A Pre Interview Faux Pas

A Pre Interview Faux Pas 

If you have been following my blogs since the first installment of Keeping His Memory Alive, you know that my knowledge of ETAs is limited.  For the past two years, my focus has been on one particular ETA whom I first saw in 2015.  Since June of this year, I have increased the number of ETAs I have seen in concert from one to ten.  Not bad, considering I still have not been to Collingwood.  Perhaps if I had made the trip to Collingwood this year, I could have avoided a rather embarrassing situation that arose in connection with an award winning ETA.

On June 16th of this year, I went to my first ever Matt Cage concert.  As often is the case with small venues such as Flamboro Downs, there were no back-up singers or band.  Musical accompaniment was provided via a laptop, and cuing and playing the song list for Matt was a tall, fine-looking man with black hair, Buddy Holly-like glasses and an engaging presence.  During the two intermissions, and after the concert, I asked Matt’s bespectacled associate to take several photos of me with Matt.  It wasn’t until I got home and did some research that I discovered that the man at the laptop was Brent Freeman—award winning ETA, successful business owner, voice-over talent, musician, singer, and radio personality.  Anyone who had been to Collingwood in the past few years would have recognized him.

On September 8th, 2017, I was given a chance to redeem myself.  It was Matt’s second appearance in three months at Flamboro Downs, and again, Brent was manning the laptop.  I took no time in approaching Brent and apologizing for not knowing who he was in ETA land and for asking him to be my personal photographer at our first meeting.  Brent was very friendly, and he waylaid my embarrassment.  During the first intermission, I took a brave step and asked if he would read part of the article I was working on.  I was expecting Brent to read a few sentences out of courtesy, then hand back my article; instead, he kept reading.  I sat quietly waiting for clues to his response as he read.  Would he think my tongue-in-cheek comments about becoming an ETA as amusing as I hoped they were?  To my delight, Brent laughed at all the right places.  Matt’s next set was about to begin, so Brent handed back my article commenting particularly on the part about ETAs, eyeliner, and Adam Lambert.  I quickly added that according to the editor of a local newspaper, my article was too long for any newspaper, so I was thinking of self-publishing on my, yet-to-be-developed, website.  There was something in Brent’s response that led me to believe I was onto something.  Two days later, on September 10th, 2017, SIDEBURNS:  The Ultimate ETA Fan Magazine was created.    

As the first of October approached, I reached the point in my article where the placement an ETA interview was optimum. On October 5th, I sent Brent a message asking if I might interview him for my online magazine. I was encouraged by the speed of Brent’s response to my request.  After conducting further research in order to prepare questions that best reflected Brent’s accomplishments, I fired off my interview questions. What came back was a list of witty, honest answers that reflect the charming personality of Brent Freeman.

Keeping His Memory Alive: Part Eight

Fans show their appreciation for a stellar performance by an ETA.

Keeping His Memory Alive:  Part Eight - Connection

The more I talk to fans about their experiences, the more convinced I am that my relatively new hobby of going to ETA concerts plays an important role in the lives of many women in a certain age category whom society often blurs over.  ETAs see the warmth and humour that women in their retirement years have to offer.  Some of the relationships between ETAs and their fans span more than twenty years.  Fans have watched their favourite ETAs closely, and they know more about them than just what they do on stage.  Some ETAs share stories about their families with the audience during their performances, but the intimacy with their followers goes beyond the amusing stories.  I have overheard fans tell the artists about their recent surgeries, or what their children have been up to lately.  Fans will ask about the artists' wives, and often present gifts for an ETA's birthday or new baby.  It may be just good business to listen to the stories of people who buy tickets to your concert, but I think they really do feel a connection to their fans.  The ETAs I have met seem very caring and sincere.  They all have an amazing knack for making you feel like you are the only person in the room when they are conversing with you.  You really have to like people if you choose a career as an ETA.  When I first spoke to Steve, Gordon, and Matt, I was struck by how down to earth they really are.  On stage, each puts on a killer performance, but off stage, to put in simple terms, 'they are nice guys'.  Perhaps it because they worked so hard on their careers, or maybe it stems from their upbringing, but all ETAs I have met are very approachable.  If an artist does develop an attitude, they risk losing fans.  But what really goes on in the minds of our favourite artists on stage, and off?  Through email interviews, I hope to receive insightful responses to my questions.  Cheers!  CM

Coming soon:  An exclusive interview with popular ETA , and 2014 Collingwood award winner, Brent Freeman!  Look for his amusing and insightful answers in my blog Spotlight.

