Meet & Greets

Great experiences that are worth the price

Even though certain VIP packages may be more expensive than others depending on the band, most music lovers can agree no price is too steep when it comes to purchasing a meet and greet ticket. Meet and Greets are such great experiences. You are able to meet your idols and depending on the VIP package, sometimes there are other surprises that come along with that shiny lanyard. Here are some of my favorite Meet and Greet experiences I have had over the years...

Shinedown

As I mentioned in a previous post, back in July 2008 I went to Asbury Park to see Staind and Shinedown. I waited in line 8-10 hours and it paid off because I met Aaron Lewis when he was strolling down the board walk (I posted a picture in a previous post).

Not only was I able to meet my all-time idol, but we met some really great people in line and became good friends; what else is there to do with 8-10 hours? As it turns out, these two women behind us who we spend the whole day getting to know, had two extra VIP tickets to meet Shinedown. Because we were so friendly, saved their spot in line when they went to get food or use the bathroom, they gave my ex-boyfriend and I their extra tickets. It was a kind and amazing gesture. I was able to meet the band, get autographs, and a picture. Here is a picture from that day:

 

Aaron Lewis from Staind

Aaron Lewis has been my idol for as long as I can remember. His lyrics speak to me and have gotten me through really hard times. I have lyrics of his tattooed on my body; I have seen Staind a few times and I have also met Aaron twice. The most amazing thing about Aaron is that not only is he amazingly talented, but he is a down-to-earth, genuine man.

Back in February 2010 I went to see Aaron Lewis play an acoustic show and I bought the VIP package. We were allowed in to meet Aaron, to take pictures and to get autographs. Then we were able to listen to Aaron perform his sound check before the show. The small group of VIP ticket holders had our own private little concert. It was the most amazing day of my life. Here is a picture from that day:

As I Lay Dying VIP

Last summer my ex got us free VIP tickets to meet As I Lay Dying and free tickets to see the concert, which included Asking Alexandria, As I Lay Dying, and Slipknot. My ex-boyfriend use to work at a radio station and he could basically call up his old boss anytime and get free tickets to anything he wanted. It was pretty awesome when he surprised me the day before with the tickets. I was more excited to see Slipknot for the first time than for the As I Lay Dying meet and greet; however, it was an amazing experience.

It was a small group of VIP ticket holders. We were brought to a private area with picnic benches and we were given free dinner, t-shirts, and other small collectables. After we all ate, the band entered and spent their time walking around talking to everyone. I had not really listened to much of their music previously to this meet and greet, so I felt pretty stupid when I didn’t know any of their names. This meet and greet was amazing – a band that I barely knew or listened to, were the nicest people I have ever met. They were all so friendly and really down to earth. I was able to get pictures and everything with the band. This experience made me decide I need to get into their music. They are extremely talented and insanely kind, which is something really important to me. Here is a picture of me with the band: 

 

If you have a little extra cash in your pocket when you are searching for a concert to go to, pay the extra money and meet your favorite band. Chances are, it will be the experience of a lifetime, and something you will never forget. You can’t take money with you when you die, so you minds well spend it in the best way possible – and in my opinion, that would be to meet my favorite artists!

Asking Alexandria

My New Discovery and New Obsession

Back in November 2010 I went to see All That Remains and one of their opening bands was Asking Alexandria. I had never heard of them before and had no clue who they were. I honestly don’t think I really paid attention to the band much and never really thought much about it. However, just over the last six months, I have gotten really into the band.

Free Tickets

Over the summer my ex was able to get us free VIP meet and greet passes to meet As I Lay Dying. Also at the show Asking Alexandria was playing as well as Slipknot. I met As I Lay Dying and they were all fantastic guys. I don’t really know much of their music but this day made me want to learn more of their songs.

As I Lay Dying played on stage first followed by Asking Alexandria. I had only just started listening to their music and I only knew one of their songs; however, they sounded fantastic live. After their performance I knew I had just discovered a new favorite band. After Asking Alexandria played, Slipknot came on and played the show of a lifetime.

