Who Is the Man at the Back?

And the man at the back said, “Everyone, attack”

And it turned into a ballroom blitz

And the girl in the corner said, “Boy, I wanna warn ya

It’ll turn into a ballroom blitz…Ballroom blitz”

—Sweet, Album: Desolation Boulevard Released: 1974

This  will not be as painful as Lisa’s root canal, and as a good Swiftie, she always knows how to fill the blank space. Nobody should be surprised that this next editorial deviates from the narrative of joy. Here, we will try to mix a little sanity with history.

There has been a meeting literally every week this year, which has resulted in a lot of people watching. Almost reflexively, I look around to see how full the room is as well as how engaged the audience is. No matter where we are, I end up thinking about the “Ballroom Blitz” lyrics, looking out for the “man at the back” who could be big trouble and the “girl in the corner” who might turn out to be a savior. I am almost waiting for the day someone rushes the stage like the field in college football, but probably for the wrong reasons.  

Part of the Ballroom Blitz reference comes from the notion of rebellion, maybe out of disapproval of the speaker or the content. Professional jealousy that simmers would also be a trigger for the man at the back, as those people are always part of the equation when it comes to critiques and evaluations. Part of the reference also comes from the role of mentorship, where the girl in the corner could be warning  a colleague in a teaching moment. Granted, many of us, regardless of age or experience, are eager to be identified, but unsolicited advice from those who have been there before may not always be welcome. Having been on both sides of that coin, I know that not everyone takes advantage of wisdom and battle scars, but I have a good group of young guns who are thirsty to learn and take advice well. In the end, we don’t pay much attention to potential  troublemakers or anyone who might have it out for us, and rightfully so. When you bring your best work forward, there should be little to worry about.  

The addiction to applause can often cloud the view of our surroundings and disconnect us from those who are not our allies. 

Far from the Ballroom Blitz, the receipt of applause as a sign of a job well done can be a strong motivating force to want to get back on stage. By the same token, many in the theater world would suggest that applause has very little to do with that person’s own opinion of the quality of the performance. In the 6th century BC, lawmaker Kleisthénes of Athens decided that audiences should clap to demonstrate their approval of their leader, because there were too many people to determine their approval one by one. Ironically, all it takes is a bad evaluation or negative assessment of your work to undo the appreciation for applause, so in a different way, the Ballroom Blitz could be more subtle yet just as disruptive.

—Neal Bhatia, MD, FAAD, Chief Medical Editor