"That horrible act..."
Funny story of what happened an a hour ago...
For those who don't know, my "job" is guarding the art gallery on the OSU campus, sharing shifts with other GUARDZ, etc.
Flash back to Monday, when myself and a few others signed a birthday card, many signed who didn't know the dude, just for fun. I wrote this long, heartfelt, personal message, and signed it "Electric Grandmother."
Back to this Wednesday morning; the guy, who I had just met minutes prior, went upstairs in the Art Department and came back down to the gallery with his card. (He knew the two other dudes in the gallery, and he'd just met me).
"Electric Grandmother?" he says. "Isn't that that one horrible solo act?"
I grinned, as my two gallery buddies gasped.
"Really, you don't like him?" I say.
He turns to me to tell me his thoughts on the matter, and almost instantaneously: "That's you, isn't it..."
I can deal with this. I know that for every 10 people who love what I do, there's one who thinks I'm a total fuckface. I know that especially with the kind of act I do, this is inevitable. (All things considered, that's not a bad ration, and I love you all for it). It was his odd back pedaling that kind of got to me...
"Yeah, I saw you at the High Five. What's the matter with you?"
I'm still laughing at this point, and my gallery buddy Andrew Graham (who's a really talented musician, who I had scheduled at Andyman's initially; I found out he's only 19 the other day, so unforunately he can't do it now), told him that he was being really uncool. I understood though; he got busted, and he was trying to balance both not offending me and standing by what he couldn't erase.
I actually felt bad for the dude at first, it's kind of a fucked up situation. He was just speaking his mind, and he had no idea the subject of his criticism was standing right in front of him. And I can take it; I like to think I'm kind of still a bit old school that way, and that it's fine to call out what you don't like.
It got weird. My two buddies left for the day minutes later, and the dude was outside on the phone. He came back in after his call, apparently to continue to apologize in his own weird way.
"So yeah, what did you think was so horrible?" I honestly ask.
"I dunno," he replies, "It was just weird. I felt like I was on an acid trip. You have all those songs about kids' shows, and, I dunno. I though you were kind of 'trying' to be horrible, ya know?"
I'm confused, but I know what he means. Obviously, most artists aren't trying to be "horrible," even if their act is designed to piss you off. In an artists' mind, what they're doing is valid in their own right. (Did I mention I was an artist?) So yes, my act is a bit absurd and uncoventional, and it's supposed to be. I can only assume this is what he meant. But, the way he phrased it kind of bothered me.
At the time, in my confusion, I just kept asking, "Well, fine, what was so horrible?"
He's trying, but moments later: "Um, I can see you're upset. I'm just going to leave now." Ane he quickly fled the scene.
Like I said, I understand that some people don't like me. It was just kind of intense to see it on display right in front of you. At the same time, that poor bastard!
I only have one thing to say to him in retrospect: Is your sticker on Gretchen Tepper's guitar???!!! Don't think so pal!!!
Love,
EG
Posted by electricgrandmother
at 12:01 AM EST
