As we were leaving the concert Tuesday night, a lady behind the tour merchandise booth was holding up a sign reading "After Show". I was wondering if this was a new method of rounding up people for the meet and greet or if it was for some other purpose? Unfortunately, I didn't have time to go over and ask, as I had two guests who wanted to get home ASAP. And having already met Loreena twice earlier, there wasn't a sense of urgency to find out. Just hoping to hear from someone who gathered under the sign.

That sounds like quite an experience, Malin. Sometimes those customs people aren't so understanding. I'm glad you made it and got to the aftershow. You deserved it for crossing an ocean for just a concert.

quote:

Originally posted by Dan:
Thanks, Malin. How did they know you were coming from Sweden?

Hihi, I was so excited after ordering the tickets (via internet, JBC website) that I simply had to write to QR. I wrote a really happy email about how glad I was that Loreena'd tour again (since I missed the europe tour...-_-') and told that I come from Sweden, but that I was only happy to travel so far to attend the concert. I really must be mad.... hahaha - my friends still can't understand how I pulled it off...

BTW, me and my stepfather (whom I travelled with) got stuck in the canadian immigration custom... We had travelled all the way to Toronto. But I had no paper signed by my biological parents that said that I was allowed to travel with my stepfather, and my stepfather - he is from Germany (and so also my tBOS-album ^^,)- had not brought his proof that he live and work here in Sweden...we didn't know that we needed that. The woman behind the desk gazed at us with that face "oh my God, they don't know anything. Tourists" (HOW I REMEMBER IT WELL!!) and asked me to show our concert tickets. She had a look at it, then she looked at me and said:
"you travel an AWFUL long way only to go to a concert."
Well, some seconds later we left that costum behind, she believed us even without those papers...but man, I was scared there... that was by far the worst five minutes in my whole life so far. I will always remember it too for the beautiful stamp she made in my passport. But my dear stepfather, he is always so calm. It doesn't matter if we miss a flight (as we did in Philadelphia on our way to Canada...), got stuck in the customs or stood eye-to-eye with Loreena McKennitt.
Afterwards, as we got our baggage and left Toronto airport to get the train to London, he said happily:
"Pheow, that was close, right?"


What memories.....

From the insert in the program that was handed out at the shows:

"Directly following the show, the musicians
usually head back to the hotel and I stay at the venue to meet friends, business colleagues
and special guests. Following this, I am usually found signing autographs if there are
people waiting at the stage door."

quote:

Originally posted by Very Old Elf:
May I ask something now? :
really? in 40 years of concerts, you never saw people allowed to go in backstage whereas fans where not?
because I think here in Europe it happens in every concert: as far I remember I saw people after the show, talk to "the big guy" of the security and go to the backstage.
And it's quite normal in my point of view: relatives (it is the good word for family and friends?) go to the backstage to congratulate, support, say hello, give their impression, etc. in a quiet place where people give more than ask. And fortunately: I think it would be very hard and very sad for performer to be alone after a show or just surrounded by fans (even if we they are far to be monsters in Loreena's case )...

Best regards, and... welcome on board, hoping that you find here friends and share good moments with them .

Old Elf,
It must be very different here at a concert than where you are, as in my area at least, I have never been to a concert where a group of people in plain view gathered and had the chance to go back stage. Now it may be that these things go on, but it is hidden from the general public. The artists here must be spending a lot of time meeting and signing autographs as that has been what I have seen over the years. In a lot of places, the artists come to the lobby and greet their fans. That is not the situation with the event we are talking about and it was a totally new way of doing things. Maybe it is the way of the future and I am stuck remembering the "old" ways. Thank you for the dialog and perhaps we have all learned a few things here.
Kind regards.

quote:

Originally posted by Shan-Lyn:

....

Trish,

Thank you again for being there. Aye, what are friends for.
I also had an interesting journey - apparently, I was sighted in Houston, probably near NASA.

*Mission Control, we have a problem*

I am still chuckling at that one.
Mum sends you her love.

Blessings,
Shan

"The human mind is an incredible machine, and sometimes it is best to stay out of people's labyrinths" (your words)

My words: How dare you didn't invite me to NASA. You little space cadet you, lol.
Shan, I don't envy your position. Hope your up to par.

