Comments on: Getting into the AGO for FREE!

By: Still Famous After All These Years / AGO

Still Famous After All These Years / AGO — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:07:45 +0000

[...] I went to the AGO with them and took only a couple illicit pictures. And managed to not get kicked out. A beard free [...]

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:24:23 +0000

Well, for one, they allow people to carry purses over their shoulders. The rule makes no sense and is definitely arbitrary. I was NOT putting the art at risk!

By: peteD3

peteD3 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:19:51 +0000

i can totally understand that perspective, and i probably would have restponded the same to a rent-a-cop throwing his/her weight around.
but how can you be so sure “It was an illogical arbitrary rule” ?

i can see how this person was just trying to protect the art.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:37:42 +0000

No, it wasn’t a big imposition, but that’s not the point… It was an illogical arbitrary rule that I don’t believe even exists on paper — I think conceding to low-level wannabe rent-a-cops is a mistake, even if it’s not a big deal.

By: peteD3

peteD3 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:32:40 +0000

oh Shannon, was it that big of an imposition?
maybe im in the minority here but i could imagine a zipper tag scraping against a painting or something like that. good for the security to be watching out for the art, IMO.

congrats on the free museum trip tho!

By: Clive

Clive — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:53:08 +0000

Most definitely a beard related issue. When they asked you to stand four feet away it was only so you gnarly beard wouldn’t touch the artwork.

By: Marshall

Marshall — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:35:57 +0000

I spend a lot of time in museums, and I’ve seen damn near every variation on “could you please do this nonsensical thing so that the universe doesn’t collapse.” The worst is when museums have a no pen policy, and you’re trying to take notes on works. Way to piss off the people who are going to be putting things into print forever…

I usually am able to deter security by telling them that I’m a curator. I don’t mention that I’m not a curator at the museum in question, but they tend not to ask further questions (like why I’m not badged, or why if I work there, why am I wearing flip flops).

By: Mona

Mona — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:22:09 +0000

This actually happened to me some years ago in Berlin. First I was told to not use my mobile phone (I was not talking, just writing a text message, made no noise whatsoever) and in the next museum they told me not to wear my coat in my hand but rather to bring it to the cloakroom, which I refused. Neither of the guards was particularly friendly.

By: choice

choice — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:29:36 +0000

no. if it were a beard hate crime they would have specifically asked you to wear your beard differently.

my dad has a beard. it makes me angry to think people would disrespect him for it.

By: Gillian

Gillian — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:51:13 +0000

That was my first thought too- they didn’t like the look of you(r beard).

By: wlfdrgn

wlfdrgn — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:39:06 +0000

The no photography thing might have been due to copyright issues, if much of the art was newer. I’ve seen that, before, in a museum which just put little no camera icons on the labels for newer art which didn’t have expired copyrights yet.

By: JonnyButts

JonnyButts — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:07:58 +0000

Phffft, beard haters!

By: krs

krs — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:14:56 +0000

hehe, really hilarious.
i experienced almost the same last tuesday at sprengel museum, hannover: they asked me to wear my camera bag (lowepro slingshot, a 1-strap backpag thing) not on my back, but in front of my chest, for the same reason. i smiled yes and continued the same. on our way out, someone approached me again about my bag (which is really small). i didn’t let it “escalate”, though.. we did get in for free anyway. :)

By: Brett Haines

Brett Haines — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:33:30 +0000

dear shannon, i was so glad to find your blog as i have been a huge fan ever since i found bme during my first ever use of the internet about 10 years ago. I was so sorry to hear your no longer with the website you created but i enjoy reading your updates very much and i love the mods you’ve made to your truck. i was wondering if you still have your camo 996 and if you have any other vehicles. i’ve just bought a new vehicle in australia which is available in the states as a pontiac G8 ST, but here it’s called a holden ute SS. Mine is a manual with a 6.0 litre LS2. amyway keep up the brilliant work shannon your a genius and a hero !!

By: Famous by proxy › Put the potato into the pot

Famous by proxy › Put the potato into the pot — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:34:33 +0000

[...] of Shannon, we had an hilarious adventure at AGO today. Despite that, I LOVE the new AGO. For real. I think it’s nicer than the Crystal [...]

By: Dylan

Dylan — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:32:25 +0000

your the coolest person ever Shannon!

do you think you will ever shave your beard?

By: jinn

jinn — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:06:05 +0000

I’d have to agree… my brother has a pretty woolly beard and people are usually pretty afraid of him too.
Of course the last time my (black) husband and I were in an art museum they followed him around like he was gonna grab something and run.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:39:07 +0000

hehehe!

By: Luka

Luka — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:32:14 +0000

That IS insane