Poll - Should concert Venues make performers sign an agreement?

[Hillbeans]

Not to talk politics during their performance?

 

[Eeyore1954]

If it's advertised as a concert, it should be a concert. If it's going to be a political event, then advertise it as such and let people know before they pay for their tickets. Changing mid-concert is simply not right. (Assuming this is "inspired" by the Linda Rondstadt at Aladdin Casino incident.)

 

[JerseyJanice]

This is America. Performers, like everyone else, have a right to free speech.

If there's a performer who is prone to do this and you don't like it or get upset over their views, you shouldn't go to one of their shows.

 

[Raysplus1]

No, they should not have to sign an agreement on voicing their political opinions. They do have the freedom of speech and we have the right to leave if we don't like what we hear.

 

[Missy1961]

No. This is America, free speech is very important!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by Raysplus1
No, they should not have to sign an agreement on voicing their political opinions. They do have the freedom of speech and we have the right to leave if we don't like what we hear.

I agree, but on the flip side, I think if the performer says some things the paying customers don not want to hear which makes them, and others not wanto to attend future performances thus hurting the business of the venue who booked them, they have to expect and understand the venue also has the freedom, as a business to fire them.

 

[beattyfamily]

So the answer is we have a right to leave if we don't like what we hear? Well, have you seen the price of concert tickets lately? I'd be pretty mad if I paid $85 to see someone and they decided to take that time (that I paid for) to talk about politics! It's just not good business.

Why should I be out $85 because a singer decides to talk about personal opinions instead of just sing?

 

[WDWHound]

While I don't have a problem with the Alladin firing Rondstadt, I would be against a requirement to sign such an agreement. Rondstadt had every right to do what she did, and the Hotel had every right to fire her for upsetting their cutomers. In short, they have no right to prevent her from speeking, but they have every right to deal with the consequences of her statements by firing her.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by JerseyJanice
This is America. Performers, like everyone else, have a right to free speech.

If there's a performer who is prone to do this and you don't like it or get upset over their views, you shouldn't go to one of their shows.

I am as strong an advocate of free speech as the next person, however, along with the right comes responsibility. Free speech is not an absolute; it doesn't give anyone the freedom to say anything anywhere anytime. There exist some legitimate restrictions on this right that are necessary and essential to society.

In this case, I found this snippet from CNN interesting:

Before her concert, Ronstadt had laughingly told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that she hoped that the casino performance would be her last.

"I keep hoping that if I'm annoying enough to them, they won't hire me back," she was quoted as telling the newspaper.

If someone is deliberately attempting to cause trouble, as Ms. Ronstadt obviously was, it's no longer an issue of free speech. Her right to free speech ends where the business concerns of the establishment that hired her to perform begin.

 

[shortbun]

Musicians from the 60's and 70's are known for their
political activism. Do you guys think this is a new issue?
This is a particulary devisive time in American politics. People
are entitled to their opinions and to free speech anytime, even
if they are performers. Your spending money to see them does
not inhibit that at all for any reason. Your expectations could
quickly become your disapointments if you think that your needs
and desires supercede those of others especially when we are
discussing free speech. I hate that the ACLU defends the KKK
because I HATE the KKK but this is the USA and if the KKK wants
to hold a rally, they are entitled and the ACLU should defend that
right. I'd be interested in the conflict between Ronstadt and
the Alladin. The owners must have really ticked her off, thus causing her to respond as she did. I say this because of her
interviews indicating she did not want to work for them.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Having performers signing an agreement does not sound like the America I want to live in. So NO!