David Cook to Play at His Alma Mater?

Hmm, that would be quite the homecoming!

*plans her trip to CMU*

Okay this is going to be an unpopular comment, but I really hope the cougars don’t descend on this event.

David really needs to be seen as having younger fans, because people use that “cougar” thing against him and it’s become a bit of a joke.

I think there’s a very good reason he wants to play colleges. It’s not that he doesn’t love his older fans — but it makes a lot of sense that he would want to reach a younger audience as well. Let’s let him.

I’m speaking as an (almost) cougar myself.

And speaking as a 40-something admirer of David and his music, but definitely not a “cougar” — ugh just cringe whenever I see that word — I think geek4vocab is right on with her opinion.

Geek4vocab:

I definitely agree. I never post here but I am always on Mjs lurking like crazy. I’m a huge David fan and I’m college age. I really get a little offended when all the news people are constantly talking about David’s fanbase being only cougars. It’s like the other fans don’t matter. By doing colleges David definitely wants to appeal to young adults which is the perfect fanbase for him.

I agree with the comments above regarding the demographic of David’s fanbase. When I actually saw the headline I assumed that the event would be open to CMU students and alumni only and perhaps be a more intimate concert. I’m sure other artists have returned to their alma mater for “private” events. IMO that would be a nice idea – maybe even do something similar in Blue Springs.

If its a college event it is likely the tickets will only be sold to students. Especially if it is held on campus during the school year.

I agree that if he’s planning a college tour, it is likely intended to reach more people in that demo.

I would be willing to drive the hour away to see this!

I really hope the cougars donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t descend on this event. David really needs to be seen as having younger fans, because people use that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“cougarà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  thing against him and ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s become a bit of a joke.

Don’t count on them staying away – LOL!

I really get a little offended when all the news people are constantly talking about Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s fanbase being only cougars. Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s like the other fans donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t matter.

Yeah, as a fan of both Davids and being in my 30s, I also feel a bit offended that most of Archie’s fans are generalized as mostly psychotic teens and tweens (perhaps one reason that youtube reaction video of Cook’s win gets old to me really fast). And as for Cook, I do not consider myself a cougar either so that generalization can get irritating as well.

It’s interesting that both fanbases are generalized like that, each in opposite directions of the age spectrum.

I just hope, that if David’s Idol fans do show up at this event, they don’t arrive in bedazzled tard-cars, bearing wacky signs, and wearing crazy t-shirts as if it were an Idol show.

It’s my bone to pick with some Idol fans. When these guys come off the show, it’s time to treat them like you would any other recording artist.

I hate the cougar comments as much as anyone, but it is still possible to have a broad fan base that includes ALL ages, including tweens and middle aged people, and not be a joke. John Mayer is a good example of that kind of career. He’s respected musically, and has a lot of appeal to the college aged crowd, but when I take my kids to a John Mayer concert, neither they nor I feel out of place. Yes, the media joke about cougars, but I hardly think David needs to cut himself off from fans that are older than 30 in order to succeed. As I said on another board earlier today, it would be a mistake to alienate a good part of the fan base who followed him from AI in an attempt to gain some sort of cred. In this kind of economic climate, any fan is important. The CMU concert may well be exclusive to those students, but I don’t see any evidence that the other college shows will be. I’ve been to shows at colleges ranging in size from tiny clubs to the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University, which holds something like 40,000 people. “College show” doesn’t have to equal small.

Ha ha, the students wonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know what hit them when David Cook fans of all ages, traveling from far-flung corners, hit their campus!

LOL!! Heehe.

When these guys come off the show, ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s time to treat them like you would any other recording artist.

Word to this.

In defense of the older demographic though, when I attended college, there were quite a few people there who were at least twice my age, if not older – many of them retirees. So…there could be some older Cook fans sprinkled in there somewhere, men and women alike.

To elaborate on my point, I like all kinds of music, and have found myself at clubs and venues enjoying music with the younger folk, Heh heh. Just cause I’m older doesn’t mean I can’t show up at clubs to watch bands, that’s a little absurd, I think.

