Updated: Jun 25, 2020
By Benji Elkins:
MARK: I swear André, it was one of the worst experiences of my life.
ANDRÉ: Yeah?
MARK: I mean dead, the crowd was totally dead. No participation, no grunts, no smiles, no claps, no freaking acknowledgment. I mean, it’s completely discouraging. It makes me want to quit music. I bust my ass day after day, writing song after song, and in the end I perform it and the crowd has no response. There’s no respect. The person who introduced me had to remind the audience to clap with a sign. It was a pity gesture.
ANDRÉ: Mark, you performed for an American Sign Language conference. You sang in front of deaf people. They didn’t hear a single word you were singing.
MARK: So?
ANDRÉ: So? So it means they couldn’t freaking hear you. How were they supposed to enjoy the show if they couldn’t hear your music?
MARK: Beethoven was deaf when he wrote his fifth symphony. They have no excuses.
ANDRÉ: Mark, what? That doesn’t follow at all.
MARK: I knew I should’ve sung in sign language.
ANDRÉ: That doesn’t work.
MARK: What bastards.
ANDRÉ: What prompted you to perform in front of deaf people anyway? Why would they host you? That’s so nonsensical.
MARK: It's just loss after loss for me. I can never get a break! I swear, if my movie premiere at the National Federation of the Blind Convention flops, I’m gonna be pissed.
ANDRÉ: Mark, I think you have a problem.