This is an ode to JOY, as it were. And a discussion about fandom access during the rise of social networking websites. Get out your sunblock, it's gonna be a scorcher.
So, last week I told you all about how I saw (and met!) Jenny Owen Youngs at Maxwell's in Hoboken. Needless to say, after our high-five and hug, I was on cloud nine. Then, a few mornings later, I saw this on my Twitter feed: a Kickstarter project for Jenny's new record. Now at this point, I totally want more JOY music — ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW. I was flying on a post-show Jenny high! She writes such sweet yet brutal songs, and was so nice to me that I almost instantly decided to donate. (Plus, I love getting stuff, especially cool, personalized stuff.) But how much? At first, I thought I would keep it minimal. But then I saw how awesome the gifts got the higher you went up the backing ladder, so I bit the bullet and donated a good amount. Then, I took to Twitter:
A simple link and tweet, right? That's what I thought! I was just spreading the good Jenny word, as it were. But then, mere minutes later, I saw this!
WHAAAAAT.
Yeah. Um, awesome. Now, I'm assuming she remembers our shared hug at Maxwell's which is why I was given a virtual one, I don't know. All I know is, I now have received TWO hugs total from Ms. Owen Youngs.
I'll admit, by going to shows, taking & tagging photos, and Twittering about and to artists and celebrities, I sometimes feel a bit stalkery. (A lot more so than when I go up to a celebrity in person, for whatever reason.) Back when I was in high school, all this stuff didn't exist. There was email, fan sites and message boards, but that was really it. Your obsessions were kept in check, simply by lack of outlet. (Unless you were a crazed backstage mingler/radio show call-in-er, etc. You know. Boy band fans.) Now, I've gotten messages back from two of my favorite singers ever on Twitter, and I was friended on Facebook by a member of one of my favorite (and now-defunct) bands. I guess I feel weird because high school Gina would never think of sending messages or friending her favorite musicians/celebrities — going to an in-store or appearance or concert is one thing. Fanboys and fangirls are expected to come and be their dorky, yet hopefully endearing selves. But doing such a thing on the internet seems super forward, to me, at least. I guess because it's uninvited, you know? But however, in all cases, these people chose to reply back, and I didn't make the original friend request. So I don't feel too weird. I just never imagined having direct links to my favorite artists. IN THE YEAR TWO-THOUSAAAND. And whatnot.
Plus, things like Kickstarter can require a more one-on-one relationship between backer and project promoter; in this case, me and my favorite singer. I mean, she's going to record my outgoing voicemail message now. That's crazy! (And good thing too; I don't have one at the moment.) But honestly, I donated the amount I donated because I love her music, and during our brief interaction, she was very nice to me. Plain and simple. When you're a part of a fandom, you want to directly connect in some way with the things/people you love. Things like Twitter and Kickstarter bridge that gap now, between fan and artist/celebrity. Due to my donation, I feel like I'll have a teeny-tiny part of JOY's new album, and that's awesome. Plus, in looking at it in a different way, websites like these may make the celebrity/fan interaction less creepy. I mean hey — it's just 140 characters on a screen. It's not like I'm following you around a concert venue, waiting to buy you a drink and then question you extensively about the ~TRUE MEANING~ behind a certain song lyric while you try to pack up your equipment and mingle. So yeah, I don't know. I guess the main point here is: don't be creepy in person or online, and cool things will happen. Social networking is like alcohol: use responsibly.
Jenny at Maxwell's.
