It is my custom to keep my affairs as private as possible, but so much disquieting information has been reaching me about my recent non-appearance at the Slanted Fedora Convention at The Meadowlands, NJ on January 5th, that I feel it important to put the record straight so far as the facts are concerned.
Some time in 2001 I was approached by David Scott to appear at the above-mentioned convention. I gave only my provisional acceptance, subject to my availability.
Time passed and with so much going on in 2001, I forgot about my provisional commitment, but when I made it I assumed that as with every other such engagement, the organizers would reconfirm my commitment nearer the time. This never happened. It was only when people began calling my assistant, Jackie Edwards, toward the end of November that I was reminded of the convention. I realized that my attendance was impossible because of ST: Nemesis scheduling and my very recent return from New York following the Christmas Carol season.
At the very latest, David Scott was informed by Thursday, December 6th that I was not available and it may have been earlier. Nevertheless it was some time before my advertised appearance was removed from his web site. At about this time David had informed Jackie that he had a signed contract for my appearance, but our repeated request to see a copy of it produced nothing. He also claimed that I was contracted to sign photographs at the convention. Something I have not done for over ten years and which it is commonly known I do not do.
On December 10th, I signed a contract to provide David with signed photographs as a way of compensating for my non-appearance, at which time he was to remove my name from his website. We sent him 1200 photos, all of which he assured me personally would be given away as part of the convention ticket package. The photographs were late being sent (they actually were received by Slanted Fedora on Friday, January 4th) because I refused to sign the photos until I had received payment. I should have insisted that I waited until the check was cleared because when my bank submitted it, it bounced. As of the 23rd of January, I have still not been paid for the photographs.
I am very sorry that attendees were misled about my appearance, but as I have tried to make clear, I am just as irritated with Slanted Fedora as anyone else and, as I have assured David Scott, nothing could induce me to work with them again.
Sincerely,
Patrick Stewart
