I'd like to say that I accept Eben's apology. Thank you. I would also like to apologize if anything I said went too far or was too harsh.
I do not want to make a bigger issue of this than it is, which is why I said I'd stop. But since this seems to be winding down, I think it's best to shed light on a couple things others have said so as to avoid misunderstandings and errors. Because Mr. Brooks did apologize, I'm only going to address misstatements posted on the various threads and pages here by other bandmembers.
So far, the only people who've posted on any of these threads _who were not involved parties_ have contradicted the band's story about Chase throwing a drama storm and being a diva. Since the anonymous Conjecture staff member never reared his/her head, that comment must be dismissed as hearsay or error. Add to that the fact that the Conjecture staff has been hugely appreciative of both Robert and Chase and indicated that they can't wait to all work together again, and consensus as to what happened is now pretty clear.
Chase DID vocally warm up before her set. She did so in the bathroom (not at Kelly's -- she wasn't at Kelly's at all). That must be what the bandmember's friend (mentioned in an earlier thread) heard. Chase did not sing at Kelly's that night, in the Kelly's bar, or anywhere other than the convention. Anyone can call Kelly's to confirm this.
We've already gone over why Chase was flustered at the sound check. I don't know why this is difficult for some of the band members to grasp, other than perhaps the fact that they simply didn't witness what happened for the hour prior to their arrival (6:30-7:30). Chase was legitimately nervous because she was made to wait over an hour delay for her scheduled 6:30 soundcheck (for which she showed up on time), and this ruined her entire evening's schedule and inconvenienced many other people (not her). She asked many times for a revised soundcheck ETA so that she could make calls to rearrange her schedule, but was repeatedly told to just wait indefinitely.
[Bear in mind that the sound people had not been told until the night before about Chase singing. This was an innocent communication oversight by programming, not by Chase or Mr. Sawyer. There may perhaps have been a slight undercurrent of resentment among one or two (not most) members of the volunteer sound team (not Conjecture staff) because of this -- what one might describe as a bit of "we'll be ready when we're ready, and Chase will have to wait," rather than an attitude of hustle and urgency that perhaps would have been more fitting in such a delay. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt (like Chase gave Eben when he confronted her the next day) and assume that, if any sound folks resented Chase being there, they simply didn't know that it wasn't her fault they hadn't been told about her set.]
So all this was understandably frustrating to Chase. Then, she was told by one of the sound people to go back up on stage to check the levels of one final song which had been swapped out. After she got up there, she was told by another sound person not to -- because now, after she'd waited over an hour, there was no time to check even a couple bars of her final track. Could she have lost her temper at that point? Absolutely -- and it would have been understandable. But she is a professional and kept her composure because she understands that at small, fan-run cons, many people are volunteers and simply doing their best. Was she frustrated and nervous, and did that show in her voice? Absolutely -- and anyone reading this would've been, too, had they been in her shoes. But was she a "Diva with a capital D"? Not only is that not right, it's such a tall tale that it doesn't even merit a response. For Eben's bandmembers to repeat over and over that she was, or that "her antics caused the whole concert to be delayed," is as irrelevant as if I were to repeat endlessly that I witnessed them all breaking into cars outside. Nobody's taking it seriously. Saying something over and over does not make it true.
I'm not aware of who of you are and you certainly don't know me or my husband (lead guitarist), but I do not appreciate being called a liar no matter how round-a-bout the accusation is. Neither of us had talked to anyone else since the concert. Our statements were based on exactly what we experienced. Our judgments were based on years of experience in the entertainment field. As a matter of fact, I had dismissed this incident with Ms Masterson because I thought that she was an amateur singer that didn't know better. I only posted after I read from you and a few others that she was to be considered "professional". I will concede to the question of her whereabouts since I was told this information and it can then be considered hearsay (which was the way I stated it in my post). I will say that for fact she was not in the restroom closest to the concert hall. My friend was standing where she had to move to one side each time someone went in or out of the restroom. Whether Ms Masterson was in a different restroom I have no knowledge and never stated that I did.
Those people that know me are more than aware that I abhor lies and embellishments of the facts. I am a believer in the thought that there are many sides to a story and that each of them may very well be correct at the same time. Perspective can play a huge role in a story. But, I also believe that if enough people are saying the sky is green and the grass is blue you'd better take a hard look for yourself. In the case of Friday night, it seems that are many people that need to stop and check the perspective. I'm sure that no one meant any harm or ill-will, but what they put out was perceived as something very different. I only spoke from what I perceived from my perspective. I never lied.
No one called you a liar. I corrected the mistaken suggestion that Chase had been performing at Kelly's earlier that evening. You may not have intended to say that, but that's how your sentence read.
Anyway, the con chair has now weighed in and corroborated that neither Chase nor Robert behaved unprofessionally and that Eben's accusations were "over the top." That's the final word and the matter should be closed.
Er, yes, the Chair's opinion is the final word, but, as a past Chair myself (for other cons, not Conjecture), I would take it with a bit of a grain of salt while accepting it as the last word - what Chair wants to diss their GoH after the fact? The answer, in most cases, would be none. (Who was the Chair, anyway? I can't recall.)
Now, that being said, I wasn't there, I know none of the parties involved, and I'm not saying in this particular case the Chair is lying (or Eben, or Chase, or anyone else, for that matter), but I think it bears pointing out that the Chair might be just a tad on the biased side. Just a thought.
