[nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane andAmericanIdol

Tue Mar 11 07:51:19 CDT 2008

Well, I've never had to do television.  I did a video many years ago and it 
went fine.  My reason for making all these points was to suggest to others 
that there is a solution to the problem.  I think sometimes we complain 
about the unfairness of something but don't find solutions.  In this case, 
those who believe that being a visual entertainer dilutes the purity of the 
musical experience are not talking about a blindness issue.  On the other 
hand, I sensed that some people were perhaps saying that they were at a 
disadvantage because of being blind.  I don't believe it, although, I do 
believe it perhaps takes some training, much like other things we as blind 
people do.

Should I ever be asked to handle that major television appearance in which I 
am asked for my expertise on child raising or perhaps how to invest ones 
funds in such a way as to never seem to get ahead, I'll go and check with 
blind folks who've mastered the tv presence.
Mike

Michael Bullis
Executive Director MD TAP
Maryland Department of Disabilities
2301 Argonne Drive, Room T-17
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-554-9245 Voice
443-257-7062
1-800-832-4827 Voice
1-866-881-7488 TTY
410-554-9237 Fax
www.mdtap.org
mbullis at mdtap.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rovig, Lorraine" <LRovig at nfb.org>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 8:20 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane 
andAmericanIdol

> Hey, Mike,
> Talk to the NFB of Florida folks. A few years back, they ran a community
> cable TV show on a regular basis, which included blind guys running the
> cameras and in front of the cameras.  I do not know if they are doing it
> now.  Let me know if you need a contact email.
>
> The way a sighted performer knows which camera is "on" is by noticing a
> camera's red light is on.  But on the other hand, TV. studios have
> multiple cameras and if one is fixed front center, one to the left and
> one to the right (as I've seen done), I don't understand the problem in
> knowing where to look for "eye contact."  In addition to that, the
> engineering booth has tiny television sets showing individually the feed
> from each camera. The director decides whether the shot from the front
> or the side, long shot or close up, is the shot to send over the
> airwaves.  The performer doesn't need to know where to look at cameras
> as long as he or she looks at any guest, looks at the audience if there
> is one, and looks straight ahead with the chin up at the beginning and
> end of segments.  The idea is to "look" at people the same way any blind
> person with some social skills will "look" at the persons he or she is
> talking to.  By the way, cameras never have a problem getting a full-on
> shot of Stevie Wunder's face when he is performing.
> Lorraine
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Michael Bullis
> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 11:09 PM
> To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane
> andAmericanIdol
>
> Well, actually, I thought there was a blind person last year.  But,
> you'll have to take that with a grain of salt because I don't watch the
> show.
> Don't even have a television.
> In any case, I think the reason there haven't been blind people may
> indeed be that many of us aren't good at doing the visual things that
> the show requires.  I think the nervousness about blindness on the part
> of the show would be outweighed by the fact that we have this mystique
> of being musically inclined.  I knew a blind guy once who was doing
> local training for businesses.  The tv station thought he was so good
> with his training that they wanted to give him his own five minute
> segment on the news once a week to talk about business excellenct.
> After the first show they canceled him because he didn't look at the
> camera--do all the eye contact things they needed.  I thought to myself
> that I would probably have the same problem but then wondered how one
> might learn to do that sort of thing.  For example, couldn't one have
> the cameraman snap his fingers so I knew exactly where to look?  Maybe
> my eyes not focussing would be a problem, but, I don't know.
> I'd like to do some experimenting around and see just how well a blind
> person could do.  In fact, I'll wager that some blind people have
> already found out some tricks that work.
> Mike Bullis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of bright-sunshine
> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 10:51 PM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane
> andAmericanIdol
>
> Maybe true, but how come I have not seen one blind individual up their
> yet?
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael Bullis" <mabullis at hotmail.com>
> To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 8:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane
> andAmericanIdol
>
>
>> Ah,  so, we have two diverging interests.  One side says it's all
>> about the music and that's what it's supposed to be about.  Are you
>> sure?  Can't it be about visual entertainment as well?  I mean, this
>> is tv after all which does imply visual entertainment.  But, don't
>> feel bad.  There are lots of good singers, both sighted and blind, who
>
>> hate the tv's requirements for visuals.
>> But, I wonder, why fight it so much?  Why not just learn to visually
>> entertaining?
>>
>> Some country singers like Randy Travis are visually borring.  They
>> just stand there and sing, barely moving.  Clearly they've made it.
>> Perhaps country allows for more of this still.  I know that Garth
>> Brooks was put down by a lot of his fellow country artists because he
>> has so many visuals in his show.  He also has a college degree in
> marketing as I recall.
