20.30 PAC Arts Centre, NJ.
A balmy summer evening, a stroll around the amphitheatre and the grassed area, enjoying Kenny Wayne Shepherd and the atmosphere, heading towards a TCBY yoghurt-stand for an overpriced treat. Much public feeding-upon along the way. Although I declined to engage, I was driven from the counter while eyeing a potential delight.
It continues to amaze and surprise me that when an approach is declined, quite visibly and publicly, this has little effect. Nowadays in my touring life, I am imprisoned backstage. The post-gig feeding frenzy is conducted mainly by the business and guests. As the G4 of G3, the frenzy is much gentler, friendlier and less intense than with Crimson and Robert, as opening act and support, has an easier time. The varying degrees-of-demand approaches have removed much of the joy from my professional life.
I go to a performance to engage with the audience, not defend myself from them. But during tonight’s Soundscapes there were several attempts to interrupt my concentration and attract my attention while I was playing. I'm not sure whether the characters who wanted to talk to me (alternatively, seek acknowledgement of their presence) might interpret their demand for attention in this way. Perhaps I should simply accept that standards of public behaviour have fallen, give up playing in public, or take very short runs of touring where I accept a life of being pecked alive.
Today Toyah opens in Much Ado About Nothing at Ludlow Castle. Although it has been impossible to speak with our different schedules, I was able to confirm that a bouquet of flowers arrived at her hotel.
Bill Forth has managed to get some new glasses – John and Bill got lost while looking for lunch and ended up by an optometrist! Tomorrow we leave at 7.00 for a long drive to Buffalo. Ouch.
"Silence is a distant echo of the approach of the Muse."
