YipJumpFORUM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20135&item=7312828135&rd=1

whatever.  people sell art to pay the bills. times can be tough. we all know how that goes.  
  

Yep. Poor "Appalled" is gonna suffer multiple heart attacks if things don't turn around financially for me by the time "The Devil & Daniel Johnston" hits general release. I mean, those pieces were nice enough, but they're of recent vintage and not even particularly inspired (in a relative sense, of course). They're probably not even going to sell for the price the fellow is asking, though by this time next year they might.

I'm broke NOW, but I'm holding my TRULY rare and precious Daniel stuff 'till at least then , so it doesn't quadruple in value right after I sell it and make me pull all my hair out. (FYI: a large price hike is being predicted by folks in the know to coincide with the national/international release of the film & its soundtrack CD, along with the planned box set of recordings planned to follow, plus the already steadily continuing growth of public interest in Daniel).

In fact, I just packaged the hand-recorded tapes (w/hand-drawn covers), original watercolor paintings and assorted other early-to-mid 1980s DJ memorabilia together into one tidy package for my parents to hold onto, partially as collateral for all the dough I've had to borrow from them and the added cash I'll no doubt beg offa them in the future.

(For those who have seen "Devil...", I invited my brother to a showing, and was very surprised he didn't make some comment afterwards regarding Daniel's & his father's statements about the future. They struck pretty close to home ovah heah!)

 - Not Daniel

BTW: All that fantastic DJ artwork that suddenly started showing up recently (and will continue to do so) at the Museum of Love comes from me. Y'see, I cherry-picked 50 or 60 of the absolute most tip-top, mind-blowing works from Daniel's art stash many years ago, back when he would just give away anything to whoever showed up at his place. I never felt that I really OWNED the stuff, though (even though I simultaneously was giving him things like a copy of Strange Tales #114; 1st Silver Age Captain America [prototype] by Jack Kirby, now valued at $450.00 in NM).

My justification for snagging the pile of priceless art, at the time, was that I intended to show it around and maybe help Dan get some art gigs or showings or whatever. Nothing came out of that, at least directly, but on the other hand I prevented the pages from ending up in more unscrupulous hands.

Anyway then, last year once my cash supply totally bottomed out (due to the combination of underemployment, chronic illness, no insurance & ludicrously high-priced prescription drugs required to keep me alive) I passed 95% of the drawings on to the Museum so that Daniel would get (most of) the money for their sale, as it should be. I charged a token amount per drawing as a "storage fee" so, just out of the sheer volume of pages of art involved, I was able to pocket a pretty sweet pile of green paper, while assuring that DJ will still bring in five to ten grand from the works in question.

I dunno. I think the ebay item (3 framed drawings) is actually fairly priced. I worked as a picture framer by day for the last 17 years at 2 very different but equally high-end galleries. An 8"X10" print of flowers or landscape or bowl of some damn fruit by nobody in particular can easily cost $300.00. Add a matte, glass, and frame (anywhere from $50.00 to $5000.00) and you've got a major investment on your hands. These 3 pieces are "rare" in that they are from a definite series for an album cover.

For my own art, I typically sell something (drawing, painting, etc. ) 8"X10" framed for around $250.00 to $300.00. It will be interesting to see what high bid is.

Dan doesn't really get money from the sale of art at the museum of love. Dan gets at most about $10/piece.

Drew - with all due respect you're misinformed.  Completely.

Jeff

ok - inform me

Drew - Daniel has given me very specific instructions not to discuss his business affairs with overly nosy relatives. I will say that his ability to make good decisions and act in his own best interest is significantly better than certain people would give him credit for. If you want to discuss this further we should probably do it in private. Feel free to email me anytime

Jeff Tartakov
Stress Records
strest@aol.com

ps: thanks again for fixing the site. It looks great.

Jiffy Tee - I could SWEAR that I very recently read a detailed description of the deal Daniel has on art sales in a commercially available publication (the Texas Monthly article seems by far to be the most likely possibility, eh?) It gave enough info to straighten out this discussion, at least.

In the belief, then, that this is in fact already publicly accessible information:

The statement said that Daniel does indeed get $10 out of each piece of artwork sold - as immediately available spending money! Meanwhile, the bulk of his profits go straight into the ol’ trust fund to ensure he is financially able to live out his life in a comfortable state of existence.

  - Not Daniel

Ken - how does whatever you read in Texas monthly relate to Drew's remark?  Are you saying that because you read about someone else's arrangement with Daniel  I'm somehow obligated to disobey his wishes? I'm confused.. :?

I was told by Dan's manager that I could discuss it, and that you could too, hence me commenting on this. As I understand it you give him $10 per piece of art, is that information incorrect?

Drew - has it occurred to you that a truthful answer could have negative repercussions for someone I care about and consider a friend?  If so then I hope you'll understand why I choose not to answer the question here.

Seems to me that any time anyone has anything to do with Daniel a certain party gets pissed!!!

Am I the only one?!?!?!

The negative repercussions being that Daniel doesn't get his $10 spending money and you don't get art?

If Daniel is selling you art for $10, and that's all he gets, then maybe Daniel isn't as smart with business decisions as you insist?

