In fact, recent events have kind of taken the pleasure out of the project for the moment.
The Redwood Times article got it wrong. I’ve received no e-mail. I will continue to make posts about People Productions whenever they’re in a news story I deem important.
I should note that my prediction has come true. The participation in the discussions about the Reggae controversy has dropped since the attorney posts were made here the other night. I was all ready to blame it on them and start up another Reggae conversation to break the spell, but I can’t think of anything new to talk about. It may be that the topic is a bit talked out right now, which would be fine with me.
On the other hand, this thread contains probably the most useful discussion on the topic to date. I don’t have anything to add to the conversation, but if you all want to renew it up here, that works for me.
I’ve a few things on the backburner, which I may finish and post in the morning if I get the chance.
In the meantime, the teachers got their raise (yay!). Gallegos hired a new investigator. And Mexicans and Arabs going to invade America (it’s on TV, it must be true).
I’m sure you can find something to talk about in there.
Addendum: Sam the Soundman sounds off over at Bob D.’s blog. He explains why he joined the exodus of coordinators. It also represents the first use I’ve seen of the inevitable play on words with “Boots.” I’m surprised it took this long.
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January 31, 2007 at 7:31 am
Anonymous
Eric,
Sorry you’re feeling blue, but do try to see it from the other side. Here we are posting away on a Blog whose administrator assures us that his commitment to free speech is so strong that he won’t hesitate to give the local anti-semite a platform. So we buy in and speak our minds. Then suddenly, out of the blue, you are advising us to hire a lawyer and talking about how expensive lawsuits can get! And then it turns out you were posting everyone’s IP address, which may not be a big deal, but you really should have figured out the IPs sooner.
Now it’s all supposed to be OK again, and you are surprised that people are reluctant to post as freely as before.
January 31, 2007 at 7:39 am
Eric V. Kirk
Uh, okay. I’m not really following your stream of thought, but it’s not the lack of participation I’m blue about. It’s about where the community is at right now. The lawyer posts – that says something about where the community has gone. I’m not liking it.
I never had any idea that attorneys were going to show up here and threaten people. That wasn’t on the agenda.
January 31, 2007 at 8:08 am
Anonymous
I understand. And I’m with you on the unfortunate confrontational tone that has begun to define the community.
On the legal threats…look, as a lawyer you can undoubtedly step around these things a lot better than the average blogger. We simply don’t have the tools to separate the bluffs from the real thing. I can imagine that a lawsuit against a blog would be like a drive by shooting, with innocent victims strewn far and wide.
January 31, 2007 at 8:12 am
Anonymous
BTW The US AIR FORCE mission statement now includes defending the USA in “cyberspace.” It could get a lot heavier than a local lawsuit…!
January 31, 2007 at 8:21 am
Eric
Don’t know if the attorneys did that much, seems like the threads just kind of ran out of gas.
As for me, hell. Sue away. You can’t get blood out of a turnip.
There is a posting on Reggae: Past, Present and Future that is worth a read if anyone hasn’t seen it. It’s the first thing I’ve heard from one of the VC’s who quit. Very compelling. Your can see it here – http://rotrblog.blogspot.com/.
Whether or not you agree with his portayal of Carol (and obviously many of you don’t), it does bring home why many of these folks might have felt, um, slighted.
Does the Mateel really expect all of us coordinators to come begging for our jobs for next year? Do they expect us to come crawling back after they publicly disgraced both the company that we work for and the person that is the heart and soul of this event. Why should we come back? To teach the new company how to run the festival and train the new staff that will replace us? I feel a strong allegiance to both Reggae on the River and People Productions but right now I am disappointed by the Mateel Community Center and the lack of class that they have shown in dealing with this situation. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Mateel, but right now I am unsure of my future with it. Regardless of personal feelings everyone deserves the professional respect that we would expect to be given to anyone. Carol Bruno and People Productions deserve to be treated with more respect than we have been given.
January 31, 2007 at 9:30 am
Anonymous
Anony Hoho Moe:
And what community is it he should feel like he is a part of?
He made what was probably one of the most difficult decisions he’s ever made for which he gets to read stuff calling him everything from a lackey to a stooge to a greedball to a traitor for the better part of a month. To which you add that you seem to be glad he’s gone.
Unless, of course he changes his mind and sees things the way you do, after all you seem to be knowledgable in these things, certainly more knowledgeable than he is.
