Re: Grace and aplomb in the face of Gussing and other unpleasantries

[the Leones <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

   Jeez Munteez Howard, are you some kind of Dashel Hammet, Damon 
Runyon, Ernest Hemmingway type writer or WHAT. This is some really 
DEEP stuff. Strangely enough I kind of feel this way too. These 
Schlameils show up but they didn't start out meaning any harm. They 
are just looking for a couple hours of "escapism" and just plain get 
INTO the mood in a happy sort of way. The fact that things turn sour 
is unfortunate, but is it REALLY the end of the world? I have gotten 
used to them and generally can have a lot of fun (usually at THEIR 
expense). Havn't broken any bones (SO far).  Smo-Joe

  HOWARD said:
>Harp-lers,
>
>If the tone of the following message sounds too much like sermonizing (which
>I have to admit even I think it does), and you find this kind of thing
>offensive, I apologize now. This is just something I felt like getting off
>my chest.
>
>This discussion has done much to illuminate the sensitive and awkward
>subject of unacceptable audience participation, otherwise known as gussing.
>Perhaps some eyes were opened up to the degree of agitation and ill will
>these practices may cause to the performers as well as to the audience. This
>can only be a good thing. It could even spare someone among us from the pain
>and embarrassment of becoming a gussing story. I would like to turn this
>around a bit now, and talk of the responsibility that we have in these
>situations.
>
>Many have written on this list about the responsibilities of the gusser, the
>potential gusser, and the would be gusser except that they are within a safe
>and tolerant social setting, etc. Examples have been given of audience
>members, often paid patrons, who have displayed less than exemplary
>behavior, who have been downright drunk, overenthusiastic, insensitive or in
>some other way obnoxious. There's no doubt that these sort of situations are
>not only annoying, distracting, and in a perfect world unnecessary. They
>threaten our peace and well being as well the enjoyment of the rest of our
>audience. As entertainers/performers/fellow patrons, we are often in a
>position to see people, ordinary people, at the best and worst times of
>their lives. Whether we like it or not, situations like this often test the
>limits of our own patience and goodwill. So even though it may be easy to
>forget about the feelings and sensitivities of this person, a fellow human
>being, I feel that we owe it to this poor schlub, to ourselves, and the rest
>of our audience to display all of the grace and aplomb we can muster. How we
>act at moments like these not only reflects on ourselves as people, but has
>the potential to create even more harm than good. So, even though it may be
>easy to dismiss this Gus, or Rube or whatever as a lower life form, we
>threaten in so doing to reduce our own humanity.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Howard Chandler
>
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