Libera Dreams

plumpuff6 wrote:

TEB wrote:

JoelinMkt wrote:
Crowds and audiences seem to intimidate him. He's very well animated in behind the scenes videos where the boys are, to borrow the expression, "larking around". Put him in a M&G or in a performance setting and his expression turns to one of fear that the fans are/audience is going to eat him.

I've noticed the same with Flynn. He never seems to smile much in public anymore. Maybe when he knows his picture is being taken but if it is a candid shot, he looks positivily grim.

Both Alfie and Flynn seem to get very absorbed in the music (along with Kavana). In the SoP video, Flynn was a very animated singer. It looks like both boys enjoy it a lot. Maybe with Libera's popularity seeming to sky rocket over the past year or so, they are just intimidated and taken a back by it all. I mean, they've gone to Japan in spring 2009 where they're wildly popular, and then in the Philippines, they were very, very well received. I can see how even a M&G would be intimidating with all those adoring fans, lol.

That is why we need to strictly abide by the "do not attempt to contact" and "respect the privacy" requests. Support is definitely much appreciated but the scale of the adulation may scare some of the boys.

JoelinMkt wrote:
That is why we need to strictly abide by the "do not attempt to contact" and "respect the privacy" requests. Support is definitely much appreciated but the scale of the adulation may scare some of the boys.

Very much so agree with that, especially now-a-days

irishoreo wrote: Very much so agree with that, especially now-a-days

Why, what's happening nowadays?

Yorkie wrote:

irishoreo wrote: Very much so agree with that, especially now-a-days

Why, what's happening nowadays?

Well in some parts of America it seems that there has been a lot of troubles with Kid's safety's, from children getting kidnapped, killed etc. And we have a LOT of child stars around, and many many horrible fanatics. To my American Boardies, doesn't it feel like that or did i just become paranoid?

irishoreo wrote:

Yorkie wrote:

irishoreo wrote: Very much so agree with that, especially now-a-days

Why, what's happening nowadays?

Well in some parts of America it seems that there has been a lot of troubles with Kid's safety's, from children getting kidnapped, killed etc. And we have a LOT of child stars around, and many many horrible fanatics. To my American Boardies, doesn't it feel like that or did i just become paranoid?

No you're not being paranoid. Its sad that these things are happening. At the same time, its hard sometimes to know what things are serious problems because how the news treats different stories. Regardless, I don't think its paranoia because we all just want the members of Libera to be safe.

Couldn't agree more about respecting the guys privacy and protecting them but I sometimes think we go overboard about the dangers out their in the big wide world. The sad fact is that most kids who are hurt in some way are attacked by a family member or somebody close to them.

That said, I understand that there have been some incidents (don't ask because I don't have any details) concerning members of Libera in the past and that has resulted in a more cautious approach by the adults supervising the group.

I understand and respect that concern.

Yorkie wrote:
That said, I understand that there have been some incidents (don't ask because I don't have any details) concerning members of Libera in the past and that has resulted in a more cautious approach by the adults supervising the group.

I understand and respect that concern.

I've got to be careful how I phrase this because it is kind of sensitive but once read, it will explain why the rules are now so strict. I will tell it in the form of a story.

Once, a long time ago, when a certain boy choir was just starting to become famous, members of the choir were allowed to chat with fans online. One very young boy was tricked by an adult fan into giving away where he lived. This adult fan then made a pest of himself. When all the dust settled, all the boys of the choir were told they were to have no contact with fans online except in blog form. Even if the boys use a certain social network, they were told not to add anyone they didn't know in real life. They were told that it was for their own safety and they had to obey the rules, even if they didn't like it.
The End.

irishoreo wrote:

Yorkie wrote:

irishoreo wrote: Very much so agree with that, especially now-a-days

Why, what's happening nowadays?

Well in some parts of America it seems that there has been a lot of troubles with Kid's safety's, from children getting kidnapped, killed etc. And we have a LOT of child stars around, and many many horrible fanatics. To my American Boardies, doesn't it feel like that or did i just become paranoid?

i feel your concern. i'm still a kid myself but am actively involved with a lot of things music wise that entail interviews, TV, and pictures. most definitely not on the international scale, but i know people do follow it. i have been warned by my director, and know from my own common sense, that it is best to avoid strangers on social networking sites. while most people just want to be friendly, it can be hard to tell the good from the bad.

and thinking about the parental stand point of libera, the parents already allow us to see a lot into the lives of their kids. we don't need to see more. i'm grateful to these parents for letting their kids be out there and allowing them to be in this group to make amazing music.

