My experience with Karen Johnston, Lori, Sharon & Neal

oohmylove · #1 09-09-2013, 12:54 PM

Ok, I've told this story to everyone and a lot of other Stevie fans/Facebook friends were around when this happened, so they can totally corroborate this.

My boyfriend and I got tickets to the FM 2013 show in Charlotte. As usual during the summer, Charlotte is hot, muggy, and extremely humid. We only live about 45 minutes from uptown but we decided that we would make a little day trip out of it and we booked a room at the Ritz Carlton.

The show went great. After the show, this is what happened:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz2yrJitqtA

So after a "semi" meeting with Stevie, we made the arduous 2-block trek to the Carlton to hit up the bar before it closed at 1 am

. When we walked into the lobby, there was a buzz of people all walking around. At first we didn't think about it (the show was sold out so I figured a lot of people had come to town for it and booked rooms) and we walked to the elevators to go up to our room. There were seven or eight police standing by all the elevators and they were telling everyone that the elevators were temporarily out of order. They told us where the stairs were (it's a huge hotel) and a few of us walked through the bar and restaurant toward one of the staircases. A few police walked by and everyone heard on their radios, "Talent is on the move, clear the halls." And then we saw it. In the parking deck (you could see it from the glass doors on the back of the building) there were 10 or 12 black SUV's and we realized Fleetwood Mac was staying in our hotel! The police and hotel security had shut down the elevators until they got to their rooms.

Anyway, we went up to our room and showered and changed clothes and went down to the bar. As soon as we exited the elevator we turned left to walk down the corridor to the bar and low and behold, there was Karen and Lori sitting in one of the round corner booths having drinks. I tried to remain calm and sat down at the bar and ordered whatever the first thing that came to my mind.

Karen was wearing a white shirt and jeans and Lori had changed into an all black outfit. Lori was messing with her iPhone and Karen was talking on the phone. They were laughing and looking around and admiring the ceiling (it's silver and blue and quite beautiful).

After about 20 minutes, Sharon and Neal Haywood (sp?) came down to the bar and joined them. Then I really started to freak out. It was around 12:30 and the bar started emptying and the "Stevie crew" started gathering their things to leave. I turned around in my stool and said, "You guys, the show was GREAT!" Neal and Sharon smiled and said "thank you" and Neal even came over to shake my hand. Lori and Karen hadn't said a word or even acknowledged me, so I said, "Lori you look great!" and, honest to God, she just threw her hair back and completely ignored me. Karen looked at me and didn't crack a smile or utter a word. I could tell Lori was a little embarrassed and she just smiled and waved and walked away.

They left the bar and the bartender looked at me and said, "Ouch, that had to hurt." He then told us that FM had reserved almost all the 18th floor and that one of the front desk people had told him that the people who checked in for FM were incredibly rude and demanded that no one else stay on that floor. Not sure if it was true, but that's what he said.

Anyway, sorry for the long story. Lori and Karen were complete bitches to me, but Sharon and Neal were so nice. I told Neal that my favorite song on IYD was "New Orleans" and he said, "Right on!"

The Catdancer · #2 09-09-2013, 01:15 PM

I'm surprised at Lori's reaction (or lack thereof). I've met her a few times and she was always friendly. Maybe she was tired

I don't know Karen, never met her but that was kinda rude.

A friend of mine stayed at a hotel they stayed at in Holland during Unleashed and when she made the reservation she was told she could have any room she wanted except on the 6th floor. She thought it was odd but later she found out that was the floor the band had reserved so the bartender could be right.

Glad at least Sharon & Neal were nice to you

KarmaContestant · #3 09-09-2013, 01:24 PM

Wow, great story. I saw Sharon up close and personal one time in Vegas back in 2005 at the Ceasar's Palace shows. My friend and I were on our way to our seats and Sharon was walking in the crowd with everyone else. She brushed right past me, and I thougyht to myself "what a pale, tall and thin woman". I didn't realize it was her until she was onstage and I recognized her. She just looked so different right there next to me than she does in photos. I probably wouldn't have talked to her even if I had recognized her at the time because she seemed in a hurry, but it was clear that she didn't have any anxiety about working her way to the auditorium with the unwashed masses.

The reaction you got from Karen and Lori was rude. My feeling on the matter is that if celebrities and their entourages can't handle being polite in public, then they should stay in private. I'm sure the two of them are accustomed after all these years to people feigning interest in them to get information about Stevie, but that's no reason to be rude, especially when being paid a compliment.

elle · #4 09-09-2013, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oohmylove

\Neal and Sharon smiled and said "thank you" and Neal even came over to shake my hand. Lori and Karen hadn't said a word or even acknowledged me

in my experience, Neale is extremely nice and friendly guy, and doesn't have any problems interacting with fans, so i'm not surprised. plus i love his accent.

never met Stevie's backup singers, so i have no clue whether they would be nice or not. i think some other fans had stories about both Sharon and Lori being really nice after one of SN's solo shows, so who knows, maybe Lori just had a bad night.

also, although generally everybody is much happier when people are nice to each other and i'm not really trying to justify anything that comes across as rude behavior, i don't see why SN's assistant would have to be nice to fans, since she is not a performer or necessarily in public eye. same goes for people like husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc, as far as i'm concerned. especially if fans use all kinds of social media to bash a specific person. in that case, not being nice to fans may come as natural self-defense.

MikeInNV · #5 09-09-2013, 08:30 PM

I've never met Lori, but I've met Sharon and Jana, and they were both extremely nice and happy to talk to me.

SpyNote · #6 09-09-2013, 09:15 PM

Yeah, it's bummer that Lori and Karen had that reaction.