Some community. I wouldn’t quit, I’d move.
Oh, wait, I already did.
Seems to me Sam’s only mistake wasn’t making his posting nothing more than a picture of HIM giving YOU the finger.
Allow me to do it for him…
I’m getting more than a little tired of people who haven’t the foggiest idea what it takes to throw a freaking church picnic, let alone a festival for 15000, take pot shots at people who becuase they force you to think.
Show YOU the facts? Why bother. You’ve already made your mind.
So why don’t you drag your sorry butt out there next year and help out the sound crew before you go shooting your mouth off like you know what you’re talking about.
Anony Hoho This
January 31, 2007 at 10:37 am
Anonymous
once again a “non confrontational “posting from someone who just spouts opinions and doesn’t “give us any facts”. “he gets to read stuff calling him everything from a lackey to a stooge to a greedball to a traitor for the better part of a month” Where did he read this? Why RU so worked up about this?
I read Moe’s posting as being hopeful tha Sam would come back not “glad that he’s gone.”
A Nony Hoho to you , Curly
January 31, 2007 at 2:33 pm
anon
I’d like to hear Sam’s — or any other coordinators that quit — explanation of the following facts and how they exhibit a ‘lack of class’ on the part of the Mateel.
Carol resigned from Reggae
The Mateel attempted to hold her to her contract
Carol & the Mateel coul not reach an agreement
Carol’s resignation was accepted
The Mateel has invited all Coordinators to help move forward with the event–how is that ‘expect all of us coordinators to come begging for our jobs for next year?’ Nobody has to beg.
Sam”s letter implies that the classless Mateel has been saying bad things about People Productions and Carol. If you look back at all the posts and press releases, I don’t see anything of the sort coming from the Mateel.
January 31, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Anonymous
It dosen’t really matter now the Tom Dimmick has finagled a lease option from the executor of the French’s Camp estate, behind the back of the MCC I might add and while he was under a contract to produce a show for the MCC.
The show we knew as RotR is doomed I’m afraid. Long live the NEW KING, Tom Dimmick and his evil queen Carol Bruno. All Hail!
January 31, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Anonymous
What is almost entirely overlooked is that whatever one’s feelings are about the present situation, PP was a product and offspring of the MCC,Inc.
Those last three letters are the most important of all.
MCC,Inc. board(s) past and present, were elected to their positions by the membership of MCC,Inc. It was they who signed those, now deemed one sided arrangements, and ceded the responsibility of putting on ROTR entirely to PP.
MCC,Inc. was always the owner of ROTR and there is no way that they can indemnify themselves from the responsibility of what has happened by claiming that Carol, or anyone else, had a gun to their heads.
If that were the case, then they could have very easily reputiated any and all of said contracts as being obtained under duress. They didn’t.
There is an old axiom that you can delegate authority but you can’t delegate responsibility. That responsibility was always MCC,Inc.’s. How did they exercise that responsibility over 23 years?
With all this chatter about audits and IRS investigations, does the MCC,Inc. think that they will be exempt from investigation themselves? Who knows what will turn up there, but I have the feeling that at the very least they will be cited for not exercising proper controls over their property. We’ll see.
MCC, a not for profit, no-fault organization, Incorporated.
January 31, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Anonymous
And somewhere Nelson from the Simpsons is bellowing “Ha ha!”
January 31, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Eric V. Kirk
Well. So much for everyone being shut up on the topic.
I can imagine that a lawsuit against a blog would be like a drive by shooting, with innocent victims strewn far and wide.
I’m going to post some stuff SLAPPs and how to recognize them later. Probably on my lunch break. There are a lot of misconceptions. I’ll also talk about standards of defamation, a topic which came up here months ago and is probably worth reviewing.
January 31, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Anonymous
Just a quick fact check here, for anonymous 7;57:
The underlying dynamic of MCC/PP since 1994 was very simple: the privatized tail wagged the community’s dog. PP supporters packed the Mateel board and prevented directors from exercising even minimal oversight over ROR. Directors who tried to exercise oversight went through hellacious meetings where they were shouted down, and they resigned, not in disgrace but under a sh*t-cloud of personal attacks and slanders. Holding the Mateel responsible for the no-peeking negligence that PP insisted on is ill-informed, but of course understandable from a distance. This privatization dynamic is inevitably ugly and lawyer-larded to the degree that the privatizers keep fighting the public interest they took over. Hey, at least we haven’t gone Cochabamba yet!