>>
>> So, anyway, I'm sure I won't turn any of you musical purists into
>> visual entertainers, but, I don't think it has much, or even anything,
>
>> to do with blindness.  But, if you choose not to be part of the visual
>
>> form of television, then don't be surprised if you don't get on
> American
> Idol.
>> They're in a ratings fight and will always take the dual visual and
>> audio entertainers over those who are just audio.
>> Mike Bullis
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>
>> On Behalf Of kaye zimpher
>> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 9:05 PM
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane and
>> AmericanIdol
>>
>> As I read this thought provoker I was quite interested because I
>> absolutely love American idol, but I have to say I agree with the
>> judges. I am and will always be a proud cane user, and I think it
>> should be used at all times as the mobility aid that it was meant to
>> be, but to have the cane as part of the dance/song? I'm not so sure
>> about that. If I were a contestant I would want to look as good as I
>> could and I would not want something distracting the crowd from my
>> *beautiful* voice. hahaha But in all seriousness, if the contestant
>> familiarized themselves with the stage before the show they should
>> have no problem making the best routine caneless. By the same token I
>> am also not fond of the distracting way some contestants wear strange
>> things in their hair or dres so weird. It distracts the audience from
>> the true nature of the show which is singing.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
>> To: "nfbtalk" <NFB-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 10:16 PM
>> Subject: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane and American
>
>> Idol
>>
>>
>>> NFBtalk members
>>> RE:  White Cane and American Idol
>>>
>>> Simon, Paula and Randy are faced with judging if a white cane is a
>>> detractor to the performance of the first blind American Idol
>>> contestant. See if you agree with their Judgment. fellow judges If
>>> you have not read the PROVOKER, it follows.  Recall that I collect
>>> responses and post them upon my web site for all the WWW to read and
>>> learn from and that URL is- Http://thoughtprovoker.info  If you wish
>>> to receive THOUGHT PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and
>>> ask, at-  newmanrl at cox.net
>>>
>>> THOUGHT PROVOKER 131
>>> White Cane and American Idol
>>>
>>> White cane arching, swaying, at times twirling like a baton in his
>>> fingers, the young blind man belted out his vocals and danced in
>>> rhythm to the driving beat of the stage band and supporting voices of
>
>>> the backup singers, all part of his well rehearsed number for the
>>> audience and judges of American Idol, the hit television show. The
>>> competition was in the third week, eight contestants had already been
>
>>> eliminated, four in each of the proceeding two weeks. This week four
>>> more, two males and two females would be voted off, sent home by
>>> America's voting audience.
>>>
>>> The live audience responded enthusiastically, obviously having liked
>>> the young blind man's rendition of the eighties rock tune. The
>>> radiant smile and confident movement of the young man on stage told
>>> the watcher that the singer felt he'd given a good performance.
>>>
>>> "Check it out! Check it out! Dog!" Loudly proclaimed Randy, the first
>
>>> of the three judges standing on his feet, bent arms waving the beat,
>>> looking excited and pleased. "That was hot! That is what we saw in
>>> you from the first tune you sang in front of us.  it's the enthusiasm
>
>>> of delivery, good clear tone, and the way you handle yourself. Dog!
>>> Good song choice--that was perfect for you. I liked that! This was
>>> the best performance of the night!"
>>> Randy was beaming so hard, he could have been an ad for toothpaste.
>>>
>>> Paula was next, face beaming, still standing where she had risen to
>>> dance behind her chair, "Brent, that was a stunning performance;
>>> great
>> vocals!
>>> Your parents. who are in the audience, can be proud of you. You
>>> looked natural up there; you had the audience loving you! And hey,
>>> you can dance!
>>> We hadn't seen that in your earlier performances.  You looked good;
>>> you need to do more of that. I think you are going to be in the final
>
>>> twelve and the other singers will have to work hard to beat this
>>> performance."  She sat down, tilting her head and raising her
>>> eyebrows to check what the persnickety judge on her right was going
> to
> say.
>>>
>>> The cameras shifted to the final judge. He had sat, arms crossed,
>>> taking in Brent's performance with his usual critical eye and half
>>> smile.  With serious tone and British-accented speech, Simon began
>>> one of his infamous, well known intros to an evaluation of a singer's
>
>>> performance. "To be honest with you, I have mixed feelings about
> you."
>>> The audience erupted with hoots and jeering in response to the judge
>>> they loved to hate. "Wait a minute, wait a minute, let me have my
>>> say." And with the return of quiet to the hall, Simon addressed the
>>> now unsmiling, serious young singer. "On the positive side, I think
>>> you actually are one of the top two voices in the competition." The
>>> audience responded favorably but quieted down quickly, knowing that
>>> Simon had more to say. "But my problem is." Simon's eyebrows came
>>> together as he frowned in concentration.
>>>
>>> "Ah, what? The ever eloquent Simon is lost for words!" blustered
> Randy.
>>>
>>> Turning a serious face to his fellow judge, Simon answered, "Well,
>>> we've never before had a blind contestant and I'm struggling with how
>
>>> to phrase my comment." Abruptly turning back to the waiting
>>> performer, face determined, Simon continued, "Brent, I will not treat
>
