It had been a long tour. Actually – it had been a very long year of touring. We arrived on the West Coast and once again I was sent to deal with the media for the pre-performance publicity. A woman from one of the local dailies proceeded to ask me the same questions that I had been answering over and over for months. True – we were in a different city but still – the same questions over and over and over. My patience was wearing thin and I became flippant. “How do you keep yourselves going on such a long tour?” she asked. “Drugs,” I shot back, “Lots of drugs.” Wouldn’t you know it – that’s exactly what she wrote down. The article came out and it didn’t take long for the home office to call and give me hell for saying something so stupid. Oops.
Beyond this one example – my main point is that the press rarely gets their facts right. I’m not saying that most aren’t trying to give an accurate portrayal but if your husband can’t figure you out after years of living with you – what makes you think that a stranger is going to get it right in a half hour? I have never seen an accurate article about me. One was darn close, but on the whole – most were a compilation of mangled facts. The hardest part of these mini-fictions is the fallout from my friends and colleagues. “How could you say that about me?” I didn’t. Honest – I didn’t. Words out of context and thoughts linked to unrelated thoughts. What can you do? Get over it and accept the inevitable. Also be really careful about what you say to the press – no matter how innocent you think the remark is – there is a good chance that it’s going to come back and bite you in the ass. Those closest to you know the truth. Sometimes – you just have to laugh over the ridiculousness of the situation. One article that came out about me with all its muddled tidbits – included a photo. Imagine my surprise to see myself taller, twenty years younger and Hispanic. Now that’s creative license!