Last week Belfast Operatic Company and St. Agnes Choral graced the stage at the Grand Opera House to bring us Les Miserables and after last night’s final performance I bet this lovely morning they are tired and happy. It was powerful and long, emotional and funny, bawdy and rousing, the singing was excellent, a brilliant orchestra and the stage furniture.which was shifted round the stage by the lady wenches from the local ale house. One other thing was outstanding and that was the lighting. With the use of ‘gobos’ – filters over the individual light source – there was an unearthly vail of light coming down from nine overhead lights giving a beautiful effect whether in white light or colours. Another outstanding aspect was the acting and singing of the little people in the cast, children who looked primary school age. What a wonderful experience for them, learning songs, how to take direction, mixing with people from all sorts of backgrounds, professional, men an women in business, self employed, civil servants, teachers, what an education and above all being a reliable member of the company. What a thrill for them when the audience stood at the end in appreciation. It’s outstanding that this huge cast made up of people from all arts a parts and of all ages can take time out from their busy working day and obviously enjoyed themselves as they are entertaining us. I expect they are working on their next production and my advice is book early and don’t be disappointed.
Author David A. Stewart
I answered a dating ad in the paper last week, all for the sake of communications.
It’s a word often shortened to ‘comms’ in these days when there is no time to stop and smell the roses, we live an abbreviated life where everything is short circuited. We’ve comms teams in most businesses, especially government but thankfully on the dating circuit the full word means approaching another person with a view to friendship and perhaps something more serious. Time was we joined youth groups and sports clubs, always face-to-face meetings in a relaxed atmosphere. It used to be we got close at dances, if you progressed to the slow dance at the end of the evening you knew you’d clicked! Today with working people more often engrossed on their phones or in front of a computer screen there’s little time to stop and stare, more often it’s off to noisy pubs or frantic raves where talking and listening is difficult, there’s a sense of desperation and mistakes can be made.
GAINING CONFIDENCE
In his book The Art of Communicating with the Opposite or Same Sex, David A. Stewart goes into great detail on the subject with the word ‘confidence’ running through the pages emphasising the fact that it’s not always easy to approach someone you fancy and preparation is important; so the author goes through your dress sense, your hair style, the colours you wear, even down to brushing your teeth and scrubbing your nails. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. David knows all about that, he has travelled far and wide, worked in film and theatre and when running his casting agency he was careful to coach his clients on the importance of appearance, approach and attitude. In his book he discusses the benefits of making initial contact on-line in order to determine whether or not the person at the other end is your type although it’s interesting that professional dating sites are falling out of fashion.
I asked a 20 year old about on-line dating. “I like a girl in work but she’s in another office. I don’t like the idea of texting her, I want to be organic so I’m going to make sure I’m in the queue in the canteen and speak to her there. Don’t ask me what I’ll say ‘cause I don’t know. It’s a bit scary but she can only blank me.”
Rejection is also part of David’s topic. He writes: ‘While it can be devastating and painful, learning to handle it with dignity will help you maintain your self respect and gain valuable knowledge from the experience, helping you to move forward with renewed confidence.’
PHONE A FRIEND
But there’s another more traditional way of seeking love.
It’s not often I reply to a dating ad in the paper, actually never, but I summoned up my confidence and took a chance.
‘Female Travel Companion required to travel with gentleman two to three times a year.’ I phoned the number! Having explained I wasn’t offering myself and that I was writing about communication we had the most delightful conversation. In his late seventies he’s looking for someone with a brain and good conversation, He usually travels on his own or sometimes with his biker friends and would just like a bit of company, a bit of him and her time. “I haven’t gone on line, you’d need evening classes to understand that. If I’m interested in a reply I meet the women for lunch but so far nothing doing! But you know, each no brings you closer to a yes.”
Try telling Buster that when Mrs. Brown’s TV daughter Cathy keeps turning him down!
I’ve got to admit we got on so well I’ve arranged to see him when I’m in his part of the world. My family know this by the way!
Dating is not easy at any age. I remember the embarrassment of the boy standing on one side of a shop doorway and me on the other both too shy to approach one another, a blind date set up by a friend who had laid the plans for us to follow, Now, if either of us had read this book we would have saved a lot of time.
To sum up David’s advice, prepare, rehearse what you might say, ‘I’ve enjoyed our conversation would you like to grab a coffee sometime?’ Balancing digital communication with face-to-face engagement is key to fostering meaningful relationships in today’s fast paced world. Don’t be too pushy, read the signs, look her or him in the eye and smile. Been like this since Adam met Eve in the garden of Eden and look what happened there.
The Art of Communicating is available on Amazon books and on Kindle.
An interesting event to book in to.
LYRA McKEE SYMPOSIUM
Belfast and District NUJ will be holding a symposium this month in memory of our colleague Lyra McKee. Part of the Imagine! Belfast Festival the event will be held in the Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Road, Belfast BT 7 1 NH
At 7.00 p.m. on Friday 28th March 2025.
The subject under discussion is a topic which fascinated Lyra, Artificial intelligence. In recent years AI has dominated the news agenda and caused an equal amount of positive and negative reflection.
But what about journalism and the media in general, an opportunity or a threat?
Our speakers include Ciaran O’Connor from the Dublin Institute of Strategic Dialogue, Laura Davison NUJ General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary Seamus Dooley, Jude Copeland Legal Review Manager & Associate (NI) Cleaver Fulton Rankin, Charlie Beckett London School of Economics and from the Belfast Metropolitan College media student Stiofan Bruce. Anne Hailes (Chair)
This is a free event. To register visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lyra-mckee-symposium-ai-and-journalism-threats-or-opportunities-tickets-1200513130089
BLOWING HIS OWN TRUMP-PET
What ever next? I dread to think.