1. You ain't the first artist who has to perform at specific times. Are the folks who manage to do perform on time somehow lesser artist? Do they have an on and off switch? Do they care less about the artistic process?

2. The fact that some people put up with her bullshit, that makes them true fans? Maybe those people who stayed and hour after the show don't have jobs in the morning.

3. Instead of being mad you werre late folks are suppose to be thanking you because you some time perform in excess of your contracted time?




>If she feels the need to be 2 - 3 hours late on a regular
>basis, she should set the start time back on her shows by 2 -
>3 hours. Of course she won't do that, though, because
>advertised 12 and 1 AM start times would lead to way fewer
>ticket sales.
>
>Plus, I see she was on time for her Black Girls Rock
>performance.
>
>Anyway,
>
>http://www.okayplayer.com/news/ms-lauryn-hill-pens-open-letter-in-response-to-criticism.html
>
>I don't show up late to shows because I don't care. And I have
>nothing but Love and respect for my fans. The challenge is
>aligning my energy with the time, taking something that isn't
>easily classified or contained, and trying to make it
>available for others. I don't have an on/off switch. I am at
>my best when I am open, rested, sensitive and liberated to
>express myself as truthfully as possible. For every
>performance that I've arrived to late, there have been
>countless others where I've performed in excess of two hours,
>beyond what I am contracted to do, pouring everything out on
>the stage.
>
>Because I care so deeply about the artistic process, I
>scrutinize, have perfectionist tendencies, and want space made
>for spontaneity, which is not an easy process, with the many
>moving parts on the road. Some days we are more successful
>than others re time. However, the vitality that is infused
>into the performances is always appreciated by the audiences,
>who may not know exactly what it took to accomplish. What
>hasn't been touched upon by the media, I'm sure, are the
>hundreds of people who rushed the stage and stayed in excess
>of an hour after the show ended last night, just to connect.
>
>Our challenge is to figure out the best way to accommodate the
>vitality, spontaneity, and spirit that make the performances
>worthwhile and special to begin with, while also making that
>experience available and accessible to others. If I didn't
>Love and respect the art, I wouldn't be doing this. The
>audience and I should have that in common.
>
>My true audience knows emphatically that I care. It isn't
>possible to affect people in any deep and meaningful way
>without putting sacrificial time in.
>
>I have nothing but Love and appreciation for the fans in
>Atlanta, and regret not being able to give you a full show. We
>are figuring out a plan to make it up to you, and will
>announce details as soon as we have them.
>
>Respectfully,
>MLH


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