I've tried to take this to email so I apologize to the board for this ongoing crap. I've never heard anybody other than you and Daniel's manager make the claim that Daniel is selling art to me for $10. How many different ways do I have to tell you to consider your source? That you're misinformed. Mistaken. Wrong. Is it clear yet?

So Gammon IS selling these 3 framed drawings?!

Hmmmm.....

I guess I'm too dense to see where you said "no, I don't"... Ok, so that's a no? You don't buy art from Daniel for $10?

I too apologize to the board for being so dense.

No,no... I just meant that maybe that's where Drew had gotten the idea that Daniel only got $10 per piece of artwork from you, since the figure $10 was mentioned there and he used the same figure here.

Really, I didn't manage to say what I meant to very clearly at all, and I don't necessarily recall what I read correctly either, so forget I was even here, okay?
 I had thought maybe I could help clear things up, but I shoulda known I'd only make things more convoluted.

Let's talk about cinematography instead - how about those cityscapes in "Devil & DJ"? Makes you feel like you're IN wild West Virginia, don't they?!?

  - Not Involved

For the record (I hope this doesn't make things here get uglier, but I don't see how it could since it's pretty tangential) there are some places, like Sound Exchange and Austin Books, that will take Daniel's artwork in trade for records, comics and stuff. Austin Books for quite awhile would sell each piece of art for (you guessed it) $10 - maybe it was even $5 for B&W and $10 for color pages.

They're hoping to stop this practice, because too many people have discovered this little gold mine and it's not like the store is making any real money off of it at ten bucks a pop, but it's now been over a year (maybe two) since Daniel has brought them any art to trade in anyway, so they're assuming that the problem has likely solved itself.

The owner of the store, Brad, was actually upset about the "Devil & DJ" film because he had somehow gotten the idea that they would be portrayed as actively ENCOURAGING Daniel to trade in his art there for funnybooks, when in fact they only do it reluctantly for him because they like him personally and he's a long-time good customer (I've since let Brad know that there's no negative implications made about the store in the film).

The way I see it, the whole situation there is like Picasso scrawling a sketch onto a napkin to pay for his meal at high-priced, high-class restaurants. Whatever resources you've got, you use 'em!

  - Not Paloma or Pablo

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=552&item=7312416841&rd=1

auctioning dan's high school essay seems a bit odd.  that isn't art, but some random piece of paper with a few thoughts on ichabod crane. 

i hope dan's english teacher is getting a cut of the profits.   

: )

I noticed that too. It is pretty creepy but at least the seller doesn't call himself BREASTKING!   :-D

Oh, man! Now I'm gonna get [a very slightly altered version of] Meat Joy's "Another Pair" stuck in my head, just like I did two and a half weeks ago!

BREASTKING

There's another pair of breasts on the other side of town.
They're bigger than yours so I gotta fool around.
There's another pair of breasts on the other side of town.
They're bigger than yours so I gotta fool around.

Oh yeah, oh yeah!
Breastking!
Oh yeah, oh yeah!
Breastking!

There's another guy that I see on the side;
He's really nice and he understands my problems.
I like your breasts, yes I think they're fine*,
But that's where I go when you start to whine!

Cuz there's another pair of breasts on the other side of town.
They're bigger than yours so I gotta fool around!

Oh yeah, oh yeah!
(He's my) Breastking!
Oh yeah, oh yeah!
(He's the) Breastking!

Breastking!
Yeah, Breastking!
Uh-huh, Breastking!
BREASTKING!!!

Whew! The gender & sexual preference switcihng within the song was hard enough to figure out as it was!

  - Not Dancing

BTW: Back around 1986 or so, when I was living with Melissa Cobb [formerly of Meat Joy, Black Spring**, and Lester Bangs & the Delinquents] I remember that in her cassette box there was a tape that had listed on its box a couple of co-written tracks by her and Daniel. I never got to hear them, but I'll bet they were pretty good! She lives out in L.A. last I heard, working in some highly scientific, technical field (she's not the Melissa Cobb you see listed in some crew position in the credits of a lot of Hollywood movies, though). Somebody really oughtta try & get copies of those songs, if the tape hasn't already become permanently lost or disabled.

*(Originally "He likes my breasts, yes he thinks they're fine.")

**(Black Spring were, I believe, the first band to cover "Walking the Cow" - they did a very sweet and longing version, as I recall.)

Really you guys are the only ones who give a ****!!! I mean if Daniel gave someone a drawing and that person chooses to sale it then why is it your concern? All of you guys Gammon,Worriedshoes,Mueseum of love make a buck or two off Daniel and think just because you put a few bucks in his pocket you are exempt from the "Who is cheating Daniel club"
Nobody is cheating him if he GIVES them something and they decide to sale it!!Then its no business of yours!
If anyone should be pissing and moaning about who sales what it should be Dejected and Mr.Johnston not you guys! From what I gather Dejected really has no problem if someone sales some art. "Get it while you can" is what I believe he said but you guys sit and bitch about it like the money belongs to YOU!!!
Get over it!
Shut up and get the **** over it!

WOW!

