CONCERT REPORTS: Las Vegas, Nevada, December 10 & 11, 2010

[friscogrl]

Marie and Lisa, I agree with both of you 100 percent! Her actions were selfish, inappropriate, disruptive and totally
Disrespectful towards Leonard. Did she think that she was so special that her actions were warranted and welcomed by Leonard?
It was aggressive and intrusive and probably a bit frightening for Leonard who was kneeling and as Marie said with his head down. He treats with us with utter respect and lucky for her, compassion.

Marsha

[basecamp]

Hi Lizzie......your more than welcome. I still haven't made it home.
I'm stuck in London at the moment and can't get a flight 'till at least Wed evening to Dublin and then a bus back to Galway (hopefully).
What a great weekend....I mean week....or two weeks by the time I get home. God bless my brother who lives near Gatwick airport and a very understandable boss...


Joe.

Hey Joe! Safe trip home! We hope to see that special pic Caren took real soon overhere! It's a really nice one!
See you soon!
- Hans

[somewhat_nifty]

Perhaps she wasn't there the night before to see the other stage-runner get tackled by security (and where was security, who had been so omnipresent every other moment?).

Indeed! Given their vigilance at stopping people taking photos/videos, sitting on the steps in the interval, getting a setlist afterwards and clearing people out of the arena a nanosecond after the concert finished, when they were actually needed where the hell were they? Perhaps it was their teabreak

[Travelingladiesman]

Thanks Hans,
Gatwick is open, Dublin is open and the buses are running to Galway so "fingers crossed".
My flight is @ 6:10 so I will head for Gatwick around 2 to be sure to be sure!

Joe


Hey Somewhat_Nifty,
I couldn't agree with you more,

Joe

[Vlastik]

Fingers crossed, Joe, it was a long trip ....

Vlasta

[musicmania]

Thanks Hans,
Gatwick is open, Dublin is open and the buses are running to Galway so "fingers crossed".
My flight is @ 6:10 so I will head for Gatwick around 2 to be sure to be sure!

Joe


Hey Somewhat_Nifty,
I couldn't agree with you more,

Joe

Good luck Joe!

[burningviolin]

Whatever about security, (in some ways, what were they going to do, rugby tackle her? she was really running full pelt towards the stage...but then again, that's probably exactly what they'd have done) but there wasn't even a barrier in front of the stage?! That in itself is a bit shoddy. Were those steps removable? She may not have been so quick if she had to launch herself up a few feet. Didn't another woman get onto the stage in Oakland or somewhere the last time they played there?

[dick]

I havn't commented on the deranged lady who charged the stage -- but this is my bottom line reaction...I hope she gets the mental help she obviously needs!


Get home safe and soon Joe!

[Susy]

Dear Friends,
In 2008 , somewhere in Canada ( can`t remember the date ) a young women get on stage and gave Leonard a hug while
he still hold his guitar after singing...
please remember how many times we do something before we THINK about !?
so please don`t be so harsh with the " stage jumper " ... I don`t think that she is a
" deranged " lady , and I don`t think that she needs mental helps .
I myself could never do something like that, I`m just to shy and would never have
the courage to do so ,but ,if you would like to read my " meeting Leonard in Venice "
just let me know and you will understand how different people can be

all the best to you... Susanne

[musicmania]

Dear Friends,
In 2008 , somewhere in Canada ( can`t remember the date ) a young women get on stage and gave Leonard a hug while
he still hold his guitar after singing...
please remember how many times we do something before we THINK about !?
so please don`t be so harsh with the " stage jumper " ... I don`t think that she is a
" deranged " lady , and I don`t think that she needs mental helps .
I myself could never do something like that, I`m just to shy and would never have
the courage to do so ,but ,if you would like to read my " meeting Leonard in Venice "
just let me know and you will understand how different people can be

all the best to you... Susanne

I would like to read that Susy!!!! I've already shared my opinions on the stage jumper in various posts on this topic and am not going to bore anyone by repeating myself. I do agree with what you say though about how different people can be and I try to respect that fact.

[Vicomte]

I wouldn't normally care about such things but this lady who leapt on the stage, well jolly good luck to her She meant no harm and offered none, in fact she did what I reckon many of you would have loved to have done

On reading many of the posts from Ladies on the Forum, many of our forum ladies appear to me to be just one very tiny leap behind her and I hasten to add what some of you ladies have said you would do, given the chance with Leonard. So this lady did it, all for you

[lizzytysh]

Hello All ~

Detractors and supporters of the woman. [No need to say which one at this juncture.]

It's not about what many of us women here would like or love to do, or about what some men here would like to do [seize the opportunity to meet Leonard and shake his hand]. It's not about any of us, not a single one of us. It's about Leonard.

