The Lifeguards are coming to the UK for a tour and as it pretty much coincided with the first anniversary of the Hoppo blog, I decided to see if I could swing a little interview with Hoppo for it. Simple enough, considering my former occupation in the music industry; I can normally get access to anyone within 48 hours of actually trying.
Not this time.
The Hoppo blog has always been kept very simple as this is what fans wanted. My actual writings about Bondi Rescue have always been posted on Malignant Narcissism; just kept things easier that way. There were always links between the two so if you wanted to read something in-depth, you would come here. For escapism, we had the Hoppo Vault.
So when I heard about the UK tour, I asked Hoppo who I should contact re PR and was told Owl Marketing. Out of politeness, I went through them for an interview (rather than just going direct). When I was writing my last book, if I requested an interview with anyone (be it a member of Queen or a member of some shitty working men's club act), I expected a response within 24 hours from their people. This is just basic manners. Evidently, things have changed a lot since I last knocked out a piece of literary greatness because I have been ignored and made to wait excessively.
Just to clarify, I work full time. I have a home life. I am trying to sort out my PhD. I cannot leave things to the last minute as things go wrong that way. I need a level of organisation in my life. I also expect professionalism from the people I work with.
I waited. And waited.
In the meantime, fans that tried to establish what was happening with the UK gig were also ignored. So I can assume it was not personal?
Today I finished work to finally receive a response to my interview request.
No.
My blog is just not good enough.
Want to read the three books or literally dozens of newspaper and magazine articles I have had published and tell me they are not good enough too?
Livid is not the word. I have put in so much time and effort for it to be dismissed in one line of a (badly written) email.
The rumour is that you will only get an interview if you pay. Talk about taking advantage.
The lifeguards evidently are happy with this as they keep going on about what a great job Owl Marketing are doing for the UK tour. Not from a fan perspective; it is badly organised with them doing their best to keep our grubby little mitts off their sacred heifer.
You know what?
Fuck it.
I am past caring. I knew this tour would not have a positive ending. I have shut down the Hoppo blog and am not going to waste any more of my time and effort on it. We averaged 5500 hits a month which isn't too bad for a shit blog, huh? Still, what would I know?
Anyone wanna buy my Bondi Rescue DVDs and signed book? Email me with offers.
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