January 31, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Anonymous
Sorry, but I have to agree with Soundman Sam Safier. His well thought out and reasoned letter reflects what I’ve thought all along. http://rotrblog.blogspot.com/. Please go to this site and read it!
In fact I think I’m going to have the letter embroidered on my jacket.
Thanks Sam! Jim Dangler left his business in good hands!
January 31, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Anonymous
One reason people may have held back on posts is that they are getting tired of saying essentially the same thing, and being countered by the same retorts (on both sides).
This is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that the board of directors of a local nonprofit realized the full scope of their responsibilities and took a stand that was not overwhelmingly popular with everyone, yet was and is dictated by fiscal, ethical, and legal responsibilities.
No reasonable board of directors, having hired a consultant group to manage some major source of funding for them, upon not receiving that funding two years in a row, upon finding the institution they represented routinely denigrated by representatives of the consultant group in public, in the press, and privatedly; upon having the head of that group in essence quit in public because she did not want to work with the duly hired ED and duly elected board–no board in its right mind would then continue the contract with their consultant group.
Why on earth would they? And then, if you add in audits showing questionable practices…
On the other hand, it is understandable that people working with Carol and her group would love her; she is a charming and talented person; the people around her are loyal; we all love our friends.
And it is understandable that people aware of the complex skills and planning that go into such a huge event as the reggae weekend would be all “omigod, no one else can do it”.
There is a certain lack of logic between “omigod, I am the only person who can make this work and I care so totally about it” and “I’m not gonna do a damn thing with this anymore”…but, in light of the feelings of–divorce–going on, it makes emotional sense.
However, no one is irreplaceable. Yes, sure, you are all treasured and wonderful folks out there, each all unique and lovely. But–in terms of what you do, someone else can do it. Maybe not in the way you would, and maybe not perfectly. But–yeah, they can try.
Once upon a time there was a little health center and a controversy arising from…well, unwise merger deals and possibilities. Once upon a time a whole lot of the staff of that health center, because they in their dear hearts believed the board of the health center was stupidly and stubbornly refusing to do the right thing–quit, and went to a rival health care facility, and hoped the little health center would fail and close and suffer. And said as much, in public, in private, continually.
And could the board say much? Of course not.
And did the health center survive. Why yes, yes it did.
Just a little fairy tale.
Clarissa
January 31, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Eric V. Kirk
In light of recent events, I decided to remove a post with an unsubstantiated comment. It’s also purely ad hominem with no intrinsic value to the discussion.
If you believe I’ve removed your post unfairly, please e-mail or otherwise personally contact me to discuss it. Or, you can let me have it right here.
January 31, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Eric V. Kirk
One reason people may have held back on posts is that they are getting tired of saying essentially the same thing, and being countered by the same retorts (on both sides).
Yeah, I’m thinking that as well. Until something new develops, there isn’t much to say other than what’s been said at every gathering, in every household, and in chance encounters on the streets now for months.
Right now, the stage is dedicated to the legal duel between the Mateel and Tom Dimmick. I’m sure the contract has a mandatory mediation clause, and both sides are probably going through the motions. Then one or both sides will probably petition the court for an injunction, and that will decide the fate of ROR 2007. Unless it doesn’t.
January 31, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Eric
I also thought Sam’s letter was reasoned.
I’d be the first to admit that I don’t really understand the dynamics behind the conflict. I also readily admit that I naturally see the perspective of the volunteer coordinators, as I view the festival through the same blinders. It’s tough to look at it from the perspective of a community event when your focused on the task(s) assigned to you – You tend to become somewhat myopic.
What I mean is, if you are responsible for the sound, which is a show stopper, you’re less inclined to consider the big picture and more inclined to be concerned with getting your job done. Therefore, I can see why Sam would quite naturally side with Carol as she has been the one responsible for meeting his needs and addressing his concerns. And apparently, from his perspective, she’s done a good job of it. A certain loyalty would be required of Sam for that relationship to work. I’ve never met Carol, but the people I know who have think highly of her.
But there is the big picture to be concerned with, and it seems to me that there is little question that the relationship between PP and MCC has become untenable. the MCC IS the customer and whomever is producing the show needs to be sensitive to their concerns. Obviously PP was not and changes were made and that is right and good. For the volunteer coordinators, that involves a lot of anxiety and dislocation and that is something for them to consider before when making decisions. We all face that kind of stress once in a while and we usually don’t deal with it like lemmings.
