OT - How do you guys/gals get these pics w/ band members?

[epoy]

Let me say this...I've said some terrible things in the past about some of the members and wholeheartedly acknowledge that. I can't go back and change what I said. I can only own up to them, apologize and move on. I talked to Tito about the possibility of Journey and/or security telling me "You're not welcome here" and would have understood and walked away with no questions asked. That said, I am very thankful I wasn't and was treated very warm and welcome by everyone. I do understand that they now know for sure (maybe they did last night, maybe not) who I am and would walk away at their request in the future. Words have consequences and if they ever choose to not let me have access again (if that should happen) they will still be my favorite abnd and I will still think they're all good, decent guys. They simply are. They've made mistakes and so have I...simple as that. Rock on, Journey!!!

Dan

They've heard that you are planning to make it to the Philippines next year so they'll take care of you there. LOL Good post Dan.

[Rick]

I think they understand the passion of their fans, or I hope they do. If not, then I'm fucked also.

With 20,000+ showing up to major venues they could have easily been vindictive and sent my ass packing with no practical repercussions, but didn't...at least not yet!!! Again, I would understand. I think it was one of Stu's posts that made me realize it was time to take the army helet off, take off the fatigues and turn in my grenades and quit acting like an asshole. Life is so much more enjoyable not being a malcontent!!! Tito also bitched me out on several occasions and gave me the "Stop it!!!" speech. Thanks to both.

What would you have done if JT told you to GTFO?

[Saint John]

They've heard that you are planning to make it to the Philippines next year so they'll take care of you there.

Shit...never thought of that!!!

Good post Dan.

Thank you!

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

I learned all of my tactics from the best...Gayle!!!

LOL

Persuasive lady isn't she?

Nah...just "crafty" with finely tuned skills!!!

Finely tines skills...LOL...I like crafty...crafty works...finely tuned skills sounds a bit suggestive though!

LOL...damn women have the advantage of "cleavage!!!"

not all of us.

it's pretty easy. just ask and say please. works most every time.

in Houston, the ILAA pit bull sez, no groping, no kissing, no hugging no etc the band members!!!!

ok, thinks me, the answer is always no if you don't ask. so I ask. "Neal, may I please have a hug?"


he checks for danger and then complies.

I have been granted access much the same way over the years, before ILAA meet and greets. just ask. most of the time, some one says yes. What if YOU were a rock star and no one asked for your autograph? pretty sad. they want us to be with them. ask. I only wrote directly to a band member once for meet and greet passes and I received them. other times, new friends had extras and drug me along. other times, I was just standing in the right place and someone decides they have to go, gave up the meet and greet and passed them to me. ask.

this is wordy but you asked. there are millions of ways to get what you really really want. I have really really really wanted to just be close enough to Neal, every year since '98, to say, 'I've missed you! you did a great job, thanks for coming and playing for us'. or if before the show, 'have a great show!" just ask. i didn't have the guts in '86. but then again, Ross WASN"T THERE SO WHAT WAS THE POINT!!! breathe breathe breathe............................

lesson over. there will be short quiz tomorrow...............

[DrFU]

Make enough deposits into the bank of Random Acts of Kindness, and eventually it's your turn to make a withdrawal ...

[Saint John]

I think they understand the passion of their fans, or I hope they do. If not, then I'm fucked also.

With 20,000+ showing up to major venues they could have easily been vindictive and sent my ass packing with no practical repercussions, but didn't...at least not yet!!! Again, I would understand. I think it was one of Stu's posts that made me realize it was time to take the army helet off, take off the fatigues and turn in my grenades and quit acting like an asshole. Life is so much more enjoyable not being a malcontent!!! Tito also bitched me out on several occasions and gave me the "Stop it!!!" speech. Thanks to both.

What would you have done if JT told you to GTFO?

I would have respected his wishes and left.

[Saint John]

Make enough deposits into the bank of Random Acts of Kindness, and eventually it's your turn to make a withdrawal ...

Well said. I've started doing that and it works!!!

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

[What would you have done if JT told you to GTFO?

I would have respected his wishes and left.

JT told me to GTFLUFFO one time and I did. but he had an armed guard so I was more than persuaded to comply. remember linda, gayle, jenn and Val? new orleans?

JT realized he had made a mistake and came to get us soon enough tho'. he said 'I'm sorry, come in!! Now run to Neal. '

??????????????????????

duh

[DrFU]

[What would you have done if JT told you to GTFO?

