Meeting Leonard?

[Amalthea]

I'm not sure if this is the right section to ask this question, and I apologize if it isn't!

Anyway, I will be going to my first Leonard gig when he visits Norway in August. I assume there are som experienced concert people here who have seen him many times? But what I'm really curious about, is if anyone of you have had the chance to meet Leonard personally prior to or after a gig you have been to? And if so, what did you do to meet him? I really, really want to meet Leonard at this gig I'm going to, and maybe take a picture with him and get his autograph, but I'm not sure how to go on about that. Essentially, what I want, are some general advices and tricks & tips on how to meet Leonard at one of his concerts, or at least higher the chances of meeting him. If those kind of advices even exist, haha! But I'm asking anyway, and I hope to get some insights from you kind lot.

Thanks in advance!

[tomsakic]

Lol, there's literally NO WAY to meet him. He doesn't meet anybody backstage (that includes fans, translators, publishers, musicians, even family), and backstage is strictly prohibited (even Bono and many other stars didn't get in in New York), he's off in the car as the audience still claps on last encore (band leaves the stage after him, so he has time to reach his car:), and before the show you can wait around the venue to see him entering in the car but that happens occasionally... Maybe in some venues (like in Venice) the backstage doesn't exist and then you can glance him as he goes to the stage for sound check... At least that happened in Venice in Italy, and in some cities he was seen on entrance so he gave autographs to fans. Some Forum members even met him on same airports after shows (so they posted their photos with him on their FB accounts). But that happens by chance and depends, really, on local situation.

I wouldn't suggest you to wait for that chance, but simply go to the show and enjoy the event...

Also, there's very polite and high policy of this community not to intrude Leonard's privacy and space and hotels etc. and nobody ever dared to storm his hotel or stage or anything.

On the other hand, the band is very approachable, and they visit every bigger gathering before the show organised by this Forum. I was on at least 2 meet-ups where Sharon Robinson came with greetings from Leonard.

Many of forum members did meet him - on openings of his exhibitions in 2007... when we had organised meet-ups.

[Amalthea]

I see. Well, I just wanted to ask, just in case. I hope you don't think I'm the sort of crazy fan that will intrude his privacy or storm the stage or his hotels. I'm really not. I AM keen on meeting artists, but I will not be rude or anything. I'm always polite and I am very shy, so I seldom even dare to ask to meet them, I just silently hope they will take the initative for a fan-signing or such themselves. Of course I have gotten the impression that Leonard is a very private man, but I didn't know it was like that. I guess it's because I've mostly experienced that the artists I see at concerts are very open to meeting fans, so it just surprised me a bit.

Anyway, of course I won't disrespect Leonard wishes, I was simply curious if there was a possibility that I could meet him. Since there is not, I won't sweat it.

[blue_bird]

In relation to this matter seems to me that the only way to meet personally the man is if you have lucky enough to meet him casually on the street during his stay in town for the concert because that's what happened to me on the Lisbon's concert eve in September 2010. On late afternoon I was down one of the Lisbon's main avenue and found L.C. and other members of the crew sitting on the terrace cafe. Not believing my luck I hesitated whether to approach him and stop the conversation but in good time I did, since L.C. was an extreme education and a disarming humility. I changed a few words with him, he signed my book "Selected Poems" (Portuguese edition now out of print) did not want to be more disturb them I left without tanking all his music and poetry, the come back to Lisbon and shaking his hand cordially.If you find the man man causally in the street probably you'll be shaking a lot but go ahead cause he is very polite and humble. He is Leonard Cohen and an opportunity like this only happens once in life ...so go ahead...

[MarieM]

Amalthea wrote:

I see. Well, I just wanted to ask, just in case. I hope you don't think I'm the sort of crazy fan that will intrude his privacy or storm the stage or his hotels. I'm really not. I AM keen on meeting artists, but I will not be rude or anything. I'm always polite and I am very shy, so I seldom even dare to ask to meet them, I just silently hope they will take the initative for a fan-signing or such themselves. Of course I have gotten the impression that Leonard is a very private man, but I didn't know it was like that. I guess it's because I've mostly experienced that the artists I see at concerts are very open to meeting fans, so it just surprised me a bit.

Anyway, of course I won't disrespect Leonard wishes, I was simply curious if there was a possibility that I could meet him. Since there is not, I won't sweat it.

Amalthea, not to worry. Your question comes up often and there are few people here who don't understand why you'd want a chance to get an autograph and exchange a few words with him. Leonard is in his seventies. Artists half his age would find a three-year tour grueling and impossible. Leonard isn't out and about much during the tour but occasionally folks have gotten lucky and been able to meet him. Mostly though, his management works to limit the distractions that occur in and around a tour. In this way, Leonard is able to conserve his energy and maintain his concentration. Despite this, you will read many reports in these pages of folks who have gotten an autograph or a picture. Leonard is always accommodating.

Sometimes loving an artist also means respecting their need for privacy and the simple personal space we are all afforded. It isn't easy to be approached continuously every time you step out of your hotel room. But it seems you already understand all this. I wish you loads of luck in a chance meeting but if it doesn't happen, the concert will leave you with enough memories to last a lifetime.

[Amalthea]

Thanks for your replies and insights. I'm very envious of those of you who have met him by chance, but if I can't meet Leonard in connection with any of his concerts, I probably won't meet him at all. As you said, MarieM, "it isn't easy to be approached continuously every time you step out of your hotel room", I have always been empathic with the artists in that regard, and I do understand how troublesome it is. So even if I were to spot Leonard walking out about prior to the concert, I won't bother him. Firstly, I am very shy, so I probably woudn't dare to approach him unless I was invited to meet him in some way, but I also want to let him enjoy his free time in peace. Of course I understand that he needs time alone to save energy, especially at such an age, so again, I respect that. So I have pretty much accepted that I won't be able to meet him, and that's okay. As long as he is comfortable and at good health during his stay in Norway, I am happy.

Loving artists has always meant, to me, that I have to (and want to) respect their wishes and privacy. If I ever make any of the artists I love feel uncomfortable and/or bothered, I probably wouldn't be able to forgive myself.

[MarieM]

Amalthea, you understand perfectly. Maybe it is because you share a particular characteristic with Leonard. This is from an interview with Leonard's personal assistant Kezban:

Q: That would most surprise his fans?
KO: Probably his shyness, or at least that was what has surprised me at the beginning.

Q: Could you give an example of Leonard Cohen’s shyness?
KO: You would expect someone like him to be accustomed to reactions he gets from his fans. While his response is, of course. always genuine, at the same time, it isn’t, I don’t think, easy for him to respond to compliments because of his shyness.

http://1heckofaguy.com/2012/02/07/qa-le ... ban-ozcan/

[Vicomtesse]

I waited 40 years before 'meeting' Leonard in Caen. It was a truly magical and memorable couple of days.
Simply by chance we were lucky enough to be staying in the same hotel. When we arrived we had our suspicions that he and the band may be staying there because there was a big tour bus in the car park.
We saw him later and told him that we were going to see him the following evening. He thanked us and we both wished each other well.
We had a 'meet up' with some forum members and returned to the hotel to get ready for the evening. We then saw some other members of the band but they looked busy. We had a chat to Javier Mas who was waiting for a lift to the venue.
The next day we saw Leonard in the reception foyer and I was compelled to ask for his autograph. I'd never before asked anyone for an autograph and probably never will. He was very charming and signed 2 posters for me. I have one framed hanging in my library.

[lizzytysh]

A wonderful encounter and outcome for you, Vicomtesse .