Over the last couple months I have really been listening to Asking Alexandria and have fallen in love with the band and their music. What amazes me most is the talent in the lead singers singing voice, and also how he can then create those high pitch screams, and extremely low screams. The talent he has is unbelievable.

Upcoming Concert

I am going to see Asking Alexandria a week from tomorrow and I am really excited. They are playing with As I Lay Dying and it is expected to be a great show. I am extremely excited to finally see these bands again now that I know their music.

I will post pictures and rate the concert after I attend.

To my readers:

·         Do any of you listen to Asking Alexandria?

·         Do you prefer their first or second album?

·         What songs are your favorites?

"What is that Noise?"

Let’s discuss why heavy metal is more than just “screaming”

The one thing that really gets to me is when people make fun of heavy metal music and say it is “just screaming,” “loud noise” and that “you can’t understand what they are saying.” Well, there is a reason heavy metal is loud, and there’s a reason for those screams. The genre is a lot more than non-listeners believe.

People I hear crap from

My mom hates my music and whenever I have something to say about popular bands like Maroon 5 (gag), she always says that at least you can understand what those bands are saying. She then imitates someone screaming and making no sense as a way to bash my music. I usually roll my eyes and my dad will look over and say “she doesn’t appreciate music.” I used to hear a lot of crap from friends and many people online. My friends over the years have stopped giving me so much crap and they either respect the music I like, or it just doesn’t get brought up.

Crushing those critiques

First, heavy metal is NOT just screaming. The artists are screaming to get their point across. Their screams allow you to feel their pain, their emotion and their beliefs. The screams bring you right into the music and you become that person. Also, most of the artists that scream also have fantastic voices (like Corey Taylor from Slipknot – he has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard). It takes real talent to be able to scream in the way these artists do; there is some kind of special technique they need to use their throat for in order to create those sounds – not anyone can be a heavy metal singer.

Second, it is not just “loud noise.” Each song is a creatively thought out song with meaningful lyrics. Just because the genre is loud and involves screaming, doesn’t mean people shouldn’t give the music a chance.

Third, you definitely can understand the lyrics. So many people have asked me how I understand what the artists are saying. The way to learn a heavy metal song is to first read the lyrics. You should then read the lyrics while you let the song play. After doing this a few times, the lyrics will stick in your brain and you will remember the song. It is easy to identify lyrics the more you listen to the genre; you start to just have an ear for what the artists are saying. Even sometimes I still have difficulty hearing the lyrics with new songs – which is when I pull up the lyrics and familiarize myself with the song that way.

Give metal a chance

If you’re a hater, that’s fine. But don’t hate on the genre without understanding that there is more to metal than screaming and loud noise. There is a difference between being ignorant and being rude. If you didn’t know these things about heavy metal, well now you know. However, if you did know these things and still choose to hate on the genre, then you’re just rude.

My Readers:

·         Have any of you experienced negative feedback or critiques about the genre of music you like?

·         What is the most common thing you hear people say and how do you respond?

My Worst Concert Experience

One show I will always remember…but not for good reasons

My ex-boyfriend and I would always fight before shows. He never wanted to wait in line ahead of time and I am the type of person that likes to give myself plenty of time to insure I get a good spot.

The beginning

We had a long drive down to Atlantic City to see Papa Roach (not a heavy metal band, but a band I am very fond of). They are more of a hard rock band. After arguing on the way there, we waited in line for at least four hours. After such a long wait, my adrenaline was going crazy because I was so excited to finally see this band. There were a few opening bands, which took another few hours to get through.

One opening band was Skillet, I band I had never heard of before. I turned out to think they were completely awesome – minus the fact that the fat girls to our side and in front of us went absolutely crazy for them, screamed their lyrics louder than they sang them, and the one girl flipped her hair into my face the entire time. I even got an arm in my face at one point. My temper was raging and I had had enough at this point.

