Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Don't They Know Who I Am?
A friend of mine is a music producer and a talented songwriter. Recently he had the opportunity to attend the BET Awards and met artists ranging from Ludicris to Stevie Wonder. When he returned to Chicago, and reality, he mentioned that he's going to try to stay humble, but he could feel himself getting wrapped up in that world.
I know what he's talking about.
In the Chicago media world, I'm still small potatoes. I'm the shreds of small potatoes before they become hash browns. But I do have a very loyal and steadily increasing subscriber base to my newsletter, and more and more frequently I'll meet someone who will say "You're the Local Tourist!"
That's incredibly intoxicating.
It can also create a monster.
A couple of weeks ago I faxed my press credential request to my contact at the Mayor's Office of Special Events. I was told to list the events I would be covering, and if I needed a photographer to provide the freelancer's name. Yesterday afternoon I contacted the office ahead of time to find out where to pick up the credentials so that Jillian and I could cover the Anthony Hamilton/India.Arie concert at the Taste of Chicago. The woman I spoke with was, to put it bluntly, quite snotty.
"You're an unknown publication, and the only reason I'm allowing you to attend is because Ann's worked with you before."
I bit my tongue and reminded myself that I wouldn't get anywhere by responding in kind. I very politely told her that TLT receives about 80,000 visitors a month, and that as an Internet publication photographs were necessary. She grudgingly told me that she would allow a photographer, but I would have to sign a release agreeing not to sell the photos.
Fine.
Before leaving I spoke to my mother and told her about the conversation. She said "oh - she doesn't know who she's talking to. That's going to end up on your website." Of course she's right, but not just for the reason that this woman was somewhat rude. I'll get to that in a moment.
The security at the concert also could have used a lesson or two in social niceties. Photographers were allowed for the first three songs, which was fine, but after that a bevy of blue t-shirt- wearing angry people swarmed into the pit and shoed us out like we were so many aggravating mosquitos. One woman glared at me and said "you shouldn't even have been in here" because I had an orange bracelet instead of the green photo pit.
Because we were a bit disgruntled by our treatment, were hungry, and had some time to kill before India.Arie we decided to visit the Taste and get something to eat. Unfortunately we missed her first three songs (the concerts actually start on time at the Taste of Chicago!), so we headed up the aisles to get close enough to get a decent shot. Jillian was let through, but I had to wait halfway back.
Here's where my reason for writing about this comes in. It's not so much the treatment itself. I can somewhat understand that. I'm sure the Mayor's Office and the people at the press check-in get all sorts of people saying they work for this or that publication. Even though the Internet is now the news source of choice for many, I still have credibility issues simply because my publication is a website and really, anyone can put up a website. And security detail is a thankless job and people try to sneak by all the time.
My problem was with my own reaction. I was irritated and literally thought "Don't they know who I am?" When the woman told me I shouldn't have been in the photo pit, and when I wasn't allowed closer to the stage, I felt like a whiney bratty child. I even said to Jillian - "But it's my website! I'm the publisher!"
Time for a reality check, Theresa.
Rude behavior should not be met with an arrogant belief that they picked the wrong person to mess with. I don't care how many visitors The Local Tourist receives; that does not make me more deserving of kind and considerate treatment. It does, however, give me a venue to voice my dissatisfaction, or, and this is more frequently the case, my satisfaction. This is a public forum, and while I definitely include my personality I'm also providing a service that goes beyond me as an individual. My all-about-me reaction was humbling.
Next time I'm treated with disdain or disrespect I promise to keep the monster in its cage. I'll let everyone know about it of course, but it will be for the right reason.
Theresa
I know what he's talking about.
In the Chicago media world, I'm still small potatoes. I'm the shreds of small potatoes before they become hash browns. But I do have a very loyal and steadily increasing subscriber base to my newsletter, and more and more frequently I'll meet someone who will say "You're the Local Tourist!"
That's incredibly intoxicating.
It can also create a monster.
A couple of weeks ago I faxed my press credential request to my contact at the Mayor's Office of Special Events. I was told to list the events I would be covering, and if I needed a photographer to provide the freelancer's name. Yesterday afternoon I contacted the office ahead of time to find out where to pick up the credentials so that Jillian and I could cover the Anthony Hamilton/India.Arie concert at the Taste of Chicago. The woman I spoke with was, to put it bluntly, quite snotty.
"You're an unknown publication, and the only reason I'm allowing you to attend is because Ann's worked with you before."
I bit my tongue and reminded myself that I wouldn't get anywhere by responding in kind. I very politely told her that TLT receives about 80,000 visitors a month, and that as an Internet publication photographs were necessary. She grudgingly told me that she would allow a photographer, but I would have to sign a release agreeing not to sell the photos.
Fine.
Before leaving I spoke to my mother and told her about the conversation. She said "oh - she doesn't know who she's talking to. That's going to end up on your website." Of course she's right, but not just for the reason that this woman was somewhat rude. I'll get to that in a moment.
The security at the concert also could have used a lesson or two in social niceties. Photographers were allowed for the first three songs, which was fine, but after that a bevy of blue t-shirt- wearing angry people swarmed into the pit and shoed us out like we were so many aggravating mosquitos. One woman glared at me and said "you shouldn't even have been in here" because I had an orange bracelet instead of the green photo pit.
Because we were a bit disgruntled by our treatment, were hungry, and had some time to kill before India.Arie we decided to visit the Taste and get something to eat. Unfortunately we missed her first three songs (the concerts actually start on time at the Taste of Chicago!), so we headed up the aisles to get close enough to get a decent shot. Jillian was let through, but I had to wait halfway back.
Here's where my reason for writing about this comes in. It's not so much the treatment itself. I can somewhat understand that. I'm sure the Mayor's Office and the people at the press check-in get all sorts of people saying they work for this or that publication. Even though the Internet is now the news source of choice for many, I still have credibility issues simply because my publication is a website and really, anyone can put up a website. And security detail is a thankless job and people try to sneak by all the time.
My problem was with my own reaction. I was irritated and literally thought "Don't they know who I am?" When the woman told me I shouldn't have been in the photo pit, and when I wasn't allowed closer to the stage, I felt like a whiney bratty child. I even said to Jillian - "But it's my website! I'm the publisher!"
Time for a reality check, Theresa.
Rude behavior should not be met with an arrogant belief that they picked the wrong person to mess with. I don't care how many visitors The Local Tourist receives; that does not make me more deserving of kind and considerate treatment. It does, however, give me a venue to voice my dissatisfaction, or, and this is more frequently the case, my satisfaction. This is a public forum, and while I definitely include my personality I'm also providing a service that goes beyond me as an individual. My all-about-me reaction was humbling.
Next time I'm treated with disdain or disrespect I promise to keep the monster in its cage. I'll let everyone know about it of course, but it will be for the right reason.
Theresa
