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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
Lake Oswego, Oregon
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 3, 2009 - 01:46pm PT
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This is an official post from The Vershke Group. Whack+Dangle and Simon King
After months of planning and the completion of several recent slideshows in Portland and Colorado it has become painfully obvious that I must cancel ALL future shows that I am producing. This decision is based solely on financial concerns.
I want to be CRYSTAL CLEAR that this decision is made by my business and myself personally. In NO WAY were ANY of the speakers responsible for this decision. Let me be clear that Glen Denny, John Bachar, Dean Fidelman, Mike Graham, John Long, Royal Robbins, Jim Donini and Dean Caldwell have been 100% supportive and helpful at every step of the way. They have all been a wonderful crew of people to be associated with both professionally and as fellow climbers. This decision is mine alone and should not reflect negatively on any of these fine people or their companies.
It was my intention all along that these shows would be first class; from the selection of speakers to the presentation venues, I wanted a show that the climbing community could be proud of. I may have set my aspirations too high. I spent many thousands of dollars pre-booking venues, marketing, travel, etc. in hopes of presenting the community with top-notch shows. This was never intended to be a huge money-making machine; but it did need to cover costs. Sadly, costs were not covered, attendance was minimal and a massive correction had to be made.
Let there be no confusion on two matters:
1. All individuals who purchased tickets and raffle tickets for all future shows will be fully reimbursed. The process of notifying every customer individually by e-mail (or post if we do not have an e-mail address) has begun and will be complete by July 6. Refunds will be completed no later than August 1.
2. The speakers I worked with have been stellar and my decision is not something that they had anticipated. Needless to say, I feel I have let these individuals down with this decision and for that I offer my public apology.
I want to extend my sincere happiness and satisfaction with the climbing community that has supported my efforts through purchased event tickets, show attendance and written word. Thanks! For those of you who did come to the recent events, you all had a VERY intimate evening with a great show!
Finally, why did this happen? Perhaps it was just a set of eyes that were too big. In my 30+ years as a businessman I have tasted great success and abject failure. In each case I was able to identify what worked and what didn’t. I just didn’t see this one coming. While some might argue it would be wrong to hide behind the state of the current economy, I believe it would be ignorant to ignore the effect a shrinking paycheck has on people’s ability to spend money on slideshows. However, I should have foreseen that and planned accordingly.
If anyone has any question at all please contact me directly at simon(at)Vershke(dot)com.
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apogee
climber
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Sorry to hear it isn't working out- I very well understand the disappointment of a grand vision that reality can't quite match. Sounds like you are handling it in a very forthright manner, though- kudos.
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Its a tough time with the way the economy is, to make anything happen.
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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I surely appreciate all the work and funds you put into it. I was looking forward to the Seattle show. Thanks anyway and I hope you can recoup on some of your losses.
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D. Rivas
Trad climber
Ventura, CA.
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That sux. I was looking foreward to the Stonemasters tour stopping in Santa Barbara this fall.
davi.
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HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
Arid-zona
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Bummer. Hope everything is ok.
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Sorry, Simon.
I was looking forward to going & bringing friends. Maybe I should have bought tix right away.
Best to you,
Doug
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Thanks for taking a crack at it Simon.
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hooblie
climber
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i feel like we're caught in a crinckle in time as the new media and distribution models shape the market. there's nothing wrong with the concept of synergizing great talent, stunning content, enterprizing spirit with an eager audience. let's hope when the idea emerges in a new form the same worthy proponents thrive and that somehow the personal interaction that your model promotes makes the transition as well. hat's off for the effort, i'm sorry for us all, if it had come off it would have been a winner for everyone. your post smacks of integrity and good faith efforts deserve to be rewarded, but sadly...
this news on the heels of the end of kodachrome... seems like the only way out is up
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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That sucks, Simon.
I wish I knew what to tell you.
I really enjoyed JB's show last Friday. Like you,
I couldn't believe the turnout.
Just keep the fare for the stonemaster show.
You deserve it.
Thanks for trying.
