Post by Brian Harnois on Jul 7, 2009 20:45:42 GMT -5
Hello Everyone,
I wanted to share something with you that Shannon Silvia wrote earlier today on her page. this has to do with conventions booking us to be guests, and then flaking out and not even having the decency to call and notify us. I consider it a slap in the face for a bunch of reasons. First off, I have bills to pay and I am also about TO BE A FATHER AGAIN. So money is tight all around, and going to these cons kind of ease the situation a little. Second is that a lot of my friends, GH and GHI, and paranormal fans want to attend these cons to hang out with us. It is a shame that NO ONE is notified except for a paltry email that came at least a week after they knew the gig was being canceled. Keyboard courage strikes again i guess. Man up people, and call the guests and ticket buyers about the cancelation instead of a mass email. This is the 3rd con that has been canceled without notice in the last year. I am honored if you want to book me for an event/convention, and I have no problem if you give ample notice if you are going to cancel so I can book something else. But come on.....UGGGHHHH!!!
Here is the blog from Shannon Silvia that I back 100%
"Well, as most of you are aware the economy sucks. I do believe in my heart it's getting better thank the Lord for that but some areas have been hit hard with layoffs and home losses and trust me, noone understands that more than I do.
Paranormal Conferences and Get-togethers have been going on for many years and they can be a great way to get paranormal lovers and speakers together for great investigations, lectures and presentations as well as meet and greets. Some of the guest speakers that have agents require up to $7,000 for one hour of speaking and many others do this for the love of doing it for free, a minimal fee or just expenses. As with ANY job, no matter who you are or what you do, if you are speaking or presenting at a conference that usually means you have to travel a great distance, take time off from work, find a dog sitter, rides to airports and feed yourself for a number of days. It can get expensive and time consuming but noone puts a bullet to the speakers head, it's for the experience.
Two conferences that were to happen July 17-19th and July 23-24th went under with little notice. Contracts were signed but unfortunately it means nothing if the conference is cancelled. All the planning, merchandise purchased if sold, arrangements, down the tubes. One conference in particular, the Great Plains Conference in Michigan, refused to take phone calls for the last five days. Guests were told everything to "we have personal issues" to "i'll call you back in two hours with your flight confirmation". Today they sent a generic email out to guest speakers and ticketholders that it is cancelled and tickets will be refunded. These conference hosts are not returning messages and phone calls from angry people and this infuriates me. Where is the professionalism? This was someone's life they signed on the dotted line a weekend at a time. Contracts mean nothing to people anymore.
I am encouraging people to understand this hurts us as speakers who looked forward to seeing you, the ticketholder, and sharing our experiences and knowledge with you and meeting the faces behind the screen name.
I regret I will not be part of an awesome investigation I was invited to partake with some old friends and I am upset that the conference hosts told me to go ahead and purchase a 5 day vacation package out there while I have a break between conferences. I know many of you were coming out to see me these next two weeks, and I apologize for circumstances beyond my control and I do hope to god there are no issues getting your money back." --Shannon Silvia
Thank you for reading, your comments matter!!!
Brian
I wanted to share something with you that Shannon Silvia wrote earlier today on her page. this has to do with conventions booking us to be guests, and then flaking out and not even having the decency to call and notify us. I consider it a slap in the face for a bunch of reasons. First off, I have bills to pay and I am also about TO BE A FATHER AGAIN. So money is tight all around, and going to these cons kind of ease the situation a little. Second is that a lot of my friends, GH and GHI, and paranormal fans want to attend these cons to hang out with us. It is a shame that NO ONE is notified except for a paltry email that came at least a week after they knew the gig was being canceled. Keyboard courage strikes again i guess. Man up people, and call the guests and ticket buyers about the cancelation instead of a mass email. This is the 3rd con that has been canceled without notice in the last year. I am honored if you want to book me for an event/convention, and I have no problem if you give ample notice if you are going to cancel so I can book something else. But come on.....UGGGHHHH!!!
Here is the blog from Shannon Silvia that I back 100%
"Well, as most of you are aware the economy sucks. I do believe in my heart it's getting better thank the Lord for that but some areas have been hit hard with layoffs and home losses and trust me, noone understands that more than I do.
Paranormal Conferences and Get-togethers have been going on for many years and they can be a great way to get paranormal lovers and speakers together for great investigations, lectures and presentations as well as meet and greets. Some of the guest speakers that have agents require up to $7,000 for one hour of speaking and many others do this for the love of doing it for free, a minimal fee or just expenses. As with ANY job, no matter who you are or what you do, if you are speaking or presenting at a conference that usually means you have to travel a great distance, take time off from work, find a dog sitter, rides to airports and feed yourself for a number of days. It can get expensive and time consuming but noone puts a bullet to the speakers head, it's for the experience.
Two conferences that were to happen July 17-19th and July 23-24th went under with little notice. Contracts were signed but unfortunately it means nothing if the conference is cancelled. All the planning, merchandise purchased if sold, arrangements, down the tubes. One conference in particular, the Great Plains Conference in Michigan, refused to take phone calls for the last five days. Guests were told everything to "we have personal issues" to "i'll call you back in two hours with your flight confirmation". Today they sent a generic email out to guest speakers and ticketholders that it is cancelled and tickets will be refunded. These conference hosts are not returning messages and phone calls from angry people and this infuriates me. Where is the professionalism? This was someone's life they signed on the dotted line a weekend at a time. Contracts mean nothing to people anymore.
I am encouraging people to understand this hurts us as speakers who looked forward to seeing you, the ticketholder, and sharing our experiences and knowledge with you and meeting the faces behind the screen name.
I regret I will not be part of an awesome investigation I was invited to partake with some old friends and I am upset that the conference hosts told me to go ahead and purchase a 5 day vacation package out there while I have a break between conferences. I know many of you were coming out to see me these next two weeks, and I apologize for circumstances beyond my control and I do hope to god there are no issues getting your money back." --Shannon Silvia
Thank you for reading, your comments matter!!!
Brian