It’s all about behavior. If gaggles of Cook fans show up at these performances with a “David! I love you! Look at meeeee!” attitude, it’s going to reflect badly on David, especially with the college kids who might be checking him out for the first time.

Really, there’s no need to advertise who you are a fan of. The contest is over. It’s OK to just show up and enjoy the music. It’s all good.

I think that a college tour for Cook and the EEB makes sense at this time. He headlines, and can probably fill the venues. Hopefully, as he gains more momentum with his album, he can sprinkle in a few venues in which his younger, and older fans won’t feel out of place. Right now it is important for him to reach out for fans, as well as maintain the ones he has. I can say that my 12 year old will be heartbroken if the 21 year old is the only one to get to see him…His cd is always playing somewhere in this house!

I really get a little offended when all the news people are constantly talking about Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s fanbase being only cougars.

Yeah, I don’t get offended but It bothers me a bit. With all respect I kinda blame the cougars, who feel the need to say they’re cougars, for that. For some reason some people who are in that demo kinda like to tell everyone they’re a cougar for Cook. I’m a 20 something and I don’t say “20 somethings for Cook” or teens don’t say “teens for Cook”. Because of that it kinda became a thing. But every guy on AI has their cougars, it comes with the show.

But I don’t think anyone of any age should stay away from a concert. They’re just fans like others. What I hope is that they don’t treat him like an idol. With all the weirdo signs, the yelling some things during the concert, and expecting him to meet them before and after the concert… this ain’t an AI show.

As for the news, I think it’s great. It’s been obvious that David really wants to play in colleges. Not long ago I remember reading that the students from some Univ wanted him to play there. I hope he gets to have his college tour.

I just hope, that if Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Idol fans do show up at this event, they donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t arrive in bedazzled tard-cars, bearing wacky signs, and wearing crazy t-shirts as if it were an Idol show.

Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s my bone to pick with some Idol fans. When these guys come off the show, ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s time to treat them like you would any other recording artist.

Amen to that! Also, they shouldn’t travel in packs of 20-30 and elbow everyone else out of the way.

I agree 100% with MJ’s sentiment about tard-cars and wacky signs and basically having the “cougars” take over the show. Poor Jason Castro just did a show in Tulsa and from the pictures I’ve seen it looks like the majority of his fanbase are lonely peri-menopausal women. The age isn’t the issue as much as the BEHAVIOR, which if it is anything like the idol tour, is going to haunt and embarrass people like Cook, Castro and Archuleta until the frauen find new targets in season 8.

The age isnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t the issue as much as the BEHAVIOR, which if it is anything like the idol tour, is going to haunt and embarrass people like Cook, Castro and Archuleta until the frauen find new targets in season 8.

I guess season 8 can’t happen soon enough, then! After all, if you love someone, set them free…

Well, hopefully by Fall 2009, David will have broadened his fanbase beyond the stereotypical bedazzled female middle-aged Idol fan. He really needs a big radio hit or two and an opportunity to tour with another act at some point next year to really make that happen, imo. I think he would be better off starting out touring with someone else, not necessarily as an opening act. I wish RCA would send him out on the road with Kings of Leon or something. That would help a lot.

In my limited experience, college shows aren’t necessarily just for students. I’ve seen the White Stripes at George Mason University and George Washington University and didn’t feel out of place at either venue. It’s just one more place to catch a show in the DC area. It might be different in a small college town, I guess.

In my limited experience, college shows arenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t necessarily just for students. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve seen the White Stripes at George Mason University and George Washington University and didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t feel out of place at either venue. Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s just one more place to catch a show in the DC area. It might be different in a small college town, I guess.

Oh no not always, I didn’t mean to imply that. Sometimes they are for the whole community, and but even those tend to be advertised only on campus and the tickets are sold in the student center, something like that. Really depends on the school and the size of the venue vs the size of the student body. But yeah, when I was at NYU a lot of the shows we put on were for a general audience, but we didn’t take out ads in the Village Voice or anything like that. Some posters on the streets of the Village were all we did really.