I am the Chair being called "biased" and yes, I am biased - toward everyone having a good time at my convention. Barney and I told you all that we knew and observed. As we said previously, there is enough "blame" to go around. This got blown totally out of proportion, something that probably wouldn't have happened if we had all taken some time before sitting down at our computers. I was an academic librarian before I retired and I would call this a "teachable moment," in that we are learning the down side of "instant" communication. On behalf of Conjecture, I accept the apologies that have been offered and issue one myself, because despite some of the elements of this incident having been beyond anyone's control (the rain on the equipment, for example), I am truly sorry that this marred what otherwise seems to have been an enjoyable weekend for all concerned.
I'll just clarify that I specifically said I didn't intend to imply that in this specific case anyone was lying or misrepresenting themselves. I just wanted to point out that Chairs do - and should! - treat all their guests well, including (and especially) their GoH, which sometimes means smoothing over awkward situations. I don't think anyone faults them for doing so, nor guests for expecting to be treated well - they're our guests, after all! :)
From this non-involved person's view, I think your response to all this has been fine and appropriate.
I do not want to make a bigger issue of this than it is, which is why I said I'd stop. But since this seems to be winding down, I think it's best to shed light on a couple things others have said so as to avoid misunderstandings and errors. Because Mr. Brooks did apologize, I'm only going to address misstatements posted on the various threads and pages here by other bandmembers.
So far, the only people who've posted on any of these threads _who were not involved parties_ have contradicted the band's story about Chase throwing a drama storm and being a diva. Since the anonymous Conjecture staff member never reared his/her head, that comment must be dismissed as hearsay or error. Add to that the fact that the Conjecture staff has been hugely appreciative of both Robert and Chase and indicated that they can't wait to all work together again, and consensus as to what happened is now pretty clear.
Chase DID vocally warm up before her set. She did so in the bathroom (not at Kelly's -- she wasn't at Kelly's at all). That must be what the bandmember's friend (mentioned in an earlier thread) heard. Chase did not sing at Kelly's that night, in the Kelly's bar, or anywhere other than the convention. Anyone can call Kelly's to confirm this.
We've already gone over why Chase was flustered at the sound check. I don't know why this is difficult for some of the band members to grasp, other than perhaps the fact that they simply didn't witness what happened for the hour prior to their arrival (6:30-7:30). Chase was legitimately nervous because she was made to wait over an hour delay for her scheduled 6:30 soundcheck (for which she showed up on time), and this ruined her entire evening's schedule and inconvenienced many other people (not her). She asked many times for a revised soundcheck ETA so that she could make calls to rearrange her schedule, but was repeatedly told to just wait indefinitely.
[Bear in mind that the sound people had not been told until the night before about Chase singing. This was an innocent communication oversight by programming, not by Chase or Mr. Sawyer. There may perhaps have been a slight undercurrent of resentment among one or two (not most) members of the volunteer sound team (not Conjecture staff) because of this -- what one might describe as a bit of "we'll be ready when we're ready, and Chase will have to wait," rather than an attitude of hustle and urgency that perhaps would have been more fitting in such a delay. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt (like Chase gave Eben when he confronted her the next day) and assume that, if any sound folks resented Chase being there, they simply didn't know that it wasn't her fault they hadn't been told about her set.]
So all this was understandably frustrating to Chase. Then, she was told by one of the sound people to go back up on stage to check the levels of one final song which had been swapped out. After she got up there, she was told by another sound person not to -- because now, after she'd waited over an hour, there was no time to check even a couple bars of her final track. Could she have lost her temper at that point? Absolutely -- and it would have been understandable. But she is a professional and kept her composure because she understands that at small, fan-run cons, many people are volunteers and simply doing their best. Was she frustrated and nervous, and did that show in her voice? Absolutely -- and anyone reading this would've been, too, had they been in her shoes. But was she a "Diva with a capital D"? Not only is that not right, it's such a tall tale that it doesn't even merit a response. For Eben's bandmembers to repeat over and over that she was, or that "her antics caused the whole concert to be delayed," is as irrelevant as if I were to repeat endlessly that I witnessed them all breaking into cars outside. Nobody's taking it seriously. Saying something over and over does not make it true.
(continued)
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I'm not aware of who of you are and you certainly don't know me or my husband (lead guitarist), but I do not appreciate being called a liar no matter how round-a-bout the accusation is. Neither of us had talked to anyone else since the concert. Our statements were based on exactly what we experienced. Our judgments were based on years of experience in the entertainment field. As a matter of fact, I had dismissed this incident with Ms Masterson because I thought that she was an amateur singer that didn't know better. I only posted after I read from you and a few others that she was to be considered "professional". I will concede to the question of her whereabouts since I was told this information and it can then be considered hearsay (which was the way I stated it in my post). I will say that for fact she was not in the restroom closest to the concert hall. My friend was standing where she had to move to one side each time someone went in or out of the restroom. Whether Ms Masterson was in a different restroom I have no knowledge and never stated that I did.
Those people that know me are more than aware that I abhor lies and embellishments of the facts. I am a believer in the thought that there are many sides to a story and that each of them may very well be correct at the same time. Perspective can play a huge role in a story. But, I also believe that if enough people are saying the sky is green and the grass is blue you'd better take a hard look for yourself. In the case of Friday night, it seems that are many people that need to stop and check the perspective. I'm sure that no one meant any harm or ill-will, but what they put out was perceived as something very different. I only spoke from what I perceived from my perspective. I never lied.
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Anyway, the con chair has now weighed in and corroborated that neither Chase nor Robert behaved unprofessionally and that Eben's accusations were "over the top." That's the final word and the matter should be closed.
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Now, that being said, I wasn't there, I know none of the parties involved, and I'm not saying in this particular case the Chair is lying (or Eben, or Chase, or anyone else, for that matter), but I think it bears pointing out that the Chair might be just a tad on the biased side. Just a thought.
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Val Ontell
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From this non-involved person's view, I think your response to all this has been fine and appropriate.
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