One fan's desperate call for help...

You do have a point there. Especially considering I read a lot of what is posted here but never post much myself. So I do apologize for that.

Anyways, I was really just wondering how that Vegas woman was able to get her message to Jon so quickly. It baffles me.

Don't apologize. That wasn't aimed towards you and I was a little harsh.

To be honest, I have no idea how she did it and I'm even more surprised that Jon actually went through with it. I'm sure most appearances come with a hefty price. That's a tough one.

When are you graduating -- at the end of May or June? Unlike the couple who got Jon to their wedding in Las Vegas, you may not have given yourself enough time for him to schedule you in. And Jon was going to be in Vegas for a concert anyway -- is he supposed to travel to where you are, and at whose expense?

Even if you allowed yourself more time, frankly there needs to be something in it for Jon to participate. And there is nothing right now that he is promoting and needs media coverage. The only graduation speech that he has given to my knowledge is one where he was awarded an honorary degree. The Australian woman started her wedding request months in advance and eventually it caught the eye of JBJ Management. She was promised nothing and was told it would be a last minute notification if he could do it. I think she was getting her hair or nails done when she was called that he could be at the chapel in an hour so she had to hurry things up. It was a cute PR story which hit the media outlets and provided Jon with a sweet promotion for his upcoming Australian tour.

Is it *You* who wants him at graduation or the student body? If it is the student body, the groundswell of a Facebook request needs to come from them not us.

I would built a graduation speech around one of his quotes (Google his name and quotes), or around one of his songs. Or you can use themes from standard graduation speeches and highlight how he achieved his dreams by working hard, believing in himself and never giving up. Keep in mind that you always hear of the success stories but not the failures--the ones who unrealistically dream big and leave behind broken marriages and families in the selfish pursuit of a dream. Kudos to Jon but there has been a cost.

Also keep in mind that he barely graduated high school himself and given his absentee record, even he was surprised that he got a diploma (I think he credits copying from Dorothea's homework and even tests). Maybe he is not the best role model for an high school graduation???

I am sure you will do a fine job with your speech. You might even have an empty chair on stage and say that you had invited Jon Bon Jovi but even though he couldn't make it, he still is a source of inspiration. If it is JBJ oriented, you might even send him a copy of what you did. That would be a nice touch --a gift to him-- and I am sure some day there will be a Bon Jovi or Jersey Boys Museum and that could be a part of the archives.

Congrats to you and I am glad that his words have meant something in your life. That is what is important, not whether he can actually make it to your graduation.

Aloha !

I very much doubt Jon doing this, and even if he would you wouldn't really want him to as he's a terrible, terrible public speaker. Anytime the man needed to, he struggled to keep people's attention and resorted to the same old clichés you've heard many times before without actually giving a real message. It's odd how he's able to keep everyone's attention when performing cheesy songs, yet can't deliver the same message in a normal way.

So yeah, as for that speech; if Bon Jovi songs turned you into a stronger person, deliver that message with some of their lyrics, but keep it tongue in cheek. As much as Jon would love to believe it; Most Bon Jovi songs don't have a lot of substance to a lot of people, so chances are your classmates or whoever you're giving that speech to won't take the same out of the lyrics you did. Keep that in mind when delivering your punchlines. As for the rest; good luck and congratulations.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

I don't agree with the above at all (go figure).

I think Jon has always been an EXCELLENT speaker. He does have a tendency to be repetive but he has to be considering the amount of shows and interviews he does. I'm sure 'The Power Of We' would surface somewhere within.

Once last point, not sure if it was mentioned... Jon was married at that place almost 25 years prior so it had some meaning to him. There is no connection to your graduation.

I can't see where the school is anywhere in that to know whether it's even possible.

You've probably left it too late but who knows? Worth a shot, but don't be too disappointed as I'm sure he gets a hell of a lot of requests like this.

Ever since Jon said in an interview that he missed his high school prom because he had a gig, it's been rumored that he never finished. On several occasions, I've read where he has spoken strongly against dropping out.

And speaking of honorary degrees, Richie got one from Kean University though he dropped out after a year -- he was making too much money as a musician! What kind of an example is that, LOL!

Really? I must have missed the interview where he gave that as a reason. I always thought that he didn't start making real money until after SWW.

Damn - and here I was thinking he dropped out to, idk, follow his dream or something like that... which might actually be a decent example to follow (if one were so inclined).

Aloha !

Yeah, he dropped out to pursue a full career as a guitarist with the Bruce Foster Band, not because he was making too much money with it and once the Bruce Foster Band went nowhere he was pretty much screwed until Jon offered him a contract.

Following your dream all sounds very romantic but it's a stupid idea unless you're really talented on some creative level and know how to do business. The two rarely go hand in hand, hence so many artists getting screwed over in the music business.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan