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

[T. Joseph Carter]

Laura,

In the kitchen at the Colorado Center for the Blind, we don't use our
canes for safety.  You heard me your computer say that right--we DO NOT
use canes in the kitchen because it's not safe.  Instead we become
comfortable with the kitchen and learn where thinks are.  For some of us,
this takes the full nine months, but still.  *grin*  There's a lot of
verbal warning that goes into people moving around the same kitchen with
hot pans, sharp things, etc., as I am sure you can imagine.

A stage is like a kitchen, except you don't have as many big ol' sharp
knives, and bacon and eggs do not result from going on stage.  Which is
really too bad, because many people would find stage fright easier to deal
with if the end result were bacon and eggs, I suspect.  *grin*

Joseph

On Mon, Mar 24, 2008 at 10:27:12AM -0400, tribble wrote:
> Hi again -- oh I don't mean not to use it on stage ever, I was simply 
> pointing out that performing a fast moving piece of coriography to music 
> isn't in my view easy to do with a cane used as a probe -- it seems to me 
> that the blind person should know the stage well enough to do the dance 
> without the cane, and therefore should probably set it aside for the 
> performance and pick it up again afterward.  You may still disagree, but 
> that is my own opinion -- perhaps this pegs me as not a very proficient cane 
> user, which may be true -- I was only able to walk when I was younger and 
> used the cane then, and my experience was that I was very careful not to go 
> so fast as to miss a step and go over an edge or stairway accidently -- and 
> this because my bones fracture easily, which is an added disability, so I 
> was probably a lot more careful walking than most blind persons.
> Have a good week.
> --le
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" <powerst at dcpcepn.nci.nih.gov>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 9:02 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane 
> andAmericanIdol
> 
> 
> Tribble;
> I totally disagree with you.  I have heard in the past, Why does Marc
> Mauer use a sighted guide to get on stage?  In his case, I think it is
> for spead, to keep the show moving.  That story about the blind man
> hittig the flag and I think he fell, could have been aboided if he had
> been using his cane.  I do not think the cane should be used as a toy
> while proforming, but if the person is moving or dancing, the cane shold
> folow the singer in his movements.
> At our Christmas party, I was called unexpectedly, to receive an award.
> I used my cane and walked up frunt, received the award and was told to
> go to the right to get my picture taken.  With a little verbal guidance
> and my cane, I did fine. A friend of mine followed me, but since I did
> most of it on my own, I do not know where she was, until she helped me
> back to our table.
> It took me many a year to accept the long, white cane, but now I believe
> it shows independence.  It sure looks better then sighted guide and
> especially on a stage, in frunt of an audience.
> When I was young, I used to think of the cane as a means of publisizing
> that I was blind, but I have accepted my blindness and am proud of it.
> 
> Terry Powers
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tribble [mailto:lauraeaves at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 10:32 AM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane
> andAmericanIdol
> 
> Is this still being discussed? -- I was away this week due to an injury
> to my arm that required surgery, but am back now, fingers hot and ready
> to type....
> 
> As for using the white cane on stage, my thought is that if the blind
> person has not know his/her coriography well enough to perform without
> using the cane, then he/she isn't ready for the performance -- stopping
> to grope around for props and stage edge is not really possible in the
> heat of a musical performance -- you can't interrupt the beat of a song
> to check where you are with something like a cane -- perhaps tactal
> markings on the floor that can be felt with the feet, but not a cane --
> Does anyone disagree?  I am thinking that if the performer doesn't think
> he or she is in the right place then finding the right place isn't
> appropriate during a performance -- ad libbing or altering the routine
> in a planned way and compensating is a more likely solution.
> --le
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bonnie Ainsworth" <cedarwoman1965 at neb.rr.com>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 2:00 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #131- White Cane and
> AmericanIdol
> 
> 
> I had to think about this one long and hard, but I decided that I would
> agree with the judges.  It's respectable to be blind, and I don't
> believe that we as blind people should be treated any differently than
> others performing on American Idol.  Until recently, I didn't get caught
> up in American Idol but have really come to enjoy it.  Simon can come
> across as harsh and very critical though so I guess I'd have to take him
> with a grain of salt.  I'd try to learn the stage but in this case I
> don't know if that would be possible.  After all, the cane is a part of
> us cane users, like it or not!
> 
> Bonnie Ainsworth
> Lincoln, NE USA
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
> To: "nfbtalk" <NFB-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 9:16 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."
> 
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