FORGET THE POD DOORS HAL, WE’RE TUNED HALARGIAN part 2
SOME STORIES FEEL TOO WEIRD to be true. And then there’s whatever we have here, a postscript to this already nutty story of (probably) AI management and (definitely) unhelpful representation, with now a (genuine question) of reality in all aspects of a young artist.
To recap last month’s story: an exchange on socials with a young artist overseas, initiated by her, led to discussion of an interview. This talk was then diverted to her management, represented in/by the kind of organisation who signed off subsequent emails Management Team. This turned out to be not even the weirdest thing about them. Nor was their schedule of fees – for me to pay – to conduct said interview the weirdest thing about these people. No, the weirdest thing about them was that it was not at all clear that they were indeed people, as you can read in that original story.
Which brings us to now. After the artist expressed concern (with what is now clear is a free-form attitude to capitalisation and punctuation) that my interactions with her “Management Team” may have put me off further engagement – “I understand you're doing this because of the Faith you have in my talent do let's [sic] anyone distract you from me please,” she wrote – we agreed to reconvene after some family issues of mine were navigated. And this time to deal directly.
Before I had a chance to get back in touch I received a buoyant, emoji-studded first of the month message from her. Someone, it’s worth noting, I hadn’t actually spoken to, let alone met yet.
“Good morning, lovely! ❤️ Happy New Month! 🎉✨ I woke up feeling so happy and excited because today feels like it's going to be the best day of the year for me. I can't even explain how grateful and blessed I feel. 🥹❤️I hope this new month brings you happiness, good health, peace, and beautiful surprises. May November be filled with wonderful blessings for both of us. Sending you a big hug and lots of love! ❤️😘”
A little effusive but hey, gotta love enthusiasm for life, so let’s get this happening. What time and date suited her?, I asked. And this is where things got weird. Again.
“Great Timing I'll be Free throughout next week except Friday & I will Love to give you access Unfiltered but you still need to settle a fee of $2570
So anything before Thursday should be fine
Tuesday works perfectly for me, What's your time over there I can set up an Alarm so I can wake during midnight to attend to you as I'm writing this message the time is 4:23 AM what about you?”
What the ….? Nah, can’t be doing with that.
So I messaged back: “Ok, this is too weird. I’ll pass on the fee and the interview. That’s not how I operate. Good luck with your next release, I will be listening if nothing else.”
And in response, she said … “It's just a Crowdfunding campaign fee and I just wanted to flex on you how much do you think you can put in our crowdfunding campaign
I really want us to work
By the same time I really need your support you know I can't do this Alone”.
Is she for real? Is she real? Should I be capping words willy nilly now to stay in touch with the smart people who programmed this particular AI?
Honestly, I remain flummoxed by this. But maybe we are living in a new reality, a different world, the kind of place Curt Smith of Tears For Fears was referring to in their somewhat prescient big hit. (And yes, if you ever doubted your ears, this is what he sings.)
“I find it hard to tell you cause I find it hard to take/When people run in circles, it’s a very very mad world/Mad world/Halargian world.”
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