Where did you meet the Band, when and HOW!

[shadow]

I was fortunate to meet the band members at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan last spring. They had done two shows that night and my new wife (who was happy to have 'I Will Prove My Love to You' played during our wedding) and I saw the 2nd show. Afterwards we decided to have a drink at the nearest quiet bar and all of the guys showed up except Gordon. We talked and got autographs on CD covers - it was so COOL! Terry, Rick and Mike are all very approachable and 'good people'. My question is, since Gordon doesn't drink HOW DO PEOPLE MEET HIM?

I have first row tickets to see them at the Fox Theater in Detroit, April 16th I think. Got them minutes after they went on sale. It would be a kick to meet Gordon once, since I've seen him live at least 8 times. Anybody got the secret?






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"In my fashion, in my way"

Well as I have met him not once but TWICE, the easiest way to do it is arrive at the backstage door about 3pm wait for him to show up or make a beeline after the concert.

[Saturday clothes]

I have found that if you hang out behind the rear exit to the concert hall/theater, you can usually meet Gord and the band after a concert. Look for the moving trucks/rental cars. There are usually a couple people waiting out there after a concert. Gord and the band normally come out after a show and are very accomodating as far as autographs/photos, conversation. I was able to meet Gord and the band after the Carlisle concert and Norwalk show from this past year.

Give them about 45 minutes or so and they normally come out.

Good luck!!

[GitarGrl]

Total newbie here... but I did have the good fortune to meet Gordon and the band many years ago when I worked backstage at Westbury Music Fair. I'd seen them perform many times (first concert when I was about 13 at "The Hub" in Hempstead, NY) and had front row seats for the show. Luckily, the security folks knew how much I REALLY wanted to finally meet the man behind the music and they let me and a friend backstage for a few moements. Since it was after the show, they were all gracious and friendly, stopping for a moment to chat about gigging and traveling all over. It was the ABSOLUTE COOLEST!!!

One note of interest -- Lightfoot was pretty legendary at the Music Fair because every time he came through, he demanded that we talk softly and turn off the A/C units while he tuned his guitars -- seems they hummmmmmmm.....

Cris.

[Rose]

Shadow, I have had the pleasure of meeting Gord, 3 times. We got to know Barry, his manager, that helps to get back stage, and also, like Saturday clothes said, standing by the exit will probably help alot. Good luck April 16th, it's a experience meeting the man Gordon Lightfoot.

Rose

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[Dorothea]

Hey Cris [Gitargrl],

Do you still live in the area? This is from a fellow Long Islander. THE HUB. . .
boy, does that go back. Heard they want to
build another performance center in Hempstead
in an effort to rejuvenate the area. I never
saw Gordon at THE HUB, but I wish I did. I
probably was at Westbury Music Fair when you
worked backstage [you lucky dog]. I've seen
every performance since 1978. I like WMF
cause every seat is a good one, but the venue
I liked best was the JONES BEACH THEATRE.
Gordon performed there the first year they had the summer rock concerts [in addition to the usual musicals, dance & classical music].
I'll tell you I had my doubts about the acoustics, but it was wonderful!. . . and
along with being by the water on a beautiful
starry night with good friends[&, of coarse,Gord & the Band]. I've seen
others there too - Moody Blues, Kenny Loggins, Chicago, John Denver [I won Denver's
tickets answering a contest question - the
answer?- Gordon Lightfoot! - they played a few
bars of IYCRMM and asked for the performer/
songwriter.] To keep in line with this thread
I met "The Man" for the very 1st&only time in
Northhampton in March 2000. I'm happy to say
that I met him while with some members of the
alt.music.lightfoot ng. Meeting Gord was
thrilling & thanks to Jenney Rivard I have
photos to reminisce over in my old age. [No,
I'm not old yet ]. If you do still live on Long Island I would like it very much that we get in touch with each other. If you'd like to contact me you can email me @ Kemp_Six@msn.com

Dorothea

[This message has been edited by Dorothea (edited February 19, 2001).]

