Hi Meat
The idea that your performances are only "half hearted" is absolute bullsh**t !!! It really pisses me off that someone would even suggest such a thing
This past September, I travelled 5 hours to go to your concert at the Mohegan Sun. A lot of people, including my Father, thought I was crazy, considering I was going to the show the following Saturday night in Atlantic City :) He couldn't figure out why I would want to go to the same concert twice in one week ....
But what he didn't realize is that they were both two totally different shows .... from the level of energy in the audience, to the theatrics and stories, to your interaction with the fans and the band ....
Ok let's do a comparison here between the two concerts I went to :
(a). Were the songlists the same ? Yes (with the exception of Frying Pan).
(b). Did you sound the same ? Yes -- brilliant both nights
(c). Did you give more than 150% at both shows? Yes.
(d). Were the theatrics different ? Yes.
(e). Was the interaction with the audience different ? Yes.
(f). Was your level of energy the same ? Yes.
(g). Was I disappointed ? ABSOLUTELY NOT
(h). Would I go see you again ? IN A HEART BEAT
If I just want to hear you sing, I could stay home and listen to the CD on the stereo (or in the car if I hadn't worn out my CD player
).
The bottom line is I go to watch you perform the songs ... you said yourself that each show is like a great play, and I just sit back and enjoy each act while I sit there waiting to see how it ends :)
Here's an example for you ... Paradise By The Dashboard Light.
Although it will always be one of my favorites .... but it's a song that I have to watch you perform to enjoy it the most. Everytime I see it, it's totally different, and I enjoy it even more ... from being the "other woman" during the makeout scene in New Brunswick last year, to watching you and Patti having a ball with it this past September :)
So if your performances were "half-hearted" ... would you be able to keep Paradise as fresh and as much fun as you have for the past 25 years? I don't think so.
Oh and if you didn't care about your fans ..... would you take the time out of your busy schedule and talk to us on the forum? Probably not. But the fact that you answer our questions and get involved in the discussions whenever you can shows a true concern for your fans. Having the opportunity to talk to you really means a lot to me.
The bottom line is .... you can't please all of the people all of the time.
Please don't be so hard on yourself. I know it's easy for me to say, but instead of thinking about that 1 person who for some reason didn't like one of your shows, think about the other 49,999 or more who were there and had the time of their lives :)
Those are the ones, like myself and the majority of people here on the forum, that will keep coming back to your shows and continue to love and support you no matter what !
Now it's time for me to watch that Mexican concert on DirectTV once again
Thank you for everything
Love you always
Vicki