http://www.gigdirectory.net
HI David and Respected Maine Film Makers

I didn't mean to sound like I was threatening legal action, at least not
in a hard way. If anybody is going to say something about a person or
company or group it is a legal requirement to get the facts straight
first, else you are commiting libel. There are newspaper stories about
libel cases most everyday. When I write articles for Gigdirectory.net,
lawyer freinds read them and tell me quick smart if there is something
I should check the facts on. I am defensive, yes, quite so, because it
only takes one person with the wrong information and a few discussion
groups to get the wrong message spread all over the net. For a genuine
service and community this can be devistating.

As for my background, I have worked in all facets of arts and media as
well as community arts in London, Australia, Germany, India, and San
Francisco, theater, festivals, tv, film, video, multi media, radio, and
concerts all my adult life, I am now 41. I have lived in San
Francisco now for 5 years and my first gigs back then were with Bill
Graham Presents. Since then my field work is mainly live production and
PR as a logistics consultant, human resource, and freelancer in the Bay
Area.
SHort List:
150 Folsom (Various Events)
Arts Fest SF
AVIT VJ Video Art Trade Show
Bizar Bazzare Crafts Market
Cirque Du Soleil (Corporate Video - not for release)
Film California
Digital Be In
Earth Dance Festival
Gigdirectory.net Media Classifieds
Green Festivals
Green Spirit Dance
Health and Harmony Festival
How Wierd Street Faire
Joshua Tree Music Festival
ModernArt Media Group
Ram Dass (Various Events)
Red Bull Ascension (Benefit for SF Late Night Coalition and Dance Safe)
Sasha Butterfly (Various Events)
Studio Z (Various Events)
Verbum Publishing Events
As well as independent artists, shows, art exhibits, workshops, fund
raisers, music videos, and special events.
As you can imagine, I have references coming out of my yin yang:-)

The rough History of Gigdirectory.net is in About Us under Company
History.
But here is some stuff that may not be there.....(I will update About
Us, now that you have made me think about it)

Gigslist.org is the original site plus a dozen individual yahoo groups,
all of which are still in existance.
Gigslist.org had job referals as well as a huge library of arts and
media job sites(currently being updated and redeveloped).
Gigslist.org for past 4 years or so was the model that the other
gazillion, you mentioned, looked to for ideas and research. Even
craigslist.org (webby award winner) got their arts and media category
ideas from Gigslist.org, I told them to get some when they didn't have
any arts and media categories.(Craig lives just up the road from me)

Over all over 4.5 years, current overall population over all sites and
yahoo groups is 11 000 something.
Plus we have a huge fan base that are not members, including
entertainment lawyes, arts sites and organizations around the world,
production companies, promoters and media, with 37 000 on the mailing
list alone.
Very first start was an underground mailing list called Round Up with
100 or so industry freinds, which was free.
It became too much work and I was going to give it up, but members
offered to pay me to keep it going.
Since then all categories, prices, and services have been from members
suggestions.
Gigslist.org was planned to be non profit but lawyers said it would
cramp ideas and not let us expand, so it became a private self funding
community service. We don't make any profit, 1 paid full time staff
(me) 2 paid occasional staff (1 assistant and 1 programmer when budget
allows), everything else has gone back into developing the community
and services and maintaining the site. (Gigdirectory.net is classed as
a mega site, and as such requires a dedicated server to handle the huge
number of members and their info)

I know there are gazzilion services similar, but not like
Gigdirectory.net, because we are geninely always in development as a
community and a school of life workshop. As you will see when you start
reading our editorial tip sheets and GigNews which are free.
Posting resumes, workshops, and business adds in the Classfieds is free,
as well as posting jobs.
Our paid access services also doubles as optional privacy protection for
people who post, a we have had problems with female talent being
harrassed, and employers being spammed in the past.
For more info read the front page blurb on Gigdirectory.net and click
About Us for company history and FAQ's

We now need you help for damage control. I don't know what else is being
said out there or how many people are spreading the wrong information.
If you have checked out Gigdirectory.net and all of its services and
you like what we are trying to do please recommend us to your industry
buddies and discussion groups. If you see wrong information out there
please educate people and organizations with the right information.
Please sign onto Gigdirectory.net and have a look around and use our
free services, and please help us spread the good word.

Sincerely

Deborah Paulino
Founder
gigslist.org
gigdirectory.net


=====================

If you are a legit service I am seriously interested to know more about
your service and the value that it provides. I would also be curious to
know about your background in the entertainment business that entitles
you to offer such a service. I am not trying to sound negative
(Although I was very surprised at how quickly you threatened legal
action.) - it's just that there are a gazillion services like yours who
claim that they can benefit our industry. A large number of them have
no place trying to break into an industry they really no little about.
As I read in another post today warning about you - "there are too many
services that are asking for money and offering nothing in return."

And for the record you don't know me and to threaten legal action so
prematurely is a terrible business move. Remember legitimate filmmakers
are a tight community and word can spread very quickly about companies
threatening like this.

And if you do feel you want to have me speak to your attorney I am happy
to do so.

David

http://www.gigdirectory.net


> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [Mainefilm E-Mail Group] In response to David Grant about
> Gigdirectory.net
> From: "david grant" <davidgrantcontact@...>
> Date: Fri, July 16, 2004 1:12 pm
> To: "modernart_media" <resumes@...>
>
> I have forwarded your company my response.
>
> But for the group I would simply say - Isn't it curious that a company
claiming to be so secure with 8000+ members would threaten legal action so
quickly considering the really don't know how connected I am in the industry.
>
> I read more in relation to this company in another group today and I think
this is really what we all want to know anyways - Where's the value in this
service? And if it can be strated then Great. If not, why are we wasting
our time talking.
>
> David.
>
>
> modernart_media <resumes@...> wrote:
> Hi
>
> This is Deborah from Gigdirectory.net
>
> I think David or who ever gave him that information should get their
> facts straight be for commiting libel. And maybe should check with a
> lawyer before publishing stuff..
>
> We do have over 8000 registered users, at this moment 8353 to be
> exact. Anyone can check the live stat report in the left menu, (Not
> the member list of our forums). And we are a professional community,
> not a company, our members make the suggestions for the services and
> prices we have. We do have free services and professional services and
> we are straight up about which is which, in the invitation, and on our
> front page. And you can post your resumes and Classifieds for free.
>
> Try reading and understanding stuff properly, before knocking a valued
> self funding community service.
>
> I don't suppose you even bothered to read our free editorial section
> with free tip sheets for careers and businesses. They are on the front
> page and don't require any registration, free or otherwise to view.
>
> If everyone believed scrooges like you or who ever gave you that info,
> nobody would have any fun trying something new that might help them.
> And nobody would get any help from you because you give them false
> information. Please make sure your info is correct, and get out of the
> dark ages, try being supportive of those who are working hard to help.
>
> And try to smile, it feels good once you get used to it, and somebody
> might even smile back at you.
>
> ;-)
>
> Deborah
>
> Founder of
> http://www.gigdirectory.net
> http://www.gigslist.org
>
>
>
>
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