I also get the sense that the issue isn’t so much that PP was replaced, but the way it was done. I could be totally wrong here, and please excuse/correct me if this is the case.
Particularly, the issue of how the mediation was abruptly ended and 2B1 brought in almost in the same breath caught my attention. It’s easy to see how some might feel that the mediation was not done in good faith; and that has been brought up as a major point of contention. I’m not suggesting that is the case, but it would be pretty easy to see how someone might draw that conclusion.
As regards the money issue, please, get a grip. It’s ALL about the money. If you thinks Boots is doing this gratis, think again. To take Sam’s perspective again, I don’t think he really cares how much they’re paying Carol, he just wants to make the sound as good as it can be. That’s going to cost money and he goes through Carol to make that happen. But the MCC and 2B1 are concerned about to divide a finite pool and everyone needs to come to terms with that and deal with it responsibly. That is the nature of their relationship.
What Sam HAS communicated, and he is NOT the only one, is a lack of confidence in the MCC to run ROTR that transcends their dealings with Carol. Again, I don’t know why this is; but it’s quite real.
A previous posting mentioned PP folks resisting even minimal oversight. Well, yeah, I think they probably would. Whether it’s intended or not, what may appear to one party as minimal oversight is invariably perceived by the other as meddling and it often conveys a lack of competence. And if you really want to ineffectively communicate attempts at oversight, there is no better way than to address it in a public forum. There is nothing more frustrating for me than to have someone who has no idea how to do my job exercise oversight – publicly. All that will ever accomplish is to piss me off. Again I am not competent to pass judgment on the MCC, or anyone else for that matter, but it’s becoming evident to me that there were hard feelings between PP’s staff (aka the volunteer coordinators) and MCC that had nothing to do with Carol’s being fired. And it’s a strong possibility that this effected their vote of confidence as well.
I really enjoyed Clarissa’s post. I thinks she’s the first person to really delve into the common ground in this whole affair and I thinks that’s long overdo. I would like to add that, while, yes no one is irreplace-able, eviscerating an organization like this, for whatever reason, is not something that should be just brushed aside. To me it means that there are some serious problems that need to be addressed. I saw Sam’s posting as a way to reach out and communicate his feelings, and those feelings are shared by a lot of people who have made a huge a contribution to the success of ROTR. I might add that I suspect that a lot of them are probably losing a lot less than some of you suspect they are.
Why is no one reaching back?
Anyway, like I said, I do come into this with a natural bias and a reasonable degree of ignorance, but it’s hard for me to understand why it’s so easy for so many talented people who have enjoyed so much success to an effort that is so critical to the community to be written off like this.
January 31, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Anonymous
I don’t think the coordinators have been written off by the MCC–but since I’m not one I may lack sensitivity.
The Mateel specifically invited all coordinators, including those who had signed the public advertisement talking about why they would not work with the Mateel board and director on this year’s reggae, to come to the first (and subsequent) coordinator’s meeting. Boots has publicly stated that he looks forward to working with everyone (or something like that); that the intent is not to bring in a bunch of outside experts but to work with the local talents and respect their skill and sense of history.
So–a hand has been extended. What has not been extended (or, I think, can it be) beyond many statements acknowledging Carol’s talents and charm (and always forgetting the real founder of reggae, the one who had the original concept, Shelby–but that’s another issue)–the MCC can’t and won’t just say “okay, another year, do as you will, we love you, doesn’t matter if there isn’t any money, it’s all good. Bad us for wanting oversight.”
And if, for reasons of deep personal affection, coordinators can’t work with a new producer–well, that’s sad, but not unexpected. Doesn’t mean anyone on either side is bad or out to do harm. (and the sides are confused and confusing; there are a lot of locals with close friends on both “sides”, and many people saddened by all the harshness going on.)
As I said, we’ve been through this before–in a few local nonprofit organizations. And yes, there are scars still. It is unrealistic to think everyone is going to be happy and loving and dancing merrily, much as we might want that.
It really is like a divorce scenario.
As to the mediation and hiring of Boots coming so close–yeah, I can see how that would appear..um, calculated. I don’t believe it was. The Mateel board, in due diligence, realizing back months ago that yet another year had passed with major problems–had to be looking at other options. Those would have included, I would imagine, other events and other possible producers. Whether they had specifically thought “aha, dump Carol and hire Boots!” seems to me unlikely.
