Damning With Faint Praise And Obliviousness

One of the hardest things to do as a performer...is to do so in front of family..."friends"...or those who are specialists in
"damning you with faint praise". Often...these people have a particular knack for saying what the performer doesn't want to hear...as they totally ignore what you really have to offer. They say things like: "that's a good looking guitar you've got there"
...or..."that's a nice looking jacket for singing in you're wearing tonight"...or..."you were too close to the mike"... or..."you were too far fom the mike"...or..."why didn't you sing a Beatles song?"...or..."why didn't you wear your Hawaiian shirt with the big red hibiscuses [or is that "hibiscii?"] I gave you for Christmas?"...or..."why do you seem to be leaning forward when you sing?" ["to compensate for a freakin' guitar across my middle pushing me backwards!" is the answer which you never give]...or..."that young guy with the red hair on the program had a lovely voice...didn't he?"...or..."why didn't you sing Summertime now that it's that time of year?". The list of dumb utterances goes on and on...leaving you lacerated if you let it...and wondering which planet these beings are from...who are without a shred of empathy for your actual work...or for the hardships involved in getting up in front of an audience...and pouring your soul out...into a sea of indifference. Just remembered...that being damned with faint praise or obliviousness...is not confined to stage performances...so...I'd like to thank the person who asked me to tell them...when I'm going to have my "little cd launch"...and the person who "commenting" on my blog the other day...wrote that I had "a nice little blog".................................Quester.