MAC Tries to Trumpet, But Instead Falls Off-Key
MAC Tries to Trumpet, But Instead Falls Off-Key
MAC Tries to Trumpet, But Instead Falls Off-Key#1
Posted: 3/18/07 at 10:06pm
In David Finkle’s recent BACK STAGE article, he wrote, “Speaking of ballyhoo, there’s bleating in at least one community corner about the supposedly reinvigorated Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC). A recent seminar is one specific. But those trumpeting the improvements are hard-pressed to present other significant changes – certainly, the relatively unchanged makeup of the self-satisfied board of directors is nothing to boast of.”
It is important to note that objective journalist David Finkle refers to the MAC BOD & those “trumpeting” in this way. I stress that Finkle makes my longstanding point exactly: “there’s nothing that much different in today’s MAC BOD from the MAC BOD of ol’”.
It is no fun at all for me to post about MAC, & to remind readers that because of the poor leadership quality of MAC, the cabaret industry is in deep doo-doo. 1 of the reasons that I do come back to this subject & take a stand about MAC is because it’s the right thing to do.
Something that Stu Hamstra of cabarethotlineonline.com (MAC’s new mouthpiece and “trumpet[or]”) doesn’t address is that the past is a great indicator of the future. In his nwsltrs, he ignores the past intentionally. The point here is that the lack of good decision making in the past is an excellent indicator of what this MAC BOD is incapable of doing, in terms of leadership for the cabaret community. MAC is the Trade Association of record. Its BOD should work smarter, not harder.
A very important reason I continue to post my comments & warn people about MAC is because there are a lot of new people entering the cabaret community, as well as a lot of people who may be rejoining who have not been paying attention to these arguments from the last couple of years & they need to be made aware of the nature of the character of the people who are running MAC. Yes, there are several people who mean well, but on the top of the leadership, there are people who have done some nasty, vile things. The nastiness & crude remarks Stu Hamstra refers to in his latest writings are nasty & crude remarks not made by me. I’m merely reporting what was written by Ritzel, Barbarino & MAC Jazz publicist Penny Landau. I think its important that people considering joining MAC be made aware of the character of the people involved with MAC.
Stu Hamstra tosses about the phrase “laughing stock” & tries to land it in my court, but it is MAC that is the “laughing stock,” in large part because of posts put up by Ricky Ritzel, Scott Barbarino and Penny Landau, all of whom either have been or are/were associated with MAC at the time they were posting, or have since become associated w/MAC. Their posts on the internet set them up for ridicule & made MAC, through its officers & friends of its officers, look far sillier than Stu Hamstra’s “10 Silly Reasons for not joining MAC”.
MAC’s reputation in the o/s world pre-dates anything that I have said or done in relation to MAC. MAC was a laughing stock going as far back as when it was ridiculed on “Will & Grace” (aamof, the episode was just broadcast this past Fri nite on LIFETIME). This may have been MAC’s high point for being known. Something to think about.
In his latest writings Stu Hamstra refers to early victories. But they were won at a dear cost. Stu, however, thinks we’ve won the war and I think we’ve only won a battle, especially since the “opposition” is still in tact. Stu just decided to jump off early, that’s all. I think the war it yet to be won, & I’m not jumping off. No way, no how.
I’m flattered that Stu gives me credit for helping to turn MAC around, @ least to the extent that MAC has dropped its plans to hijack the MAC Awards from its voting mbrshp. If I’ve been right about MAC in the past, it is just possible that I might still be right about MAC & its leadership now. Stu Hamstra can cheerlead & trumpet all he wants, but I’m telling him, & anybody who’s reading this, that MAC will only be rescued if & when it has genuinely brand new leadership that isn’t top heavy w/people who think evisceration, rape & death are funny, & act like fools in public. MAC is a joke, in part, because its leadership does not have the respect of the rest of the live entertainment industry.
Milla
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
re: MAC Tries to Trumpet, But Instead Falls Off-Key#2
Posted: 3/19/07 at 11:44am
I thought this was about MAC Cosmetics...
They have been beddy beddy good to me.
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