Post by Nonfatman on Dec 17, 2015 11:48:26 GMT -5
I've been thinking about this. During the many years I have followed Tull, I have met Ian Anderson and other members of Tull, or 'Tull Central' on multiple occasions, both as a fan, and also as a member of the Board. With some notable exceptions, I have usually felt uncomfortable doing so.
What is the point, really? Am I ever going to become friends with them? No. Do I need my photo taken with Ian, or his autograph? No, and besides Ian is not particularly fond of all that, although he graciously complies. And if the Board does free publicity for the band in return for access, or if we get a Q & A or interview, what is the point, even, of that? Are we going to get paid for it? No. Recognition? Perhaps, but who really notices or cares? Are we going to ask them anything in an interview that they haven't already been asked a zillion other times in a zillion other interviews that are all over the internet? Probably not. Most of the time, I have trouble even thinking of questions. I suppose if I didn't have to earn a living, or if I had unlimited time to ponder such things, I could come up with some really good questions, but most of the time my brain is too fried. And besides, after all these years, I suppose I've become a little bored with the topic of Tull. That's not entirely true, because I still enjoy musing with people here or on Facebook in a lighthearted or fun way, about issues relating to our Tull "fandom" and the meaning of Ian's lyrics, but as far as the factual or historical aspect of Jethro Tull is concerned, I am really not that interested. I already know enough.
Granted there have been a couple of times that I have had some hilarious encounters with Ian, which I have related here on the board, but that was only because either me or the person I was with at the time (Mike Grin the first time, Paul the second) had some interesting angle, something unusual, to say to him which caught his interest and wound up sparking something truly funny or memorable that resulted in a couple of good "installment stories" here on the Board. But most of the time, I stammer, search in vain for something to say, and/or usually end up uttering the type of obsequious drivel that Ian despises, and I end up feeling awkward or embarrassed.
It is true that there have been some very good things we have gotten for the Board, mostly through Quizz Kid's connections when he was here, but ultimately it came at a price. Cozying up to the band was never something I wanted to do here. I was always uncomfortable with it, and shied away from it because I did not want the Board to feel constrained or beholden to Ian or Tull Management. I wanted us to be a free and independent fan site, to say and write whatever we, as fans, please. I still do.
So we'll see. I don't know if I will ever try to approach the band members again, unless I have something funny to say, or thoughtful to ask, or if I am in a group with Paul, Dan, Holly, etc. Certainly, I don't envision us asking for any inside information or "goodies" for the Board although this is something that we still could do.
This weekend I am seeing Martin with Paul. I'm not sure if I feel inclined to talk to him after the show, but I think Paul might, because he has actually corresponded and spoken with Martin a few times. I'm going to let Paul take the lead this time, because although I am a huge fan of Martin, I really don't have anything much to say to him.
Jeff
What is the point, really? Am I ever going to become friends with them? No. Do I need my photo taken with Ian, or his autograph? No, and besides Ian is not particularly fond of all that, although he graciously complies. And if the Board does free publicity for the band in return for access, or if we get a Q & A or interview, what is the point, even, of that? Are we going to get paid for it? No. Recognition? Perhaps, but who really notices or cares? Are we going to ask them anything in an interview that they haven't already been asked a zillion other times in a zillion other interviews that are all over the internet? Probably not. Most of the time, I have trouble even thinking of questions. I suppose if I didn't have to earn a living, or if I had unlimited time to ponder such things, I could come up with some really good questions, but most of the time my brain is too fried. And besides, after all these years, I suppose I've become a little bored with the topic of Tull. That's not entirely true, because I still enjoy musing with people here or on Facebook in a lighthearted or fun way, about issues relating to our Tull "fandom" and the meaning of Ian's lyrics, but as far as the factual or historical aspect of Jethro Tull is concerned, I am really not that interested. I already know enough.
Granted there have been a couple of times that I have had some hilarious encounters with Ian, which I have related here on the board, but that was only because either me or the person I was with at the time (Mike Grin the first time, Paul the second) had some interesting angle, something unusual, to say to him which caught his interest and wound up sparking something truly funny or memorable that resulted in a couple of good "installment stories" here on the Board. But most of the time, I stammer, search in vain for something to say, and/or usually end up uttering the type of obsequious drivel that Ian despises, and I end up feeling awkward or embarrassed.
It is true that there have been some very good things we have gotten for the Board, mostly through Quizz Kid's connections when he was here, but ultimately it came at a price. Cozying up to the band was never something I wanted to do here. I was always uncomfortable with it, and shied away from it because I did not want the Board to feel constrained or beholden to Ian or Tull Management. I wanted us to be a free and independent fan site, to say and write whatever we, as fans, please. I still do.
So we'll see. I don't know if I will ever try to approach the band members again, unless I have something funny to say, or thoughtful to ask, or if I am in a group with Paul, Dan, Holly, etc. Certainly, I don't envision us asking for any inside information or "goodies" for the Board although this is something that we still could do.
This weekend I am seeing Martin with Paul. I'm not sure if I feel inclined to talk to him after the show, but I think Paul might, because he has actually corresponded and spoken with Martin a few times. I'm going to let Paul take the lead this time, because although I am a huge fan of Martin, I really don't have anything much to say to him.
Jeff