Papa Roach enters the stage

Finally after a two hour drive, lots of arguing, a four hour wait, three opening bands, and being surrounded by annoying fans, Papa Roach had FINALLY come on stage. I was so excited I couldn’t contain myself. Everyone started jumping and the first song was absolutely amazing. In the third song, Jacoby jumped into the audience and I got to touch him. Life seemed perfect and that everything I dealt with earlier in the day was worth it...

Well, I think it was the third or fourth song in, someone pushed me really hard into the guard rail and my boyfriend at the time turned around to see who pushed me and he got punched in the face. A brawl started between my ex and some random guys. It all happened so fast – the bouncers jumped on top of them and dragged them out of the crowd.

I was left alone. I was a complete wreck. My boyfriend had my phone in his pocket so I had no way to get in touch with him to find out where they took him. I was crying by this point because I had no clue how I was going to find him. I got myself out of the crowd and went around asking people if they saw anything.

Ill never forget this young boy – he had to be 13 years old. He saw me crying and I asked him if I could use his cell phone. He was the sweetest little kid. Him and his dad let me use their phone. Of course my boyfriend didn’t pick up, so I was still not sure what to do. Thankfully the little boy saw where they went and pointed me in the right direction.

I exited the venue

I finally found my boyfriend and the cops were there dealing with everything. It was obvious that the other two guys started the fight for no reason, and my boyfriend didn’t even throw a punch – he was too busy shielding his face and holding his glasses. The bouncers were going to let us back into the show because they knew my boyfriend hadn't done anything wrong; however, the girl who was with the two guys decided to say “no, but he hit me in the face.” You can only imagine the anger boiling inside of me...

So basically we were kicked out of the venue, for something we didn’t even do, and I waited hours and hours and dealt with so much crap, for absolutely nothing. It was definitely the worst concert experience of my life.

Waiting in Line for Concerts

What is the longest time you have waited?

Typically, I will wait in line for a show for 1-2 hours. One to two hours to me is nothing and it is the perfect amount of time to get a decent spot for a show.

What can make a difference?

1)    Seats vs. Pit:

If you have seats for a show, it doesn’t matter what time you get there. You can arrive at the show 5 minutes before it starts or an hour before – it won’t make any difference.

2)    Venue:

I’ve been to so many concerts over the years and so many venues. Depending on which venue I am going to, I can determine how long I should wait in line. If I have pit tickets at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, I usually do not show up early. Last time I went there for the Manson & Zombie show, I actually arrived late. The opening band was almost over when I arrived, and I still managed to get a great spot only a few rows back. Some venues the pit doesn’t fill up and you don’t have to worry about standing in long lines to get a good spot.

However, if I am going to the House of Blues in Atlantic City, I will wait in line for at least an hour. This venue always has VIP lines and they are always allowed in first. I usually buy VIP tickets when I attend shows at this venue so I am allowed early entry. However, if I have regular entry, I will usually wait in line for 2 hours so make sure I will be in the first few rows when I enter the venue.

3)   Whoever is attending the show with you:

My ex-boyfriend would always fight with me before shows about the amount of time we should wait in line. I always wanted to wait in line for at least an hour or two and he would argue that this was a waste of time. I don’t remember a show when we didn’t fight about when we should arrive.

When I go to shows with friends, everything is more laid back. My friends don’t really care if we wait or if we arrive on time, or even late. However, if you want to be able to get a good spot and wait in line for a few hours, make sure you don’t invite someone to go with you who is working that day and will not get out of work until an hour before the show. Be smart about planning who you want to go to the show with.

My wait record

The longest I’ve waited in line for a show was about 8-10 hours. This was back in 2008 when I went to Asbury Park, NJ to see my favorite band Staind. They are not heavy metal, but they are my all-time favorite band. I believe the show started around 8 or 9 and I arrived at the boardwalk sometime around 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. I was second in line and I waited in the hot sun for hours and hours that day in July and watched the waves crash on the beach.

