This time yesterday (earlier, really), Bud's phone rang (before the alarm could sound), and it was the 'publisher' he has been working with for over the last month on the production of a comic book. Brian's part, obviously, was to draw the story, and he was geeked.
Right from the beginning, though, there have been issues with the so-called 'publisher' not showing up for meetings (he called), asking Bud to drive all the way to the D and then not calling to say there were troubles and he wasn't going to make it himself...and the kicker was they could just as easily have met somewhere around Birminghan or Southfield instead of going all the way downtown. This guy is on a power trip - and the emporer has no pants (do you feel me?).
The day Bud was to sign the contract, the dude didn't show at the Detroit "office" for over 45 minutes, and just left Bud sitting there wondering. Nobody told him what was going on, so after a while the kid left. while Brian was driving home it was then the 'publisher' called him to ask "hey, where are you?"
In addition, the man never returns phone calls and is so slow to respond to email. He is lackluster, to say the least, and it has been this way from the very beginning. It should have been a big red flag, but Brian so wanted the chance to draw a book and be published here in the states...especially in the D.
Anyhow, the trouble continued yesterday when Brian drove to Novi to attend the Comicon - at the insistence of the 'publisher'. The dude wanted his stable representing his publications there - to drum up business and be a name in the community. He is a little man wannabe playing in a big boys world. No one was going to be paid for this appearance, and it isn't in the contract, but Bud wanted to go - and if this idiot was going to get Bud in the door for free, Brian figured it was worth it. Besides, he might be able to network while there - which was a good thought.
Well, the idiot 'publisher' called early to find out if Brian was still going to go, and if he was going to be there on time. Then he told Bud that he himself was running around working on last minute errands and wouldn't be there right on time, but that Brian should just relax and wait, and he would be there before long.
This guy was hanging in there, true to form.
Right around ten o'clock, when Bud had originally planned on leaving, his phone rang again, and yes....you guessed it. It was the idiot saying he was through with his running around and would see Brian down there, at the rendezvous point, where they would all climb into 'publishers' car and drive to the venue parking; was Brian already on the road? How long will it take you to get there, blah, blah, blah. 'Publisher' told Bud that he was now gathering the other people and would see Brian soon. Mind you, Brian was driving on his own dime; this joker was not going to reimburse the cost of fuel or mileage! It's 30 miles in one direction, and he expected Brian would drive to Novi 3 days in a row.
So, Brian left and then spent the next two hours waiting for idiot 'publisher', or anyone else to show up. Several phone calls and BS stories later, it turned out that this idiot's payment for the spot at the Comicon was no good, and there was no spot! Can you imagine!
Since Brian has returned home yesterday afternoon, there has been no word from idiot 'publisher' regarding today. The last Brian was told, "today was on..." All troubles would be worked out and they would all be there gladhanding and networking and whatever.
Uh-huh, yeah, right.
It is now 9:40am, and Brian is still sleeping. The last message Bud left on the fool's voice mail last night was to send Brian a photo of himself and the others sitting at a table in the Comicon, with their ID badges on, and then he would jump back in the car and head to Novi.
It is a beautiful, sunny day. I think I'll go pull weeds.
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