It is still an open question, however, as to what extent exposure really injures a performer.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
In all my years of performing, no audience member has ever actually assaulted me. I consider this to be the singular triumph of my performing career.
When you're a performer, of course you want an audience, but it's very, very different from courting fame.
Even if you see a great performance, it's not always great getting there. There are injuries... Intrinsically or unconsciously, people understand that - people see those performances, and they know there are stories behind that.
Performers are so vulnerable. They're frightened of humiliation, sure their work will be crap. I try to make an environment where it's warm, where it's OK to fail - a kind of home, I suppose.
At the upper echelon of musicians in general, I guess performers in general, you have to have this kind of live-or-die, cutthroat mentality.
The way you really find out about the performer's seriousness about the cause is how long they stay with it when the spotlight gets turned off. You see a lot of celebrities switch gears. They go from the environment to animal rights to obesity or whatever. That I don't have a lot of respect for.
I think performers are all show-offs anyway, especially musicians. Unless you show off, you're not going to get noticed.
The record business is dangerous to the health of bands and individuals, which is something I'm just now learning. But it's not dangerous in any of the ways people think; it's not that they try to make you compromise your art. That's not the problem.
I believe it is my duty as a performer to raise issues in the world of things we're afraid to look at.
I've always been a performer. That's just what I know.
No opposing quotes found.