Most people told me I was crazy for waiting that long, but it turned out to be the best day of my life. Aaron Lewis, singer from Staind, just happened to be walking the boardwalk during the day with his daughter eating an ice-cream cone and I was able to meet him and get pictures and autographs. The wait did not bother me and in the end it turned out to pay off greatly when I was able to meet my idol. Here is a picture from that day:

Some questions for my readers

·         What is the longest amount of time you have waited in line for a concert?

·         What do you consider to be the perfect amount of time to wait in line?

·         Do you wait in line or show up right on time?

Good vs. Bad Concert Crowds

Where to stand, what to watch out for and what not to do

Concerts have been a huge part of my life for a long time now. I have been to tons of concerts of all genres and I have seen many different crowds. Sometimes the crowds are rougher than others and sometimes they are more fun than others. There are some things you should be aware of when it comes to crowds and concerts.

Where to stand

I always want to be in the front of the crowd – yes, I am that girl who will stand in line for hours to get front row. But there is a method to my madness. If you are in the front row, you have a guard rail or something to lean on or hold onto. Not only are you the closest to the band, but if you start to feel sick or the crowd gets really rough, you have something sturdy to brace yourself against. There have been times when I felt sick and I used the guard as a method to keep myself standing. I also remember times when the crowds were so rough that I couldn’t even use the guard rail to brace myself and I jumped over the rail and took myself out of the front.

Being in the front row is not only awesome, but it is probably one of the safer places to be. Some other good places to stand are off to the sides, or in the very back. When I am not able to be first or second row, I tend to find somewhere either off to the right or left to stand. The moshing usually occurs directly in the center of the crowd, and if you don’t want to be thrown around and get hurt, the best option for you is to avoid the mosh pits at all costs. If you are front row, or off to the sides, you most likely will not have to worry about mosh pits. Also, if you don’t care about being close, standing towards the back is always the safest bet (but, how much will you enjoy a show from the very back?).

What to watch out for

First, be aware of crowd surfing and moshing. I have gotten kicked in the head, kicked in the face, thrown around, pushed, and the whole nine yards. Concerts are great but they can also be dangerous – especially for people who are small (like me). If someone is crowd surfing and you are aware of this, duck! (At least, that’s what I do). I’ve gotten kicked in the head too many times to not duck at a show when I know someone is about to come flying over my head.

Second, be aware of the people directly around you. Try to make friends with the people you are standing with. Each show I attend, I always connect with the people I meet in line or am standing near in the crowd. It’s only natural to become friendly with the people you wait hours in line with or are rubbing up against during the show.

Also, it’s good to make friends because that means the fewer enemies you will make. If you are “that annoying girl” or that “obnoxious fan”, most likely you will either be a) knocked out b) picked up and thrown or c) the target for violence. I remember one show I was at, this one girl would not stop jumping and forcing her way to the front, even though we had all been standing in the same spot for hours. The guys around me picked her up and threw her towards the front and over the rail. She lost her spot, and who knows where she went after she made her way back into the crowd.

It is also important to make friends at shows because you never know what could happen. I got pushed by a guy one time, and someone I became friends with defended me and watched out for my safety. The people around you become your support system during the show and usually, at least in my case, become your friends or Facebook friends even after the show. I even dated someone I met at a concert for a few months. You never know who you will meet!

What not to do

1)    Don’t try to fight anyone – you will either get kicked out, or knocked out. I have tried to act tough and it’s never a good idea to try to start drama with people who are hyped up, drinking, and twice your size.

2)    Don’t start drama – make friends and keep to yourself; you will have a better experience this way.

3)    Don’t be obnoxious – everyone knows what it is like to love a band, but there is a difference between rocking out and being obnoxious. Don’t flip your hair around and purposely bump into people.

