Sorry to hear that Susan. Yep, I'm afraid there are jerks in our profession. For twenty years I competed at a pretty high level in the "professional music biz" biz. Earned a good living, had agents and Managers, and rarely got taken advantage of.(hmmmm, good grammar eh?)

Did a lot of "surrupticious" ass kissing as well. (That's when you do it but try to convince yourself it's just 'networking")

Got very sick of a LOT of things about 14 years ago, and decided that I might never change the world, but I'd make damned sure it didn't change me. So now I just smile at the "ambitious ones" who play "dog eat dog", EVEN at FOLK FESTIVALS, WORKSHOPS and COFFEE HOUSES!

Frig 'em (so to speak)

As I said before....valuable thread, this.

Cheers

Rick