Come On Boy, Let’s Change the Pace

I don’t think Amanda or I commented on John Taylor’s chat day on Twitter. Did we?? Friday feels like it happened a month ago.

In opening, I want to express how much I looked forward to, and appreciated, the Friday chats. Sure, they were chaotic, and at 30 minutes (give or take), they were a small fraction of the time I’ve had suddenly made available to me lately. Even so, they mattered. Yes, I joked about some of the questions and general hilarity that ensued – Twitter feeds can still move lightning fast when needed – but I still enjoyed the process. No, I didn’t have a single question answered, but for me, that wasn’t the point.

I think that my entertainment came two-fold. First, I like seeing fans interact, whether with one another or with band members. Sure, there were a lot of questions like, “Simon, will you be my quarantine partner?” or “Will you tour in my town <fill in the blank here with your town name> this time?” There was also a lot of joy. Seeing people commune on Twitter again, talking about something else other than politics or strife, was refreshing.

Second, I loved hearing from the band members. There’s something reassuring when you read tweets from them acknowledging the current state of the world. Seeing that they were right smack in the middle of getting the album done and just having time sort of come to an abrupt halt felt very familiar. I did feel as though there was more Q&A to it all than chatting though, which, given the traffic on Twitter, was understandable.

However, John was able to make it just a little more personal with one simple tweet that was both an answer to a question, as well as an inquiry of his own. He wanted to know what WE were doing to pass the time.

Not everyone answered, but many did, including me. I was only too happy to share news of learning to crochet and knit, raising a new flock of baby chicks, and building raised garden beds. Amanda wrote about getting back to teaching, and many others shared their own creative sojourns. It was nice.

The thing is, and it’s what I’ve always said about this band – it’s not really just about the hand-to-mouth (or ears) process of the band making music and the fans and listeners being the consumers – that keeps me coming back. It is rare, but there are sometimes these teeny-tiny shining moments when I feel like the band sees US. Not just as dollar signs with legs, but as real, genuine people who just happen to be fans. When John asked that question on Friday, it felt that way. I can’t even be sure that he read my tweet…or anyone’s for that matter, but it felt like a conversation, less like watching a hockey goalie (or footie goalie!) standing in the net taking shots.

Don’t get me wrong, I did those moments are rare. They really are! One can’t go around expecting that sort of thing very often. Expectations being future resentments and all…. Sheer numbers and math tell me that it’s just not possible to connect on a personal sort of level with every single fan. I just appreciate when it works out that way, even if it’s just for a second.

Someone asked me if that was the last chat DD was going to do, since we’re all still sort of quarantined and all. I responded saying I didn’t know. Back when DDHQ announced the Twitter chats, I doubt anyone knew how long this all would go on. I’m not sure if we have any better of an idea now! I would just encourage the band that, if they saw fit – to try different things. Instagram is a fun platform to do something “live” where you answer questions, and fans can see them in real time. Not sure if the band is feeling their best or is “stage” ready (goodness knows I’m definitely not these days!), but it’s an option. Even posting a YouTube video might be fun…and they don’t even have to give album scoops! They could just pick a subject and talk about it for five minutes or whatever. Just a thought. I just know the chats have been a highlight of some dreary weeks for me, and I’m sure I’m not alone.

Hope everyone is doing well out there. Wash your hands and get some fresh air if you can. I find getting air really helps me with coping. It’s beginning to warm up into the 70s with regularity now up here along the Central Coast. I have eight chicks that are now approaching the age where I can move them to an outdoor brooder, although not in with the big girls (chickens are brutal and they’ll kill the little ones)

-R