When we present letters to the editor we try very hard to “publish” people whose correspondences are thoughtful and insightful. I was fairly certain that I would get a lot of feedback from the editorial I wrote entitled, “Getting Clipped” and I did. What kind of disturbed me about the letters is that our readers were 100% in agreement with me on this topic. That is a first. It points to two potential reasons 1) I am preaching to the choir or 2) the people who would potentially object to this kind of editorial aren’t, as I suggested, the reading and writing a letter to the editor type of guy. Either way here is batch of letters that reflect some interesting ideas that are thought provoking in their own right. Thanks to everyone who weighed in on this piece. 

Right on Mr. Mac! Once again you take a topic that everyone is thinking about and talking about privately. You go public with it. Thanks for your honesty and candor. ~ Rudy, Austin, TX

Thank you for putting that out there Dave. Like a wise woman my mother once said and I quote "Common courtesy doesn't cost one red cent" ~ Tim, San Juan Capistrano, CA

It’s about damn time someone went on record and said something about this intrusion of videographers and photographers in the blues world. It seems like the problem has become exponentially worse just in the past few years. I think you somehow were able to articulate the sense of entitlement these “documentarians” have as it relates to their work. Well done Mac! ~ Robert, Jefferson City, MO

So true David...Whatever happened to living in the moment. It is almost as if the moment doesn’t count unless we share every experience we have with the rest of the world. I just want to say, “Stop, slow down, breathe...enjoy and reflect on what is going on in this moment.” I have read the article several times and each time I get a chuckle. A little satire and a lot of truth is very refreshing. ~ Beth, Providence, RI

I have seen a YouTube video of you dancing at the Café Boogaloo in Hermosa Beach, CA from about ten years ago. Cool shirt! ~ Rachel, Los Angeles, CA

I liked the piece entitled “Getting Clipped” very much. Thanks for writing what everyone is thinking. I think you missed an opportunity to point out how these camera men (and woman) can affect the performance itself. I am a blues musician and quite frankly I am sick and tired of camera $*#% floating all over the stage while I am playing. It is very distracting. Enough already! ~ Dan, Atlanta, GA

If God wanted a gigantic doofus with a camera to stand directly in front of little old me he wouldn’t have created the zoom lens. ~ Jill, Costa Mesa, CA

Thanks Mac for putting this out there. I am professional working musician out of L.A. as you pointed out this music is made in bars and that’s where I make my living (such as it is). There are these people, one dude in particular, who follows me around and shoots video of me not only while I am on stage but while I am eating, coming out of the rest room, anywhere. It is kind of unsettling. It seems like these guys...there are all guys by the way, don’t care for the music they just collect clips like baseball cards or something. I was never that guy who would “hide out” in the green room when those are available but now I find myself back there on the couch more often. I appreciate my fans and try and give them the best performance I can give but these guys make it hard sometimes. I also am a person and I don’t need to be videoed while I am hanging out with my friends. What is wrong with this guy? I think everyone knows which videographer you were referring to. ~ A Blues Musician Just trying to Do His Best, Los Angeles, CA

Editor: Two things: 1) I never “publish” anonymous letters to the editor. In my view people have to have the courage to stand behind their convictions. This blues man did include his name on the letter and then called me and ask that I not publish the letter, as he was afraid to incur the wrath of this particular videographer that he so loathes. I thought his letter was thoughtful enough to “publish” and we agreed to not use his name, as I respect that he is just trying to make a living in a pretty hostile marketplace. 2) The person I referenced is a photographer and is not a videographer. That person is NOT based in Southern California.

I loved the article entitled, “Getting Clipped.” You raised many interesting questions and shared a point of view that has heretofore not to my knowledge been discussed. On the other hand, you missed an opportunity to point out that while the live blues music scene has struggled virtually everywhere, people’s obsession with watching live music videos on ones computer has increased. I don’t think the correlation between these two is coincidental. ~ Joey, Havenhill, MA

I am a professional photographer and I couldn’t agree more with your editorial. I love blues music. There are times when I wish I wasn’t shooting because I know I can’t LISTEN to the music with the same intensity while I am shooting. Listening is not a passive activity. Neither is photography. You just can’t do both at the same time. I believe that the huge influx of really, really bad blues bands in recent years is due to the fact that fewer people who show up to a gig are actually listening to the music. I also want to thank you for your sensitivity and understanding to the fact that we as artists have had our art devalued to some degree here in the digital age. Again you were on point. Well done and thanks always for an insightful and entertaining read. ~ Kyle, New York, NY

Amen... When did looking at music replace listening to music. Have you ever noticed when you are at a club, concert or festival how just closing your eyes for a moment or two increases your ability to hear the music. I know what these musicians look like. I am there to listen to the music and dance. I agree the obsession of the visual aspect of the performance is why so many really bad blues people get over on the audience. I was on one of those blues cruises and this guy is playing and all the middle aged ladies are going nuts over this dude I don’t have the chutzpa like you or Lynwood Slim to name names but this dude wasn’t playing sh*t and he sure in the hell wasn’t playing any blues. All these people were just taking pictures of each other and this musician. It’s like no one is listening any more. Thanks for putting this out there. I am glad I am not the only person who feels this way. ~ Sheronda, Gary, IN  

David, for a guy who I have seen at shows for many years standing almost always in the back of the room listening to music often with your eyes closed and a smile on your face, you are pretty darn observant. I was at the Tiki Bar on Sunday, July 29^th for the Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan, Sax Gordon et al. show (great show BTW... thanks). You are 100% spot on; these video guys are really annoying. They are worse than that. they are a disgusting lot that have no respect for anyone. I couldn’t believe that one video creep actually shoved his fingers in your chest and cursed you out. I admire your restraint. All you did was give him a look that sent him flying for the exit. I suspect (and pray) he is permanently banned from these shows. There is no room for that type of behavior any time and any place. ~ Pat, Long Beach, CA

Editor: Pat I am sorry that one of our customers behaved in this manner. It is not consistent with the kind of vibe we try and create at these shows. I am also glad to report he is not a regular. I appreciate your thoughts as it relates to this one small incident. I like to think this man was just having a bad day, had a momentary lapse in judgment and forgot his manners. I believe people deserve a second chance. Having said that, I am in a minority as it relates to this matter as my colleagues who all witnessed what you witnessed strongly disagree. The Tiki Bar has a zero tolerance policy towards people who use inflammatory language and engage in physical provocation. I respect that as well. You will be glad to know that he is the first, and hopefully the last, individual to be permanently banned from these shows. We have had to go to the trouble and expense to hire extra security for our upcoming shows to keep this one individual and any other persons who do not know how to behave in public away from the good folks who are out just trying to have good time. There have been several other people who expressed similar views as it relates to this person and have contacted me to share their concerns with me and what many described as his pattern of bad behavior on Sunday. I don’t know about that but what I do know is the people who support world class blues musicians through their patronage deserve the finest musical experience we can provide.

I am a videographer. Does that automatically make me an iliterate nerd? ~ Brandon, Spokane,WA

Editor: Yes and you misspelled illiterate.