Are you still going to the concert in November?

Trish xx

quote:

Originally posted by Rick M:
Elf, I think you missed my point. I have been a great fan of Loreena for years. I have purchased every CD and DVD she has put out. I feel as a fan, I should have as good a chance to meet her and get an autograph after a show as any other fan. I do not expect Loreena to spend hours and hours after each show with her fans, but would like to know what is it that gets some people the ability to have that chance and others are never even told how they can apply for a chance. It somehow seems not fair. I could easier understand it if all the dedicated fans were to line up after the show and then someone comes out and says " sorry but we can only allow the first 15 of 20 people to have this chance to meet the artist". You know, first come, first served, everyone has an equal chance to see someone famous that only has a small amount of time. What I could not understand is why someone could be excluded without a reason. I've been going to concerts for 40 years, and I have waited in some long lines to get an autograph and meet an artist that I admire, lots of times I did not get to meet the artist, but I never felt excluded from the group. It was just that time ran out and I was not lucky enough to be in the front of the line. I somehow felt better in those situations.
I am curious how the number of posts I have here comes in to play in your reply Old Elf. Does the fact that I do not post here make me any less of a Loreena McKennitt fan than you, and therefore I am not able to post a question and seek an answer to my questions?

Mmm, I see now where you are making a mistake:
it's not something about being a fan or not, because, really I think that you are a fan whereas, I'm not and -I'm sorry if I disappoint Loreena or some forum users- I don't run for her CD, her photo or her autograph and the only time I asked her one -yes, I know "shame on me"- it was for a friend of mine to see her closer by "curiosity" the first time I saw her... I have almost all her CD but I don't have a collection of Loreena's stuff as some fans have.

And so, you think you are only on a fans'forum, whereas, for some of us, it's more than this:
here we share moments, thoughts, and other things of our life.
Some forumers had lost friends and came here to find some comfort, some of our younger forumers "asked help" or support at the beginning of september because they where lost in their new school, sometime we worried about someone who didn't post for a long time...

So, it's not a point about being a fan or an old fan, it's a point about act correctly on a forum where you are new and you don't know the habits and the "way to live" (and, in my experience, it's the same thing on every forum I subscribed to, and I think it's more than normal).


Then, yes, having a guy who comes and write questions as you did (specially now that I saw that you can express yourself well in a softer and more comprehensible way, showing that you are able of something else), at a moment not easy for those who had the answer because the tour was not finished (with all that it means : tiredness, logistical things to care, perhaps problems, etc.etc.), just after the end of the process and all what happened around, sounded more as the scream of a "selfish child" (sorry) who wanted something "right here, right now"...



Now that I expressed this, you probably realize that, if you are a polite person -as I think you are-, you would not have behave like this "in real life" ... (except perhaps in an administrative office because only them know how to drive people crazy -please, don't tell me that you are an inspector of taxes ! - )



- - - - -

May I ask something now? :
really? in 40 years of concerts, you never saw people allowed to go in backstage whereas fans where not?
because I think here in Europe it happens in every concert: as far I remember I saw people after the show, talk to "the big guy" of the security and go to the backstage.
And it's quite normal in my point of view: relatives (it is the good word for family and friends?) go to the backstage to congratulate, support, say hello, give their impression, etc. in a quiet place where people give more than ask. And fortunately: I think it would be very hard and very sad for performer to be alone after a show or just surrounded by fans (even if we they are far to be monsters in Loreena's case )...



About the idea to let enter the 15 or 20 first fans, with the few things I know about Loreena and the will of QR, to treat well the fans, I can't imagine them acting like this. I can't imagine also Loreena feeling comfortable if the 21st begin to fight with the 20th ... (well I say this but perhaps she would appreciate that some fight for her lol )...



Best regards, and... welcome on board, hoping that you find here friends and share good moments with them .

quote:

Originally posted by Very Old Elf:

quote:

Originally posted by Dan...)What kind of connections do these people have? Did they make a large contribution to the Cook-Rees fund? Are they movers and shakers in the local arts scene? Friends of the concert promoter? Long-time fans known to Loreena? (...)

It's perhaps all these things at the same time or something else. I absolutely don't know.
But I know that there's a more courteous way to ask about this than sending a succession of questions which gives the impression that you DEMAND an answer (specially when you're new on the forum and it's your 4th post).

