I shall keep this brief.
Last year I was tipped off that Robin Blaser was coming to UK. Rang him. No
he had nothing in London. We set up a reading on the usual SVP terms - tube
fair, a magazine to publish some pages in and a beer. There was a little
correspondence by phone and fax to get the details, especially of the mag,
ok. He didn't mention his reason for coming to UK and I didn't ask.
Later I did find out that he was on the 6 Towns thing, but I had not
suspected that because NJ didn't bother to send SVP any publicity or ask
for cooperation.
A long time after I had set up the reading, I had a letter - scrawled over
a handful of filing cards - from NJ saying that he had brought Blaser to
UK, was losing money on the project, and that therefore I must pay him
£100.
I declined. I declined in a long letter in which I tried to reason with
him, pointing out I had no cash, was not approached with a proposal, that I
had been the one to think of Robin reading in London AND that SVP does not
have grant aid. Unlike 6Ts. No reply was received. I heard nothing more at
all until a few months ago Assoc of Little Presses recd an unsoliced
envelope of copy for a free advertisement, marked up for layout, insertion
of photographs etc
Most recently I received, from NJ, return of his renewel form for the SVP
mailing list. Scrawled across the top, unsigned, were the words "When are
you going to pay me £100 and stop ripping off poets"
This upset me and I have written and then rewritten a reply, but have sent
neither. This looks like a good place to air it.
I have heard other good stories but they are not mine to tell.
*
I don't think Alaric would act as informant for anyone. I think he has a
point out talking about people when they can't reply; but I wouldn't worry
too much in this case.
L
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