I guess I can somewhat understand the papers side of it, but how is this slanderous if it's true? Since this is America and I have free speech, I'm going to exercise that right and let you folks read the letter that I submitted to the paper..
Hello my name is Stephen and I am a huge karaoke fan. I try to go out for karaoke at least once a week. I live in Bellingham and in town unfortunately there are not many quality karaoke shows to go to, so when I do go out I would wait until Thursday evening and go to the Skagit Valley Casino to attend the Rocky and Kristine karaoke show.
I have been attending the Rocky and Kristine show for nearly four years. They have been running a show there for seven years. They have a very large fan base that come from as far north as Vancouver, B.C to Olympia – this really says something about the product they put out if people are willing to drive up to two hours out of their way for a karaoke show!
The karaoke at the Skagit casino is held in a section called “The Winners Lounge”, it’s a nice spacious room with a very large stage for people to cut loose and perform on. There is a large screen tv that shows music videos between karaoke singers. The sound quality here is fantastic! Rocky knows how to make the singers sound the best they possibly can. I know that when I come here I am confident that I’m going to be at the top of my game.
Of course Rocky doesn’t do this by himself. He has a partner in crime, his wife Kristine who is out with the audience making sure the sound is perfect and gives Rocky the thumbs up or down until it’s just right. Kristine is what I would refer to as the first lady of karaoke in the northwest. She is a very sweet, caring down to Earth person who makes everyone who walks into the Winners Lounge feel welcome.
Rocky Fields also makes people feel good about themselves as early in the evening he comes out and shakes hands with and hugs the patrons attending the show. No matter what a persons skill level at singing, he is always very encouraging and it just makes you want to go back up and sing again and again.
The Fields karaoke show is like a family gathering because most of the audiences are people who return week in and week out. It’s like the classic tv show Cheers- everybody knows your name! I have met many, many wonderful people from all walks of life here. We all go over and give hugs to one another and catch up on our daily lives and talk about the songs we’re singing for the eve.
This is what sets Rocky and Kristine’s show above the rest and that’s the family atmosphere feel. This is my karaoke home….and now unfortunately that home has been taken away! Two weeks ago was the last karaoke show that the Fields are doing at the Skagit Casino. I was told that they received a letter at the last minute stating that their show would be ending. No reason was given to the what or why’s of this choice of action.
Dozens and dozens of people were shocked to hear this, myself included. Why would the casino end something that so many people love and spend hard earned dollars at their establishment? I don’t believe it would be budgetary cutbacks. I have sent a letter to the casino asking why as have many other people, however none have gotten any response what so ever.
The Skagit Valley Casino has a fan page on the popular social network Facebook and many people have been going there to voice their opinions on the matter. Their posts are almost immediately taken off. Why is this? Does the casino not care about what the public thinks or look for ways to improve their business? By taking away the karaoke here they have now lost thousands of dollars of revenue that the crowds brought in, not to mention the amount of joy that had been brought to so many people…
I’m asking anyone out there who is a karaoke fan, singer, or just from any walk of life who believes in doing the right thing and please write to the Skagit casino and let them know that they should keep the Rocky and Kristine Fields karaoke show going! I for one am not going to be supporting the casino anymore until the Fields are back. Many other patrons are with me on this!
Thank you everyone for reading and thank you to Rocky and Kristine for the wonderful memories and friendship.
Sincerely,
Stephen Whitener
So that is it kids. I hope all of my Facebook friends read this. I'm sure they all won't but I digress... If at least some of you read this and make your voice heard then my job has been accomplished!
Cheers,
Stephen
Definitely not what I would call slanderous. Hopefully, if they're that well liked, they'll get a new gig soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading! :)
ReplyDeleteHey Stephen, in the UK, that hand gesture is used to flip people off! lol
ReplyDelete