But they would have done well to have been prudent enough to have back up plans; previous negotiations (at least as we hear from former board members and staff) were not without major..difficulties.
Clarissa
January 31, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Anonymous
Grandpa used to say “It’s always easy to be genourous with somebody else’s money.”
This has been the problem with no fiscal oversight. T-shirts, wristbands , bigger payouts to performers , trailers and RV’s, more rent and all the other perks are given away because it wasn’t on PP’s dime. The ” leakage ” overtook the profit and the owners (MCC) of ROTR got $0. This is why it is the duty of the MCC Board to have oversight not because they are trying to micro-manage.
Another question for is how much ROTR money is represented in wages to the 62 people who signed the “No Confidence” letter.? I’m guessing it amounts to more than the MCC got over the last 2 years.
January 31, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Anonymous
the latest smarm from rotr is that tom dimmick went behind everyones back to the executor of the french’s camp and got an option to lease it for three years!!! all this while he had a contract with mcc to produce it. So he is submariming the event all on his own.. Court-time.
this is while the widow of the owner is saying nobody from PP will set foot on her place. Trouble is it’s not controlled by her but by a trust lawyer in fortuna!!
February 1, 2007 at 12:52 am
Anonymous
anon 3:28
Pat Arthur co-signs all legal contracts involved with the estate.
That’s common practice with primary beneficiaries – she was Jack’s wife.
The executor has to act not only in the estate’s interests but in her best interests as well since she is the beneficiary of the trust, so this could get even more complicated if she really, really doesn’t like this – maybe.
Need some lawyering here, Eric
.
February 1, 2007 at 1:19 am
Anonymous
Coordinators for years have heard, “…it is the Mateel’s fault”. What opinion would you expect those coordinators to have? It is called indoctrination.
Not that the MCC is perfect. The continous staff and board turnovers (arguably caused by PP’s control of the board)have never allowed it to develop into a real serious community center. It keeps starting over every two years when people get frustrated with the PP/MCC relationship and quit.
Now if MCC does a solid strategic planning maybe it can resolve those issues.
February 1, 2007 at 1:27 am
Anonymous
Hopefully the person who showed me a contract between Dimmick and People Productions, to produce RoR on his ranch, dated 2004, before the supposed “breakdown” of negotiations with the Arthur family, will anonymously drop it off at KMUD or somewhere. Then the backroom dealings and conspiracies will really come to light. I know they are scared and they have reason to be. These folks are not kind.
I had heard of this contract from a friend of a friend of Tom Dimmick, but that was hearsay, but when you see it in black and white, well …..
February 1, 2007 at 1:32 am
Anonymous
playing John Lennon’s Imagine
What would it have been like if the MCC had went to the coordinators first and announced, politely, “We would like to terminate PP’s contract”?
February 1, 2007 at 2:08 am
Anon
To Anon 5:32:
That would have been a breach of the confidentiality clause in effect once mediation started.
February 1, 2007 at 2:12 am
Anonymous
ERIC:Please remove the comment about jimmy. I feel like crap for bringing it up, and no one would admit to it, or probably even remember. It offers nothing of value to this discussion. It was an ill concieved line of discussion. We have nothing to indicate that soundman sam would never tread in those waters. Can I ever learn to shut my f-ing mouth????
February 1, 2007 at 2:43 am
Matthew
Thank you, Clarissa, for your clarity. I’ve been struggling with words to say what you said and haven’t been able to put it nearly as well.
February 1, 2007 at 2:46 am
Anonymous
I can’t believe anyone would dis Jimmy Dangler. If he were to read this blog, he would be incredibly hurt. So would his wife and his friends. We love the guy. A lot.
I don’t know who you are because you posted anonymously, or I would ask you in person “What can you possibly be thinking!?”
Kim
February 1, 2007 at 4:35 am
Eric
At 05:32:00 PM Anon Posted
What would it have been like if the MCC had went to the coordinators first and announced, politely, “We would like to terminate PP’s contract”?
Which I guess is sort of what I’ve been wondering all along.
It’s a little late of course, but what if someone said, “OK, this isn’t what anyone wanted.” “We want you at Reggae.” “Is there some way we can talk about your concerns and try to come to an understanding?”
It may be a total waste of time, but it costs nothing to try.
