you. Even worse than that other people could recognize them and mob them (Its happened in Toronto). Anybody remember the BUSH concert a few years back at Maple Leaf Gardens? Right after Veruca Salt finished their openinig set, people recognized Mike in the crowd waiting for BUSH to come on. A few girls started screaming and sure enough within minutes the place was roaring the name "Our Lady Peace". Mike was escorted from his seat by security so as not to cause a further ruckus.

#2 Greet them with a friendly Hello!- The key thing is in this situation is to remember that they are people. They aren't a customer satisfaction card. They don't want to hear how you thought one song on the album sucked or how you don't like Jeremy's glasses. After, all you've just met these people. How would you feel is a stranger on the street approached you and mentioned how they saw you the other day with a friend and the stranger thought they were viciously ugly? You probably wouldn't care and brush the person off. You see band members can't brush off their fans. They are the ones that buy music, so treat them with a little delicacy.

#3 Don't play 20 questions- Contrary, to what the rude fan thinks, Our Lady Peace were not solely put on the planet for his/her sole personal enjoyment. They have other things to do. If you do stop them its really impolite to bug them by asking them things like "How did you come up with clumsy?" and "Whats with the old man? and "When are you touring around here again?". Ask them one question say hello and end it. They have places to go and people to see and music to play. Let them go.

#4 Have some tact- This is a biggie! All of the following questions are against this rule: Why'd you kick Chris out? When are you guys gonna beat up the smashing pumpkins? Is it true that you are dating (girlfriends name here)? Don't ask them questions you wouldn't ask your mother in other words. You don't know these people, the answers to these questions may be personal. Its not up to you to strike nerves with any members of the band.

#5 RESPECT- Pretty much all of the rules revolve around this. You have to respect them as people. It seems like just enough to say that rather than write a whole article, however somewhere in those 4 words the message and essence is lost. Who says you have the right to call them by their first name? Who says you have the right to just approach them out of nowhere? Who says that they have to give you a hug? Who says that Our Lady Peace have to give you the time of day? Nobody. They are good people and thats why they spend time with us. Remember that and respect that.

    Sorry to all of those fans out there reading this that know these rules. It seems like there are alot of people out there who just can't control themselves when it comes to these guys. When they're out on stage its one thing. Up close in person its a whole new ballgame. It needed to be said. Thanks thats my view.

 
 
 

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