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17 January 2008

I feel a bit beat up. Need advice. Should I send the following email? Preface and long story inside.[More:]

I was invited to have an artistic discussion on a continuing project that got picked up by a big festival. The people invited are the director and another collaborator whom I have had long and previous relationships with. The director, in particular I have known for 8 years. She tends to go through a lot of people, because she can be difficult to work with. (Her communication style is very roundabout, though she is intelligent and impassioned.) In any case, the artistic discussion was preceded by discussion of business items. I am represented by an agency and have made it clear previously that I will not engage in these discussions, certainly not those where both of the collaborators are involved, and yet the business manager still pursued it. The meeting did not end in a hostile way, but I did express my unhappiness in private to the director. She didn't recognize how put out I was by the discussion. It wasn't too tense. Anyway, I want to really nail home the fact that they put me in a difficult position. I will discuss this with my agency, but I also wanted to personally express it because I have known this person for so long, and would at least consider us to be friendly. So, should I send the following email, (and cc the business manager and my agent)?

I just want to express again that I felt extremely uncomfortable with our discussions with {other artist} and {business manager} and yourself prior to our {artistic} meeting. Unfortunately, regardless of intent, I felt ambushed and placed in a very difficult position. Not the best place to begin discussion of art, and I think, ultimately detrimental to our artistic discussion. I hope that now I have made it clear that all business discussions are to go through {my agency} and I trust that it will not happen again.
Regards,
typewriter


I don't think you should send that e-mail- it focuses too much on how upset you are, which doesn't really help anything going forward. If you send any e-mail (and I don't see why you'd have to, if you already talked with her about it), it should be set up something like this:

(Great meeting today). (Sorry I was upset about the business discussion thing). (It is very important to me that all discussion of business go through my agency). (I hope you understand if I shut down any discussion of the topic in the future). (I look forward to working with you in the future). (Thanks!).
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 17 January | 21:31
That's a frustrating situation. I think it's a good e-mail.
posted by halonine 17 January | 21:33
I think I would ask your agent what to do before you act independently. It may be easier for them to draw that line nice and bright and give you a little bit of a buffer. For them, it's not personal, you know?
posted by headspace 17 January | 21:41
Yes, I think the language might be a bit too strong for a continuing artistic relationship and deals with my emotional state. You are wise, TPS. I am thinking that the upbeat email but without the second line might be a good route. (I was very calm in the room.) In fact, headspace is also right that I should let my agent draw the line, and I will just write an email talking art. (Which reinforces my position by default.)

Sigh. Thank you bunnies. I feel better.
posted by typewriter 17 January | 22:08
Update: I didn't send any emails. My agent dealt with it with a fairly terse and firm hand. And I got an apology. Yeah bunnies for preventing me from making a terrible mistake!
posted by typewriter 18 January | 14:19
This post may be about John Mayer... || Dating hell, part 349, aka I Give Up

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