I haven’t checked in on the board in a while and it looks like I missed a lot. This thread really brought a smile to my face and yet a small tear to my sexy blue eyes. I’m not sure if any of you have ever lived in NYC (I’m going on my 20th year) but it’s very costly. I have a storage bin to keep lots of my belongings in (I have been filling it for over 9 years now).  I have come to terms I can save a lot of money if I get rid of it but I need to clear it out first.  I have way to much stuff.  Over the last 20 years I have been a collector of MANY things. Rare books, tons of records and 7”, old cobalt glass, and lots and lots of art of all kinds. I have works from Jimmie Lee Sudduth, Mose Tolliver, Rev. Howard Finster, Mr. Eddie, Lonny Holly, Spencer Tunick, Mick Rock, Andy Warhol and my list can go on and on.  It’s time for me to unload and it was hard to come to terms with it but I have given it a lot of thought and have started to take action. So, it’s just not Mr. Johnston’s work I’m selling its going to be my entire collection of art, plus a TON of other cool stuff.

I do want to address pricing.

First off, the unholy alliance is art and commerce (in any form). How can you put a dollar amount on a drawing? Here’s a tip kids, it’s worth only what a buyer is willing to pay for it. So, with that said how did I come up with the price of $999.99? To start with the framing was over $250.00. Also, it’s related to album cover out from a past Daniel project (but you all know that). Also, I looked at what other people are selling Daniel’s work for. I watched eBay for a while and looked at a few websites that also sell Dan’s art.

Check these links out:

http://www.worriedshoes.com/g4/pages/60.html
($300.00 and as the Breast King I must say GREAT work Dan!)

http://members.aol.com/yipeye/2color.htm  ($850.00)

http://members.aol.com/yipeye/5color.htm ($1000.00 SOLD!!!)

Again are they worth the money? They are if they sell (ugly is the proof)! Also, I think all these works of art just give value to the works I’m selling as well as the rest of the body of Dan’s work.

But now let’s do a little simple math, shall we? $999.99 take away $250.00 is 749.99. Now lets take 3 works of Daniels art and divide $749.99 (the net worth of the art as I see it) by 3. You now have 249.67. Just to make it easy that’s $250.00 a pop. And think of what they are. They are part of Dan’s recording life. A very cool thing to own, no?  Also, good value if you want to compare them to the above 3 links!

Just who is the BreastKing and what was this all about? I think you all know by now I like to tweak minds.  I think sometimes you need to help projects along by finding ways to bring them to light. Sometimes you need to work a style or and angle to get some attention. I love it when half the reaction is they love what you’ve done and the other half think you suck. I can live with both, with joy. Look at the cover of The Late Great CD. It’s hard to get viz when you are an indie label. When I had the idea for the CD image I called Dan about the name and cover. HE LOVED IT! We had a great laugh about it and Dan even said “Man, its like Paul it dead”! This is an old trick. Townes Van Zandt (another old buddy who I worked with for years as well as producing a track on his tribute CD) most notorious album was called The Late Great Towns Van Zandt (yup, I ripped off the idea). Even “I buried Paul” was all over the place and is still talked about today.  OK, so what does this have to do with being the BreastKing? I am NOT ashamed by the site I use to have.  It’s not at all a secret (I was on Stern, in Playboy and about another 30 mags). So what was it? I had a friend of mine die of Breast cancer. It’s a bad thing to watch. Very sad stuff and hard to write about. So, I had an idea (it came from the Simpson’s plow King episode) to start a site called BreastKing. In good adult fun. Woman flashed their natural breasts (no fake breasts) by sending in 3 to 5 photos (with or with out their face). There was a free weekly contest and people would vote to see who had the best breasts. The winner would get a t-shirt, $25 dollars and was featured on a playing card. 52 weeks in a year 52 cards in a deck. This project was a breast cancer awareness site. We had a TON of info about Breast cancer. We would give back 15% of all revenue off the top (not the profit, on all money that came in) back to six charities. The site made money by charging for subscriptions (19.95 a year), banner ads, and decks of cards. We raised a LOT of money! We sponsored many walks and woman would don the Breast King tank top. It was an angle that worked VERY well. We had a lot of people hanging out on the site, we had a great bulletin board, we were a Kingdom and I was The King (also I stared as the Joker in the deck of cards with 4 topless “Princess”). The site cost a lot to keep up.  Bandwidth was unreal! We got hacked a few times too, design, keeping the site up to date on a weekly basis. It was hard!!! The site was live for about 2 years. We were able to make a deck of cards (first time ever a deck of cards were made with armature woman from the net).  They ranged in age from 18 to 60). It sadden me when I had to faze out the site because it cost so much to keep it going and way to much time to maintain and worse we were working at a loss.  To see people on this site try to “expose” me as doing something bad didn’t really didn’t bother me. They didn’t take the time to read and see the site for what it was. 15,000 a people a day loved my Kingdom and I still get e-mail saying how much they miss the fun and how much they love the deck of cards. Also, it’s true. I LOVE Breasts SO KILL ME??? What did my site, my private life, have anything to do with this Daniel Johnson world and all that I have given to it as far as love, time and money?

I don’t owe a single person a reason of why I do things, how I price things, what I want to sell or how late I stay out. Because I do what I do in off beat ways does not give people the right to think they are entitled to give me “constructive criticism “ and think I should care about it?!? It’s another thing if I know the person in the real sense of the way. I am friends with one or two people on the boards. From them I will always hear them out and take what they have to say to heart. I love it when people help me out (I welcome a friendly hand) and I try to always give back as much as I can.