I would have respected his wishes and left.

JT told me to GTFLUFFO one time and I did. but he had an armed guard so I was more than persuaded to comply. remember linda, gayle, jenn and Val? new orleans?

JT realized he had made a mistake and came to get us soon enough tho'. he said 'I'm sorry, come in!! Now run to Neal. '

??????????????????????

duh

I just gave him the death-ray stare and went in anyway.

Kindness as a general rule, well-honed attitude when required ...

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

[What would you have done if JT told you to GTFO?

I would have respected his wishes and left.

JT told me to GTFLUFFO one time and I did. but he had an armed guard so I was more than persuaded to comply. remember linda, gayle, jenn and Val? new orleans?

JT realized he had made a mistake and came to get us soon enough tho'. he said 'I'm sorry, come in!! Now run to Neal. '

??????????????????????

duh

I just gave him the death-ray stare and went in anyway.

Kindness as a general rule, well-honed attitude when required ...

or death rays work too.

[Sarah]

No one ever let me tag along with them backstage. I do not understand how certain people get in every time, I'm sure I couldn't make friends like that. The three times I've been backstage were through the generosity of CJ (Argus) since I mod the forum.

But before that I did meet Jon at a golf tournament, and shook hands with the rest of them at the WOF but I don't count that as meeting, since there were so many people they weren't looking at who they were signing for or anything.

[escapefan]

OK I know I am new to the boards, Saint John, how do they know who you are?

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

No one ever let me tag along with them backstage. I do not understand how certain people get in every time, I'm sure I couldn't make friends like that. The three times I've been backstage were through the generosity of CJ (Argus) since I mod the forum.

But before that I did meet Jon at a golf tournament, and shook hands with the rest of them at the WOF but I don't count that as meeting, since there were so many people they weren't looking at who they were signing for or anything.

i have been so blessed--that's all i can chalk it up to. (that sentence sux)

I have never met up with them outside the shows. they have been around plenty but I just have never wanted to just walk up. cluck cluck cluck..JSS walked up to me in VA outside the vip food tent--scared the sch..........well ya know. I had NO IDEA what I was supposed to say. I stood there like a ........dork. how do you people stand me?? I did approach Neal at Loffler's. had nothig to say. um.....er........ah.....oh.......I just walked away. STUPID STUPID STUPID!! that's why i don't do it.

[Ratgirl]

Make enough deposits into the bank of Random Acts of Kindness, and eventually it's your turn to make a withdrawal ...

Well said. I've started doing that and it works!!!

Dangit.. I gotta stop being so mean then.

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

Make enough deposits into the bank of Random Acts of Kindness, and eventually it's your turn to make a withdrawal ...

Well said. I've started doing that and it works!!!

you are doing a great job, too. I'm proud of you.

[Sarah]

i have been so blessed--that's all i can chalk it up to. (that sentence sux)

You must be. I feel like if I just asked someone to let me in they would laugh in my face.

[WIX]

Shrooms, makes every thing just work out fine....

[stevew2]

Let me say this...I've said some terrible things in the past about some of the members and wholeheartedly acknowledge that. I can't go back and change what I said. I can only own up to them, apologize and move on. I talked to Tito about the possibility of Journey and/or security telling me "You're not welcome here" and would have understood and walked away with no questions asked. That said, I am very thankful I wasn't and was treated very warm and welcome by everyone. I do understand that they now know for sure (maybe they did last night, maybe not) who I am and would walk away at their request in the future. Words have consequences and if they ever choose to not let me have access again (if that should happen) they will still be my favorite abnd and I will still think they're all good, decent guys. They simply are. They've made mistakes and so have I...simple as that. Rock on, Journey!!!

Dan

I respect how you feel SJ. I dont feel the same though.I have no desire to ever meet them again,and I have no apologies to tell them either. Id like to meet Arnel, but if not ,thats fine. I ve met them all before,and it was really cool at the time.I love their music, and the songs will always be special to me. Nothing can take that away, even their fucked up behavior.I enjoy the music of Journey as much as you dude.I just choose to keep a safe distance from them.I thought of them to highly, and was let down to many times.Ill enjoy the music, and Ill stop it there. What you do is your business, You enjoy your Journey, ill enjoy mine ,

[MartyMoffatt]

I've met the band (or at least various members) perhaps a couple of dozen times, in a variety of circumstances. The first time was a few years ago at a M&G my wife and I acquired through the generosity of former Mod Journeycat. Further M&Gs have come either from friends who know the band, or from band members themselves (particulary Steve Augeri and JSS) either in appreciation for the charity work we do in Journey's name in the UK, or because of the photography work I do for JSS. We also run Journey conventions in the UK and helped organise some of the M&Gs when they toured here (the first two tours anyway - there were no official M&Gs on the last with Arnel).

