Head to Head: Show some respect

It takes courage to get up in front of people and sing, recite poetry, or perform in any way. I applaud people who do that, whether it was just once or on a regular basis. I go to events and actually enjoy their performances. What I do not enjoy, however, is hearing a drunk college student on the other side of the Student Center Ballroom sing off-key to a song that the performer is singing to.

Unfortunately that was the case Thursday during CSC’s second competition of “The Voice.” I was covering the event and noticed a group of people being obnoxious and saw that they were attempting to contain one of their very intoxicated friends from drawing more attention. After two more performers, they instead began encouraging their friend and even started taking photos and videos of how their friend was acting.

I have no problem with the audience quietly singing while a performer is singing, so long as they are not drawing attention away from the performer. I was disgusted with how this group of people conducted themselves, and I know I was not the only person distracted by their behavior. Multiple times I saw people in the front row turn around and stare at the group in the back of the room, as they were being loud and laughing.

If you do not plan on paying attention to the event and wish to be drunk, stay home. There are other people who actually want to enjoy an event, even if all they do is watch a performance.

Along those lines, people need to learn how to conduct themselves at sporting events. Yes, at games you can hoot and holler all you want to cheer on your team, and I’m all for that. However, Friday night the exact same group from Thursday showed up to the game, and a handful were drunk. Want to know how I could tell? They couldn’t get into the stands by themselves and had friends help, and they were falling all over and being obnoxious, not cheering, but just being loud. I have a problem with people acting a fool in front of the player’s families and community members. Those people represent not only the college, but any club or organization they are a part of.

When people see someone drunk and making a fool of him or herself, it puts the college and organization they are associated with in a bad light. This is not the first time I have noticed intoxicated students at games, and unfortunately, it probably won’t be the last. You are there to watch the event, not center the attention on yourself. If you want the attention, get involved in something where you can be the center of attention and show off there. Otherwise, be respectful and show support.

The group that showed up and distracted me both nights have lost all respect from me, and unfortunately they are members of a well-known group on campus.

If you are going to attend an event on campus where you are not participating, be respectful and conduct yourself in a way that you wish people to remember you. If I see you at an event acting like a hot mess, when I see you any other time I will see you in the same light.

Despite the freezing temperatures Thursday, students flocked to the Student Center in mass groups. The ballroom is set up with rows of chairs; a small stage is placed at the front of them. A sound system sits next to the stage. Students find a seat near their friends, the lights dim, and a voice comes through the speakers—the event has started. I am talking about the popular, second annual CSC’s “The Voice” competition.

I was the sidekick photographer with our photo editor, and besides going to the event to take photos, do you know what else I went there for? You didn’t guess it. I went to listen to the crowd talk. Yep, I didn’t face the cold to listen to 10 students brave standing on stage to be stared at by hundreds of eyes and share their voices with the campus.

Nope, I definitely went to listen to audience members talk and sing along with the soloists because that’s the best part of any event with a performer. I especially loved the moment when I couldn’t hear the performer anymore because the group standing behind me was singing so loudly, and let me tell you what, I absolutely loved hearing them mess up some of the words and sing out of tune.

Now, I know not all events involve an audience listening to a performer; some actually allow  conversation to commence, such as a crafty event—with those I actually go for the crafts and not the conversations. I also enjoy participating in other events such as carving pumpkins or Trick-or-Treating around the dorms.

However, when it comes to events such as “The Voice” competition or open mic nights, my favorite part is when everyone claps for the next person heading for the stage, and then once that person opens their mouth, everyone in the crowd starts talking to their friends.

Do you know what makes these situations even better? When those people are drunk, and can barely stay in one place for two seconds, let alone keep their mouths shut. I really didn’t want to listen to that girl play the piano and sing a song, nor did I want to hear that poem being read with such emotion—those things don’t matter. I just go to events to get out of my dorm room, and since I find the performers boring, I just tune in to other people’s conversations, which isn’t difficult to do, considering people in Eagle Ridge can hear them. Alright, maybe they weren’t that loud, but I’m sure the performers could hear them.

Now, for those of you who can’t read the underlying sarcasm, I’m going to spell it out for you. I hate, with a passion, when people talk during a performance. Maybe not all of the students who perform have stage fright, but it takes a lot of nerve and guts to stand in front of people.

At “The Voice” I was OK with people singing along with the performers; I was doing it myself, but with a quiet voice. If you wanted to sing that loudly, why didn’t you audition yourself?

Be respectful to the people performing—I don’t care what they are performing whether it be a song, poem, or acting; sit down, shut up, and give them your full attention. It really isn’t that difficult to do; I promise.

Y