Ha. That's awesome.
I had a similar need to explain myself but no good way to do it, when my buddy's band was in town. We set their son up to do his homeschool in my office, and my buddy did a doubletake looking at the target (and bun of power photo) on my wall. Not a fannish thing, but I wanted to launch into this big explanation of how I enjoyed shooting that one time, but that I was still big into gun control and that I was a pacifist, really, honest. But there was no way to say all that without looking pretty nuts, so I just let it go.
And also, I realized after he left, that I still looked totally bad because in the office were prominently displayed: framed photo from the festival his community puts on, framed print of artwork from the specific tent at that festival where his old band played, framed poster of his former pastor's former band, and a chain of patches from his band, his friends' bands, and a band from his neighborhood. Pinned together with his band's pins.
Yeah, it was basically a shrine. I mean, there's other stuff in there too! Kids' photos and my suicide prevention training certificate, and the federally required posters. But still, it looked pretty bad, and I'm sure I came off as way more fannish than I did to his bandmates prior. But hey, they heavily influenced my life, and I want people who do that to know.
You should have asked him for a lock of his hair while he was in the office, Liese. :D
Or his dry cleaning bill. (Sweater vests?)
I know, I should have trapped him in there and blocked the door. I did confess that I'd been on an apparent quest to lure all his bandmates out to the desert and abandon them. Since we'd been hosemates with his bassist and then moved, and I'd been trying last summer to get his frontman and his partner to housesit before they moved to Maine.
Just remember that to them, you're not some Anonymous Possibly-Dangerous Stalker Fan, but somebody they've had a friendship with for a considerable period, plus, you're a fellow musician. If your office was a Justin Bieber shrine, then you might consider being embarrassed. As it is, you're more like a relative who is Very Proud of their work.
Yay Nilly + baby! I was going to ask the other day if she was still preggo, but couldn't figure out the polite way to do that....
Well, actually, the problem was that this was a new relationship. I've known other members of his band for years, but not him. But still. It wasn't that embarrassing, I just realized it after the fact. I think I did embarrass him from stage, when I intro'd the band, but that was worth it, because it was funny and predisposed the audience to him, and he was a good sport about it.
eta: Nillybabyay!
I think I'll visit Nilly in the hospital tomorrow. If you have anything you'd like me to print for her, feel free to send it to my email (I'm not sure about the wi-fi there). Profile addy is good.