Anyway, that’s kind of where I’ve been trying to arrive at for a few days now, and it’s time for me to get back to my normal life.
I’ve definately learned a lot from quite a few of that and I’ve been treated pretty well, especially for an outsider.
Who knows, maybe I’ll see some of you come August, if not, I’ve really loved working ROTR and I wish it nothing but the greatest success.
February 1, 2007 at 5:02 am
Anonymous
I have been in contact with Jimmy Dangler, and his wife. While Jimmy, still in re-hab from his stroke, still lacks the motor skills to verbally respond, or to type a post, he is very much able to read and understand the cruel comments.
Kim, Jimmy is reading this blog, the Northcoast Journal, and the other local rags. It is not helping his recovery at all.
He did speak to me on the subject, over the phone a couple of weeks ago. He is not as eloquent as he was pre-stroke, but he was able to say: “bad.. bad… very bad”
Peace and love to you,
Sally
February 1, 2007 at 5:20 am
Anonymous
You know, Sally…
Jimmy is still extremely eloquent.
And HI JIMMY!
You of all people know that some things that happen just make no sense at all.
I love you. Nobody is going to speak sh*t about you on my watch.
Hi Barbara.
Kim
February 1, 2007 at 6:00 am
Kim
Hi Jimmy,
Much love and respect to you and Barbara…always…Yvonne
February 1, 2007 at 6:25 am
ernie
I appreciate Kim’s reply to the person that got so low on the scale of humankind as to knock Jim Dangler. Jim is my longtime friend, as he is to many of us. I can’t even think about Reggae on the River or the Mateel Community Center without thinking of Jim and his contribution to these venues.
Jim started with very little in the way of sound equipment, but he was able to pull this community together and had us all boogying when not many other people would have had anything to do with us. I can still see him setting at his soundboard with his hat on sideways and his tongue stuck in the corner of his mouth, fighting for best sound his equipment could provide.
I also understand that the person that made those remarks regrets them. (RE: ANON 6:12) And, I don’t ever want to know who made them!
Jim was my “backdoor neighbor business” for many years in Garberville, I had many business dealings with him through the years, and I can swear that he was always fair, honest and above board. He was also a tough negotiator.
I believe Jimmy has his side of the story, and what ever he said I would believe it.
Character is not in how you judge other people; it is in how you comport your self. Jimmy has character.
I have the good fortune to occasionally visit with him at his Fortuna residence. He is very cognisant, he recognizes his old friends instantly. I find it best to talk to him because he is able to follow every thought, and it is just like talking to the old Jimmy. He has trouble verbalizing but given enough time he can make his thoughts very clear, and I find my visits with him to be very rewarding. He is proud of the fact that he is getting some leg strength back. He seems to enjoy my visits more than before. Either that or he just knows he can’t run!
I hope Jimmy is following this so he can know how many friends he still has down here.
Ernie & Janis
February 1, 2007 at 8:06 am
Eric V. Kirk
Damn! I thought I zapped that comment! WTF?!
February 1, 2007 at 8:11 am
Eric V. Kirk
Okay, I see. A follow-up.
Well, it seems to be taken care of.
February 1, 2007 at 11:22 am
Sam
The thing that I was most offend by was the way that this whole thing has been played out in the media. I was taught to do business on a handshake and only work with pepole that you could hold to that. If the Mateel had come to us cordinators, or to pp, or anything, then it would have been better than the letter they sent out. The way I read that first letter was that due to PP mismanagment of ROR the Mateel was in trouble. Basically blaming PP for everything gone wrong with the Mateel. Jimmy’ D’s stroke left a huge gaping hole not only in the sound world but the community as a whole. Jimmy would have never let this happen on his watch. He must be so dissapointed in how this has played out. An so far as people thinking that us coordinators were making mad loot on the show your dead wrong. And insulting Jimmy D is as low as you can go. My letter was put out to express my feelings, nothing more. I am just trying to show people another perspecitve. It has alwasy been my top priority to preserve what I call Jimmy’s Legacy to the community. By purchacing his business I took on more than just a bunch of beat up old sound gear. I hope to continue to do my part for the community by mixing music and making shows happen.
February 1, 2007 at 4:43 pm
ernie
I thought Las Vegas was “The City that Never Sleeps”. I was wrong, It’s SoHum. Look at the times on these posts! Go to bed!
Thanks Sam!
