Puss & Netta...
My thanks to you both for sticking up for me but it's okay. Calm down. Please.
Guest's post isn't full of crap by any means. I actually agree with a lot of what they said and hey! They were complimentary on my dance moves at least, so it wasn't all offensive ;)
I meant what I said after Guest's looks-oriented comments had sunk in a little deeper than expected. I AM thankful. I was unaware of just how sensitive I still was about my appearance and now realize it has played a pivotal role in setting me back by several years. I was so focussed on solving my vocal troubles that the issue of my looks had kind of got left by the wayside. Now that the problem is identified as such, I can set about solving it or working around it. How did it set me back? Well, it has long been a fear of mine that my face just ain't pretty enough to grace magazines or CD albums or music videos or posters so, I have spent a lot of time trying to find OTHER ways to market myself. I never auditioned for romantic leads or my dream roles in my musical theatre days for the same reason - I didn't fit the look in my own mind. One girl in the last show I was in told me upfront that I was good looking enough to play a romantic lead in her opinion. Another from another show previously assured me I was anything but ugly (which I believed I was). Both of these girls are very attractive and other attractive women have had nice things to say about my looks too but unfortunately, I do have a bit of an ego on me and so MY opinion of my looks is what matters to me and no matter what anyone else tells me, no matter how attractive they themselves are, I find it difficult to believe that they don't just need glasses to see me better.

Mic Rophone...
My thanks to you too but it's difficult to let go of something when all you remember is being treated differently for no more than your appearance. I'm a grown up now and should be able to get past these things but my face does not conform to my own ideals of what constitutes 'good looking' so I'm all too ready to accept it when someone else tells me I'm not.
Some seriously good looking people suffer for their looks too. They can't help but wonder who's treating them well for who they are beneath their beauty and who's doing so only because they want something for it (sex, perks of belonging to the 'in' crowd, etc)? The dark side of beauty.
Guest's post covered a lot actually and I was very impressed with what they had observed while choosing to remain anonymous the other night at Manly.
Long story short, 20 years experience in the entertainment industry. Rocked up to the grand final at the New Brighton in Manly primarily to see me in action and ultimately felt let down. Lots of good observations about the contestants and was obviously watching me like a hawk. Guest and their 3 girlfriends now agree with Ray's opinion that I am unmarketable. This is based on that night's performance. A couple of comments were thrown in regarding my appearance but I don't think they were meant to be quite as hurtful as I found them. I think a lot of people have something about themselves that detracts from their confidence. This just happens to be mine for now.
My post in reply was meant to be positive as I agreed with almost all the observations made that night and I am still undecided if I should have just kept its sad conclusion to myself given the trouble that has been stirred up over it in the short time since.
I would not have thought one night's karaoke and posts to the forums over time could provoke such heated discussion.

Believer...
Almost right.
I believe the point Puss In Boots took issue with was that of my appearance - my 'natural look' as it was and the judgement that a good looking woman was 'out of my league' when Guest doesn't even know me. That has nothing to do with my ability as a performer.
Um. I've not said outright that I can make it as 'a star.' I believe it is a possibility but I am realistic enough to allow for the possibility I never will also and Guest and Ray may be right in thinking that I will only corner a niche market. I do not believe that to be the case given the feedback I have received from audiences all over the world from infants to the elderly - and no, not just my family and friends and no, not just a mere few people. I'm talking about real world stuff here. Real feedback and lots of it, just as impartial as Guest's observations.
I am under the impression Guest is female. I hope so anyway since they turned up with the intent of checking me out LOL but if male, that's cool too. I've had admirers of both genders but I like women so, sorry to any interested fellas reading here.

Incidentally guys, it wasn't the boiling point. It was the 'Karaoke's #1 feature' article. Easy mistake to make there. At least we all knew the one being referred to ;)
Submitted by Johnny Burrows on 13-09-2007

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