>>> you any different, I owe you that, and I'm going to tell you what the
>
>>> problem is. It is . as we tell you all, in this business you have to
>>> be believable. And in your special case, you have to be acceptable."
>>> The audience reacts, Randy and Paula's voices add to the storm of
>>> protest and Simon has to again pause. "Now wait a minute, wait!
>>> Let me finish. Hear what I've got to say." With order restored, Simon
>
>>> went on, "I did not say a blind singer would not be acceptable! As
>>> everyone else here, I'm aware of Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, and
>>> other blind musicians who have made it in professional music. But
>>> there's a difference at work here. Now what my problem is--I said
>>> your vocals were one of the best, but on stage I believe you will
>>> have to lose that white stick. It was .
>>> annoying; it kept drawing the eye, taking the focus off of where it
>>> should be, on the singer. Sorry, the stick is not compatible with
>>> being an
>> Idol."
>>> THOUGHT PROVOKER 131
>>> White Cane and American Idol
>>>
>>> White cane arching, swaying, at times twirling like a baton in his
>>> fingers, the young blind man belted out his vocals and danced in
>>> rhythm to the driving beat of the stage band and supporting voices of
>
>>> the backup singers, all part of his well rehearsed number for the
>>> audience and judges of American Idol, the hit television show. The
>>> competition was in the third week, eight contestants had already been
>
>>> eliminated, four in each of the proceeding two weeks. This week four
>>> more, two males and two females would be voted off, sent home by
>>> America's voting audience.
>>>
>>> The live audience responded enthusiastically, obviously having liked
>>> the young blind man's rendition of the old rhythm and blues classic.
>>> The radiant smile and confident movement of the young man on stage
>>> told the watcher that the singer felt he'd given a good performance.
>>>
>>> "Check it out! Check it out! Dog!" Loudly proclaimed Randy, the first
>
>>> of the three judges standing on his feet, bent arms waving the beat,
>>> looking excited and pleased. "That was hot! That is what we saw in
>>> you from the first tune you sang in front of us.  it's the enthusiasm
>
>>> of delivery, good clear tone, and the way you handle yourself. Dog!
>>> Good song choice--that was perfect for you. I liked that! This was
>>> the best performance of the night!"
>>> Randy was beaming so hard, he could have been an ad for toothpaste.
>>>
>>> Paula was next, face beaming, still standing where she had risen to
>>> dance behind her chair, "Brent, that was a stunning performance;
>>> great
>> vocals!
>>> Your parents. who are in the audience, can be proud of you. You
>>> looked natural up there; you had the audience loving you! And hey,
>>> you can dance!
>>> We hadn't seen that in your earlier performances.  You looked good;
>>> you need to do more of that. I think you are going to be in the final
>
>>> twelve and the other singers will have to work hard to beat this
>>> performance."  She sat down, tilting her head and raising her
>>> eyebrows to check what the persnickety judge on her right was going
> to
> say.
>>>
>>> The cameras shifted to the final judge. He had sat, arms crossed,
>>> taking in Brent's performance with his usual critical eye and half
>>> smile.  With serious tone and British-accented speech, Simon began
>>> one of his infamous, well known intros to an evaluation of a singer's
>
>>> performance. "To be honest with you, I have mixed feelings about
> you."
>>> The audience erupted with hoots and jeering in response to the judge
>>> they loved to hate. "Wait a minute, wait a minute, let me have my
>>> say." And with the return of quiet to the hall, Simon addressed the
>>> now unsmiling, serious young singer. "On the positive side, I think
>>> you actually are one of the top two voices in the competition." The
>>> audience responded favorably but quieted down quickly, knowing that
>>> Simon had more to say. "But my problem is." Simon's eyebrows came
>>> together as he frowned in concentration.
>>>
>>> "Ah, what? The ever eloquent Simon is lost for words!" blustered
> Randy.
>>>
>>> Turning a serious face to his fellow judge, Simon answered, "Well,
>>> we've never before had a blind contestant and I'm struggling with how
>
>>> to phrase my comment." Abruptly turning back to the waiting
>>> performer, face determined, Simon continued, "Brent, I will not treat
>
>>> you any different, I owe you that, and I'm going to tell you what the
>
>>> problem is. It is . as we tell you all, in this business you have to
>>> be believable. And in your special case, you have to be acceptable."
>>> The audience reacts, Randy and Paula's voices add to the storm of
>>> protest and Simon has to again pause. "Now wait a minute, wait!
>>> Let me finish. Hear what I've got to say." With order restored, Simon
>
>>> went on, "I did not say a blind singer would not be acceptable! As
>>> everyone else here, I'm aware of Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, and
>>> other blind musicians who have made it in professional music. But
>>> there's a difference at work here. Now what my problem is--I said
>>> your vocals were one of the best, but on stage I believe you will
>>> have to lose that white stick. It was .
>>> annoying; it kept drawing the eye, taking the focus off of where it
>>> should be, on the singer. Sorry, the stick is not compatible with
>>> being an
>> Idol."
>>>
>>>
>>> Robert Leslie Newman
>>> E-Mail- newmanrl at cox.net
>>> Web Site- thoughtprovoker.info
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ------
>> ----
>>
>>
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>>
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>>
>> --
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>
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