I think I understand, I like that about him, he has said he needs poeple to be straight with him I think, and that a shortfalling is that he can get something in his head stubbornly and go off in the wrong direction(can't recall where I read that) - I agree it is a dangerous thing to be surrounded by "yes" people and not to be able to take in critism or differences of opinion

I like May because it's different. I don't like just all the poses, I prefer him as you see him.

 

All I meant was that Darius likes to hear honest opinions. He doesn't need people to agree with him just to say what he has said he feels about something. He listens to and, he acts on critism. It's not as if he doesn't know we're all behind him.

I think Darius is a great communicator - he's articulate and always explains exactly what he means (at length), but he's an incredibly good listener too. Throw in his innate charm and charisma and the way he looks at the person he's talking to so intensely and creates that 'alone in a crowd' moment and the experience is pure magic. I could almost believe he could entrance Natasha in the street.

Ok, I've been able to think a bit about this now. So, I think, the reason why I found your comment strange Meg, was because at the time that you were organising the calendar, it seemed to me from the things said then, that it was important to you that Darius was happy with and approved of the photos that were chosen for it. The fact that you disagreed with him over one that he wasn't keen on and are now saying that you really like the fact that he listens - seems a bit of a contradiction to me.

 

I do have an understanding of the general concept of 'yes people' - but perhaps not how it fitted into a response to my question - unless you were perhaps thinking that I only said that I don't like that particular photo, because Darius initially said he wasn't keen on it himself? ... if that's what you thought, then that's not the case - I didn't know Darius wasn't keen on it, I was surprised to learn that, as I was under the impression that he liked all the ones that were chosen, because I thought that was part of your objective with this particular calendar. So, as things stand, I'm under the impression at the moment, that Darius liked all the photos apart from this one now then lol! - There are 3 others that I'm not especially keen on myself - just saying that quick now, so you'll know that I'm not just being a 'yes person' - either towards you or towards Darius, Meg ;)

 

I'm not sure whether I would apply what I think of as being a 'yes person to Darius' to this calendar scenareo anyway though. To me a 'yes person' to Darius, would be someone who seemingly approves of everything Darius does, or every picture of him whether they really liked them or not, but Darius didn't put forward the photo's for approval or disapproval himself - it was the other way around - so, that was confusing to my brain a bit too.

 

Generally speaking though, I see a 'yes person' as being someone who says they like/approve of everything, when actually they don't - i.e. that what they say is not sincere, but said perhaps to try and please the person that the approval is given to. In the case of photo's of Darius that he put forward for critique, then, a 'yes person' would say to him, they liked them all, whether they did or not - and I agree that generally speaking whether about photos/artwork/merchandise/music/whatever - it's not good for anyone to be given postive feedback if it's insincere.

 

I suppose now, I feel just a little disappointed Meg, to learn that a photo was included in the Calendar that Darius wasn't keen on himself - which is why I asked whether you had a special reason for having done that with this particular photo. I agree with you that it's nice to have shots that are natural - rather than just posed for photo-shoot type shots, but I think all the photo's you included were of that type weren't they? I just wondered what made you argue the case for this one particularly, as opposed to the others that Darius rejected, if there was some reason why this one, was particularly special to you.

 

Again, in a general sense, whether we are talking about his music or merchandise, Darius being represented in the way he wants to be, is important to me - because I want authenticity from an artist that I'm interested in, I want to feel that Darius is the artist behind the creation, so that I can give my honest feedback on his work. I suppose it's a bit like always having believed that Darius was in the driving seat of his career and in control regarding his music releases, only later to learn that he didn't want to release Kinda Love as a lead off for Live Twice - that made me feel disappointed and confused too - because I felt I couldn't be sure whether it's actually Darius I'm judging or not.

How can you truely judge and give honest feedback about an artist and what they've done or produced, if what you get to judge, is actually someone else's idea of what they should do, or how they should be portrayed?

 

I know that Darius listens to people and that he likes to receive genuine feedback on his music and creations etc... but that doesn't mean I would want Darius to change what he does in order to try and please me as a 'fan' either though - on the contrary, it's much more important to me, to feel that Darius follows his own gut instincts and does what comes from his own heart or sense of creativity, rather than follow other peoples' advice - irrespective of whether I like the end product or not - I don't want Darius to have to be a 'yes person' either.