It's not because we are on QR forum that we have the right to know all.
Imagine that, yes, there's a way to have a pass to this "After Show".
Do you estimate that it would be logical to write it here?
What will happen after (specially that you can see all the posts even if you didn't subscribe)? It will be as crowded as a "normal" meet and great? They will have to limit the number of entry ? And I don't know what else...



As I said, I absolutely don't know "what, how and who", but, whatever are the "criteria of admission" , they have their reason to do it in this way and I think that they -or Loreena herself- chose those "criteria" in a logical reflection and according to what they could offer and to their needs...


Of course, I think that if they want to answer, they will.
But we have no right to order them to answer and specially in this way...



(after I understand that sometimes you post too fast something and, as it's not a place you can edit just after because it takes time to be on the board, it's too late to "fix it"... I myself, wanted to edit my previous post in the following hour, to "moderate" myself, but I couldn't...)

-

Elf, I think you missed my point. I have been a great fan of Loreena for years. I have purchased every CD and DVD she has put out. I feel as a fan, I should have as good a chance to meet her and get an autograph after a show as any other fan. I do not expect Loreena to spend hours and hours after each show with her fans, but would like to know what is it that gets some people the ability to have that chance and others are never even told how they can apply for a chance. It somehow seems not fair. I could easier understand it if all the dedicated fans were to line up after the show and then someone comes out and says " sorry but we can only allow the first 15 of 20 people to have this chance to meet the artist". You know, first come, first served, everyone has an equal chance to see someone famous that only has a small amount of time. What I could not understand is why someone could be excluded without a reason. I've been going to concerts for 40 years, and I have waited in some long lines to get an autograph and meet an artist that I admire, lots of times I did not get to meet the artist, but I never felt excluded from the group. It was just that time ran out and I was not lucky enough to be in the front of the line. I somehow felt better in those situations.
I am curious how the number of posts I have here comes in to play in your reply Old Elf. Does the fact that I do not post here make me any less of a Loreena McKennitt fan than you, and therefore I am not able to post a question and seek an answer to my questions?

Mark, thanks for satisfying our curiosity and posting how people are selected for the aftershow. It sounds pretty reasonable and about just what I suspected. Now at least I don't have to worry about possibly missing out on something I could've gotten into.

quote:

Originally posted by Celtickat:

quote:

Originally posted by Trish:

****I'm gathering by your experiences with her at your informal meet and greets with her that she doesn't like to have any photos taken.****

I didn't mean to sound redundant for you.

Well--that was only my attempt to 'add a little levity' to a issue which somehow nearly overtook the intent of the original topic, here...moderators, please forgive me while I 'hijack' said topic and run just a little further with it...

Hmm--how v-e-e-e-r-y interesting. I just did go in and have a peek at what's been going on in the Old Ways list, and guess what? Bingo! You guessed it: 'questions' and 'answers' galore, regarding this very same photography quandary!

And you know what else has been happening over there? Uhm--it regards blogs and comments of various and sundrey, plus links to them having been posted intentionally by the owners of said blogs, etc. Just thought you might like to know about that.

Hey--wanna come join the OWL? It's easy enough to do, and a fun place to come spend a little time now and then!

Hehe--be forewarned though, that Loreena does personally read through her OWL 'daily digests' often enough. Somehow, we manage to go on chatting and having a grand old time there anyway, one or the other of us (myself included) occasionally making some foolish gaff or another. Come to think of it...I may have just cornered the market on that 'oops!' business myself, although I can promise y'all that it's never been intentional.

Jeanne

Good morning Jeanne,

I arrived in Montreal last night, and will have a week of time on my hands to help my friend out. She'll be needing all the help she can at this time as further complications have set in.

I have never heard of the Old Ways List. Perhaps if you could point me in the right direction? While I'm here I may decide to go see what OWL is all about.

Best regards,
Trish

I no uderstand...but is there others concerts in Europe or no??
Betty

quote:

Originally posted by Celtickat:


***Sorry, redundancy now growing a bit here***

Jeanne

Forgive me, as I received the impression that you had met and knew Loreena informally by what you explained in your first post (which is also what led me to believe that you might have been a moderator also:

quote:

Somehow, for me, the 'informal' setup seems perhaps more appropriate than a 'backstage pass' formal party-type meet-and-greet might feel. Too many people, too much confusion, etc.

