Brantley Gilbert is one of the genuinely sweetest people I have ever met. He looks like a total badass, but he’s a good ol’ Southern boy at heart.
His fans, on the other hand, are…well, see the title of this post. If Brantley wasn’t so kind, no matter how much I liked his music, his fans would turn me off.
Recently, Brantley was doing in-store appearances and happened to stop at two locations in my city. I missed the first one (my sister went), but she and I both made it to the second one.
We’ve been doing this kind of thing for a long time, so we know how it works: You have to arrive early if you want any chance being able to see anything, especially if you use a wheelchair.
The appearance was scheduled for 6 pm. We arrived before 4pm, and were maybe 10 people back from the front of the line. We were lined up outside, and, by the time 6pm rolled around, the line stretched past two more stores in the strip. Part of was what followed was the fault of the store’s staff and those running the appearance. But, mostly, it was the fault of those who have never developed the sense of looking outside one’s self.
As expected, when the doors opened, there was a mad rush. Despite the fact that I have wheels, I was summarily left in the dust. To her credit, a woman working with Brantley tried to get people to move so that I could get a spot that would allow me a modicum of unobstructed view. The people she asked to move? Those standing right in front of or behind me in line, who knew I was there and were well aware that I wanted to be able to see the performance. This includes one guy whom I spent a majority of time in line speaking with, who I see a LOT at a local bar, and who is now on my List.
You don’t want to be on my List. I will evisercate you.
This guy – and others – looked at this woman, and at me, like we suddenly sprouted extra heads.
It wasn’t like we were looking for them to part the Red Sea. Just move a couple steps to one side or the other and allow my sister and me to squeeze in. Apparently, this was too much for his and their myopic brains to handle.
I focus on this particular guy because, as I mentioned, I see him a lot. He wants people to believe he is kind and fun, but really, he’s just a Giant Tool.
Like I said, on the List.
I don’t go seeking out special treatment. In cases like this, I arrive early and claim my spot so that I don’t have to ask others to make concessions for me. I try to avoid playing my “wheelchair card” because I don’t want to be identified as “the girl in the wheelchair.” I’m not ashamed of the fact that I use a chair, but it is only a miniscule part of who I am. So, I do what I can to minimize its impact on various situations I encounter.
However, this wasn’t seeking special treatment. This was asking for common courtesy. I suppose it’s ridiculous to consider it “common” courtesy anymore, as the commonality of it has decreased so much that it has become the exception rather than the rule.
All Brantley Gilbert fans do not behave like this. I’ve met one or two who are actually pretty nice. Few and far between, but at least they’re out there.
For in-store appearances and other events of these types, here’s a few rules: Don’t cut in line. If people are in front of you in line, then stay behind them until they have garnered their viewing spot. If one of these people happens to be using a wheelchair, for God’s sake, let her have a spot where she’s not staring at your ass. Have you seen your ass? Not pretty.
Otherwise, you’ll end up on a List. Probably mine.