 

Having said all that, this was your project Meg, not Darius's - and I do respect that and think that you were entitled to do it however you wished to as well - I think the Calendar turned out great and still think you did a fine job overall and I also believe that Darius was happy overall with the final product too; and the most important part of it for me was the money raised for The Royal Marsden

 

Darius listened to what I had to say about the pics, I listened to what he said. Of the 4 or 5 under discussion, we agreed May should stay as he was happy with my argument. I wasn't referring to any individual I know as a 'yes' person, just making the point that he will listen to other points of view and, if the argument is valid for him, go with it. I was just as happy not putting the other pics he didn't in as he was to go with this one.

Darius listens and even if he goes with the advice or opinion given, he's still made hi sown mind up. No one exists in a vacuem. I would hate to think he was so arrogant that he didn't include the idea of those around him (not me) in his final decisions. He doesn't always get final decisions (again, not me) but, that's life.

If he had been unwilling to have that pic in at the end, it wouldn't be there. I enjoyed that it made him laugh. It's only a calendar. I don't think it'll change the world. He had input into it and every discission he was part of and aware of.

Darius listened to what I had to say about the pics, I listened to what he said. Of the 4 or 5 under discussion, we agreed May should stay as he was happy with my argument.

 

He had input into it and every discission he was part of and aware of.

 

I wasn't referring to any individual I know as a 'yes' person, just making the point that he will listen to other points of view and, if the argument is valid for him, go with it. I was just as happy not putting the other pics he didn't in as he was to go with this one.

 

Ok - thanks for the expansion, remember this is all news to me, the more you've said the more I understand it better. I think before all this, I'd just assumed you'd given him a batch of photo's and he'd chosen which ones to use and which not to, without so much discussion taking place.

 

Darius listens and even if he goes with the advice or opinion given, he's still made hi sown mind up. No one exists in a vacuem.

 

Yeah, but he'd have made a different decision without the advice though :P - But, I agree with you that no one exists in a vacuum and that no decisions or even thoughts come without influence from something or other.

 

I enjoyed that it made him laugh. It's only a calendar. I don't think it'll change the world.

 

I know it won't and now you've made me laugh too :lol:

 

Most of what I said, doesn't relate to directly to the calendar - it was more an analogy in trying to explain how I felt learning something new and so to asking questions - at least in this case the questions don't remain unanswered :) - It was all this other talk about Darius listening, taking onboard other peoples' advice versus following his own instincts, having creative freedom etc... that just nudged my already rattled cage about that kind of thing - that could easily evolve into a separate discussion altogether though ...

 

I would hate to think he was so arrogant that he didn't include the idea of those around him (not me) in his final decisions. He doesn't always get final decisions (again, not me) but, that's life.

 

I'd like to discuss this further - but maybe it would be better to start a separate topic for it? I don't want to take your Calendar topic - even further off topic.

 

Back on the Calendar topic - did the gay men that you asked, say why they liked the May photo Meg?

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/Maria194/cal05mar.jpg

 

Where did this one come from Maria? I do like this one ;)

 

 

They liked the serious pose. You don't often see Darius deep in thought and not aware of the camera. The same as a lot ogf the girls really. Some of the hetro men didn't like the frown of cencentration.

They liked the serious pose. You don't often see Darius deep in thought and not aware of the camera. The same as a lot ogf the girls really. Some of the hetro men didn't like the frown of cencentration.

 

I can't really figure out why gay men or girls, would see that differently to hetro men though - or why I find myself in your hetro male group either really :D

 

Is that what Darius said he was doing then -'concentrating'? :) - I think I just looked at it as more of a 'worry/troubled' type of frown. I'm attracted to his hands in it though :)

 

He was miles away. It was one of the few times he wasn't talking to anyone - and it only lasted a moment. Neither can I see why people see that pic in different ways. I just like it because it's not one of his 'stock' expressions.

I don't think he was worried or troubled - just dead tired.

Ahhhhh.....Mr May! Not my favourite of the photos you took that night, Meg....but it brings back happy memories for my birthday month!!! :wub:

 

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/Maria194/cal05mar.jpg

 

Where did this one come from Maria? I do like this one ;)

 

It's Mr March from the 2005 calendar but I've no idea whose photo it was originally.

 

I don't see 2005's April or May. I'll dig them out and scan them in later.

love it,

 

 

I don't see 2005's April or May. I'll dig them out and scan them in later.

 

I haven't forgotten. Photobucket's down so I can't host them yet.

 

I haven't forgotten. Photobucket's down so I can't host them yet.

Is it back yet Baytree?