I am happy that Daniel is a part of my life. I always want to do right by him, Bill and Dick. Dick, whom I truly love and has helped me like a real friend would in some very dark and stormy times.

The punch line of this long rant is that we all care about what’s best and right for Daniel. That’s why we are all here. That’s why the passion runs so high. Really, not a bad thing if it’s channeled right.  Right?

I welcome all comments but I give no guarantees I will 1) really care much 2) respond.

Ok, so how do I sign off in good old Jordy fashion that will make some of you laugh and some of you shake with anger? Hmmmm…I got it!!!!

For all of you who have supported Gammon or any project I’ve worked on, THANK YOU FROM MY HEART!!!  For those of you who have wished me bad and have rooted for me to fail (and yes, we have all failed once or twice in our lives) I say, go **** yourself.

May peace be with all of you!

Jordy-

Well said. You are right, of course. No need to explain yourself to anyone, and now that you have, I must confess I understand totally. Especially about the framing end, as I mentioned in an earlier post.

Assumptions are just that.

(What Finsters are you letting go? Just curious...)

For guest post "Who Gives..."-
Point made. No need to get hostile.

I passed 95% of the drawings on to the Museum so that Daniel would get (most of) the money for their sale, as it should be. I charged a token amount per drawing as a "storage fee" so, just out of the sheer volume of pages of art involved, I was able to pocket a pretty sweet pile of green paper, while assuring that DJ will still bring in five to ten grand from the works in question.

Wow, that’s great news! Man, that's a lot of money too! A job well done in the name of Daniel by Not Daniel. 

What’s a “storage fee”? Is that like consignment?

Drew, how can anybody complain if they are giving Daniel such large sums of money?

This is so funny guys, anyone got the full script?  :-D  :lol:

Could be worth alot of that green paper  :-D

Keep it up!

I just spoke with Daniel's dad (my grandpa) who spoke directly with Daniel about this. Daniel denies having ever said anything like that to Jeff.

Daniel comes in tonight for a movie after church, so I'll have a chance to get all the facts then.

Hey Not Daniel,

You'll take the time out of your day to rewrite a song in my honor yet you won’t respond to my post?

What gives?  
 :?

Here is a haiku!

Titties bouncy soft,
Like Froot Loops and Cheerios
Not just for breakfast




Hope everyone likes it! :evil:

I haven't been online for awhile. Actually, I had been chomping at the bit to find out what "Breastking"* meant - All I knew was that:

1) some woman was supposedly yelling it at you in anger at the Cactus Cafe, and that

2) you are allegedly a rather large fellow.

From these clues, I had supposed that it was a reference to "man boobs" which is why the song forced itself on me in the manner I transcribed (I did NOT consciously rewrite it!)

So, Breastking, didja ever hear of a guy that used to go under the name KOOL-man (King of Oral Love)? He published some great magazines and may  have even had a record label, but was apparently done in from too many whispers over his questionable nickname. (Not that you need to take that as a cautionary tale, it's just that now that I know the REAL story, that's what it reminds me of.)

  - NotDan

*(Of course, what "breastking" really sounds like is an off-brand tuna!)

I passed 95% of the drawings on to the Museum so that Daniel would get (most of) the money for their sale, as it should be. I charged a token amount per drawing as a "storage fee" so, just out of the sheer volume of pages of art involved, I was able to pocket a pretty sweet pile of green paper, while assuring that DJ will still bring in five to ten grand from the works in question.[/color]


Not Dan~

Ummm, ok I guess thanks for the Breast King post. But that's not the questions I asked you. What is a "storage fee" that you made your "sweet pile of green" from?

Why is Drew upset if you have rasied $10,000 for Daniel?

Please answer my simple questions.

This is all such a bunch of crap. Get back to discussing music. 

!) Storage Fee simply seemed like a good term - I had the art for a long time but didn't feel comfortable saying I "owned" it outright.

2)I don't think Drew is upset at/with me. I am comfortable that the deal I made was with an honest person who will give Dan what he said he would. Drew is or was appparently suspicious of the person I dealt with. It is out of my hands.

Now,  as the Dutch Fan said: " This is all such a bunch of crap. Get back to discussing music.''

Which fits a thought that just popped into my head awhile ago. Did the artists get to decide which song they'd do on the Late Great comp? Or were they given suggestoins? Was there any trouble over different people wanting to do the same song? I don't recall a lot of info coming out beforehand. Just a question I think people would be interested in.

  - notdan

...as a buyer of a number of pieces via 'the Museum'...I have found Jeff to be SO nice, and VERY fair...

....and as a English speaker/reader...it seems REAL obvious from earlier posts in this thread that Jeff is 'in the right' here...

So, Dan gets $10 in CASH to goof-off with and the rest of his cut goes to a trust fund...GREAT NEWS!

to those of you who tried to beat up on Jeff AFTER reading that...it wasn't pretty to 'watch'...

Have you EVER thought about what it was like for Jeff, as Dan's DEDICATED manager years ago,  to have helped him attain his dreams, and then to get dumped when Dan was manic?

If you don't know someone personally who has severe Manic-Depression, you have NO IDEA how hard it is on those close to the person...I DO know what's it's like, and so I KNOW that Jeff was heart-broken to have to see Dan fall apart in the past, and to have to be hurt in the process...and, I also know that he is genuinely happy for Dan's current success...