Most importantly, remember to HAVE FUN! You paid money for this show. Just be aware of the type of crowd you are in and try to stay as safe as possible. Make friends, be aware of your surroundings and everything will be fine. Don’t forget to rock out!

Benefits of Listening to Heavy Metal

Why to tune in and not tune out

People have questioned me over the years and asked why it is that I love heavy metal so much. My mom asked me the other day “why do you enjoy listening to screaming, wouldn’t you like to be able to understand what they are singing?” Truth be told, if you are a metal fan, you DO know the lyrics and CAN understand what the band is singing. Us metal fans already know the lyrics so we find it easy to understand. Learning a new song can be tricky though; you should definitely look up the lyrics to get familiar with the song. Trying to learn new songs without the lyrics in front of you can be equally as challenging for a non-metal listener and metal listener.

I believe there are three obvious benefits of listening to heavy metal:

1)   It helps you get your anger out

Over the years, and still today, when I am really angry or frustrated I put my IPod on full blast and within 20 minutes or so I feel instantly better. Whenever I am at the point where I feel like I am going to punch a wall, I always put my music on. Sometimes it will take 10-20 minutes and sometimes it takes an hour; but one thing is for sure: it ALWAYS calms me down and helps me forget why I was even angry in the first place.

2)   It’s great workout music

I struggle with finding motivation to get myself to the gym to workout. A few months ago, when I was dedicated and went to the gym a few times a week, metal really helped me work out. The loud screaming and fast beats pump me up and get my legs moving faster than if I was listening to something mellow.

3)   It is easy to connect to

The biggest criticism about heavy metal is that it is just screaming. But have you actually sat down and wondered why it is that person is screaming? They have experienced pain, heartbreak, and terrible situations in their lives that mostly everyone can relate to. Listening to these artists scream their hearts out really connects you to the lyrics and allows you to understand why it is the artist is screaming.

One unfortunate disadvantage

Unfortunately metal does come with a price – hearing loss. Ever since I was young, I always listened to my IPod as high as it would go. Over the years, I have noticed my hearing deteriorate. My friends joke around with me and call me deaf, because a lot of the times I have to say “what?” three times to hear what one of them is saying. My best friend jokes around the holidays that she is going to buy me a hearing aid.

When I watch television at home, I have the volume turned up to 25-30 (my sister or mom can clearly hear it on 10-15). I do struggle hearing at times, but it is nothing extremely serious that a doctor has noted. My mom always says, “No wonder your deaf, I can hear your music from over here,” when I walk in the house with my IPod blasting. She always tells me to turn down my music because she is my mom and worries about my health.

I will continue to listen to the music I love, at the volume I love, and I am perfectly fine with any consequences I will have to deal with in the future. Hearing loss is one price I am willing to pay as a metal fan.

Concert Necessities

What not to leave home without

When going to a concert, there are certain items you SHOULD NOT leave home without. Let us go through a simple ten-item list and examine why each item is important to have with you during a show. I always have all ten of these items with me when I go to a concert.

1)   A camera

I have never gone to a concert without a camera. I always take tons of pictures and sometimes videos. After the concert, it is really fun to re-live the experience by looking at pictures and videos days, weeks, or years later. A camera will help you capture the great memories of the day. Another helpful hint – don’t only take videos! I made the mistake one time of only taking videos. This was back when I had a crappy camera and not one of the videos came out well. To make a long story short, I had no pictures from the show, and no videos of good quality.

2)   Extra batteries

The worst thing that can happen is for your camera to die when you are front row and about to capture that perfect moment. Make sure you put new batteries in your camera before you leave for the show, and always bring back up batteries in case you go through the ones in the camera.

3)   Cell phone

In case something goes wrong, it is extremely important to have your cell phone on you. Also, make sure you keep your cell phone on YOUR PERSON and don’t let someone else hold onto it. At a previous concert, I had my ex-boyfriend put my phone in his pocket for safety. Then during the show, a fight broke out and he got kicked out. I was unable to find him or find security to determine where they took him. I had no cell phone to call anyone and was left to beg someone to use their cell phone – only to realize I was in too much of a panic to remember my ex’s phone number.