Ernie
February 1, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Anonymous
Jimmy Dangler’s memory hasn’t been insulted. Let’s not distract this blog from the points which need to be focused on. What anon posted is anon’s experience. That is one of the things that made Jimmy so precious to us all. He was all inclusive in his idea of family.
February 1, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Eric V. Kirk
A nice post, but please – is not was.
February 1, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Sam
Unfortunatly in my line of business 3am is a pretty normal time to be awake. Yeah and what does Vegas have on So Hum anyway. We got action we got drama…lol
February 1, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Anonymous
There are two equalizing forces in our society which can be used in a corporate takeover –The authorities or the media. Which would you prefer?
This is a private corporate takeover of a nonprofits property. Since we have personalized and humanized the main players in the corporation we don’t want to say that about the people we have worked with for half our lives.
Coordinators offended don’t have to change the fact they were offended by the process. It wasn’t perfect. But then isn’t that the point this group of coordinators have brought up about the festival? It isn’t perfect but we are afraid of changing it? Is this a double standard? If so why?
The whole truth should be heard before they become a tool to a corporate takeover.
February 1, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Sam
I have to say one more thing in Jimmy D’s defence before letting this one rest. It is a common practice in the music industry to offer gifts to “sweeten the mix” for a paticular band. It is no different than giving a waiter a big tip so that they take care of you well. I worked with Jimmy for many years and indeed he was a stern businesman but he was also an honest one.
So far as change is concerned it is definatly good, and certanly necessary in this business. It is one thing to make progressive changes from within, but trying to reinvent the wheel… you see where that has got us.
February 1, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Anonymous
Yes, he is, not was, but the context was in discussing what I knew then because I haven’t had the opportunity to be around him and understand his current feelings and never would presume to speak for him in the present tense.
February 1, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Anonymous
Sweetening the mix… isn’t that what lobbyists do to legislators?
February 1, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Anonymous
No one is reinventing the wheel here. I can understand why during the initial shock it was thought but please that should have passed by now. This argument doesn’t hold up. That is why they brought in a professional company. That is why all the coordinators are welcome to come back.
February 1, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Anonymous
To Anon 1:10
“Sweetening the mix… isn’t that what lobbyists do to legislators?”
Legislators can hardly be thought of as waiters! Legislators do a different kind of “service” for us!
February 1, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Anonymous
Coordinators are not waiters. Many are private contractors. They are professionals.
A professional ethics code should be in place that doesn’t allow for outside influence peddling and fair dealing. It could be a reliable and accurate reporting of such “sweet mixing”. It works the same for everyone except, maybe, our legislators whom appear to be above the law, until caught with bad ice in the frig.
IMHO, anyone who believes otherwise isn’t a professional.
February 2, 2007 at 4:47 am
Anonymous
I have to say one more thing in Jimmy D’s defence before letting this one rest. It is a common practice in the music industry to offer gifts to “sweeten the mix” for a paticular band. It is no different than giving a waiter a big tip
R you sure this is in his defense? Seems a tad bit damning IMHO
February 2, 2007 at 8:52 am
Hunter
I’m really getting a kick out of this, “The coordinators are ‘welcome’ to come back”
Don’t anyone hold there breath too long there.
I read their “Vote of No Confidence.” I think someone’s missing something here.
They ain’t comin’ back.
That, my friends, was a manifesto. That was as good a “fuck you and the horse you rode in on,” as I ever read.
You all need to wake up to the fact that come the end of July, virtually anyone with any concert experience in the 707 area code will be packing to go fishing or Burning Man.
Well except the ones with sense of theater. They’ll probably invite a few speed metal and gangsta bands to Whitethorn for something with some flair, like the “Burn Redway to the Ground.” festival. After all, they are pros and music is what they do.
I don’t know if anyone noticed, but they’re kinda pissed off right now.
Meanwhile, MCC can go get some speedfreaks from Redcrest to do the heavy listing like the good old days. Now THEY knew how to make ROTR profitable. Shaking down the patrons is a whole lot more lucrative than selling them tofu wraps.
I cannot believe that there isn’t ONE person associated with the Mateel Community Center who isn’t smart enough to say to themselves at least once, “Wow, we are totally fucked.”
Irregardless of what the half-wits who sit, too stoned to find their own genitals, yammmering about it all being about “the money” – the same ones who wouldn’t lift a finger to help with anything that didn’t involve counting the money – say. You are in way over your heads. You do not have a chance in hell of pulling this off.
