POSTSCRIPT: For all who have read so far, thank you. There is just one more thing to add, since that last email from the General Manager. At one point he stated his dismay of reading my website (erronously refered to as my MySpace) and all along this saga it seemed my website was pivotal to the whole affair. I checked the logs on my server, the only time my website was EVER accessed from a computer in the Melbourne Fringe Festival office was on the day the General Manager sent me that final email. Of course they could have accessed my website from anywhere else but my mental image of an entire office crowding around a computer in disgust has been somewhat shattered.

I have little idea what actually occured in the Fringe Festival office - two staff members attempted to shut down our show using two different tactics due to a website that had never been seen inside that office. I do not know any of these people personally so that rules out vendettas and so forth - it is all quite dark and mysterious.

SOLUTIONS

[NOTE: This section to filled in later, essentially I will discuss that what happened to me was a result of the open festival model being used in the modern world rather than the individuals involved. We are all affected, the relationship individuals in whatever capacity have with this festival and the relationships between all of the individuals is determined by the model and structure that the festival operates from.

I will outline other models - such as one that uses a slimmed down administration and provides resources for artists - who are chosen by random, or a model that proposes that the festival administrators merely when and where the festival will be and leaves the artists and venues to it.

Also I will attempt to rationalise why the Melbourne Fringe continues to use the current model and the long term impact of persisting with this model. (Money & death)]

DISCUSSION

If any artists wish to discuss this or any other thing to do with the Melbourne Fringe Festival i have set up a forum. It amazes me that the festival has never set up a forum for artists in the festival to communicate to each other, it takes only a couple of minutes to do so, though in light of my story it probably is all part of the same pattern. So please use it as you wish - to ask help for, provide tips et cetera on doing a show in The Melbourne Fringe Festival.

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