But for this, if it’s his alma mater inviting him back I would think they may keep it to the student and alum community just to avoid the actual school related people being shut out of the event.

For what it’s worth, the crowds I’ve seen for Cook’s performances, even at the AMA thingie (DC fans invited specially) wasn’t like DOMINATED by “cougars” or anything.

ITA that this demo has always been a part of the Idol viewership. I think the group got more attention from the media this season (I blame SATC movie coinciding with the height of AI7, actually) but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll show up in *numbers* corresponding to the hype.

And of course as long as they act like adults and don’t *elbow teenage girls out of the way to rush the stage* I think everything will be fine…

I’m hyped for the tour and if he stops by a college nearby nothing will stop me from going Hey, I can still pass for a grad student~

I think it is sad that I have to learn news about my school from an outside source. I can’t wait till David comes here! It will be fun I am just afraid of where he will have it because there isnt to many places to hold large groups. However it will be exciting and it will be my last year here so I would love to see him come back to UCM.

I was at the Dave Wright gala and the Hard Rock release party and I was actually shocked how many teens and young people were there for him. The “cougar” thing is so prominent I was starting to think that was the whole basis of his fanbase. Actually the cool thing about the release party was there were lots of guys there too rocking out.

eta: Niall, oh boy I agree I had the “pleasure” of being around both. Very embarrassing for DC. People were taking pics with that unicorn by the buses at my show.

I just hope the unicorn doesn’t show up there again. Or “Flat David.”

Agreed that so-called “cougars” are an exaggerated percentage of Cook’s fanbase, and I believe you can blame the media as much as (if not more than) the qualifying fans themselves. I completely believe that Cook’s fans have large representative numbers in all age groups. The “cougars” made good “news,” so that’s who we heard about most. Anywho…

Totally agree that mass numbers of psycho fans should not descend upon the alma mater concert planned by Cook. That, it would seem to me, is not the purpose or goal. But I also agree, that if open to the public at large, anyone interested in his music should feel free to go and enjoy it!

Signed, someone who arguably qualifies in the age, but not the pursuit, of the ambiguously defined “cougar.” That is not to say that I’d swat him away or send him packing if he threw himself at me. Just that, capturing and keeping him is not a featured goal of mine. LOL

P.S. This should be a cool gig for him. I hope it happens and is well attended!

Using Castro’s Tulsa show as a guide I imagine the psycho fans are already booking flights, calling around to hotels for group rates, and scouting out restaurants and bars for good places to have pre and post show get togethers. LOL

I just hope, that if Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Idol fans do show up at this event, they donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t arrive in bedazzled tard-cars, bearing wacky signs, and wearing crazy t-shirts as if it were an Idol show.

Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s my bone to pick with some Idol fans. When these guys come off the show, ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s time to treat them like you would any other recording artist.

Even though I’m thinking it will be more than college students at these shows he does, I would still tend to agree with this. Even going to Ford Day, there were some people dressed in Archie shirts and what not..and it was definitely clearly expressed on the boards the dress. I dunno, I just would have felt out of place wearing an idol shirt and I think even then, days after the tour was over, they already started moving themselves away from Idol.

Dave says he wants to get out and meet people again, so I just hope that the craziness that caused him not to be able to come out after shows during AI does not happen again.

Word to what mj said. The cheese-o-rama that was the AI Tour should end with the cheese-o-rama that was the AI Tour. It was fun and cool (in its own OTT dorky way) for what it was but it’s time to put it to rest.

On the cougars thing, and again with all respect, I do tend to get frustrated with women who identify themselves as “Cougars for Cook” because I get this feeling that they don’t necessarily know what the term means or that they believe they can change the meaning of the term for the better by self-identifying as cougars. The problem though with changing the meaning is that the meaning of the term is completely and utterly fixed in people’s minds as women of a certain age who prey after younger men. It’s not a new thing; it’s been around for ages. The second problem is that you just can’t change the meaning of the term cougar to being “just women of a certain age who enjoy rock music and have a healthy sex drive” IF you also happen to be slobbering over a 25 year old guy who happens to play rock music. The distinction is just too slight. KWIM?