M&Gs are OK, but conversation with the band is quite limited and rarely more than 1-2 minutes at most, as they try to work their way round to see everybody there. At bigger shows, the M&G is literally a procession past the band, to get maybe one item signed, and often only one or two band members will be there - it certainly isn't an environment conducive to getting to know the band intimately.

Things are more relaxed when you meet the band outside of the show environment. We once bumped into Ross in a hotel in Edinburgh. After a long chat with him he went off and came back a while later with Steve Augeri and Jonathan and we had the chance to chat with them at length too. With all the band members, they seem more than happy to stop and talk with fans, especially if it is a familiar face when they are in a strange city.

More recently, I've been extremely fortunate to be invited by the band to meet with them on a few occasions, as it turns out they love my photos. Again, conversations tend to be fairly short as they are busy people, but you do get to see that they are genuine, normal guys who just happen to have a great job. They take their job seriously, but do have a laugh and joke with each other too.

So what I'm saying, basically, is that it is better to meet them by chance than through some organised activity like a M&G. You'll get more of a chance to see the real person behind the idol persona.

Marty

[Babyblue]

photoshop

That was a good one.

[Saint John]

OK I know I am new to the boards, Saint John, how do they know who you are?

I don't know for sure that they did. But I'm sure if they see the picture with me and Jon they'll know. Which is ok as I respect their right to know who I am. I wasn't trying to "sneak" into the meet and greet and actually thought about telling Jon who I was and apologizing for some of the things I've said in the past about the band, but decided that would be better to do in a more private setting...not in front of 50 people. My meet and greets were 10 years apart so I'm not slated for another one until 2018!!! Jon will be 68 then...I think I'll be able to take him by then!!!

[Saint John]

Make enough deposits into the bank of Random Acts of Kindness, and eventually it's your turn to make a withdrawal ...

Well said. I've started doing that and it works!!!

you are doing a great job, too. I'm proud of you.

Thanks, mom...I mean, Mimi!!!

[Saint John]

I respect how you feel SJ.

Thanks, Steve.

I dont feel the same though. I have no desire to ever meet them again,and I have no apologies to tell them either.

And that's your right...but you might wanna apologize to Jon. Either that or never answer any piano tuning calls that place you in the middle of a rural field!!! I'm telling ya man. I've met the guy 3 times. Once in 1998 at a meet and greet that Deen gave me 4 passes to, on the street in downtown Milwaukee and Friday night, and I have to say that he was very pleasant all 3 times (except a minor Perry comment in 1998 that at the time pissed me off...former Loon here ). He was genuinely happy to be mingling with fans Friday night...no way he was faking it. Hell, it was Arnel's personal meet and greet...he didn't have to be there. At this point, you're probably past the point of no return with him, though.

I have no desire to ever meet them again,and I have no apologies to tell them either.

Again...your right, but I think you've blasted Jon pretty good and might wanna apologize for that. Seriously, what has he ever done to YOU?

Id like to meet Arnel, but if not ,thats fine.

My 10 second meeting with him was really cool. Arnel has a smile that lights up the room and the deer in the headlights look he has when people surround him is pretty cool. He seems like a really grounded man and that's something cool to see firsthand.

I ve met them all before,and it was really cool at the time.I love their music, and the songs will always be special to me. Nothing can take that away, even their fucked up behavior.

I am as guilty as anyone of getting caught up and acting like a jerk (kind of like you do now to Cain ). I wish I hadn't ever known some of the things that go on in the band, but hey, we only get bits and pieces and don't know what repercussions they have contractually and so on. I've acted like an ass toward Perry lately and that has STOPPED and will continue to stay that way. He's never done anything to me but give me unbelievable music. His battle with Journey is just that...HIS. Me running around attacking the guy was just plain fucking stupid...same with current members. Steve Perry and the current members are good, decent people (Did I just say that?!?! ) Imperfect like the rest of us.

I enjoy the music of Journey as much as you dude.

