meeting gordon lightfoot

[maggiemae]

how do you get back stage? how can i just shake his hand and say hello? maybe an autogtaph?

we saw him at massey (fridays show) awesome and we are seeing him at the fox theatre in detroit on aug 12 i would do anything to be able to meet him. this will be the 6th time ive been to one of his concerts so by now i should get to meet him anyone please help

[Iron]

Just hang around after the show,either up by the the stage or at the back stage door. There will usually be a small gathering of loyal " LIGHTS" at one of these spots..Back stage passes,I have not a clue...

[Borderstone]

Maggie,listen to Iron...that's exactly how I met him,spoke to him and shook his hand. Great show that night!!

[The Rez]

Give Big Barry a cookie.

Works for me.

The Rez

. . . always the Dreamer finds a way

[BILLW]

Hi maggiemae,

People use different terms but they're usually talking about different things. A backstage pass would mean that you could be backstage while the show was 'on stage', very rare. After the show Gordon & the band 'meet & greet' in the backstage area, after the show. For that you'll need to get on 'the list' (email Barry) and make your case. If the list that night is small hanging around with people who look like they're waiting to be shown backstage i.e. they're on the list - might work. Looking pretty never hurts.
As for waiting in the alley or by the backdoor, anyone can do that, obviously, but you have to wait while the meet & greet is going on - usually at least an hour or so.

Maybe someone who REALLY knows the ropes will private message you some tips. Good luck and enjoy the show.

Bill

[seahawk11]

I would definetly try to contact Barry first. For whatever reason we'll sometimes get flushed out if we don't have a pass. Other times they are more lenient. I'd go for the sure thing...

[Sheryl]

I've gone to two Gord concerts. In the first instance, I was lucky enough to get the nod from Barry Harvey to go into the private ante room to meet and greet Gord and the band. VERY exciting! While waiting there, I could see through the open door about 15 people standing in front of the doorway waiting for Gord with their cameras and pens and paper. Gord came out about 10 minutes after the show was over, talked to each person waiting, got his picture taken with whomever wanted it, and signed autographs. Then he came into the ante room. He was extremely gracious to ALL of his fans. When he was talking to each of us (I watched him like a hawk!), I noticed he gave each person 100% of his attention, as did the band members when they came back, too. They were all very sweet and told me that it was THEY who were grateful to US, the fans, as, they said, without us, they wouldn't be there. How cool is that? Gord gave each person at least five minutes of his time, also taking pictures with people and signing autographs. That's a lot of "Gord time!" It's all quality time. Everyone else stood silently in their place, waiting for him to come over and greet them. I think what you really want is not necessarily the "backstage pass," but, a chance to meet and talk to Gord, right? Chances are, regardless of whether you get your backstage pass, if you hang around afterward, you'll be rewarded. The second time I saw him, in Vegas, he was very tired and since Barry had let me in the week prior, he let others in this time, so I didn't get to meet Gord backstage the second time. HOWEVER, as everyone now knows, Brink and I DID get to meet Gord when he showed up at the gift shop to buy ciggies! That whole story is on one of these topic threads.. Go for it and good luck!! Remember the saying... "Ne'er a faint heart e'er won a fair maid." Only, in this case, it'll be Gord, hahaha!!!

[ July 21, 2005, 17:48: Message edited by: Sheryl ]

[Dan O'Malley]

I also waited by the stage door on his last night at Massey this year, waited awhile but when he appeared he had time for everyone and signed everything. A Lovely lady from West Virginia took a photo of me and gord, and also one gord talking to me, which sits in a frame with the concert ticket he signed for me. The lady had told gord I was from England, and gord asked me which part of the country i was from, and talked a little about his shows in england, and candidly said something about his last show in england at the dominion. Something like " that didn't go too well!" I was truly starstruck, but came away with an even higher opinion of the man. Also love the fact that his car was parked right by the stage door and he just jumped in to drive himself home. I thought that was cool. I even saw Gord sign a "Harry Tracy" DVD for someone!

[The Rez]

I was just jivin' 'bout the cookie for Big Barry. But the thing I found before I got lucky enough to work for a TV guy that was Gord's friend, is that Gord is very patient and willing to meet and share - even at the stage door.

That's exactly how I first met Ray Charles in 1964: just hanging and hangin and hanging till he came out. He and Gord never forgot that the crowd is why they get to do what they do. And that, in this cynical world, is miracle enough.

I figure there's no harm in being a bit creative either. Way back in '72 I wanted to talk w/ John Denver, so I waited till the crowd dwindled and the goons got lax, and hopped up backstage via the loading dock. It all worked out fine, 'cept bangin' my knee on the loading dock.

Anyway, Gord is kind. Others aren't. It'll work for you as you are patient and polite.

Lord Bless,

The Rez

[BILLW]

The schedule plays a big part too, If he's got to be somewhere in an hour and there's 35 people in the alley, well do the math.

When I was lucky enough to get an autograph and a picture with him I was thrust to the front of the line by someone who knew the drill. Gord was great, the picture is great BUT if I had politely waited at the end of the line he would have run out of time. He had a schedule to keep, he was not being rude but sometimes there isn't enough time for "everyone". So get on up to the front ASAP. Have fun.

Bill