Which is why I asked:

****I'm gathering by your experiences with her at your informal meet and greets with her that she doesn't like to have any photos taken.****

I didn't mean to sound redundant for you.

Trish

quote:

Originally posted by Celtickat:
I simply think one cannot just 'ask' Quinlan Road or even Loreena herself for such an invitation, that's all.

I concur. There's just an element of awkwardness about asking for that, that at least for me I don't feel I have the right or the confidence to ask for, not to mention how embarrassing it would be to be denied. I think LM has done so much to be available for fans after the show that to ask for anything more than that almost seems ungrateful.
This is not to diminish those on this forum and others who have had that opportunity either through asking or through invitation from QR. The above is my own personal opinion, so please don't jump on me for that.

Angie

quote:

Originally posted by Trish:
I'm gathering by your experiences with her at your informal meet and greets with her that she doesn't like to have any photos taken.

LM's policy of photo taking has been expressed in her Notes from the Road, in which she states that she doesn't want photos taken of her without her permission, as she doesn't like the prevailing attitude that just because you're famous means that people can just snap off as many pictures as they please. When I met her in Chicago, I assumed this extended to after-show meet and greets, so I didn't even bother with bringing a camera. It also wasn't my first thought to ask for a photo cause I assumed she would decline on the basis of her policy in NftR, but she was very gracious and accepted. As I stated in a post on another forum, I think she accepts more on the basis if someone is kind enough to ask, but I've always gotten the gist she wouldn't be very pleased if someone just took a picture at a meet and greet and didn't have the presence of mind to ask first. It seems common sense, but you know as well as I that it goes out the window from time to time.

Angie

quote:

Originally posted by Celtickat:

I must say that I've really enjoyed being at four of the little informal meet-and-greets normally held after the 'official' ones conclude. For me, they have such a nice feel to them, and aside from that one 'crazy lady' back in Asheville, NC last April, I never saw anything but the utmost in respect being shown, not only to you, Mark, and to Loreena, but also to the other fans waiting to say hello. Well, other than the requested 'no photos' business perhaps.

Last spring it was different, but on this most recent tour leg, I did see a lot of cell phones being flashed at those informal get-togethers, and had to wonder about that. I don't have the type of cell phone with that capability, and have chosen not to bring a camera into any venue which stipulates that I'm not allowed to do so; therefore, I have no 'personal photo of Loreena' or brag-shot of 'myself with Loreena' but just speaking personally, capturing one of those 'wonderful moments' on camera never seemed to be all that important. Just 'being there' has felt like enough.

Somehow, for me, the 'informal' setup seems perhaps more appropriate than a 'backstage pass' formal party-type meet-and-greet might feel. Too many people, too much confusion, etc. I never could quite figure out how those things are managed anyway. Perhaps it all depends upon the number of people included in such, how large that number might be, how 'hurried' it all becomes, I don't know.

OTOH, I'd not be averse in any way, to receiving an actual 'invitation' to one of the more formal affairs one day. I'd be glad to try nearly anything which seems so decent, at least once. I simply think one cannot just 'ask' Quinlan Road or even Loreena herself for such an invitation, that's all.

'Becoming notorious' in some way or another seems not the best way to go about receiving one of those special invitations, but I would imagine it's likely happened, upon occasion.

Jeanne

Dear Celtickat,

You seem to know a lot on what Loreena likes. You have spoken much on her behalf. Are you saying that Loreena actually dislikes having a photo taken of herself with someone at a private greet and meet? I'm sorry but I can't see a personal photo with Loreena (with her permission) as a 'brag-shot'. Perhaps some people would just like a small souvenir of the event. If this truly bothers Loreena then maybe it would be for Loreena to say?

When I attended the concert in Toronto, people were very respectful during the concert and complied with her wishes. I'm gathering by your experiences with her at your informal meet and greets with her that she doesn't like to have any photos taken. I hardly come on these boards, if at all, but if you are a moderator or someone that works for Loreena then now we all know that Loreena doesn't like to have any photos taken of herself whether on stage or off.

Trish