TEB wrote:

Yorkie wrote:
That said, I understand that there have been some incidents (don't ask because I don't have any details) concerning members of Libera in the past and that has resulted in a more cautious approach by the adults supervising the group.

I understand and respect that concern.

I've got to be careful how I phrase this because it is kind of sensitive but once read, it will explain why the rules are now so strict. I will tell it in the form of a story.

Once, a long time ago, when a certain boy choir was just starting to become famous, members of the choir were allowed to chat with fans online. One very young boy was tricked by an adult fan into giving away where he lived. This adult fan then made a pest of himself. When all the dust settled, all the boys of the choir were told they were to have no contact with fans online except in blog form. Even if the boys use a certain social network, they were told not to add anyone they didn't know in real life. They were told that it was for their own safety and they had to obey the rules, even if they didn't like it.
The End.

It's really sad how the world has gotten, but we must all understand that there are boundaries and we must respect them. I learned the hard way, but I am grateful that I learned. We live in a world where information is spread rapidly within a blink of an eye compared to a few years past. Now technology is advancing and information will be spread before the muscle moves...

To borrow a line from the US Federal government - Don't ask; Don't tell; Don't pursue...

If its personal to the boys, do not ask...
If you find out about something personal, do not tell...
Under all circumstances, do not pursue...


Not to belabor the point but when it comes to Libera, we have to all understand that they are firstly children,(albeit very seriously gifted ones) and their safety wherever they are should be the paramount concern.

It does not matter whether the member is highly skilled in or is flatly uncomfortable with dealing with people. The last thing we want is for parents of present and future Liberas to consider membership in a so globally recognized group, a threat to their children's safety and privacy.

Without the voices, there would be no music...

JoelinMkt wrote:To borrow a line from the US Federal government - Don't ask; Don't tell; Don't pursue...

If its personal to the boys, do not ask...
If you find out about something personal, do not tell...
Under all circumstances, do not pursue...


Not to belabor the point but when it comes to Libera, we have to all understand that they are firstly children,(albeit very seriously gifted ones) and their safety wherever they are should be the paramount concern.

It does not matter whether the member is highly skilled in or is flatly uncomfortable with dealing with people. The last thing we want is for parents of present and future Liberas to consider membership in a so globally recognized group, a threat to their children's safety and privacy.

Without the voices, there would be no music...

Yorkie says "ebenso".

nicely said.

Agree with the above comments. In a way Libera has been taken by surprise, as much as anyone else, by their rising popularity over the last 3 years. They have had to tighten up on practices that they probably never thought would be needed. It's probably served them well that the few incidents that have happened - one of them which TEB refers to above - have been relatively minor and quick to take control of.

Ultimately this may mean Libera becomes a little more restricted in their accessibility with well intentioned fans, but if that means a safer, risk-free outcome, then that's the way they will have to play it.

That been said, I still can't see why an organised situation, with certified security assistance can still achieve positive results like what we saw in the Philippines.

JimmyRiddle wrote: That been said, I still can't see why an organised situation, with certified security assistance can still achieve positive results like what we saw in the Philippines.

About a year ago now, I did suggest to a Libera staff member a very easy way to run m&g's with plenty of security, safety for the boys, and access for the fans. I showed him how TSO runs a m&g: the tables so placed that no one can get behind them. An organized line that moves in only one direction. A time limit of 30 seconds talking to a member. Pictures taken only from in front of the table. Absolutely, no one, no matter what their sob story, is allowed to be behind the table at all.
I was told that they could not afford the same security system as a major recording artist such as TSO. I then emailed back that the security is provided by the venue and not the band.
I think that is why what you saw in the Philippines happened. The concert promoters there provided the security.

The problem with Libera M&Gs is that some of their "chaperones" are not going to be of much assistance in crowd cotnrol because able bodied folks like Ben, Steven, Callum and Sam are also likely to get deluged by autograph hounds.

The key to crowd control - something they did
in the M&Gs in the Philippines - was to keep the swell more
than a safe distance from the group. There
were never more than 15-20 persons in front of the boys. That also guarantees that a fan would get reasonable conversation in before
having to move forward.

TEB wrote: I was told that they could not afford the same security system as a major recording artist such as TSO. I then emailed back that the security is provided by the venue and not the band.
I think that is why what you saw in the Philippines happened. The concert promoters there provided the security.

Definitely. The good thing with the Philippine tour is that the main man behind the tour was a big Libera fan. And I think it was reflected in how well the boys were treated there, security included.