Things Are Going Down(town)
Things are going down in downtown Medicine Hat, as Amy Gervais of Rapscallion Design discusses on the Rapscallion website.
Some time ago, Medicine Hat Media discovered duplicate, but vastly different designed content for The Monarch, which we blogged about under the title “The Monarch Identity Crisis?“. Soon after we learned that The Monarch Theatre simply was not paying their bills or being thankful for the hundreds of hours of volunteer work that it took to get the theatre up and running.
The duplicate content can be found at http://themonarch.net/, which according to Amy Gervais’ story, was commissioned by the City Centre Development Agency with complete disregard to the design continuity and branding.
Medicine Hat Media, with the help of Ashley Meller, was behind The Monarch Theatre’s revitalization project from the get go. We advertised every show that was in Kin Coulee and even came out to support the events. We advertised movies that were playing and many of us behind Medicine Hat Media have regularly attended their screenings.
Medicine Hat residents and businesses should be supporting each other, not selling each other short. Who cares about a “historical downtown” if it just becomes derelict? Some of us at Medicine Hat Media are now going to withdraw all support from the theatre as we do not want to be a part of such a disappointing situation. If you are also concerned about the happenings and the state of Downtown Medicine Hat, please contact the city council.
March 30th, 2010 at 5:34 PM
Vaughn says:
I’m very torn on the whole issue. I want to support and help the Monarch as I have, but doing so would jeopardize another downtown business – one that makes its living on businesses like the Monarch to pay them for the work they are now using (illegally?).
It’s not lost in my opinion; however, the Monarch/CCDA could simply do the “right/just” thing here and restore my support. That’s how I see it.
March 30th, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Michelle says:
I feel the same way… I want nothing to do with them. Cleary Amy has gone above and beyond for the love of downtown, and knowing how hard it is to start out. I can’t believe that they would turn around in the end and do something so disgusting to her in the end – what a great way to say thanks!
March 30th, 2010 at 6:34 PM
Justin says:
At this point I’m surprised there is any artists left in this city. As a musician I have to play for little or nothing to get a gig, as a photographer I have to charge below my cost and still get undercut and lost jobs. Obviously artist apathy resonates throughout all mediums in this city. I’ve already canceled my plans to open a studio downtown and put my money into marketing to nearby cities. I feel so sorry for Amy…a hard lesson to learn about CONTRACTS. Sadly the business world isn’t full of carefree artists.
March 30th, 2010 at 7:23 PM
Sean says:
I’m done supporting The Monarch unless they fix their business practices. I even sent an email on behalf Medicine Hat Media to Alderman Julie Friesen about it.
@Justin: I am pretty set that if I ever release a CD for my band, I would just buy like 200 CDR’s and put labels on them and give them out for free at a show, or something like “You mail me a CD and I’ll burn and mail it back”, just put it all MySpace. 😛
March 31st, 2010 at 3:11 AM
Dean says:
I wrote my post about dealing with mental illness, but left out this topic of interacting with the business world with less than full capacity on my part.
I don’t believe that taking advantage of earnest, hard-working, volunteer-minded, artistic-type people is an isolated case. When I walk into a business the sales people seem to have radar that I am at a disadvantage and treat me like shooting fish in a barrel.
I have become much more hardened to dealing with sales staff, after getting the shaft, after hearing “money-back guarantee” that dissipates upon return.
In moving to our new-to-us home, there were lots of “qualified” workers that offered services with no written estimate, no guarantee, cost us more money in the long run. The mobile home park Manager said he learned a lot about those kind that never offered contracts, estimates and never followed up on their word. Now we pay for tradespeople who stand behind their work.
Chalk the experience up to a large learning curve about a large portion of society in general. One of my former Foremen was on the edge of retiring (and had my utmost respect when I was in my early 20s), and said to me, “Everybody can be replaced.” It took three people to replace him when he retired, but he was replaced.
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Punk says:
Seriously? For a site that doesnt like running with contentious news, I am surprised you guys published this story. Maybe because your both website designers, and this hits close to home.
People get screwed daily on payments in this town.
What makes me most disappointed, is the Lounge ran with. I respect Joe, but it must have been a slow news day. And not Ty Schneider cheating on his wife with three different women….?
Todd from Ottoman owes me thousands of dollars for stuff that they currently uses nightly. I went to the collection agency, they said its a loooong line, get to the back. I love the ottoman, but every time I buy a drink there, I cringe thinking I am supporting that greasy a$$. But go to the media?
And Amy/Jeff, did you even have a contract? was something written out, or was it all verbal? I dont care if its your best friend, get a contract! (actually, if its your best friend, all the more reason).
I like rapscallion, and I know this is a lot of money for a small company, but it is a cost of doing business. I could tell you a hundred stories from this town. Photographers and DJ’, graphic designers, lawyers…on and on. Why is this news? Why would you guys post this, and so many other issues are too hot to touch?
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:34 AM
Vaughn says:
@Punk
You might be looking for the Medicine Hat “News”: http://www.medicinehatnews.com/
Sarcasm aside, who said we don’t like running contentious news? Why is this story posted? Simply, because we wanted to. We only write and post about what we want, and we offer the public to do the same on this very site. Got something to write about? Post it! We are not reporters or journalists, we don’t get paid for this, and don’t have to write about anything we don’t want to. This is hardest thing for people coming here to realize – to understand that this is a community blog, not a newspaper/news report.
That being said, CHAT TV thought the story was important enough as well:
http://www.medicinehatmedia.com/2010/04/a-different-view-of-the-monarch/
April 24th, 2010 at 11:16 PM
Sara says:
Ugh, the “new” website looks terrible. I was extremely happy with the Monarch when it opened: the service, film choices and the rad marketing theme. After months of wondering what was going on, sending e-mails and posting on the Facebook page I am glad to have answers. However, I am basically done with the theatre. It won’t be long before their doors shut yet again. I intend on writing a letter to the city, but I can’t see much changing. This city is not forward thinking, and is most definitely not supportive of artists and modern design. So sad.
I will really miss their delicious popcorn 🙁