Newport, RI - I dont know what to say...

Please read Camille's review it leaves me sad....and proud at the same time.

The Newport concert was billed as a Special Festival Performance. According to the definition found online a fes·ti·val is as follows;
1. –noun - gaiety; revelry; merrymaking.
2. –adjective - festal: a festival atmosphere of unrestrained joy.

Unrestrained joy....what does that phrase mean to you? What do you picture when you hear that? Have you ever been at the stage and felt the power and energy that flows between the fans and Melissa? As many fans have said before....the power and intensity and energy that Melissa puts into her show is a reflection of what is given to her by her audience. The more she gets the more she gives....and it seems to me that she somehow manages to give back soooo much more than she gets in a 5 vs 2000 match up. So I do my part....and I give her my energy when I am there at the stage, and what she gives me back carries me well past that show.

There seems to be 2 groups of fans...those who sit quietly and soak it all in and those who stand and dance and ride that wave of energy and unrestrained joy that they are experiencing. Both types of fans have a right to their experience....and there is a fine line when one type of fans experience impedes on another. Those that want to stand and dance may be in front of someone who doesn't....and when those fans ask security to make the others sit down it stops their energy flow and their way of enjoying the concert.

I do believe both types of fans are entitled to enjoy the show in their own ways.....but there should be some responsible ticket purchasing.....if you want to stand and dance and such....be down front as much as possible, or if further back get the isle seats if possible. And if you are someone who wishes to sit and soak it all in then don't purchase tickets in the pit or first 15 rows at a minimum....if you have them and a group of people are dancing in front of you why not switch seats with someone over there in another area who is standing in front of someone else? Basically creating a sitting / standing areas LOL.

If you want to sit choose seats that will be more inclined to have other "sitters" in that area.....I know there were some awesome balcony seats in Lowell in 2006 that were right AT the stage, but were above the standing masses...the view was incredible, and it was hell on me as a stander LOL, but I did sit, because I was in an area that I knew was full of sitters....but the next night when I was on the floor section I don't think my butt saw my seat for even 2 minutes....I was in company of standers LOL. In NY I was in an area further back that had people sitting all around me...I stood up and moved two rows back and was able to stand without being in any ones way. In Boca 2006 I watched as others allowed Edith to make her way to the stage and stand and dance. When she tired she went back to a seat and rested....and then again returned to the stage to stand and embrace her experience.

It broke my heart to read Camille's review....she is such an incredible writer that I was right there with her at the stage....and when I read that she was being threatened with being kicked out of the concert JUST because she wouldn't sit down....well....I was in shock. She was in front row.....she wasn't at a philharmonic....she was at a ROCK concert. She wasn't drunk or being obnoxious or anything you would expect to be escorted from the building for. She was just standing there experiencing unrestrained joy.

As I read on, I was also proud....proud of Camille for standing up for what was right, and for Melissa and her guitar tech for intervening for what was right. You see I believe that when Camille wrote the part where Melissa mouthed "I love you" it was for what they were giving to Melissa, their energy, their unrestrained joy. I believe that what Melissa gave to the audience last night was a pure reflection of a couple fans, in front, standing up for their rock star buddy and riding the wave.

If I may I want to quote Camille...because, atleast for me, she says it so well:

"I stand for her. I stand because I honor her. I stand because I am proud of her. I stand because she’ll stop and wave at my friends and I across the parking lot when she doesn’t have to or say “I LOVE YOU!” to you when you’re the only one standing at the stage. I stand because she speaks of wanting to be surrounded by people that want to change the world, and I am one of those people. I care not if I stand alone. I AM A GIANT, AND I WILL STAND!!!"

Thank you Camille and Angie....for standing up for ALL of us.