Agree with MJ on the over the top behavior. It’s not anyone’s age, it’s the way people act sometimes. I’m sure Cook wants to be taken seriously as a musician and that stuff doesn’t help.

Word to Niall about Jason’s Tulsa show. The same thing goes for Jason and even more so since things are still coming into place for him. He does have appeal to the college age crowd but sometimes the behavior of some of his older fans gets a little embarrassing. Just dialing it down a little might not be a bad idea.

I just hope, that if Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Idol fans do show up at this event, they donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t arrive in bedazzled tard-cars, bearing wacky signs, and wearing crazy t-shirts as if it were an Idol show.

Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s my bone to pick with some Idol fans. When these guys come off the show, ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s time to treat them like you would any other recording artist.

Yeah. I really thought of him as “any other recording artist” already, even during the Idol tour. Well, not ANY other…cause he’s SPESHUL. hehe. Hey though, fans is fans and nobody can tell certain fans to stay away from shows at certain venues. (Can they?) I didn’t see anything here about an entire college tour, just that he might play at his alma mater.

I do agree that Cook, and any artist really, should be treated with some modicum of respect, please. I saw some questionable crap go on at the 3 Idol shows I attended, I’ll tell ya. I was actually appalled at some things that were said and done. I tried 4 times to see Cook at the fan m-n-g things because I didn’t want to ask him for 2 autographs and give him a present all at once – it seemed to me to take up too much of his limited time at those things. So I just asked for one thing at a time. And he was absolutely lovely when all I did was hand him a gift and not ask for anything. It never entered my mind to treat him with anything but respect, whether I was face-to-face with him or anywhere else really.

ETA: I don’t really like the constant “cougar” references either because that is NOT his only fanbase. And I’m sure I qualify as one…but PLEASE, do NOT call me a Cougar for Cook. Ugh.

blahblahblah…did I get OT? Just daydreaming, I suppose!

Word to Niall about Jasonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Tulsa show. The same thing goes for Jason and even more so since things are still coming into place for him. He does have appeal to the college age crowd but sometimes the behavior of some of his older fans gets a little embarrassing. Just dialing it down a little might not be a bad idea.

But but but! They are “15 year olds in a 50 year olds body,” they need to be allowed to relive their youth! You big meanie!

As a 20-something fan, I was never really bothered by the whole Cougar thing, because it always feels so manufactured and maintained by the media. I know many fans of David, so I know the ages vary quite a bit. I don’t think anyone should feel excluded. Just don’t buy into the hype, because that’s all it is – an easy angle for the media.

And as someone who won’t be able to see David live until he does a world tour, I say – if you want to go see him, go see him, no matter how old or young you are.

Another voice here in agreement with MJ about Idol-crazed fans and some of their corresponding behavior. I hope those Idol fans that do attend this concert can find a way to dial down any over-the-top Idol worship and just enjoy David’s music surrounded by hopefully a predominantly college-aged crowd.

You know it won’t help DC at all to develop a reputation of being just another TV Idol phenom and not a serious musician. BTW, DC has now mentioned several times in interviews that he hopes to do a grass-roots college tour early next year. He wants to build out his fanbase beyond Idol and I think this is a very important move toward establishing himself as a real rock musician.