When the pros from Dover are telling you tales of doom, you ignore them at your peril.
As for me. Count me in. I will DEFINATELY be there. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.
And I suspect the reason Tom is doing anything and everthing in his power to prevent you from throwing you festival on his land has nothing to do with greed and everything everything to do with fear and loathing.
Rotsa Ruck
February 2, 2007 at 9:17 am
Anonymous
Anonymous 08:47:00 wrote:
Seems a tad bit damning IMHO.
The “sweeting the mix” is a gift to the guys who do the sound, and the lights, and the food, and whatever else.
It’s the performer sharing with the one’s who make it possible for them to make a living. It’s a very gracious thing.
BTW, “Hunter,” the non de plume is apt, you have him down pretty cold.
February 2, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Eric V. Kirk
“Tales of doom?”
“Fear and loathing?”
This debate has kicked up enough melodrama for a lifetime. When it gets down to it, we’re talking about a concert folks. A concert.
February 2, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Anonymous
Irregardless: Is NOT a word in the English language!
February 2, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Anonymous
Dear word Nazi. ( anon 8:42 )
Irregardless of what YOU think irregardless is a word!
Language is dynamic, if it were up to your ilk we would still be grunting and squealing at each other.
You missed a very eloquent message while you were busy “Blue Penciling” the writing!
Let me ask you… Do you do that to stop a conversation? Or, is it the only clear thought you are capable of. ( I know, “Never use a preposition to end a sentence with” )
February 2, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Anonymous
From the Merriam Webster dictionary:
irregardless
One entry found for irregardless.
Main Entry: ir·re·gard·less
Pronunciation: “ir-i-’gärd-l&s
Function: adverb
Etymology: probably blend of irrespective and regardless
nonstandard : REGARDLESS
usage Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that “there is no such word.” There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead.
February 2, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Anonymous
Dear Word Person. ( Sorry about the Nazi stuff. )
Please do not be insulted. I enjoy these kinds of subjects.
Let me point out, I clearly asked you; “Do you do that to stop a conversation?”…You never answered that Question!
Again, you missed the message while hanging yourself up on the verbiage, usage, spelling and punctuation.
So that you can understand what I am talking about, I made no mistakes.
Communication lover.
February 2, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Hunter
Isn’t there anyone in Southern Humboldt County with a sense of humor?
I though it was funny. Eloquent’s a bit of a stretch, but you have to admit, it was pretty funny. After writing memos all week, it’s nice to spread my wings a little.
I do find it kind of amusing that some of you seem to think you’re Sam a huge favor by allowing him to put his life on hold for a month or so, live in the dirt, eat bad food, and work 20 hours a day for your benefit. If you ask him about the money, I guarantee you he’ll tell you it isn’t worth it.
And, sure it’s just a concert. It’s also a 4-day legal liability with really good sound. And don’t you think you owe the folks who shell out a few bills for your insignificant little affair at least a passing consideration for their safety?
February 2, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Anonymous
Uh…..That’s the trouble with getting hung-up on this anonymous garbage! I assumed that the preceding was from the same anon….Sorry!
February 2, 2007 at 6:46 pm
Hunter
Middleware malfuntion.
You know, the device between the keyboard and the chair
February 2, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Anonymous
Hunter
I missed your message, but you punctuated poorly…That excited me!
February 2, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Anonymous
Usage Note: Irregardless is a word that many mistakenly believe to be correct usage in formal style, when in fact it is used chiefly in nonstandard speech or casual writing. Coined in the United States in the early 20th century, it has met with a blizzard of condemnation for being an improper yoking of irrespective and regardless and for the logical absurdity of combining the negative ir- prefix and -less suffix in a single term. Although one might reasonably argue that it is no different from words with redundant affixes like debone and unravel, it has been considered a blunder for decades and will probably continue to be so.
February 2, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Anonymous
Irregardlessly, I am going to continue to use the word irregardless. Irrespective of what you think! Because I think your thoughts on the word are irrelevant, and your concepts are irreparable!
In Fact it’s getting be, just about, my favorite word!
February 3, 2007 at 2:03 am
Mr. Geenjeans
No, we need to see who is suing whom irregardless of your arguments. We await the next lawsuit. Maybe Carol Bruno/People’s Productions will threaten sue you for the irresponsible use of the English language.