Steve
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Bummer Simon,
I was soooo hoping for an ABQ show.
Best of luck.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Ihateplastic, you can keep the proceeds from my Stonemasters ticket to help defray your costs. I know how hard you worked to make this happen and I really enjoyed Glen's show. Thanks again for trying to make these shows happen.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Simon, really enjoyed the little bit of time we worked together. I think you have tremendous ethic along with integrity. From my business and climbing marketing I really get a sense it is quite a bit economy related. And because this is an unusual time in this country it's very difficult to get a feel for what can be done and what may not work.
Really, kudos to you for putting together a superior idea ! Before the USA busted it would have been a winner. Don't second guess yourself. You went for a great idea. Our planet needs dreamers. Praying that things turn around for You. Peace and Cheers Dude, Lynne
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goatboy smellz
climber
लघिमा, co
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Sorry to hear this Simon, I was looking forward to the show in September. I should have warned you to never schedule a show on a Friday in Colorado….there’s a reason Neptune holds his shows on Thursday, most of us are in bed for an alpine start the next day or are already on the road to the crag for the weekend to catch a Friday show. Keep the cash you earned it.
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Largo
Sport climber
Venice, Ca
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I don't know how any of this works, having never given slide shows, and not knowing a single thing about how Simon was promoting the shows that he actually pulled off. However, my sense of this is that free lance slide shows are pretty sketchy propositions outside a couple big urban areas. Sender Films apparently runs a successful tour but that's a different animal.
So far as I can tell, most big time, present day slide presentations are done by people working for, or who are sponsored by, companies like Patagonia, North Face, et al. Like rock and roll tours, a corporate sponsor is probably needed to cover the costs of simply putting the thing on, even in someone's garage.
Per the Stonemasters, I believe the show could have been strong once we go it all worked up, but we still have the book, which was many years in the making, and should be out shortly. Sorry I couldn't have met all you people out there in person. It was fantastic attending the recent Yosemite exhibition at the Gene Autry Museum here in LA, and meeting people I'd read about since grade school.
Cheers,
John Long
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Props to the folks trying to put things together for the community.
Let's support each other as much as possible but also endeavor to do things on a scale that doesn't put people too far out on a limb.
Sorry it didn't work out. Thanks for trying
Peace
Karl
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, ihateplastic...
oh my... i sure wish something would turn around and it'd all fall into place, but i know that sometimes our dreams are suddenly on hold...
say, for the future... if you dont give it all up--purhaps can a sponsor, as the other poster mentioned, help?...
it seems that something very wonderful happens when these slide shows are done--- i never got to go, so i don't know first hand, but i feel it and imagine...
say--sometimes we are RIGHT on the edge of something powerful and good, and we a low-blow, or are laid by the wayside...
but you never know, ihateplastic, it just could be that a new beginning is just up round the bend...
lynne is already praying and i will join in too,and keep praying..
say, while i am waiting for my dreams to work out with my books, perhaps this is a good reason for me to wait---perhaps we all just need to join in a few more folks with dreams and we'll all see it unfold at the proper time, and we'll all rejoice, later...
say, ihateplastic, keep a small bit of hope alive in your heart, and keep it as a coal, for the warm campfire to come... please, do... (i'm trying, too... so surely you're not alone)...
god bless....
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Fletcher
Trad climber
the end of the world as we know it, & I feel fine.
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That must be so disappointing for you Simon. Sorry to hear that. Sometimes, seeming failures help steer us onto a path we'd have never taken and one that eventually leads to a good reward. I hope this is the case for you.
I was really looking forward to the Stonemaster's tour. But there still is that wonderful book which I'm looking forward to.
Thanks for your honest and forthright explanation. No need to refund my ticket, as small as it is. Just getting to experience your SuperTopo quizzes is worth that! I'll contact you by e-mail regarding that.
Eric
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Simon,
Thanks for the valiant effort. The climbing community is just too divided and distracted for a grand scheme like yours to succeed. Come visit Colorado, I'd love to tie onto a rope with you.
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