Get off his back, OK?

I think Jeff deserves a hell of a lot of empathy.

Gina

I swear I was reading the forums last night and there was a new post here from Dan's brother.   Now it's gone, what happened?

NotDaniel - I'm not upset with you at all, I think it's great that you would contribute all your art from Daniel both to help you out and to help Daniel. That looks like it worked out for everyone.

The only thing I would consider myself upset with is where the source of all/any of the misinformation is coming from... where ever that may be.

After doing a bit of research and making inquiries, this is what I have learned and understand:

 - Stress / Museum of Love / Jeff Tartakov's check to Daniel last quarter was something in the $200's.

 - There is no trust fund to which Jeff Tartakov is contributing any money for Daniel.

 - Daniel does NOT receive 95% of the revenues from Stress / Museum of Love / Jeff Tartakov.

Drew, with all due respect (of which there isn't alot of right now) you should stick to what you know, like working on this website, and stay away from that of which you are obviously totally clueless, like the business between Jeff Tartakov & Daniel.

Not to keep this dragging on, but at least one thing here probably requires my response.

3 - That is certainly NOT the figure that Jeff quoted to me, either.

  - NotDan

(I doubt if any museum "curator" would be THAT generous! After all, as Jiffy Tartarsauce said on WFMU, "I like money a lot!")

Let's not make the mistake of classifying Drew as "just one of the help" ("stick to doing what you know - the website").  Drew does what he does out of love for his uncle.  He is not one whit behind Jeff Tartakov in this regard.  Drew knows Daniel personally (Daniel is his father's brother), often travels with Daniel on tour, is frequently involved in logistical preparation for much of what happens, and he sits at table with Daniel and with Daniel's family where these topics are unraveled.   He is not an outsider nor is he "uninformed".   

Drew appears to be inquiring because of his knowledge of specifics which are at conflict with comments made about "business transactions" in this thread.   It sounds like a valid course of exploration.  So far, there are no explanations for the conflicts.

I keep hearing the call to silence.  Remember, forums are for discussion!

In rereading this entire thread I don't see where anyone ever said I paid Daniel 95%. That figure never appears until reply number 36, ironically by Drew.

As for the other 2 points in Drew's above referenced post, the quarterly royalty check mentioned was for the 4th quarter of 2004 before the movie screened at Sundance. It was one of the least profitable Christmas quarters ever and cassette sales were all but dead. Thanks to the movie things are picking up but selling $5 cassettes in the 21st century is hardly a big moneymaker.  Daniel's art is another story but as per the ARTIST'S INSTRUCTIONS that's none of his family's business. I never said anything about contributing to a trust fund and if such a fund exists I'm not aware of it. I pay Daniel directly for his art while all music related royalties are sent to his management on a quarterly basis. The percentage I take as an art dealer is standard and of course it's more that 5%.  Once again the 95-5% split was never mentioned or suggested one way or the other until reply number 36.

The bottom line is that I expect Daniel to eventually make MORE than the 5 to 10k that Not Daniel predicted he would make off the drawings I purchased. Despite a seemingly stagnant music career his art career has taken off in recent months and if everything being planned for the next 12 months pans out Daniel will be viewed as a MAJOR artist and not just an outsider.

I hope this helps clarify things.
Jeff

Yes, "Eastgate" we all know who Drew is, just as we know that like father, like son, neither seem to have any real knowledge of certain business situations.

dorks

Jeff does deserve empathy but when he gets his panties in a wad because someone is selling art, it makes him look like he is afraid his cash cow we go dry!

Yes, I know you are Jeff's girlfriend and you see things from a limited perspective.  It's interesting that you have a grandiose view of "how much" you can see that Drew or Dick cannot.   You must feel very proud and powerful!

If Dick Johnston does not know about "certain business dealings", who's fault is that?   These things should not be hidden, and the fact that they ARE makes them IMMEDIATELY suspect.  Then, remarks like Jeff calling them "nosey relatives" - or saying that Daniel said that - I'm sorry, the story is being defended by assualts designed to silence discussion, and that is also immediately suspect.    I'm surprised that anyone- including Jeff's girl - would count the Johnston family members "totally clueless" (candidly, that was a crass remark) on any topic relating to Daniel.

Look on the bright side. Jeff's girl friend didn't physically attack you (as she did me). I know Jeff’s girl friend Jaimi knows better because she has a heart and took the time to say she was sorry to me.  Please read the following:

Jordy,

My name is Jaimi. We haven't officially met, although we did exchange "words" at the Cactus Cafe during SxSw. I have regretted that. I don't feel that I owe you an apology, but I am sorry that it happened. I am not the type that usually speaks out, nor gets violent, and I am ashamed of my behavior, especially in front of someone like Jeff Feuerzeig, whom I truly admire and respect. What upset me was the fact that you initially contacted Jeff with the intention of shaking hands and coming to terms with your disagreements, peacefully. Jeff was ready to do the same. But instead, you accosted him, and Henry Rosenthal, another person I care for, and that just set me off. I think you and I both know that Jeff isn't anywhere near your size, and for you to attempt to get physical with him was just wrong. You both have your reasons for feeling like you do towards each other, and I'm not going to condone nor agree with either man...but you should have stayed with your original plan (if it was the original plan) and tried to work things out peacefully between the two of you. I know Jeff well, and know that he has Daniel's best interests at heart. The two of them are close. I also care about Daniel deeply, and only want the best for him. I do not believe that Dick nor Mr. Johnston are providing the best for him, business- wise, but that is out of my control. Jeff and I just do what we can do on our end.
In closing, I also want to let you know that I am one of the few that took the time to read your breastking website and see beyond the breasts. Most of the women in my family have had breast cancer, and it is something I fully support. I do not believe that the site was pornographic, nor "bad". I just felt that I needed to write this.
     Sincerely,
 Jaimi McAllister


Do note though she is consistent with her feelings about the Johnston folks.

