Lost, Found, Bingo Nights, and Contracts
They found my Toyota.
At around 11:16pm last night, I got a call from the C-11 police station in Boston saying they had found my 1993 Toyota and it was ready for pick up at a tow lot. No damage done, except for the fact that they took my System of a Down CD and about 40 Armenian CD's from my Pomegranate box in the trunk. Not sure what these people will do with it, but, I hope they have better luck selling it than I do. At around 1am, my wife and I retreived the car and just laughed at why someone would want to take a old beater of a car with all the other higher end cars on the street. In any case, my Dorchester car is back side by side with the company car. All is well again. My beater Toyota is where most of my demo screening and music listening is done.
No response from St. James Armenian Church in Watertown.
I had left a message for Der Hayr over at St. James Armenian Church to call me back to discuss why I was treated so rudely by an organizer at their "Hye Cafe". No call yet. As you may recall, I was lightly passing out a few (and I stress a few) flyers to some friends and acquantances regarding an upcoming show I am presenting on Nov 5 at the Armenian Library and Museum of America when I was told to stop. As one of my close friends who goes there once in a while said, "it's funny, you can go there and get bombarded with flyers on your car or on the dinner tables, but, someone can't go there and personally hand them out to friends." In my opinion, it is absurd that the church and this organizer of "Hye Cafe" (I can't name her, as I don't want to nail the church on just one bad egg) is not more accepting of people who are trying to share cultural events to fellow Armenian at a casual Armenian function toward the end of the night as the kitchen is closed and people are leaving. Perhaps this is why I do not connect with the Armenian Church here in the Boston area and really have to wonder what Diasporan Armenians ( do I sound like Onnik?) are trying to promote in this town. They have Bingo Nights open to the general public there on Tuesday nights acting as a virtual casino with the Church lining their pockets, but, they can't allow a member of the Boston community who risks his own money supporting and promoting Armenian culture to pass out a few flyers. I hope this is not the attitude the Armenian church at St. James takes placing money above culture and community. Let's see if Der Hayr calls back. And, while I'm at it, how about more significant Armenian culture and concerts over there! Surely, they can make the same money doing that over Bingo Nights! Yuck, how 1950's.
Bachelor Party and More:
Last night I went to a bachelor party at a restaurant in Waltham and had a great time. I will leave out the details. However, just before I got home and found out my car was retreived, I reflected a bit on the contract negotiation process of a few artists I am trying to work with in Armenia. In short, it is frustrating at times trying to reach an agreement given that expectations of how "money is earned" in the Diaspora or general world stage works from this end. I had a conversation with a friend of mine who is in an Armenian band Arev that recently discussed how a well known Armenian pop star from Yerevan to be travelling to Toronto soon has asked for "sick money" and how she was shot down immediately. Luckily, one of my former artists who I still work with on occaision living in LA now has been able to coach me on the mentality of dealing with artists in Armenia when it comes to the issue of contract issues. It helps having his persepctive. Even though I've been to Armenia 5 times, I still find it tough to come to solid agreements that are binding without a long protracted negotiation/education process along the way. Like anything, mutual trust and understanding must be earned. The process sucks, but is rewarding in the end.
At around 11:16pm last night, I got a call from the C-11 police station in Boston saying they had found my 1993 Toyota and it was ready for pick up at a tow lot. No damage done, except for the fact that they took my System of a Down CD and about 40 Armenian CD's from my Pomegranate box in the trunk. Not sure what these people will do with it, but, I hope they have better luck selling it than I do. At around 1am, my wife and I retreived the car and just laughed at why someone would want to take a old beater of a car with all the other higher end cars on the street. In any case, my Dorchester car is back side by side with the company car. All is well again. My beater Toyota is where most of my demo screening and music listening is done.
No response from St. James Armenian Church in Watertown.
I had left a message for Der Hayr over at St. James Armenian Church to call me back to discuss why I was treated so rudely by an organizer at their "Hye Cafe". No call yet. As you may recall, I was lightly passing out a few (and I stress a few) flyers to some friends and acquantances regarding an upcoming show I am presenting on Nov 5 at the Armenian Library and Museum of America when I was told to stop. As one of my close friends who goes there once in a while said, "it's funny, you can go there and get bombarded with flyers on your car or on the dinner tables, but, someone can't go there and personally hand them out to friends." In my opinion, it is absurd that the church and this organizer of "Hye Cafe" (I can't name her, as I don't want to nail the church on just one bad egg) is not more accepting of people who are trying to share cultural events to fellow Armenian at a casual Armenian function toward the end of the night as the kitchen is closed and people are leaving. Perhaps this is why I do not connect with the Armenian Church here in the Boston area and really have to wonder what Diasporan Armenians ( do I sound like Onnik?) are trying to promote in this town. They have Bingo Nights open to the general public there on Tuesday nights acting as a virtual casino with the Church lining their pockets, but, they can't allow a member of the Boston community who risks his own money supporting and promoting Armenian culture to pass out a few flyers. I hope this is not the attitude the Armenian church at St. James takes placing money above culture and community. Let's see if Der Hayr calls back. And, while I'm at it, how about more significant Armenian culture and concerts over there! Surely, they can make the same money doing that over Bingo Nights! Yuck, how 1950's.
Bachelor Party and More:
Last night I went to a bachelor party at a restaurant in Waltham and had a great time. I will leave out the details. However, just before I got home and found out my car was retreived, I reflected a bit on the contract negotiation process of a few artists I am trying to work with in Armenia. In short, it is frustrating at times trying to reach an agreement given that expectations of how "money is earned" in the Diaspora or general world stage works from this end. I had a conversation with a friend of mine who is in an Armenian band Arev that recently discussed how a well known Armenian pop star from Yerevan to be travelling to Toronto soon has asked for "sick money" and how she was shot down immediately. Luckily, one of my former artists who I still work with on occaision living in LA now has been able to coach me on the mentality of dealing with artists in Armenia when it comes to the issue of contract issues. It helps having his persepctive. Even though I've been to Armenia 5 times, I still find it tough to come to solid agreements that are binding without a long protracted negotiation/education process along the way. Like anything, mutual trust and understanding must be earned. The process sucks, but is rewarding in the end.
posted by Raffi at 9:57 PM
3 Comments:
Did the church have a 'no soliciting' sign on their door? Otherwise I don't see why they would object - after all, you were not competing or doing anything illegal.
PIA people can be found anywhere, I guess.
Unbelievable. I can't believe you were told to stop handing out flyers about an Armenian presentation while you were at an Armenian venue!
Shitty.
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