Algoma University responds to Matthew Good

SooToday. com received the following e-mail tonight from Amanda Osborne, student centre coordinator at Algoma University College, in response to our earlier coverage of Matthew Good's performance there on Monday night.

************************* Hey Donna:

I totally respect your right to freedom of press, so any chance you can return the favour and post AUC's rebuttal to the article?

It is as follows:

Old-fashioned hospitality and manners ignored at AUC

I was under the impression that when one is a guest in someone's home (or in this case school), one should be polite, courteous and grateful, and should be able to expect hospitality, and a warm welcome from one's hosts.

Apparently, judging by the Matthew Good show on October 1st at AUC, such is no longer the case.

I'm not talking about the crowd, as Donna Hopper previously felt the need to impugn.

I'm talking about the 'artist' himself.

From the time Matt arrived on campus, AUC staff and students went out of their way to make him feel welcome.

His hospitality rider (a rider that was changed in the week before the show) was followed to a letter (with extras added on, such as a bonus issue of the New York Times, just to make sure he got the issue he wanted) ... something that doesn't usually happen at other campuses.

The entire student centre complex was shut down during the peak hours of operation to allow a 'private' sound check, at the artist's request.

Repeatedly Matt or his crew could be heard complaining about being in such a 'small town,' with 'nothing to do,' while being ushered back and forth to their hotel by student centre employees, as a favour to the performers.

Once Matt took the stage, the complaints didn't let up.

He opened his set by again berating Sault Ste. Marie (while never once actually mentioning the city's name).

He complained about the size of the venue (which, incidentally, never went looking for Matt to play - the show came to them, his agent requesting the gig).

Perhaps Matt and his agent should keep in better contact, if in fact it's such a strain for the artist to play a small campus venue.

I'd remind him that many of his fans are college students, and indeed most Canadian acts get their start playing at campus bars.

His fans at AUC (and there were many) were ecstatic that he would be coming to us.

In fact, as student centre coordinator, I personally fielded a lot of excited e-mails and comments from fans that couldn't wait to see the show.

The people in attendance, believe me, were there because they were fans of his music.

I write this letter now, not to excuse the few fans that disrupted others during the performance (I know there were some).

But I would suggest that perhaps more respect would have been shown to a performer that seemed grateful, not irritated, to be playing to the crowd.

The members of the audience didn't feel appreciated, in fact they felt belittled and worthless.

I would also remind Mr. Good that it is the job of the performer to keep your audience entertained.

If you can't keep the crowd interested for an hour and a half, perhaps such a long set might not be the best idea.

I just wanted to point out that, as a guest, one can, and should expect a certain level of hospitality - which I feel was certainly reached by the AUC community.

If the crowd ultimately wasn't impressed by the performance, don't take it out on them - perhaps it's time to face the fact that you might not be Matt Good, but Matt Average.

Amanda Osborne Student Centre Coordinator

************************* Earlier SooToday.com coverage of this story

Local yokels greet Matthew Good (not so good) Matthew and his fans are talking about us tonight