12.20
Trey has arrived. Pat & Ken are dropping off the truck. The DAT tape with all my guitar parts isolated from the track (for ease of remembrance) has twisted itself around the innards of the machine and is now an ex-DAT tape.
Is it a Venal Leader's response, or has anyone else smelt whining on the Guestbook? Here's a good whinge from yesterday:
never got a reminder from DGM. I know that I can keep track of the CDs I receive, but a single E-mail stating that you guys appreciate me as a member and that my renewal is welcomed wouldn't be disregarded -- Now logically, if I get a couple of CDs from you, I wouldn't receive a "love letter" stating "you have received the items you ordered we hope that you continue to purchase records from us". But in this case it's a CLUB so a little affection for the members would be enormously appreciated. It might as well be called the "King Crimson's archive series" and it would be truer to the spirit of what it actually is. For it to really be a club I would suggest including a "love letter" from discipline with the CDs, like a post card or a note with a minimum information, like: This month we are so many members or some kind of questionnaires like: What is your favorite line up? Or even: Tell as how fantastic was the Vroom session's release? Post it on the guest book. To make it short I feel like a well served customer rather than a precious member of a club. If my observation/commentary sounds ridiculous it's because it actually is, so don't bother commenting on this Dan it's OK with me I will still renewal my subscription.>Well, Dan didn't comment but I shall: wake up, dude.
The self-regard & self-involvement oozing from this posting represents the quality of customer I do not wish for DGM. If customers demand of DGM that, in addition to our (mainly unprofitable) work, we have to personally acknowledge them with blatant insincerity, then we might as well close up and have an easier life. This letter typifies the basement in action. So herewith my formal KCCC response:
I appreciate you as a subscribing adult member who participates in a process which enables low-runs of albums to be made available to its subscription members. This is a form of reciprocity. Regrettably, your letter suggests that the Club will never be able to meet your demands for personal recognition. On that basis, I discourage your renewal. I hope that you are able to find a Club which appreciates you as much as you feel it should, and sends you detailed questionnaires on your likes and dislikes. I am happy that your former business with DGM made you "feel like a well served customer", which I view as an achievement. If you expected more than this, your optimism is indicative of exceptional dopiness.
The same comment applies substantially to those poor characters suffering because they haven't figured out how to access someone else's credit card. Rather than find a solution for themselves, better that DGM continues to lose money on their business. A suggestion: if this is too much effort, you probably don't need anything from DGM. So, mellow out and let's all have easier lives.
DGM's artists mostly work for nothing, or pay for the privilege. In response, DGM loses money on most of our artists. The whole operation runs very close to the bone. When we introduce on-line payments & tracking this is not an arbitrary decision: it is a necessity. Remember all those bleating posts to the Guestbook about DGM's unreliablility? Most of this was the result of off-line trading, which included unreliable cheques & money orders. We have responded by introducing on-line trading. Those customers who feel unable to continue with us, because of a trading policy which is in step with current mail order business practices, are advised to take their trade elsewhere. Perhaps send Amazon your cheques?
Life may not be easy, but it's easier than this.
13.32
Pat has returned. Drumming is going on.
19.34
That's it for today's rehearsals: better than we had hoped. There were also some classic Crim moments: the expression on Trey's face as he looked towards Pat, hopefully, for some clue or faint indication as to where he might be (TCOL); Pat's face in "FraKctured" as terror erupted in the running lines.
I mentioned to The Team that in today's (earlier) Diary I'd suggested that a DGM customer might take his business elsewhere.
Trey: Tell him to come to my website. I'll sell him stuff.
RF: But will you be nice to him, and ask him the details of everything that he likes & dislikes?
TG: Depends how much he buys.
Such are the operations of a disinterested artiste & the caring Venal Leader.
Also today: I caught up with Anthony Blake on the telephone after a year. Anthony is involved in recording a speaking project, one with el zilcho commercial appeal and a budget to match. This requires a place to record it, which will take an intensive 2 weeks, and then digital editing. The bulk of the work will be in the editing. Is there any reader of this diary that has facilities to make available for this project, please?
"Signposts are useful when you know where you're going."