Cool;anyone that doesn't like Journey's music is goin

g to hell.

I just choose to keep a safe distance from them.

Probably in your best interest at this time!!!

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

So what I'm saying, basically, is that it is better to meet them by chance than through some organised activity like a M&G. You'll get more of a chance to see the real person behind the idol persona.

Marty

well, sometimes. I've actually spent 20 minutes or more with Jon and Neal on several occassions one on one during the m&gs. it depends on when it is, where they've been, what time it's over, where they are going. if the venue charges them to stay longer, where they are on the lineup--you get the picture. (opps--pun!)

they wouldn't laugh at you Sarah--go ahead -ask.

[Sarah]

I have no desire to ever meet them again,and I have no apologies to tell them either.

Again...your right, but I think you've blasted Jon pretty good and might wanna apologize for that. Seriously, what has he ever done to YOU?

Why apologize? Celebrities get made fun of all the time and they never did anything to that person. Look at Perez Hilton's blog and you'll see. Just because Journey has a less anonymous fanbase (which is their own fault) they might happen to see such things... they should get over it if they're not already.

I know some people (not necessarily you guys) are convinced they are really friends with the band members, I don't think they view it as the same relationship at all. We will always be fans to them, just some fans get more privileges which is deceiving. So you're not going to make them cry over teasing online.

[Ratgirl]

So what I'm saying, basically, is that it is better to meet them by chance than through some organised activity like a M&G. You'll get more of a chance to see the real person behind the idol persona.

Marty

well, sometimes. I've actually spent 20 minutes or more with Jon and Neal on several occassions one on one during the m&gs. it depends on when it is, where they've been, what time it's over, where they are going. if the venue charges them to stay longer, where they are on the lineup--you get the picture. (opps--pun!)

they wouldn't laugh at you Sarah--go ahead -ask.

Yup.. we lucked out in July running into most of the guys at the bar at the Hard Rock. Deen and Ross were around for most of the evening. All of them were great and didnt mind the pictures and hanging out with us.

M&G's are horrible.. unless your just in it to get a few things autographed. Usually there are so many people there who are wanting to spend time with the guys your time is limited.

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

I have no desire to ever meet them again,and I have no apologies to tell them either.

Again...your right, but I think you've blasted Jon pretty good and might wanna apologize for that. Seriously, what has he ever done to YOU?

Why apologize? Celebrities get made fun of all the time and they never did anything to that person. Look at Perez Hilton's blog and you'll see. Just because Journey has a less anonymous fanbase (which is their own fault) they might happen to see such things... they should get over it if they're not already.

I know some people (not necessarily you guys) are convinced they are really friends with the band members, I don't think they view it as the same relationship at all. We will always be fans to them, just some fans get more privileges which is deceiving. So you're not going to make them cry over teasing online.

yeah, I totally don't claim to be friends with any of them--I've just been around a lot so they recognize me, i suppose.

That would have to go much further to be friends. they don't know anything about me. we think we know everything about them but we don't. I live in the real world. I am a fan and am star struck at nearly every meeting still.

I understand why it is so hard for stars to date and all. it would be totally weird for me to go like for coffee. I have been to dinner with one star in a big group but it was still a little un nerving. so it must be weird for them too--does the person see me as me or as a rock god kinda deal. i dunno. this scenerio stumps me.

[StoneCold]

I have no desire to ever meet them again,and I have no apologies to tell them either.

Again...your right, but I think you've blasted Jon pretty good and might wanna apologize for that. Seriously, what has he ever done to YOU?

Why apologize? Celebrities get made fun of all the time and they never did anything to that person. Look at Perez Hilton's blog and you'll see. Just because Journey has a less anonymous fanbase (which is their own fault) they might happen to see such things... they should get over it if they're not already.

I know some people (not necessarily you guys) are convinced they are really friends with the band members, I don't think they view it as the same relationship at all. We will always be fans to them, just some fans get more privileges which is deceiving. So you're not going to make them cry over teasing online.

I'll venture to say that Stevew2 is Cain's biggest fan, / if ya no wat i meen

[Sarah]

That would have to go much further to be friends. they don't know anything about me. we think we know everything about them but we don't.

we have a winner

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

[
I'll venture to say that Stevew2 is Cain's biggest fan, / if ya no wat i meen

(hey, SC, I'm listening to JLT right now. SC is up next. I told you I listen to it all the time)