I would have liked to discuss that with khan, but when he wasn't yelling rants down the phone at me over something that was none of my business, he was ignoring all contact, making it impossible to negotiate anything. Next thing I was off the bill...
I only got my contract a few weeks prior to the event, and when I got it, it included Xidus (the rapper on Welcome to the Future – NE3). I said that I did not want to be tied into the same contract or have to mentor him. I didn't want the responsibility of organising someone else, especially since the contract stated if any party should not turn up then I would owe Street Sounds travel expenses, accommodation and any other fees agreed in their entirety. I did not want this responsibility if Xidus for some reason could not make it. So I said I would like separate contracts, this version of the contract arrived just 1 week prior to the event, but there were still clauses to be discussed.
I had Kate phone me on Friday 8th July (8 days before the event), saying she must book a hotel and had to do it within that phone call, as they close by 5 o'clock, and if I did not agree to sharing a room with Xidus, she would only book one night (not the two we needed), so I said I would take Friday. I spoke to Xidus that evening who said he was not available on the Friday, so I got back in touch with Morgan to tell him, and all I had was ranting that it was booked because I had agreed to it (although I only agreed to my accommodation requirements, not Xidus'), I also didn’t need to know how stressed he is, how much weight he has lost, or how he’s missed his daughter's birthday (her 3rd birthday this year funnily enough). This is no way to be treated, whether I am a recording artist or dog shit. This was unfair that I was put in that position right at the last minute. My skills are as a musician, not an organiser or artist management, so why I was lumbered with such a feat at the last moment? I don't really know Xidus that well, and don't even live in the same city (I'm in Edinburgh, Scotland, he is in Peterborough, England, 350 miles away).
The travel and accommodation should have been organised months prior to the event, and for months I tried to get this sorted, yet Morgan was making it impossible to get hold of him, and I tried every possible means to make contact. I even mentioned Morgan's elusiveness on Facebook, as I was unsure the event was even going ahead. This was the only time he actually contacted me (interestingly within seconds of my posting), asking me to remove my comment, and that ‘it would all be arranged in good time’.
There was one clause I wanted to discuss with Morgan in the contract saying I could not perform in the UK for 90 days after the event, this would block off my whole summer of performances, and I have already agreed to perform in Edinburgh the following week (21st July). It also stated I could not perform 100 days prior to the event, which I already have. This would be breach of contract before I even signed it. I wanted to discuss this with Morgan, but the few times I have managed to speak with him literally with only days to go, all I had was him ranting that I hadn't sorted Xidus' train tickets and accommodation. As an artist, I was not even aware this was my job. Nobody had told me.
Not only that, the fee I had agreed for myself was written into the joint contract, this was £250, which is very cheap considering this was to include both my performance and keyboard playing for Newcleus. I told Morgan that I didn't want my fee disclosed. When Xidus got his contract (within a week to go), he had not been offered a fee, so I told him to take that up with Morgan, as I had agreed mine already. This lead to another phone-call from Street Sounds, this time it was Kate (Khan’s PA) ranting at me saying my agreed fee was to be shared with Xidus. Then phoned Xidus about the situation and tried to turn him against me. This was the last I heard from Street Sounds, until someone mentioned there was a notice on the Street Sounds website saying I was not performing due to ‘contractual issues’.
There was also a mailshot "One Week To Go". I was not included in this mailshot; both my name and Xidus’ had already been omitted. This was posted around on the 9th, before Morgan even started his rants with me, so maybe Morgan had already decided he didn't want me there before he started shouting his rants at me. I didn't even know I was off the bill until I saw it announced on Street Sounds website, and that’s the reason I was not at UK Fresh 2011.