Steve Martin Responds to ArtWorldInterviewgate

Now let me try to answer the question you might be asking yourself at this point: was I boring? Yes, I might have been. In hindsight, I probably should have read a few pages from my book to give the audience a feel for it, and I did struggle with a few explanations. But I was not lazy and neither was Deborah. We were both working very hard at our task.I have no doubt that, in time, and with some cooperation from the audience, we would have achieved ignition. I have been performing a long time, and I can tell when the audience’s attention is straying. I do not need a note. My mind was already churning like a weather front; at that moment, if I could have sung my novel to a Broadway beat I would have.

Steve Martin gave what amounted to a boring interview about art at the 92nd St Y to Deborah Solomon. The audience didn’t like it, and the Y gave a refund. While I think Deborah Solomon seems like a downright-terrible person, the refund seemed a bit much. And now Martin has responded in the form of an op-ed in the NY Times.It’s tough to not sympathize with the guy. I mean, everyone has an off night. And it’s pretty embarrassing to have a venue you’re at be such dicks about what you’re doing, in the middle of an interview, no less. On the one hand, poor Steve Martin! On the other hand, it did sound pretty boring. I guess the takeaway is this: never pay money to see Deborah Solomon interview anybody.

Steve Martin Responds to ArtWorldInterviewgate