I did reply to this nice note (twice) but for some unknown reason she never wrote back to me.  I do find that a bit odd.

Here was my reply:

Jaimi,

Wow.  Thank you for this e-mail. I find it touching you have taken some time out of your day to drop me a note. It’s very nice of you.  Currently I’m eating lunch at my deck so I can get back to you. I am so crazy at work these days.  I got back from SXSW caught a flu and needed a few days off.  When I got back to work I was so behind and then I had a death in my family and missed even more work (yuck) so now I’m super behind (UGH). Yet I thought I should take a break from the grind and get back to you.

By no means do you owe me anything including an apology and I’m sorry you feel ashamed.  If I put you in the position that you felt you needed to react in the way you did, then I’m the one that’s sorry.  If that doesn’t make you feel any better maybe this will. I’m not really sure who you are or what went down. I *think* you are the woman who came up to me at the end of the show said a few things about stepping outside with you (and that would never happen because I would NEVER hit a woman, ever) and then kicked me in my leg. Truth is I found the kick kind of funny and felt badly at the same time that you were THAT upset you needed to strike out. Remember, I live for reactions and you gave me one, uncalled for or not. Anyways, it’s all good and no worries.

I’m sorry you had to go through the Breast Cancer nightmare with your family members. Man, it just flat out sucks. You’re helpless in making a person better.  I can’t even digest what it must be like to lose a part of your body. You can only stick close to that person and be there for them.  But the confusing thing is if you are who I think you are (and I may be mistaken) I do remember the last thing you saying to me is “Breast King” like I was bad or evil or you had one up on me by knowing of my site. If you saw the site as you said you did you know what it’s about. No bother. To show you no hard feelings if you want to give me your address I will make a $25 dollar donation to Susan B in your name or your families name. (I still stand by my tag line about breasts---Keep them real, keep them healthy)!

I truly do not want to go in to the “his story, my story and the truth” about what went down at SXSW. But if I may I will point out a few facts. One, I had no idea what Jeff looked like and I never met Henry. When looking for Jeff, Henry was pointed out as being him.  I spoke to Henry thinking it was Jeff (man, was I embarrassed and I did say I was sorry to Henry for the mistake a few times over). When I spoke with Jeff I wanted to end all this crap.  I’m not looking for a new friend but I was hoping to end the drama (lol, yet I seemed to have caused more). Now this may be hard for you to believe but for what its worth (hand to my heart and I swear not just on myself but on my relationship with Daniel) I never raised a hand towards Jeff.  Nor did I have any intentions to. Not that you should care but 2 weeks before SXSW I was mugged and knocked out clean (the kid who knocked me out was smaller then Jeff!!!). I know my size and my strength and if I were to get physical with Jeff he would have been out cold outside. He would have had marks on him to show what I did to him. I did explain with strong words I wanted this BS over with and it’s just time to move on. And then something great happened.  Jeff agreed!! But he then said to me “but Jordy in order to do this you have to listen to my “constructive criticism”.  When I said no, I don’t and will not. He changed right on the spot. He got pissed and yelled THIS CONVERSATION IS OVER and went to run back in to the club. I put my foot in front of the door and said, Jeff, don’t run away, talk this out. He started to toss himself around and yell and bang on the window that I was hurting him. It was a crazy display of behavior (kind of shocking to tell you the truth).  When Henry and Jeff F came to the door and I moved my foot Jeff jumped behind them and then he opened his mouth to me with name calling and the such (he must have felt safe then). Jeff was VERY good at making a scene and blowing it way out of proportion. I was wrong in two ways. It would have been better if I didn’t make an effort with Jeff T to start with. Two, I just should have let Jeff in the door and walked away knowing I did try. But I seemed to have ****ed that up pretty good. I know you are tight with Jeff and I know what happened can’t be undone for better or worse. Please know I did try though.

Oh my, I have gone into what happened and I didn’t want to. Ugh.

As far as Dick and Bill go I have been working with them for years now.  Is it frustrating at times?  God, yes! But why so? Lack of education is what it always boils down to.  They are Daniels family and they do what they THINK is best for him at all times.  They are NOT music biz folks (THANK GOD FOR THAT).  They don’t understand how things work.  You need to take a lot of time and explain it to them as well as demo it by example. When they understand the challenge at hand they move forward with gusto. Also, remember we all **** up and make mistakes.

I hope I haven’t over stepped and lines with you during this e-mail. I am not looking for any kind of drama or problem with you (I don’t even know you and are unsure if I am even thinking of the right person). Either way ~ best to you and yours!  Keep on doing good things by Daniel and in the end it will come back to you one way or another (it’s the law of the Universe).

