I've spent a lot of time since my contest in 2014 that brought a lot of people up, also hooking up other VGM creators with gigs I couldn't handle with my workload who were having trouble. Obviously couldn't help everyone, but I really wanted to. Now I just see so much hate and it does feel terrible.

I appreciate it. I will say I'm very disappointed at people who have personally known me for a long time jumping on without talking to me at all. One of the reasons I stepped away from being community driven is the rampant culture of talking shit on other VGM creators. I hope things can change.

I want you to succeed, too. Just please reach out privately first next time.

Never forget Iain Watters' baked Alaska

I'm a bit confused at some of the points here as they seem contradictory, but I really want to be clear that my disappointment has nothing to do with me feeling more entitled than others. I'd like to squash that if possible since it's based out of extrapolation and assumption rather than fact.

I’m talking with MAG privately now. To be clear: if I ever play again (unlikely, lol), it’ll be because my show earned its place and not because I complained on X. If I do keep attending MAG, I’ll do my best to keep supporting new acts and pushing for a scene that stays fair, inclusive, and diverse.

I hold no ill will to you guys. MAG has a weird ability to bring out deep emotions in people and I'm obviously no exception. I hope both of you guys have amazing and successful performances where ever they may be. ✌

I really appreciate the understanding. Thanks for talking this out with me. I really love MAG and it makes me so mad because I love it, but this is a tale as old as time illustrated by the artists and people on MAG staff and volunteers that have allegedly been abused and let go for over a decade.

Yeah totally valid. I have been on mainstage regardless. The point is that I hate that I'm not in MAG's clique of the same white men who play every year and the only way to get in is dust off a monster project and beg rather than just be the me they've given the impression they've liked.

There has been no channel for bands to get genuine feedback on what MAG wants without getting the same lies about "making room for LGBT+ and BIPOC" and "we cycle out acts every year to give everyone a chance." I'd like that to change and I imagine a lot of people would like that to change.

I totally agree that it was an emotional post. I have emotions and am not going to let a con scare me out of expressing them. I think the hill I will die on is that the adult thing to do is say "Hey let's talk, how can we fix this?" rather than "We're angry you expressed your pain in this decision."