Just because it ended up 'okay' does not mean that it was okay. As I said, it's not about a single person here or in that audience. It's about Leonard. It's about his personal space and his professional, performing space. It is an abrasive invasion and startling for Leonard to have anyone invade it. Yes, her actions were swift and smooth and Leonard dealt with it. That does not make it okay.

It's not funny or cute or a laughing matter. It was a serious invasion of Leonard's space.

Something like that also sets a dangerous precedent. We live in a crazy and, unfortunately, dangerous world. That woman could have been a man with ill intent and she could have been a woman or a man with negative intent. It cannot be stressed enough that in no way, shape, or form ~ no matter her intent or her personally-perceived need or her father's connection with Leonard ~ was it okay. It was not and it never will be. None of us have any business on that stage and that includes, first and foremost [since she was the one who so egregiously put herself there], the woman who rushed to kneel beside Leonard. Leonard's being a gentleman who recouped from the shock of it and dealt with it well does not excuse it nor endorse it.

What she did shows a blatant disregard for and act of disrespect toward Leonard. Leonard is known to value his privacy. He maintains his boundaries by intent. He has established a comfort level with those onstage who are like family. The intrusion of a stranger into his 'protected' [though not nearly enough!!] space was shocking and unnerving for those of us who saw it... how it felt to Leonard can only be surmised, though I've no doubt his band members know exactly the answer to that. If Leonard goes on the road again, my guess is that security will be far tighter; and, has already been noted, for security to have been so over-zealous during times that Leonard wasn't even visible and then so lax when he's not just onstage, but in a vulnerable position, as well... goes beyond inexcusable.

It's also not about how we're all different. It doesn't matter HOW different we all are [and we surely are]... it does not give ANYONE license, permission, implied permission, implicit permission... OR EXCUSABILITY... TO GO ON THAT STAGE!!! For ANY REASON!!! This is NOT the time for people to just "be themselves" and act out their fantasies or desires ~ it is the time for people to hold themselves to their highest standards of giving utmost respect and highest regard where it is due... and that means to and for Leonard and what Leonard wants... and to and for every individual in Leonard's band... which means for people to keep THEIR FEET [and I won't go any further with other body parts] off that stage!!!

Leonard has astutely avoided 'meeting with' fans throughout the course of this three-year World Tour... EITHER BEFORE or AFTER his performances. I cannot begin to fathom what was in that woman's head thinking that on ANY level it would be okay to bombard him with her presence DURING his performance! And, if she knew or suspected, at ANY level, that it wasn't okay... then, WHY would she do it!?!

The stage... any stage... is for the performers, not for the audience. In the old days, Leonard has invited people to come closer or to come onstage. Those days are so far in the distant past, however, that anyone crossing those imaginary lines is being presumptuous, bold, and beyond-the-pale inappropriate. That stage is not for any of us. Not a single one of us! During the hours of Leonard's performances, it is Leonard's stage! If he WANTS you there, he KNOWS how to invite you there!! And he will DO IT if THAT is what he wants to happen! And, frankly, it is a GIVEN that he won't! This is not 'your' time... WHOEVER you are!! It is Leonard's time!

If anyone EVER tries such a stunt again, I soundly hope they will be STOPPED in their tracks and escorted OUT of the CONCERT and FOR ITS DURATION... period!!!


~ Lizzy

[Mabeanie1]

Just because it ended up 'okay' does not mean that it was okay. As I said, it's not about a single person here or in that audience. It's about Leonard. It's about his personal space and his professional, performing space. It is an abrasive invasion and startling for Leonard to have anyone invade it. Yes, her actions were swift and smooth and Leonard dealt with it. That does not make it okay.

It's not funny or cute or a laughing matter. It was a serious invasion of Leonard's space.

~ Lizzy

Thank you Lizzy. That says it all for me.

Wendy

[somewhat_nifty]

I wouldn't normally care about such things but this lady who leapt on the stage, well jolly good luck to her She meant no harm and offered none, in fact she did what I reckon many of you would have loved to have done

On reading many of the posts from Ladies on the Forum, many of our forum ladies appear to me to be just one very tiny leap behind her and I hasten to add what some of you ladies have said you would do, given the chance with Leonard. So this lady did it, all for you

Er, I'm not so sure! Have any of the forum ladies jumped on the stage? No they haven't, and for good reason. There is a line between fantasy and reality, and whatever the flights of fancy of some of our posts, I'm sure we're all aware of it! Apart from anything else it's just plain rude - rude to Leonard, to the band and to the concert audience. I cringe at the thought of making such a spectacle of myself! Plus, as Lizzy says, it will possibly lead to tightened security for all of us in the future. Not good

[tomsakic]

had warm chat with Anjani

I hope you'll explain this "warm chat" to me, Dick. It happens to often.