Miles,

I think this is an entirely appropriate topic for the list, so don't worry.
"We" are not, apparently, numerous and we should be supporting each other.
When that goes wrong, it's appropriate to discuss the matter.

If I sound a little cross, well, I'm cross. I want to hear Messrs Gizzi and
Young and I want *our Finnish guests to have a decent audience, not a split
audience.

I am sorry if it is the first you have heard of the Finnish reading. And
yes, Friday is unusual but *not unheard of. The date was chosen by the
Finnish Institute. But there have been readings before on Friday.

I said earlier, off the top of my head, that it was announced in June. Since
then I have checked my facts.

It was announced, as a possibility, on 4th May, added to the handbill and
the website on 6th May "to be confirmed" (after the go ahead from the
Finnish Institute) and announced at svp on 18th May (after the go ahead from
the venue). 5 months ago.

It has been on the list ever since 6th May and the list has been published
on britpo and poetics subsequently as well as the svp website. (It's kept up
to date.)

It has been announced by the svp mail shots and svp email shots which were
open to anyone asking to be put on them

It is being advertised on the web and in posters by the Finnish Institute

It is fairly easy to find out what is happening at svp.

I even answer questions by email post phone and air vibration, though not
telepathy

As you know, because we have talked about it, the reason I go to the trouble
of planning so far ahead is so that there is absolutely no reason for there
to be a clash if I do.

When I am thinking of booking a reading in the near future, I look at what
other people are doing; and I try to keep track of what (the obvious) other
people (you, Keston, V I, Voice Box occasionally) are doing out of a general
interest in poetry. Le patron listens here and elsewhere.

Others on this list can confirm that I have been checking Cambridge and Cork
intentions before committing to another colloquium. It's common sense.

Avoiding clashes prevents audiences being split *and makes it easier for us
all to attend everything that we want to

There aren't that many of us. We should work together. In similar
circumstances to yours I have told poets it's no go.

I don't think anyone suggested it is bad form to advertise events on a list
one no longer directly participates in.

That isn't the problem.


Lawrence





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