Being a guy who likes to bet now and them I’ll leave you with this. I bet if you met me in another way, at another time, in another place you would have found me off beat, see that I’m not threatening and that I enjoy making other people laugh.

OMG, I just re read this e-mail. What I wanted to be a fast note took me over an hour and went in to way to much detail.

Sorry?

Again, thank you for your time.

Peace be with you Miss McAllister.

It’s funny how we all want in the game.

I feel badly for Jeff T. He seems to have only one thing in his life.  Daniel. It’s his world.  I can’t blame him when he gets upset when he sees people selling art, records or trying to help Daniel get a gig. You are hurting his world that he made for himself. I’m lucky that I’m not that one dimensional. Check it out. You can see I have worked with a ton of bands. I have produced many projects for both major labels and indies as well. I have had a book of poetry published from St. Martians Press that has sold over 50,000 units. I work in digital distribution on the front lines of a revolution on how music is going to be delivered now and in the future.  I keep on keeping on with this biz music and media.

I enjoy watching Jeff having his 15 minutes of fame! Good for you JT! But if I were you, I would keep my eye on your clock kid because it’s ticking very fast. Jeff, when you pick up a few more bands, release CD’s and not a close to dead medium of cassettes you may be able to add a little more time to you clock of fame. GO FOR IT MAN! You have proven to all of us you have done it once with one artist. DO IT AGAIN WITH A NEW ARTIST!

I find it endearing how hard Daniel’s folks WORK for Daniel. Danny is not an easy boss to have. I would trust his family over a manager any day of the week only because I know they will not TAKE ADVANTAGE of Daniel and only want wants best for him. How are they self severing?  What is their monetary reward? The reward is love (and true love will find you in the end, right folks?).

Just for the record I have to say yes, I have had my troubles with Bill. He’s still a fine man. Dick or the other hand I love.  He has been a friend to me.  He has taught me things. I only wish I could be a better man and follow his advice.

This time I’ll sign off with a quote from one of my hero’s:

“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro”
~Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

After reading all the posts on the boards we all need to realize we’re all old pro’s here.

 :-o

"...I have had a book of poetry published from St. Martians Press that has sold over 50,000 units."

Now THIS I'd like to hear more about! How 'bout a sample poem? What's the title, Jordy?

PS. For the record, I am not the "Henry" referred to in the above post. THAT would be Henry Rosenthal, producer of The Devil and Daniel Johnston.

To post under a new screen name referring to yourself in the third person then edit said post using your old screen name and expecting readers not to know who you are seems fairly clueless to me.

ok guys, fine, here we go...
although I find this utterly ridiculous and a waste of my time...
Dick, first you...or Eastgate, the name you chose to hide behind and answer me with...that's stupid. Just be yourself, and if you do use a name to hide behind, don't go edit it as Dejected...
I am not looking at any of this as someone associated with Jeff. Or, as you put it, "Jeff's girl". I am looking at this as someone that has been lucky enough to see things from the inside, someone that has been lucky enough to spend time with Daniel, gotten to know Daniel, and is concerned for Daniel. I know more about the workings of the music industry than the normal person on the street, so I am not looking at this without certain knowledge. It is my opinion that the Johnston family, namely you and your father, are not running Daniel's career at anywhere near the capacity that it should be ran at. I also don't agree with the way you run Daniel's personal life. This is my opinion and this is the reason this board exists, opinions and discussion. I also happen to know for a fact that these accusations of Drew's were wrong, dead wrong, and I had no problem calling him on his ignorance. It's awfully sweet of him to blindly believe in daddy, and for daddy to run to his son's defense, but the fact remains that neither of you know as much as you think you do. And now on to the funner stuff...
Jordy, Jordy, Jordy...
First and foremost, let me applaud you on your complete and utter lack of taste for posting a private message that I sent you. I tried to be a better person and take what happened at the cactus cafe to another level. Now I just wish I'd kicked you in your balls rather than your leg. Why did you post that? what did any of that have to do with this current discussion? As for you writing back to me, I never received any other correspondance beyond that reply from you, so sit and spin.
Second, as for what you wrote about Jeff...here's another completely clueless guy, folks...I am so sick of people thinking and assuming they know all, when they are CLUELESS! Jordy, don't even pretend to think you know the first thing about Jeff, or his career. Yes, he's focused on one thing that is succeeding beautifully. You may have done many things, but as far as I'm concerned they have all failed miserably. Your business associations with Daniel were not anything but a dismal failure, and did not help his career one iota. Hell, you can't even edit the spellings on the cds you out...I don't remember how many words I counted that were misspelled on that last cd jacket, and that's just ridiculous.simple.
Concerning the Johnstons...I never said they didn't care about Daniel, I never accused them of not loving him, or claimed that they were taking advantage of him. I just don't think they are doing him justice, career-wise, plain and simple. Nor did I think Gammon Records did. What this all comes down to is people need to mind their own damn business...if you're in the business to aide Daniel's career, then do it, and stop trying to ruin other people's with your clueless accusations. I just had a co-worker who knows nothing about any of this come by and read some of these posts, and said that you all sound like a bunch of immature children.
And Jordy, I just double checked both this board and my private email...you never sent me anything beyond your initial reply. And maybe it's a good thing, too, as anything I wrote back would've just been posted publicly...sheesh...