4)   Money

Always have cash! If you want a beer, a snack, or maybe shirts or CDs from the merchandise stand, you will definitely want to have cash on you.

5)   Your I.D.

Some venues are 21 and older and you need your license to get a wrist band that allows you to drink, or go into sections where you can purchase alcohol. Also, some venues are 18 and older and you need to verify your name matches the name on your ticket.

6)   Your ticket

You cannot get into your show without your ticket! One time I was 45 minutes away from my house before I realized I left my tickets at home and I had to go all the way back home…let’s not discuss how that night went.

7)   A purse, small bag, or backpack

It’s hard to keep track of items during a show because of all the pushing, shoving and craziness. I usually put everything in my camera bag. A small backpack or small purse works well too. Make sure you have something secure to keep your items in, but nothing too big that is going to be a burden to you during the show.

8)   A poncho

If your concert is outside and there is no cover, ALWAYS bring a poncho and put it in your purse. I have had the terrible experience of getting caught in torrential downpour at a show and it was absolutely miserable. Plus, you don’t want your electronics to get destroyed if it does start to rain.

9)   An unopened bottle of water

Most venues allow you to bring in water if it is unopened. Believe me, you will do basically anything for water as the night gets later and later. After screaming, singing, jumping and rocking out, you are going to be thirsty. If you leave your spot to buy a drink, you probably wont get that spot back. So bring water with you!

10) Chap stick

My mouth is always dry from singing and screaming at shows. My lips also tend to get chapped because of this, so I find it really essential to have chapstick with me.

Your thoughts

·         What are some items you don’t leave home without before going to shows?

·         Do you agree with my list above?

·         Have I forgotten anything?

Most important necessity

This is not necessarily an item, but I NEVER go to a concert alone. I always make sure I am with a friend; usually a guy – especially since heavy metal shows have a lot of big strong guys in the audience pushing and shoving. I am a tiny girl with no muscle whatsoever, and I like to feel like I have someone to protect me in case something were to happen. Safety comes first!

Heavy Metal and Politics

Five Finger Death Punch Lyrics Examined

There isn’t a clear cut answer to whether heavy metal artists lean left or right when it comes to politics. Each artist has their own beliefs and opinions, and some artists are more outspoken about their beliefs than others. Lamb of God’s albums criticize American foreign policy, and Marilyn Manson has not been shy with his lyrics about his thoughts about God and government. It is easiest to look at the outspoken artists and examine their song lyrics to determine some of their beliefs about politics.

My favorite heavy metal band is Five Finger Death Punch and they are extremely easy to analyze for political beliefs when examining their lyrics. In my opinion, these lyrics are self explanatory:

War is the Answer- “No One Gets Left Behind”

“Politicians banking in their greed. No idea on how to be all they can be. Have you no honor Have you no soul. What is it they're dying for? Do you really even know? Have you no backbone. Have you no spine. Whatever happened to NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND? NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND I KNOW YOU MADE IT UP. NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND IT'S MORE FOR MONEY. NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND DRINK FROM THE GOLDEN CUP. NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND YOUR TURN IS COMING. Play your war games with other people's lives. It should be you on the front line.”

the way of the first- “Death Before Dishonor”

“To the haters, the takers, the liars, all the vultures and the bottom feeding scum. The FCC, the FBI and every tin god with a badge and a gun. You talk and talk, you preach and bitch but your words don't mean a thing. You get what you give, you give what you get. Just the way it's always been." ... "I choose death before dishonor. I'd rather die than live down on my knees. Bury me like a soldier, with my dignity!”