I think any type of crazy, over the top AI fan behavior is ridiculous. I never understood the face signs, bedazzled face t-shirts, or the ‘look at me, I’m your biggest fan’ gimmicks. Frankly, I cringed when I saw the big, silk screen of DC’s face on a 4×4 blanket(the heck?)on Good Morning America – that was as creepy as the Archie cornfield maze. Sorry. Fanatical/odd behavior is the butt of jokes/ridicule and opens itself for mockery. But when your rockstar shares a stage w/dancing pop tarts, you are a lot more understanding. I had a blast at the AI concert in Newark. It was like the theatre of the absurd. But this is post AI…

If this is a college tour, then I would imagine it would be for those in the college community & town, which would include under and grad students, professors, administrators, lay people, and alumni who donate money. I think it’s a fair assumption then to assume that everyone, but the undergrad and some grad students, would tend to skew older. It saddens me to think that a woman who is over 40 years old, or who looks old (some pple don’t age well – durn sun), or who is outside of a targeted demographic & age feels as though s/he might be compromising or hurting DC’s career by attending his concert. Music is art and should be open to everyone. Granted, if a bunch of loony men and women who (self) label themselves the Geriatric Cookies and start following him around the world like a bunch of gypsies or like former Deadheads (a la the Grateful Dead), well, then I’ll amend my position.

I attended the David Wright Gala in NYC, and an obnoxious guy start yelling “Cougar! Cougar! Cougar!” to some women in the VIP section. Some people gave him dirty or appalled looks. I couldn’t not say something, so I turned to him to give him what for, and his response: “What are you worried about, you’re not a Cougar.” I almost punched him in the nose. I would argue that he, the perceived targeted demo, was the only embarassment in the crowd that night. That diverse crowd of fans raised over $200K that night.

Mileage, obviously.

The OTT older fans have ruined it for all. Fair or not, they’ve created the stereotype, going all the way back to the Claymates, of middle aged, overweight, and overinvested fans, often with religious over or undertones. If that isn’t a welcome stereotype then the fansites need to start policing and reigning in their own when they see people going off the deep end with Flat [insert idol name], or hotel/bus stalking, or shoving other fans, or even seeming to neglect real life and their real families in pursuit of some guy or girl from tv.

I agree with SashaB. When I was about five years out of college, one of the colleges in town (my alma mater’s in-state rival) had one of my favorite bands for their homecoming concert. [I note as a preface with this that the stereotype of my alma mater is "jock school" and that of our rival is "pack of socially inept geeks."] My younger sister (about a year out of college at the time) cajoled me into going—I was a bit uncomfortable as a non-alum, give years past graduation going. And we had a great time and didn’t feel at all out of place. Of course, we didn’t do the OTT stuff that you’re talking about, or we would have felt and been out of place. But, as long as a “college-tour” concert is open to people outside the college, people should feel comfortable going, as long as they go as “regular” concert-goers.

Plus, we got to be amused, because we passed a group of the geeks playing with their computers outside instead of going to a great concert that had plenty of tickets available. And some geek hit on us both at the same time, which was funny in and of itself, but given the age difference really cracked us up.

SashaB – I was at the David Wright Gala too. Thank God I didn’t see/hear that guy or I would have punched him in the face. What an ass.

I’m glad to see that many people feel the way I do. I wrote in my comment that I was an (almost) cougar because I think Cougars are supposed to be 40 and over. I’m in my thirties and I am a great admirer of David Cook but I would probably die if anyone actually called me or thought of me as a cougar.

I was almost embarrassed to show up to the David Wright thing. I know he has many young fans and I wish the media would recognize that.

The OTT older fans have ruined it for all. Fair or not, theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve created the stereotype, going all the way back to the Claymates, of middle aged, overweight, and overinvested fans, often with religious over or undertones.

I’m an older fan but I’m not a “cougar” by any means. I didn’t even know what that meant…until recently. Do I think David Cook is a good looking guy–sure–I’m not dead but please….he could be my son. Now there are some fans out there who think a particular contestant this year is the second coming of Christ with an “angelic” voice and face which freaks me out.

I just like rock and I like David Cook’s music and I have the money to buy his CDs, download his music, gift his music and go and pay top dollar to see him at a concert. Will I book a plane to go to his concert. No. Will I follow him from concert to concert? No. Will I go to a college concert? No, but if he hits the Verizon Center here in Washington, D.C. you bet I will. My grandchildren (aged between 5-7) would beg me to take them to the concert if he came and my daughters would also mainly because they are always broke and never have any money.

