what sort of people are these?

[Geoffrey]

When I was at a Leonard Cohen concert recently in Bergen I noticed five people at the front of the stage, inside the barriers. Two of them were standing and had cameras supported by tripods, and their job was to watch Leonard and project a live image of him onto huge screens on either side of the stage, so that even people at the back of the crowd could see him close-up. The other three people were sitting down with their backs to the stage, and their job was apparently to make sure nobody in the crowd did anything that was not allowed. From my observation, not at any time did any of these three security guards look up onto the stage behind them. The whole time they just sat there monitoring the crowd. Leonard was standing right behind them giving the performance of a lifetime, of which they saw not a single second. What sort of people are they?

[lizzytysh]

Committed to their assignment. I've seen those types, too, and felt baffled... I mean not even a peek??
However, with Kelley Lynches out there; having someone out there ON THE JOB is a good thing.

[Geoffrey]

Committed to their assignment. I've seen those types, too, and felt baffled... I mean not even a peek??
However, with Kelley Lynches out there; having someone out there ON THE JOB is a good thing.

so these people would rather earn a few krones than watch leonard cohen perform live? money means that much? what kind of mentality is that, lizzie?

[LisaLCFan]

Well, if these people are paid security guards, which is most likely their full-time job, they may be instructed not to watch the concert but to watch the crowd. There is the possibility that if they are caught watching the concert, they will lose their jobs, so it is not merely a matter of "a few krones," but quite possibly their livelihood that is at stake. Even to "take a peek" at the concert would require them to stand up and turn around, and if they are being supervised, that may end their career (try to get a reference from an employer who fires you for breaking the rules and failing to do your job!). Best not to judge a person's actions without knowing their circumstances.

[seadove]

Who says that they are not enjoying Leonard Cohen? They've got ears, don't they? When you get into your car and slip an LC disk into the player you sure as hell should be watching the road but at the same time you are enjoying his music. It's the same with these guys. They sure as hell should be watching the crowds in their line of duty.

[lizzytysh]

Let me see... g... one has a wife and four children. His wife had been helping out by working part time, but due to the economy, she was laid off. He lost his really good job awhile back, and finally found this one. It's not much in the way of krones, but a few krones is better than nothing, so he goes every time he's called and does the best job he can. He'd love to turn around, but the risk of losing his job is just too high.

Another has a very ill mother and has taken on this extra job, working part time, to help out. It won't be long before she'll have enough to pay for the operation she needs, and he's doing all he knows to do to help, as he's always been a good son. He's hoping to go see Leonard at one of his later concerts because he's always loved Leonard's music, but his mother is his essential priority right now and he's sure not taking any chances.

The other one is really into head banger music and is trying his best to enjoy this concert, bless him. He doesn't really care that he's not allowed to turn around.

[seadove]

One of them can't stand the sight of Leonard Cohen.

The other one has three jobs and he barely came to this one and is so fatigued that he dozed off and no one is noticing and/or not so much caring.

The third one, however, has a record player in his pocket and is saving the music so he can donwload the music to a disk for onward listening pleasure.

[lizzytysh]

The third one, however, has a record player in his pocket and is saving the music so he can donwload the music to a disk for onward listening pleasure.

Or bootleg it . Sneaky buggers, those security people.

Not to mention that at least one of them may be scoping the crowd for women [or men ], figuring those onstage are already taken, or just not interested.

[ciaran]

Who says that they are not enjoying Leonard Cohen? They've got ears, don't they? When you get into your car and slip an LC disk into the player you sure as hell should be watching the road but at the same time you are enjoying his music. It's the same with these guys. They sure as hell should be watching the crowds in their line of duty.

In Helsinki, the security guards wore ear defenders!

[ciaran]

and this was the security guy at Marseille 2010... completely unimpressed...

[lizzytysh]

I'll bet.
True... their placement with regard to the blasting speakers [so the entire audience can hear] is hardly favourable to hearing preservation.

Awww... what a shame on that guy!

[Goldin]

Geoffrey,
It's not that simple in their secret life. In Berlin I was sitting exactly in front of such a guard. He was muming to Dance Me and Who by Fire (at least these two songs). I tried to explode his private life and make a video, but each time he noticed that and stopped, so I have no evidence. But if I ever upload Who by Fire, I'll send you a link and you'll see the strange moving of my camera during the refrain

[lizzytysh]

Aha! Potential evidence of distraction?? No wonder he stopped... never know who's behind a camera these days... and what their secret agenda might be.

[Geoffrey]

thank you for these comments in which you try to justify the behaviour of the three aforementioned people. they are not allowed to look at what everybody else is looking at. that is what it boils down to. they are forbidden to turn their heads. this means that their boss owns them. they might lose their jobs if they as much as steal a glance at leonard. what sort of integrity do such weak cowards possess? what sort of self-esteem? how can anybody respect a person who is willing to be dominated to such a degree? do they have no personalities whatsoever? there's plenty of other jobs they could get, if only they had the gumption. fancy letting themselves be treated like that. i wouldn't ever stand for it because i would walk up to the boss and tell him to find some other poor idiot who's got his life into such a mess that he has to do it. i wouldn't do it, not me. no, sod that.

[lizzytysh]

LOL... well, good on ya, g.
Perhaps, you live in a different economy than they, or have different financial needs.
Some people sacrifice in such times.
Not you, though, nope... sod that

[They still also may not like Leonard's music, too... you know there are a few creatures such as that out there ... don't ask me about that, though... there's no accounting for taste.]