American Capitalist- “American Capitalist”

“I'm a red blooded, rough neck son of a bitch. I'm a goddamned American capitalist. I've got a kill 'em all, give a shit, license to hate. I'm that one shot, one kill, bringer of pain.. I don't wanna believe I'm empty. And I don't want to admit I'm wrong. I don't wanna regret who I've become (When I'm) I'm an American Capitalist. American Capitalist" ... "Yeah war is the answer. Like I told you before. You're a coward with no power, just a stain on the floor. If you're a man, be a man, stop running your lips. Round three, no mercy, It's the way of the fist.”

American Capitalist- “The Pride”

“I am, what you fear most. I am, what you need. I am, what you made me. I am, The American Dream. I’m not selling out. I’m Buying in. I am, All American. I am, living the dream. I am, what you fear most. I am, anarchy.”

This band has a lot of military based songs and a lot of their lyrics show their support for our troops. “No One Gets Left Behind” shows the idea that politicians and the government use war for their own gain and the bands disgust for politicians. This song also demonstrates the idea of never leaving a soldier behind in combat. “Death Before Dishonor” is pretty self explanatory; he would rather die than be dishonest, a bad person, and someone that he isn’t.  A lot of people are not honorable these days and this song is meant to show this idea.

“American Capitalist” seems to be supporting capitalism and the idea that you get what you work for; I also feel this song is supposed to show how greedy people are these days.  “The Pride” is a song about how people lose themselves and pretend to be something they aren’t. Everyone is so focused on the “American Dream” and making money; however, the “American Dream” is not only about money. I also think this song seems to be the bands way of saying that even though they aren’t as rich or famous as maybe Donald Trump, that they are living the American dream, because they are happy and love what they do, follow their dreams and haven’t lost who they are as people.

Randy Blythe Arrested

Wrongly accused or fairly punished?

Something that happened fairly recently, this past summer, was a situation involving a heavy metal singer pushing a fan offstage. Obviously, there is way more to the story than that…

What happened?

For anyone who does not know, Randy Blythe is the singer from the band Lamb of God. During a show in Prague in May 2010, something went terribly wrong. Reporters stated a fan jumped onto the stage and there was physical altercation between the fan and Randy. The fan later died because of his injuries; therefore, Randy was arrested and charged with Manslaughter.

Two things about this situation irk me deeply:

1) It was two years later that Randy was charged and arrested.

He was arrested in June 2012 before a show at the Hard Rock Café in Prague (two years after the occurrence).  He spent about 40 days in prison in the Czech Republic. After he was released he returned to the U.S. and is waiting to hear when his trial date is and whether or not he is going to face jail time.

2) A lot of the information the Czech media stated wasn’t all true.

Apparently, there wasn’t a fight on stage between the fan and Randy. It was also not mentioned that the crazed fan jumped over the barricade, leapt onto stage and went at Randy three times during the show. The third time the fan got onto stage security wasn’t able to hold him back. Randy then pushed the fan back into the audience – ultimately this lead to him falling and hitting his head, and having a brain hemorrhage a few weeks later. This ultimately led to the fan dying.

There is a video that shows Blythe and the band’s publicist were telling the truth about the situation. The video shows Randy push the fan offstage, but the video does not show any physical altercation between the two (which the Czech media claimed). The video also shows security helping Randy push the fan offstage. Randy is mostly concerned with clearing his name in the Czech Republic because he stated that the media came out with tons of lies about the situation and accused him of numerous actions he did not commit.

My opinion

Personally, with knowing that the fan rushed Randy on stage three times, and having seen the video of Randy and a security guard pushing the fan off the stage, I don't feel Randy should be charged with manslaughter. It is obvious the fan was in the wrong by jumping onto the stage in the first place. Plus, the fan didn't jump on stage once, but THREE times. Also, Randy was not the ONLY one who pushed the man off the stage. So if Randy in fact is charged with manslaughter, will the security guard who assisted him in pushing the fan also be charged with manslaughter?

