Creepy Paul

[fbhjr]

This was the fifth year we’ve done the Southern Connecticut Ren Faire.
Every year we see the same face in the crowd at almost every show. And, I
know that after every show I’ll have the same conversation with our fan.
Paul seems like an OK guy. He’s a bit off, in a Rain Man sort of way. He
used to have a real thing for Renee, one of our ex-members. She’s the one
who gave him the “creepy” title. Since I fired her, he is only at 80% of
our shows instead of 100%. But, he’s changed jobs too. He no longer works
at the plastics factory. Now he works at a super market. So, if we do a
show before 8:30 he can’t get to it.

After every show, he comes up to me and we have the same conversation.
“What do you use for fuel?”
“I can’t tell you that, Paul.”
“Why not?”
“You might try this at home and I don’t want that.”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“I won’t take that chance.”
“You don’t trust anyone, do you?”
“Not with safety issues.”
“You really worry about me?”
“I worry about you trying this at home.”
“I’ve got stuff at home that burns.”
“You shouldn’t burn it.”
“I got it when I worked at the plastics company. It burns nice colors.”
“You shouldn’t burn that stuff, Paul. I might be bad for you.”
“Do you want me to bring some? It would add colors to your show.”
“I won’t burn it unless I know it is safe.”
“They use it in plastics.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s safe to burn. That stuff can be really bad for
you.”
“How do you know if it is safe?”
“You have to look at the Materials Safety Data Sheets for everything you
burn.”
“Do you do that?”
“We keep the MSDS sheets for all of this.”
“You won’t use it just because they use it in plastics?”
“Not unless I know it is safe. I know some of the things they put in
plastics. They aren’t safe.”
“Daym, you don’t trust anyone, do you?”
“Not with this stuff.”
“Can I help you carry your stuff to your car?”
“We’re all set, Paul.”
He often ends up carrying something anyhow. That gets him out the gate and
he can’t get back in.

This year he did add a new bit. This was added each show for three weeks.
“Have you tried glow in the dark makeup?”
“No Paul, we haven’t.”
“Why not?”
“It’s flammable. It would make our faces catch fire.”
“But, you already light yourselves on fire.”
“Only where we know it’s safe in a controlled way.”
“They use this make up in movies.”
“Movies aren’t live performances. They can add the fire later by
computers, we can’t.”
“The florescent make up would look great.”
“I’m not going to use something that would hurt our people.”
“Daym, you don’t trust anyone, do you?”
“Not with this stuff.”


Don’t get me wrong. He has paid to see more of our shows then any other
person I know. He alone pays 10% of what our whole group gets paid at
these shows.
And, I don’t mind talking with anyone who is interested in what we do.
It’s just the same thing over and over and over. It gets a bit wearing.

Comments

[malterre.livejournal.com]

And don't forget his wife, who makes him look like a Fulbright Scholar.

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

I'll bet that he considers himself an excellent driver, too.

Don't park or be anywhere near him in the parking lot if he is driving.

We had a similar type of fan who attended every single performance of a band that I used to play in many years ago. He was generally harmless, but a constant nuisance/distraction. He would usually get up and stand at the front of the band and try to conduct, and sometimes he would dance and/or sing at the same time while doing so. Normally we enjoy people getting into the music, but this was a bit much, especially as he would do these things even during slow, soft, serious pieces. He was not a singer, nor a dancer, but he was having fun even at the expense of others. Anyone who got up to the front to perform a solo or conduct the band ran the risk of getting hugged and kissed by him, too. One day, someone suggested that if we actually let the guy conduct us for a number or two (we knew the music very well and didn't really need to look at a conductor) maybe he would be satisfied and move on.

It didn't work. If anything, it made things worse, as now he thought even more so that he was "one of us". thus encouraged, he became ever more emphatic about sharing the stage with us, til one point we just had to get the cops involved. Sad, but it happens.

I am positive that you are doing the right thing regarding his questions about fire - while you cannot prevent him from doing something absolutely crazy, at least your statements may discourage him somewhat, and at least you will not be implicated in any potential conflagration he may cause !

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he takes my "I'm worried you'll try it at home" as personal concern for him.
My wife says "because you don't want to be sued."
She is right about the way I finish the thought in my head.

The good thing about the fire is I say "Anyone walks into the performance area we stop the show" so, he's never wandered in. He's stood right on the line. He's walked around the sides. He's snuck up on people in the back. But, he stays out.

[64tbird.livejournal.com]

This guy is MARRIED?

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Yes, Rain Man is married...

[adorabrightmoon.livejournal.com]

*Shudder* That sounds like a very uncomfortable position to be in. And a little creepy. do you get a lot of fans like that?

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

No. He is one of a kind. And, I hope it stays that way.