ALL of this is pretty sad actually :-(

Agreed. I also concur with what "Ghost" said.

Hi, everyone -

Just wanted to clairfy who I am, and add a few more cents-

I am just another 'new' fan of Dan's...I only learned about him when I read that a documentary about a manic-depressive won an award at Sundance...then, I searched for info on him, listened to some tunes on-line and got hooked...

I have never met anyone on here in person, although I would be honored to meet Jeff, since he has been nothing but kind and considerate with me in my business dealings with him.

Everytime I've interacted with Jeff, he is terrific - I buy art from 3 sources - the family's site has been the only one that presented 'some problems/disappointments'...Jeff's interactions have been the only ones to obviously very clearly indicate great appreciation for Dan's art, and  great joy in sharing info about him/it -

I would also like to add that I never even knew that Jeff had been Dan's manager until I later saw the movie in SF at the Indie Fest.
When I saw how dedicated Jeff had been to Dan's career and how vital he was in helping Dan realize his dreams, it was obvious to me that without Jeff, I (and some of you) may never have even heard of DJ, so I am thankful to Jeff for his business savy...

...and as I mentioned in my first post, I feel for him. ...As a sibling of someone with manic depression (an ex-modern-dancer), I KNOW Jeff got burned by Dan's illness, and so he TRULY deserves empathy, not attacks...

OK, well - - my last comment in this thread:

Again...to those of you who want to down Jeff, or try to hurt him by downing his girlfriend...grow up and stop bullying...stop looking for scapegoats to your own angst... instead, get some therapy...or, if you are someone who can't admit to your own issues, at least do what Dan does  - find a creative outlet..and then hire Jeff to manage you.

;-) Gina

PS - It was REALLY sad to see private letters posted on here...not at all cool.

There's something almost...I don't know...heartbreaking about this:

http://www.rejectedunknown.com/mozek.htm

The man's own words. I won't take them out of context and post them here to make a point, but click the link and take 3 minutes to read it. A clear perspective comes to light, and it literally brings a tear to my eye.

Bottom line is, who knows what it takes to create art? Everyone's experience is unique and even sacred. For some it's effortless, but for many, it hurts like hell.

Health/Happiness/Sanity...THAT's what's important.
If you're not around, you can make any more art, y'know?

As for this thread, as I've said in another post somewhere, we've all hit a "SEND" at one time or another and then almost immediately regretted it. Welcome to the machine. But we learn to pause, maybe even sleep on it, and reconsider the whole thing in the morning.

Let this be the end to this thread. There's a bunch of other cool stuff to discuss! 'Nuff said?

Anyway, as is said on 1983's Yip/Jump Music: "Don't let the sun go down on your Grievances..."

Well put, Henry -

I want to thank you - you have helped release me from trying to defend others who can defend themselves, but shouldn't have to on a board such as this one -

Hopefully, though, after this 'not very interesting, but emotionally educational' thread, the moderators of this site will now just AUTOMATICALLY delete any and all personal attacks - even those coming from family members...

...it's simply not right, in general, to allow such posts...

Whether or not anyone in Dan's family likes Jeff or not, they should not allow ANY posts downing him or anyone else onto this board - that is NOT what this place should be for, IMHO - especially if they love Dan and want his fan forum to be a good place...

It should be 'a safe haven' to read about/talk about Dan's work - and not a place to spew personal venom...

Signing off -

With gratitude for coming away from this with renewed awareness of the need to keep my comments/reactions focused only on 'what really matters' - as demonstrated by Mr. Long.

Gina

Henry's link didn't work for me  :-(

Just got a 404 Not Found page.

This should work...

http://www.rejectedunknown.com/mozek.htm

Some recent posts were 'lost' on here by the administrators -

...just wanted to be sure to re-iterate what I said in one of those 'lost' posts -

The moderators should NOT allow posts to remain on here that border on slander...or,  at a minimum, he/they should warn the posters (and sons of administrators, if need be) that they are using this forum for inappropriate uses, and pissing off Dan's fans in the process...

The polite words that summarize my feelings are, "please, in the future, KNOCK IT OFF," and keep this forum for it's intended use...a place to talk about Dan's work...not a place to promote your problems with,  or suspicions about, the people in Dan's life. In doing so, you really pissed me off, and I imagine a number of other fans, too...

...and, if I were Jeff, I'd get a lawyer if you allow that BS to go on.

Gina

Gina,
I only feel its fair to say that NOBODY is innocent of talking trash here! Without sounding like a ass, the **** talking has come from ALL sides!
All parties closely involved with Daniel are guilty of this.
Its a message board. Getting a lawyer involved is sillier then all the bitching that goes on.  I am not saying this to slag anyone but it just seems short sighted of you to come on here and say everyone is ganging up on Jeff when you have only been posting here for less then a month. Jeff is a smart fellow he can take care of himself ,but I do agree that this is not the place to air ones dirty laundry, but when it comes to message boards its the nature of the beast.

Hi, Wicked...

...thanks for your 2 cents ;-)

Gina

Seriously I was not trying to be mean and glad you did not take it that way.

No problem, Will.

Happy to read your comments...just hoping the family, who has control over this site, will not abuse it.

Best wishes,
Gina