I met Lori backstage in Vegas one time and had a short conversation with her. She was very gracious. Sharon is usually always cool. I've met her a few times. I would guess that she probably enjoys the fanfare more than Lori because Sharon has hung out with fans and answered their questions.

wheart · #7 09-10-2013, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpyNote

Yeah, it's bummer that Lori and Karen had that reaction.

I met Lori backstage in Vegas one time and had a short conversation with her. She was very gracious. Sharon is usually always cool. I've met her a few times. I would guess that she probably enjoys the fanfare more than Lori because Sharon has hung out with fans and answered their questions.

That's wild. Lori has always seemed the more outgoing of the two so I would have guessed she would be more fan interactive.. Interesting...I'd love to meet either one of them.

rubylounge · #8 09-10-2013, 08:50 PM

I am really surprised and disappointed to hear this about Lori and the assistant. I am related to a huge/popular musician who was part of the whole grunge thing in the 90's. When people find out I am related, they want to meet him and go crazy. I tell him and he signs things for the fans and has no haughty attitude. My relative very much appreciates his fans and it's unfortunate that some people act "bothered" by their admirers. It's crazy to "bite the hand that feeds!" I have read on the site that Mick needed money so FM toured. I am so glad that we can support these people and contribute to their luxurious lifestyle. Enjoy it while it lasts- (another 20----maybe 30 years).

michelej1 · #9 09-10-2013, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubylounge

I am so glad that we can support these people and contribute to their luxurious lifestyle. Enjoy it while it lasts- (another 20----maybe 30 years).

THIRTY years? Now that is being optimistic.

Michele

Neal · #10 09-10-2013, 10:30 PM

Despite many years of stalking (for lack of a better term) these people after shows, the only time I got lucky enough to bump into them was also after a Vegas show at Caesar's Palace.

Waddy, Lori, Brett Tuggle and Al Ortiz were at a hotel bar and all of them (especially the inebriated Ms. Perry-Nicks!) were incredibly friendly.

AmbrFireflie · #11 09-11-2013, 10:30 PM

That's too bad about your experience

I met Lori, Sharon, and Waddy in the Italian restaurant at Turning Stone and they were very gracious. It was the night before they played in 2010. I noticed them right away while they were being seated, and I was so excited explaining to my friend's who they were. They were kitty corner to us in a booth, and we decided it would be cool to offer them a round of drinks. We asked our server to check and see if that was ok, so she went back explaining it to their server, who we saw relay it to them. They accepted, and glanced over to wave when the server pointed over to us. We thought that was great, and then a little while later we were told it would be ok to come over to meet them. I was a little nervous, but just basically thanked them for all of the music they had made with Stevie, and just gushed to Waddy about his playing, and how exciting it was to fans when Lori came back. I remember saying it was an honor to meet them, and how I was going to stop talking before I made a fool out of myself or something. Sharon laughed and was the first to put her hand out for me to shake, and then Lori, and Waddy. Waddy asked if I would be at the show, and told me he hoped I enjoyed it. It was an exhilarating experience for sure, and I could tell they appreciated being acknowledged

I don't think I would have been that composed if it was Stevie in that booth though! lol -Although I did get to shake Stevie's hand along with my sister and bestfriend during the edge walk last yr in Niagara Falls. We managed to say "we love you Stevie"! She took our flowers, looked me straight in the eyes and said "thank you". She has the softest hands, and such a presence omg..that was the best night ever❤Btw, Sharon and Lori had red wine, and Waddy had a corona.

jkmaletic · #12 09-12-2013, 09:42 AM

My experiences:

Sharon - ran into her 3 diffrent times and she was always gracious.

Lori - came across her once (with Sharon). She was cool. I turned around at an event I was at for Stevie and they were sitting directly behind me. I introduced myself and they were both nice. I asked them about a potential IYD Tour at the time.

Karen - met her at Stevie's Amoeba signing and she was nice and complimented me on something I referenced.

I have heard stories, however, about Karen being kind of rude, which is a shame.

Others:

Lindsey: very cool and friendly.

Mick: cool. He was super gracious to us after our engagement on stage.

Carlos Rios: warm, likable guy.

Jimmy Paxton: nice.

Al Ortiz: very approachable, grateful. Big smile.

Stevie: grateful. Listens intently when you talk to her.

KarmaContestant · #13 09-12-2013, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmbrFireflie

That's too bad about your experience

I met Lori, Sharon, and Waddy in the Italian restaurant at Turning Stone and they were very gracious. It was the night before they played in 2010. I noticed them right away while they were being seated, and I was so excited explaining to my friend's who they were. They were kitty corner to us in a booth, and we decided it would be cool to offer them a round of drinks. We asked our server to check and see if that was ok, so she went back explaining it to their server, who we saw relay it to them. They accepted, and glanced over to wave when the server pointed over to us. We thought that was great, and then a little while later we were told it would be ok to come over to meet them. I was a little nervous, but just basically thanked them for all of the music they had made with Stevie, and just gushed to Waddy about his playing, and how exciting it was to fans when Lori came back. I remember saying it was an honor to meet them, and how I was going to stop talking before I made a fool out of myself or something. Sharon laughed and was the first to put her hand out for me to shake, and then Lori, and Waddy. Waddy asked if I would be at the show, and told me he hoped I enjoyed it. It was an exhilarating experience for sure, and I could tell they appreciated being acknowledged

I don't think I would have been that composed if it was Stevie in that booth though! lol -Although I did get to shake Stevie's hand along with my sister and bestfriend during the edge walk last yr in Niagara Falls. We managed to say "we love you Stevie"! She took our flowers, looked me straight in the eyes and said "thank you". She has the softest hands, and such a presence omg..that was the best night ever❤Btw, Sharon and Lori had red wine, and Waddy had a corona.

What a great story!