Keeping His Memory Alive: Part Seven

After the Fergus concert, 2015.

Keeping His Memory Alive:  Part Seven:  Interaction

The concert venue on Saturday, November 28th, 2015 was a beautiful church in Fergus, Ontario.  It was my sixth concert since I first saw Steve Michaels (aka Stephen Michael Kabakos) on September 13th, 2015 at the Avalon Theatre at Fallsview Casino.  As I parked my car, I could almost feel the stained glass windows shake from the vibration of the band and the power of Steve's voice during rehearsal.  It was a cold November evening, and since it was too early to take a seat, I went for a cup of tea.  The only coffee shop nearby that was still open, was also getting ready to close.  The owner was kind enough to sell me a cup of Earl Grey, and take a moment to chat.  He told me he was in the process of making dinner for Steve and his crew, and it was almost ready for delivery.  I jokingly offered to take the prepared food over to the church; but of course that wasn't going to happen.  He said it was prearranged that someone from Steve's staff would be coming shortly to pick up the food.  I noticed two flyers on the café  bulletin board advertising the evening's concert, so I boldly asked if I might have one of them.  The café owner was very accommodating, and I happily walked away with my first souvenir of the evening.  By the time I returned to the church, the doors had opened and concert goers were quickly filling up the first-come, first-served seats (or more correctly, pews).  For some reason, the two ladies who entered before me took the second pew, which meant I had the front pew all to myself.  No one sat next to me because some of the equipment on the low stage blocked the view.

The concert was everything I hoped it would be.  Stephen looked great in his white Aloha jumpsuit, and with a low stage and intimate setting, I felt that I was part of the concert.   I knew from other concerts that scarves are normally handed out during "Suspicious Minds".  When the crucial moment arrived, as much as I wanted a scarf, I couldn't get up the nerve to be the first to approach the stage; but when the lady behind me ran to the stage without hesitation, I was dragged along by her enthusiasm.  When Steve placed a scarf around my neck and said, "It's nice to see you again," it was paramount to Prince Charles saying to me, "I hope you haven't come too far," as he shook my hand after his Dundurn Castle tour.  After the concert, the crowds dwindled down until there were only five people left in the church:  Steve, his stage manager, the concert organizer, the church lady, and me.  I blame the crazy November full moon for my inability to leave.  It was such an unusual circumstance for a fan to be placed, and I wanted to savour every moment.  Everyone of the 1500 fans who saw Steve daily in September would have done the same thing given the chance. I knew when they started talking business, it was my cue to leave. I haven't shared this experience with anyone, except my family, for fear of sounding foolish.  I have since learned that other women my age have their own sentimental, and sometimes kooky, story to share.  

At a recent ETA concert, a 71 year old lady told me that she gave Gordon Hendricks a glass of wine at his concert in Grimsby, Ontario while he was on stage.  It was the same concert that I attended, and I remember the moment very well.  She proudly told me that she has a photo of him giving her a hug.*  I have my own stories to share about Gordon Hendricks.  At the Hamilton, Ontario concert, I asked Gordon if I could interview him.  I was surprised, and pleased, when he said "yes".  On our second meeting after the Grimsby concert, I mentioned that my table was so far from the stage that he wasn't able to make it to my seat during his audience walkabout.  After hearing this, Gordon reached into a box of CDs and handed me a copy of his CD, It's a Matter of Time, which he later signed.  Little gestures go far in securing fan loyalty.

*I would be remiss if I didn't add another story involving the 71 year old lady.  After a concert we attended ended at midnight, she told me she was driving from Flamborough to Belleville so she could be first in line to purchase a ticket for her favourite ETA's upcoming concert.  What makes this story so amazing is that she was going to drive all night, and stop only for naps in her car on the way.  Now that is one dedicated fan!

In Part Eight:  Connected, I explore the unique relationship between ETAs and their fans.