[shadow]

I have to say it's thrilling to have found this Forum and hear from fellow Gordon followers (sounds like I'm talking about a cult). Thanks to Gord and SaturdayClothes for your insight, I'll give it a shot on April 21st behind the Fox Theater in Detroit. Hope we don't bump into riff raff back there... in downtown Detroit City... YIKES!

Just a comment so we don't lose this thread. I'm new to the forum and I'm interested to here where people have had the pleasure of meeting Gordon and the Lightfoot Band. There have to be some pretty exciting stories out there like Rose and Gitargrl offered up (thank you, Ladies). We'd all like to here the details I'm sure. Who's up?

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"In my fashion, in my way"

[charlene]

go to "search" on this site - type in "Orillia" and user name - "charlene" - you will find the account of my meeting Gord last July.
char

quote:Originally posted by shadow:
I have to say it's thrilling to have found this Forum and hear from fellow Gordon followers (sounds like I'm talking about a cult). Thanks to Gord and SaturdayClothes for your insight, I'll give it a shot on April 21st behind the Fox Theater in Detroit. Hope we don't bump into riff raff back there... in downtown Detroit City... YIKES!

Just a comment so we don't lose this thread. I'm new to the forum and I'm interested to here where people have had the pleasure of meeting Gordon and the Lightfoot Band. There have to be some pretty exciting stories out there like Rose and Gitargrl offered up (thank you, Ladies). We'd all like to here the details I'm sure. Who's up?

[shadow]

Charlene, that was a moving account of your experience with Gordon. It reminds me of the first time I saw him in an indoor venue, sitting only 15 feet away with my wife-to-be. That was 3 years ago at the Crysler Theater in Windsor. Char, you would have seen a grown man cry! It was unbelievable, he looked terrific and sounded so strong in there. Jennifer, my wife now, then glanced over at me to see my eyes welling up from sheer joy and satisfaction. I quickly defended the emotion, like a typical male, by saying my eyes were 'watering'! I think we still joke about that. It was a moving experience like that which you recounted during Mariposa. Thanks for capturing it so vividly and sharing it.

Now, who else has a story about meeting the Troubador or his partners of the stage?

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"In my fashion, in my way"

[This message has been edited by shadow (edited February 20, 2001).]

[GitarGrl]

quote:Originally posted by Dorothea:
Hey Cris [Gitargrl],
Do you still live in the area? This is from a fellow Long Islander. THE HUB. . .
boy, does that go back.

Yes, I'm still on Long Island! I'm a commuter who works in NYC (and hates it mostly), but occasionally I find myself on the Island (like to eat & sleep).

I remember at that show at the Hub, Gordon told a humorous story about having thrown one of his shirts over a lamp the night before and having the light bulb burn a hole through it. I was probably about 13 or 14 when I saw that show with my big brother, who is responsible for introducing me to Lightfoot's music way back then. To repay the kindness, I performed "I'll Prove My Love To You" at my brother's wedding (having edited the verse where he says "any way I stub my toe" -- I just didn't think that was appropriate to the occasion, though my brother wanted it kept in!).

quote:I probably was at Westbury Music Fair when you worked backstage [you lucky dog]. I've seen every performance since 1978. I like WMF cause every seat is a good one, but the venue I liked best was the JONES BEACH THEATRE.

WOW -- I would've loved to have seen him there! I did see John Denver there a few times (as well as at Garden State Arts Center), but never Lightfoot. I've seen many of the Westbury shows before and since I worked there, but only met him the one time. I remember we asked about the possibility of his recording "Forgive Me Lord" (gives you an idea of how long ago this was) and he shook his head and said that he hadn't gotten it quite right (he is quite the perfectionist) and that although he was performing it, it wasn't going to be recorded. What I remember most was the beautiful Indian jewelry he had -- nothing ostentasious, but really NICE.

I understand he'll be playing the Music Fair again in May... if you &/or others from this bb are planning on going, perhaps we could meet up and try to hang out by the backstage door to meet him?! Then we'll have a whole new experience to post about here!

Cris.