Manoeuvres in the dark

By Anonymous - 12/12/2009 21:13 - Canada

Today, I had to perform with my orchestra at an event. I hadn't eaten at all because I had to get my blood sugar tested. During the middle of a song, I passed out. No one helped me and no one stopped playing, "because the song wasn't over and they didn't want to ruin the performance." FML
I agree, your life sucks 31 712
You deserved it 6 268

Same thing different taste

Top comments

I´m a very dedicated performer, and have a bit of experience even though I´m still in school. I would stop a performance if someone onstage were to pass out, because you don´t always know why the person is passing out. I´d rather have a ruined performance than a harmed or even dead peer.

Yeah, but it's not that original. When I was in HS marching band, we performed in wool jackets in Florida. It happened more than once. Nobody stopped, because the band director was evil and would have given us probably 10 laps for stopping. I got 30 pushups for telling the girl in front of me to get back to where she was supposed to be and stop stepping on my feet.

Comments

Oh dear, the first fml I read this evening, and it's a great one. sorry about that, op. that's awful.

What's bad about that? Passing out is painless. I'm sure very few people noticed unless she was the star of the show, and the orchestra is hard working and committed (assholes). No FML here.

Well she could have fallen out of her chair in front of the audience. If people just let you lie there throughout the performance, it is pretty embarrassing.

NotNegativeNews 0

Painless but scary- I totally freak out and feel horrible when I faint. I panic. But still, it's not appropriate for them to help you until the song ends.

Okie7123 0

Next time try to do it the right way. Do it in the morning and don't eat breakfast. When testing diabetics for their 3 month blood sugar (HbA1C) that's how they do it. That way, you don't faint in the middle of something

Reyo 2

OP, I've been in the performing arts, and in their defense it's not uncommon for people to pass out. Don't even think I'm kidding. There's the thought of performing in front of people, messing up the peice, or even memorizing a solo that causes so much anxiety. For all they knew, you got stage frieght and are the type of person who passes out when faced with something like that. And no, there is no "They should've known". It is way more common for people to faint because of stage frieght than diabetes. Besides, it's taught that if something wrong happens, unless it's an immediate danger to anyone, and it's painfully obvious that it's an immediate dager to anyone, that you should just keep going with the music. What did you want them to do, stop playing, stand up, and start screaming that "SHE'S DEAD" over your unconcious body? I'm not saying that you deserve it your life is ******, but really, cut them some slack.

Plus, get the **** over yourself OP. The world doesn't revolve you.

fmlloverrct 0

ahahahahahaha that sucks. F your Life

Ur class mates are bitches. Whats more important? Ur life or winning a freaking comp? They just proved that they are as worthless as they think u are. Don't feel bad. Ur surrounded by A-holes.

Depends on how important the performance is. I mean, do you really expect some 50 people to give up what they've worked hard on for months to get you off the ground a couple minutes sooner? Really if you can't take care of yourself and can't handle the stress, you'll just have to wait a couple minutes (most pieces are only something like 3-5 minutes unless it's a professional orchestra, but it doesn't seem like it for some reason) and not screw up everyone else's work.

If it's an important event and it's an Orchestra, they don't stop playing if one person collapses. It sounds harsh but these events are extremely important. So no, they aren't assholes for not stopping when they aren't supposed to, to check on you. They would get in so much trouble and kicked out.

yes, they ARE assholes for not checking on her. there could have been a real medical problem, you don't just leave someone like that to play a song. what if she had died? they should be held responsible for what happened to her due to their negligence.

It's fake anyway. Blood sugar is tested in the morning - you skip breakfast, that's it. As a doctor you can't have someone who has problems with blood sugar run around all day, without eating. What if she'd passed out while crossing the street, instead of a safe place where she was sitting down? If it's not fake then the blame should go to the idiot doctor, not to the orchestra.

drewbaca 0

what is wrong with all you people...if someone is in distress you ******* help them...what if she had a heart attack and hypoglycemia can kill someone within half and hour. Human life is always more important than a ******* show. You should all be ashamed of yourselves! i hope you pass out in the middle of an intersection and instead of help someone takes your wallet....and to the FML poster...that sucks it happened you need to seriously question doctors orders in situations like that and tell them your plans so they can schedule testing around you. And as a medical professional i have never heard of any test that does not let you consume any food or in some cases jello and broth. The body runs on four things to function at all, Glucose, water, electrolytes (na, k, ca) and air (o2,co2). if you are missing any one of those unconsciousness occurs

catt107 0

I was in choir for 7 years, and before concerts they always told us to stay focused on the music, no matter what is going on around you. My director told us a story of one time when he was performing. A man in the audience had a heart attack, and the conductor forbade them from moving or stopping the performance. That's just the way things in the performing arts goes.

DJGomezzi1 0

what? that is a complete lie, hypoglycemia takes HOURS to kill, because of the glycogen stored in your pancreas you're obviously not a doctor... also, to the OP, either you're lying, or you're in a middle school orchestra, because if anyone calls a piece of music a song, they definetely don't know anything about orchestral music. the definition of song says that it HAS to have words. this website is full of a bunch of lying idiots. also, i agree, each piece is really not that long, esp. a movement calm down people

Yeah, but it's not that original. When I was in HS marching band, we performed in wool jackets in Florida. It happened more than once. Nobody stopped, because the band director was evil and would have given us probably 10 laps for stopping. I got 30 pushups for telling the girl in front of me to get back to where she was supposed to be and stop stepping on my feet.

Heh. On the topic of stupid band directors, I have a friend who was a part of my highschool symphony orchestra. Admittedly she and the director had never really got along, and she was a bit of a chatterbox. But this particular day during rehearsal the person beside her didn't hear where they were supposed to be starting and asked her. She was whispering the answer (eg. "we're starting Bar 25") and the director went off at her and told her to either shut up or leave. So she picked up her instrument and walked out. Haha.

4- you could've gotten that guy in so much trouble if you'd only complained to a few parents.

I am sorry but i wouldnt have stopped either. I wouldnt have becuase i have an evil band teacher that would kill me if i did but it is the duty of the band to keep playing.

Rellich 0

I wouldn't have stopped... Don't be selfish, OP

alex_vik 0

Well, your orchestra is very professional then. Rule #1 of performing: Don't stop the show. Axl Rose failed at that rule.

anniemeece 23

Agreed. As an performer, I'm told constantly that if you mess up or one of your teammates/fellow actors/fellow performers messes up, isn't there, or, yes, even collapses, you have to keep going like it was planned. If it was a rehearsal and no one helped you, that would suck. But it was a performance.

huh. i guess performers are horrible and selfish people. thanks for letting me know.

I nearly passed out in the middle of a school orch program I was playing in once, since I hadn't eaten in about 13 hours and I didn't get to eat lunch due to terrible planning on my teacher's part...so I totally know how you feel.

I´m a very dedicated performer, and have a bit of experience even though I´m still in school. I would stop a performance if someone onstage were to pass out, because you don´t always know why the person is passing out. I´d rather have a ruined performance than a harmed or even dead peer.

Yes!! Thank you. I mean, the competition is run by humans with some sort of rationality, right? The art of performance can't claim itself above kindness and humaneness if that's really a word?