Yeah. Same. It just happened to me.
My daughter and I were on our way to the House of Blues to see Descendents, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, and Nobro. Here's a little secret: Frank Turner is low-key in my top three musicians at this moment in my life.
We parked the car and walked across East Fourth Street toward the venue for a pre-show dinner.
Then I glanced left.
And there he was. Frank Turner himself. Walking down the other side of the street like a regular human being, probably thinking about dinner. Maybe Valentine's Day. Maybe his performance in a few hours. Definitely not thinking about me.
My brain had about half a second to process all of this before my mouth took over.
"WOOO, FRANK TURNER!!!"
Not conversational. Not cool. Not subtle.
Full-volume sidewalk scream.
People stopped. Heads turned. I'm fairly certain a nearby couple thought I was alerting them to an emergency.
Frank's response? Barely a quarter nod. Not a smile. Not a wave. A fractional acknowledgment suggesting, "Yes, I hear you, loud fan," before continuing on his way.
Undeterred—because apparently I hadn't embarrassed myself and my daughter enough—I yelled after him, "We'll see you inside, Frank!"
Friends, he did not turn around.
In my head, this moment was supposed to unfold differently. He laughs. We chat. We discover mutual interests. We exchange numbers. We become besties. I casually mention him in conversation. "Oh yeah, Frank and I were texting…"
Instead, I yelled a man's name across a downtown street while he was out on a Valentine's Day pre-show stroll with his girlfriend.
Jon, not cool. But a story to tell, nonetheless.
To hear the rest of the story about our entire concert experience, check out this week's episode of The Norah and Dad Show, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Overcast, Amazon Music, in your browser, and everywhere else you get your podcasts.
Here's what I read this week that you should read, too.
Outwit, Outplay, Outlast: What 50 Seasons of Survivor Can Still Teach Employers — via Dan Schwartz's Connecticut Employment Law Blog
Your Company is Already Using AI. Where's Your Policy? — via Improve Your HR by Suzanne Lucas, the Evil HR Lady
When AI is the Boss, Who Maintains Liability? — via The L•E•Jer
My boss did a racist impression of a coworker — via Ask a Manager
Why Two Single-Slur Cases Never Reached a Jury — via Eric Meyer's Employer Handbook Blog
Trump touts 'we ended DEI' in State of the Union — via HR Dive
Out of "Site," But Not Out of Mind: Employer's Refusal to Respond to Offsite and Off-Duty Harassment Can Be Sufficient to Create a Claim for Hostile Work Environment — via Employment Law Lookout
Can Your Business Survive a Lawsuit? — via Rush on Business
US Department of Labor proposes rule clarifying employee, independent contractor status under federal wage and hour laws — via United States Department of Labor
Can You Fire Employees Who Don’t Return FMLA Forms? — via EntertainHR
One weird trick for busting your bartenders' union — via Fingers
Good News, Bad News for US Unions — via The Chief Organizer Blog
BrewDog Workers Protest Sale Citing 'Years of Catastrophic Mismanagement' — via The Drinks Business
Young Americans Trade Drinking at Home for Bars, Fitness — via Brewbound
Philadelphia's Craft Beer Scene Is Ready for Its Close-Up — via Brewers Association