No David Cook has fans of all ages and they are both male and female. I’m sorry folks, but my generation was breastfed on Rock music and we are f******g happy someone talented like Cook has shown up on the scene.

Now would I wear a David Cook T-Shirt to a concert?–OMG NO.
Would I sport a sign with anything on it?–OH–PLEASE……..
Would I go to any concert with mostly tweens there screaming and looking like they have stars in their eyes. ( OH HELL NO!!) Would not be caught dead there!
Would I listen to or buy music that tweens faint over. HELL NO.

No, I would act like anyone else going to a concert. I like rock, so the heck with how old I am…. I also busted my butt voting for the guy so I sure hope he appreciates fans like me and his younger fans need to respect that it’s best to have a huge & diverse fanbase in this tough music business.

I sure hope he appreciates fans like me and his younger fans need to respect that ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s best to have a huge & diverse fanbase in this tough music business.

David’s never shown anything but the utmost appreciation for support from fans of all ages, so you’re safe there. I think getting himself out there to the non-AI audience is crucial to his longevity in the business, whether that non-AI audience is young or old, I don’t think matters. A college tour can only help because if you look at AI demographics, it can be a mostly untapped audience for DC. That said, I am a “younger fan”, and I love that DC has a diverse fan base so long as they’re not carrying embarrassing signs and wearing AI T-shirts to shows. I also realize that while college age music fans might shell out for live shows, they don’t always tend to pay for their music… so I’m sure DC and his label are not going to do anything to alienate the older, paying fans anytime soon.

Well I acted perfectly normal when I saw David Cook (Idols) at the Verizon Center this August. Had 2 seats right in front at double the face value cost $550 (for 2) because I refuse to get nose-bleed seats for anything. Took my daughter (who is 31) and she bloody well made me deaf with her “concert” screams. The longest loudest thing you have ever heard or will likely hear in your life…Damn she’s good, I didn’t know she had it in her! She looks about 23-25 and gets that gene from her mother…lol. Everyone was looking at her–not me. I just kept giving that “I’m sorry look to every one around….yay, I know we look alike, but I don’t know her–really I don’t…edging future away from her…” LOL

Go Reinharv!! :thumbup_tb:

If you are a fan of “a certain age” who goes to the event and acts like a normal fan* who wants to enjoy the music then I don’t think anything said here applies.

* Status as a normal older fan excludes the following behaviors:

Bringing a stuffed unicorn
Flat David
Driving to the event in a tarded up car
Making sparkly signs to hold up in hopes of getting his attention
Grouping with 20 others from the fansite, all wearing homemade DC shirts, and herding together all night to bitch about how Kim Caldwell isn’t good enough for him.

LOL–kill me if I ever get that retarded.

I say that if ANY fan travels openly with a Flat David, a David muppet (just watched VH1 Top 20 countdown), or DC barbie doll anywhere, let alone to a DC-related public event or appearance, well, he or she would be exhibiting, er, tardish behavior. My point is that I still think this would be applicable to any fan, regardless of age or gender. Tardish behavior undermines DC’s credibility as a serious musician as well as feeds the stereotype of the weirdness of all things AI.

I don’t follow Daughtry or Carrie closely, but I’m assuming that tardish behavior was exhibted with them during their respective AI tours. I am hoping that Flat Carries and Flat Daughtrys don’t pop up when they are touring now. Actually, that’d be kinda funny to see a row of Flat Daughtry’s bopping. I mean, how does one travel with a Flat [Insert Idol]? Do you put him in your trunk or put him in your passenger seat? What if you have to take the subway? LOL. Sorry, that’s so bizzare that it’s actually making me laugh now.

The phenomenon of fearing and turning on middle aged women is certainly not new…see witch burnings, Hillary ‘nut-cracker’ doll, ‘cougar den’ skits on SNL. It is interesting sociologically to observe which group is the current favorite to ostracize, label and hate. Native americans, any people of color, gays, hispanic immigrants; all popular choices at different times. The new fav here in the USA — middle aged women.

