[Menvi-discuss] Guide Dogs and Performances

[Bettie Downing]

Sighted people would much rather watch the dog than watch you.  That is why they suggested this to you.  They want the focus on YOU.



On Jan 1, 2013, at 1:36 PM, Cristina Jones wrote:

> I'm a Dog user myself, and I completely understand why they think that a dog might be distracting on stage. It's not my favorite idea, but, I completely understand. So, in the situations, I generally have a tendency toward leaving my dog offstage, either with a friend or tied down and lying on his blanket where he is safe and comfortable. That way, I can just go cited guide on and off stage, and I can come back and check on him whenever I need to. He's usually good about keeping quiet. Another thing you can do is to buy one of those collapsible crates. They're really soft, and they are very compact. I think you could get them either at target, Walmart, or Petsmart or Petco. I would recommend to target or Walmart since they're cheaper. I have to get one myself or my dog, but he's a bit too large for the ones at target or Walmart. But that's besides the point. The other thing you can do, is to leave him in a professors office if they're okay with it. I've done that several times, and I find that works the best. I don't have to worry about him when I'm supposed to be focusing on music. One thing you can do if you're really uncomfortable with leaving him Offstage, is you can take him into the practice room with you and have him practice lying still in harness while you sing. One thing I find to be helpful is that I leave him in harness and unleash and I just sang and make him life still while I move around him. Not necessarily making circles around him or anything, but I do move a little bit when I sing for expressive purposes.
> 
> Sincerely:
> Cristina Jones
> (714) 312-9889
> 
> On Jan 1, 2013, at 11:31 AM, Kelsey Nicolay <piano.girl0299 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Well, I'm not entirely sure how to respond to this.  To me, this sounds like a discrimination because your guide dog is your primary method of travel, I'm assuming.  What I would do in this situation is if they ask you not to bring your dog on stage, I would simply just go sighted guide with someone.  I know this isn't ideal but it seems like they don't understand that they can't deny you your travel aid.
>> 
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