It is unfortunate that the man hit his head, suffered a brain hemorrhage and ultimately died. It's a sad thing to hear. However, I believe it was his own fault for acting so stupid and jumping onto the stage. Concerts are not a safe environment - people are crowd surfing and people are constantly pushing and shoving. People sustain numerous injuries during shows all of the time and at any time you can get seriously hurt. This fan should have known better and should not have jumped onto stage, PERIOD.

My questions to you

• Do you feel Randy was wrongly accused?
• Should Randy be held accountable for the death of the fan?
• Did the Czech media misrepresent Randy?

There are so many different aspects to this case which makes it near impossible to say who is right or wrong in this situation. Randy still does not know what his future will hold and whether or not he will go to jail for manslaughter. I guess we will all have to wait and see what the cards hold for him.

Discrimination in the Workplace

To get a sleeve or not to get a sleeve, that is the question.

It is common that people who have piercings, tattoos and different colored hair have a hard time getting jobs because of their appearance, EVEN if they are overqualified than the other candidate (who is blonde hair, blue eyes, no tattoos or piercings, etc.) This reminds me of Hitler. If you are not the “normal” or “standard” person, you are discriminated against. Why is it right to judge someone on their appearance and not on their job capabilities?

My aunt’s school

A while back, my aunt told me a story about two people applying for the same teaching position at her school. One person was a handsome male who was overqualified, friendly, funny and charming. The other was a pretty, blonde, quiet and nice female who was under-qualified. The woman was offered the job. Do you want to know why? The man who was applying for the position had sleeves of tattoos and came to the interview wearing a short-sleeve polo.

Now this story really has bothered me since I heard about it. Just because the man had tattoos on his arms doesn’t mean he should not have gotten that job – ESPECIALLY because he was overqualified for the position. This is total bullshit.

Restaurants

A few years ago I worked at a Ninety Nine before it closed down in 2010. I remember when I wanted to change my hair color and I asked my general manager if that would be okay. I told him I wanted to die it purple, and he was fine with it – until the day I came in with purple hair.

I am not sure if he thought I was just going to do streaks, or what he thought, but he was not happy and I was constantly being told that my managers did not like that I would be working at the host stand with purple hair. They didn’t tell me I had to change the color (since I did ask and got approval before I did it) – and even if they had told me I needed to change it back, I would have refused I (unless my manager wanted to pay for it).

Currently, I work at Applebee’s and one of my really good friends there is the epitome of a great girl. She is sweet, caring, thoughtful, a hard worker, a good friend, and someone who is just a genuine good person. However, everyone at work talks crap about her because they say she’s “weird”. My friend currently has blue hair, and has to wear a wig at work to cover it up. She also has piercings. When she isn’t working, she is in crazy clothes – typically Hot topic petticoats and fun and crazy shirts. She is so artistic she even makes and sews her own clothes as well. Why should this girl who is as sweet as pie, be judged because of her blue hair, piercings, and outgoing outfits? This really irks me.

My dilemma

I have debated over the years whether or not to get tattoos on my arms simply because I am worried about finding a job when I graduate from college this year. I have had red and purple hair before, I have tons of tattoos, and I have tons of piercings. I would love to have sleeves on both my arms. However, I have made sure all of my tattoos are in places that I can hide for when I go on job interviews. I have struggled all my life with wanting to look a certain way, but steering away from it because of the job market. I wish I could look the way I want to look.

I think it is absolute bullshit that I have to worry about where I get my tattoos. I almost have a 4.0 GPA, I am in two honors societies, I am the editor of the school paper, and am an extremely smart woman. However, who knows if I would get a job if I walked in to an interview, overqualified, but with sleeves of tattoos. I usually don’t care what other people think and just do what I want; however, the only reason I go back and forth with the idea of sleeves is because I want to be able to get a job in the future.

-What do you think?
-Should appearance matter in the work place?
-Should I start getting the sleeves I have always wanted?

Hopefully one day tattoos, piercings and hair color will not matter in the work place.