Humble Pie: What NOT to Say to an Artist
This past Sunday morning I found myself having one of the more humbling conversations I've had with someone in a while. I will do my best to transcribe for you below the gist of our conversation. The whole conversation lasted no more than 4 minutes, and all the way I was thinking, "This is going to make a GREAT blog post!!" Please understand - I really don't believe there was anything malicious about this conversation... I'll just chalk it up to cluelessness. (Names have been changed to protect the identity of "Clueless Joe".) I've included some "What NOT to say to an artist" tips for those of you who may not catch them...
JT: "Hi, I'm Jeremy."
CJ: "Hey - I'm Clueless Joe. Do you play with downhere?"
JT: "Yeah, I do, actually."
CJ: "That's cool! My wife and I just picked up your album last week."
JT: "Oh, that's great, man! Thanks!"
CJ: "Yeah, we were in Lifeway and are suckers for that $10 discount rack." (Tip #1: Don't tell the artist his record is in the discount bin!!)
JT: "Oh, wow. Well, that's awesome man - I'm glad you got it."
CJ: "Yeah... my wife doesn't like it." (Tip #2: Don't tell the artist you don't like their record!!)
JT: "Oh..."
CJ: "Yeah - I guess I'd better listen to the album this week now that I've met you." (Tip #3: Don't tell an artist you feel obligated to listen to their record!)
JT: (Trying not to act too bewildered and deflated) "Yeah, I guess so!"
CJ: "I think it's in my car right now... right beside David Crowder. And if it's between you and Crowder, you know he's going to win every time!!" (Tip #4: This one's stinkin' obvious!!)
JT: (Attempting to bow out of the conversation and find a corner to lick my wounds and swallow the heaping serving of humble pie just shoved down my throat) "That's nice... Well, great to meet you! I hope you enjoy the album!"
You guys are the best! Don't worry about C.J. (though I doubt you're really concerned). You guys have one of the best sounds there is out there, and I really mean that. Though you may not be my absolute favorite (this may be solved by seeing you in concert), you've got a place in my heart far above David Crowder Band ^_^
Posted by: anon4him | March 23, 2008 at 09:23 PM
oh man! Christians are especially clueless me-thinks (that was in honor of st. patty's day). When I worked at a Christian bookstore that my family owned, people would often questions like "is this book cheaper at Wal-Mart?" or "Thanks for letting me listen to that CD, I'm going to order it online." Maybe in churches we need to add Manners 101 as a pre-requisite to Membership 101. haha
Posted by: marcia | March 19, 2008 at 01:43 AM
OUCH! Some people.......I won't even finish.
Posted by: Laura | March 16, 2008 at 11:12 PM
i guess the odd slice of humble pie is good for everyone?! but still, what was wrong with that guy??? President of the "Open mouth, insert foot Club"?
I read your blog out loud to Rob, who was in the other room. We both laughed at your tips and cringed at the buddy's insensitivity. . geez, some people!!!
your CDs. . and we have every one. . . are all worn out! Downhere ROCKS!!! boourns to clueless!
Posted by: kathryn | March 15, 2008 at 08:49 PM
WEll his wife plain out has TERRIBLE Taste!!! No Doubt!! Not only are you guys my choice over any other artist, you are in 4 out of 6 of my CD spots in the car!!
Croweder over DH?!? Peshaw
Posted by: Deena | March 14, 2008 at 01:39 PM
LOL! Excellent laughs! Reminds me of The O'Reilly Factor when Bill said to Michael W. Smith, "So, you've got an album coming out soon... that must be pretty exciting for you!" -saying it as if it was his first album- To which Michael replied quite humbly, "Well, yes I do... it's my 19th..."
Posted by: Holly Ross | March 13, 2008 at 11:58 PM
David who? :)
Posted by: Carla | March 13, 2008 at 11:16 PM
I still remember the "Clueless Joe" moment my hubby had with you about a year ago (hopefully you've forgotten it). I had tried to stop him from shoving his large foot into his mouth, but there's only so much a wife can do... I don't think he was quite as (cluelessly) offensive as this guy though!
Posted by: Amy | March 13, 2008 at 11:10 PM
Duh! Of course downhere wins over David Crowder every time!!!!
And I mean that, I really really do.
Posted by: Zach | March 13, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Wait... you're in a band??!!
Posted by: Brody Harper | March 13, 2008 at 07:55 PM
If it makes you feel any better, Thunder After Lightening was one of the CD's I brought into work to listen to this week.
Thanks for the laugh.
Mark
Posted by: Carstairs38 | March 13, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Dude. Too funny.
Reminds me of my own moment. A few months after I left the band, I was in a music store in Atlanta picking up some stuff. We bought THOUSANDS of dollars of gear from these folks. I still had long hair. A six-foot poster of us was on the wall BEHIND me as I was at the register.
The guy kept staring at me.
Finally he says -
"Do I know you?"
I smile and point at the poster behind me. His face brightens and he replies:
"Man, I KNEW you used to be somebody!"
Posted by: Paul J. | March 13, 2008 at 11:56 AM
That's hysterical!
And if it makes you feel any better, I have more of your albums than Crowder's. Hehe.
Thanks for posting.
Posted by: bobby | March 13, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Ha ha ha ha. Sorry, man. If this helps at all . . . I listened to every one of your albums last week . . . AGAIN. Can't wait for the new one. Love it. Genius. Not blowing smoke. Poetry. Moving. Fun. Check. Check. Check. As a matter of fact, I am going to stop listening to this John Tesh CD I can't get enough of and listen to your CD's again.
Posted by: JVo | March 13, 2008 at 10:42 AM
That is my official "good laugh" of the day! Thanks, Jeremy, for sharing that one!
wow!
Posted by: Nathan Gaddis | March 13, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Ha! That's worth a good laugh. At least he recognized you. You're absolutely correct that this kind of conversation is perfect fodder for a blog.
Maybe I should give that album a listen, if only I could stop listening to my Air Supply greatest hits ;)
Posted by: euphrony | March 13, 2008 at 08:38 AM