@Mac

"For some reason, their perception is that, since there is a laptop up there, the performer must be able to have a conversation while performing."

Wear dark horn rimmed shades. People will think you're blind and will probably leave you alone. Or learn a sentence in Russian to respond with.

TRUE story...I was playing in a high school rock & Roll band. We were playing at a Jr. High Prom. Our sax player...who was great by the way and went on to play with the (posthumous) Dorsey band...was wearing shades.

Between songs...some punk kid came up to the stage and said something like..."Why are you wearing shades man? Do you think that's cool or what?"

To which the sax player said..."No, I'm blind man."...at which point the kid said..."Oh man, I'm REALLY sorry...honest."

At which point our sax player dipped down his shades...looked the kid right in the eye...broke out an appropriate grin and of course...flipped him off!!!

AT LEAST 20 people...including us...burst out laughing and couldn't stop. The kid skulked away in total embarrassment. One of THE highlights of my gigging career!!!

(-:

Jim