Yes, there are rules. You can break them if the audience is there to see you. Kristeen's problem is that she is an artist and not an entertainer and she seems to have an issue with the fact that not everyone is bowled over by her. So as talented and unique as she is, she irritates people that are there to enjoy Morrissey and pretty much indifferent about who opens the show.
About this "professional" question, unfortunately some musicians are to blame for the idea that it's all a free for all, but that's really disrespectful to all of the professional musicians that show up on time, sober, or at least not drunken or stoned, rehearsed and ready to perform, who are happy that someone bought a ticket and will do their best to entertain.
I don't claim any inside information but I've heard again and again that people get hired because they are professional, have a good attitude and are easy to work with. You don't get to live out your Pete Doherty fantasies until the people are there to see you.
And with the feedback that Kristeen has gotten, of which Morrissey is surely aware, "disrespectful to the audience" "temper tantrums" and so on, most unknown, unsigned opening acts would have been dropped.
Kristeen has had so much handed to her and she is like a spoiled child in her attitude towards the audience. I didn't go see to see her, but presumably some of the money I spent on tickets wound up in her pocket, and I did not appreciate being treated to sarcasm by a person that I really don't care about at all. They could have NO opening act at all and it would amount to the same thing in my opinion. I recognize her talent, but I don't enjoy her music or her performance, and she should just be happy she is getting this exposure before this audience.
Yes, she worked hard. Yes, she has talent, and yes, she is, if not unique, at least unusual, but that is true of many musicians. They all work hard, unless they believe this thing that the music business is all a big party. Many of them are talented and different, but they don't all get the chance to play at the Hollywood Bowl, be on television, be part of a successful tour, and get all of the attention she has received thanks to Morrissey. She should THANK the people that are watching her perform.
That word is key. It's a performance. If you want people to appreciate you as an artist do the Kristeen Young tour and be true to that. Don't open for someone with an intensely loyal fanbase and expect them to accept bad behaviour.
Well, see, I said it so much nicer earlier.
Sorry, I'll try not to talk about her again.
