 30 january 2000 who is charles? ----- ------- ----- Looking at my access logs ... This journal got a helluva lot more traffic when everyone thought I was a girl. ~~~ What would YOU do?? Groaning Mona was signed to play at Luna Park on Sat., Feb. 5. at 8:00. We subsidised the event, our check was received, and we had a signed contract. (We still have it.) Poncho Sanchez was to appear later that night. Three days ago, Luna Park calls us and says we have to reschedule our show because Poncho Sanchez was going to appear (We already knew that!) and only wanted his band and guests to play. Now we were stuck, one week from the NAMM weekend, with no time to wrangle another good venue. We had invited guests (even from other countries, knowing they would be in town because of NAMM 2000), printed flyers, etc. At first, Luna Park wanted to double charge us for the new date on February 19. That seemed highly unfair, considering what had already happened to us. We were told that we could complain to the Luna Park management, but it would "probably do no good." I wrote an E-Mail to the Poncho camp, asking if they knew we were pushed off the night. Allegedly they did not, but they certainly must have let Luna Park know that they did not want a problem regarding their reputation dealing with an upstart band. Then I received a nasty phone call from the Luna Park management (funny, they were never available before!) claiming that our contract was never any good! Now why did they keep my check for weeks? Why were we listed in the ads along with Poncho Sanchez? (We downloaded those ads) And why would they employ a person to issue contracts that meant nothing? It wasn't even April Fool's Day! Shortly after we originally discovered our February 5th gig would not be happening, a person not directly involved with the band sent a letter to the Poncho camp on the band's behalf. Sombody named "Charles". Although I had nothing to do with that letter, I received another nasty call from the Luna Park management, demanding who that person was and what was his phone number?! Gads, how do you respond to that? They informed me that they were no longer booking us on the 19th, "in light of all that's happened". After a few hours, they called again, saying they would book us on the 19th for FREE, but I had to write a retraction letter to the Poncho camp, saying I know they had nothing to do with our cancellation and Luna Park is letting us play for free. AND I had to get that loose cannon "Charles" to retract his letter as well! They FAXed me an unsigned contract, saying that the retraction letters had to go out before they would sign. I swear this is true!! My attorney asked me what I really wanted out of all this, and I answered, "To play on the 5th, of course". He said I wouldn't know unless I asked. (Or he could ask.) So I amended the contract, didn't sign it yet, and FAXed it back. I got a nasty call from the Luna Park management saying, "This is out of the question." Click. After reading the letter I sent to the Poncho camp, my attorney didn't think I needed to retract anything because I had merely been expressing my feelings; not being accusatory. But SOMEBODY goofed up in this situation and it wasn't my band Groaning Mona. I think we are playing on the 19th at 8:00 at Luna Park. Why do I bother with it? Because we want to play. That's what our band does. Why Luna Park? Because we are a 7-piece band with 15 additional cast and crew members. We don't FIT into many places in Los Angeles. But the night is young... with many hours between now and the 19th. I'll keep you posted, because I wouldn't want you to miss the next show. That night, in our show, the sh#t will fly. Wear an overcoat. ~~~ Of course, "Charles" didn't know that his innocent email would become the talk of the recording industry the next day ... Really, all he sent was the following ...
To: rebecca@ponchosanchez.com Anyways, we've basically lost our gig, we're in a fierce legal battle with one of the hottest clubs in Hollywood, and a stupid letter sent by someone named "Charles" has bought our band more publicity than 100 gigs could have. ~~~ one year ago: too lazy to write.
[ swim back | email me | swim ahead ] |