So I gather that a ‘good’ middle-aged fan of David Cook would have the decency to stay out of sight, or if, God forbid, they do attend a concert, keep a very low profile. The truth is, that is exactly what is needed, but I think it is a sad comment on our culture.

Is Catherine Deneuve a cougar? How about Sophia Loren? Not every culture demands that women take to the veil after a certain age. It is much nicer to be a middle aged woman in France, David Cook seems intelligent and educated enough to recognize prejudice when he sees it. Another reason to respect him.

If an older fan goes to a show and actively tries to behave like she or he is “50 going on 15″ then they deserve all the eye rolls and mocking they get.

From a woman’s viewpoint I would like to point out that groups that are discriminated against are always accused of ‘deserving it’ or ‘asking for it’ by behaving in ways that are unconventional. Those guys who sat at that lunch counter in Alabama surely had it coming. Who defines behavior suited for a 50 year old woman at a rock concert which is supposedly an explosion of nonconformity?

However, on a practical level I will cringe if this demographic does mob David Cook and jeopardize his career with silly behavior. Ideally his audience would consist of beautiful, buff, hot, edgy young men and women who are in all ways cool. Preferably they will have good piercings, tatoos, the best clothes, be pleasantly diverse in a cool way, you know, the proper racial mix, some with spiky ‘scene’ hair and others with blonde prom queen good looks.

They can rock out to the music and scream and applaud but nothing too silly, please. ‘Must be enthusiastic but look knowing, like they ‘get it’.

So, who is sending out the memo and doing the audience pre-screenings?

And doesn’t this fly in the face of the first line of ‘Declaration’? “I’ll take you just the way you are.”?

And doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t this fly in the face of the first line of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Declarationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢? à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll take you just the way you are.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ?

It does, because David would take us just they way we are. It’s some of his fans and detractors who are posting here who might not. People in this thread have been providing varied opinions, but none of those opinions represent David.
He’s not the one putting stamps on people because of how old they are, which gender they belong to, or how they choose to express themselves in public. We are.

If an older fan goes to a show and actively tries to behave like she or he is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“50 going on 15à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ³ then they deserve all the eye rolls and mocking they get.

Niall, I think that SashaB’s point is that this should apply to everyone, regardless of age (unless of course you are not an adult). I agree that the behavior of some of the fans at AI concerts is embarassing and I hope that such behavior is limited to Idol concerts. However, it makes me uncomfortable when we start singling out a group of individuals just because they are over 40 and apply special rules to them. David has always said that age is just a number and I couldn’t agree more. I doubt that I’ll enjoy music any less when I’m in my fourties, so I can only hope that when I do hit that age, I will be able to freely rock out at concerts without getting mocked or labeled as a cougar.

May, the fact is though that there is some behavior that is normal for teenage girls. It is irritating and eye roll inducing but it’s developmentally appropriate. The same cannot be said for adults who decide to play OTT fangirl.

May, the fact is though that there is some behavior that is normal for teenage girls. It is irritating and eye roll inducing but ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s developmentally appropriate. The same cannot be said for adults who decide to play OTT fangirl.

Which is why I said in my post (first sentence) that the rules should apply to everyone unless you are not an adult . (read above post) Teenagers in my opinion are not adults. Nonetheless, I think my point about ageism just went completely over your head.

I said this somewhere else I’ll say it here. I don’t think it’s age so much as attitude. I go to a concert to enjoy live music from great musicians/artists. I am not going to a concert with the expectation of meeting or gaining the attention of said artist. I enjoy the music. I go home. That is what I expect from my other concert goers. If they have another agenda that interrupts or takes away from my enjoyment of a concert than I will be pissed off no matter the age or gender. That includes but is not limited to posters (see throws with pictures of artist), screaming things at said artist that they might think are witty or amusing but in truth are crass and annoying, a feeling of entitlement that they need to meet the artist they have to be in the front and if you get in the way, well to bad.