I was officially "booked" by Roger Allen Knauer as an Independent Contractor through his company Tradeshow Hostesses on March 20th, 2013 to work the Game Connection Conference in San Francisco, CA at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, March 25, 2013-March 27, 2013. Roger sent individual schedules to each of the 20 females hired for this event, and my schedule was as follows: 7am-6pm PST on March 25th, 8:30am-6pm PST on March 26th, and 8:30am-4pm PST on March 27. I worked all 28 scheduled hours, was on time every day, and was promised a total of $560 for compensation. The email that outlined my final schedule and pay was sent to me on March 20th, 2013, and I received a completion confirmtion email from Roger on March 27th, which also stated that I would be receiving a $100 advance of my check to compensate for money spent throughout the duration of the event.
On April 21st, 2013 I received my first email claiming that our checks would mail out late. This email stated as follows:
"I have finally received an update on all checks, including those for Game Connection. April 15th's tax deadline caused a problem with cash flow that resulted in everything being held that was scheduled to mail. Apparently, the tax payment was larger than anticipated. However, all of these checks are still queued and are mailing. They're just going to be a little later than originally planned. For your GCA checks, it is now likely that there will be no advance check and then a balance check following. It makes more sense now just to mail the entire balance in one check."
Then on May 24th, 2013 I received a 2nd email claiming that our checks would be late yet again. This email stated as follows:
"While the timetable changed from what was anticipated, the checks for the Game Connection event are not late! The ownership's battle with the IRS over 2012 taxes continues and paying their erroneous charge caused all payables to move back on the calendar. Fortunately, we've nearly recovered. What will likely happen is that some of you will receive checks in one batch and others in another batch. So, if some number of you get a check, it doesn't mean that the rest of you were forgotten! Your check will be coming soon."
Then on June 28, 2013 I received the first threatening email, with yet another excuse about why checks were late. This email stated as follows:
"I finally have more info to share with you. The checks for GCA are the next out the door but things are very slow. They will likely not all mail together. When you receive your check, please send email so I can mark you off the list of those who are waiting. It was also reported that some of you have posted info on some ripoff site on the Internet. This is only compounding the problem and serves no one. Please refrain from doing this, as it will only delay the process and they investigate who posted it. You will be paid as is everyone who doesn't do anything that causes them to no longer be owed a check. It's been a tough last 3-4 months, with some large and unexpected burdens, but the worst is over and things are improving. Everyone is trying to move as fast as they can. If you can help us by being patient just a few more days, I think everyone will be happy. Including me."
Next, on July 18, 2013, I received my next threatening email. The email stated as follows:
"Some of you have contacted the agency to ask if you have been forgotten. No, you have not!
If you are receiving this email, you are still in the queue to be paid. However, there are apparently some number of you who are posting defamatory info on Internet websites and spreading gossip. There are a handful of former contractors, who did not perform as agreed, who are now trying to stir trouble and include you in it.
For those of you who have participated in this, we strongly urge you to go to any website where you have posted content and delete it immediately. If you cannot delete it, you need to post an apology and post that you will not post defamatory info again. The agency will identify you and will litigate against you for any defamatory conduct in which you have engaged. Spreading defamatory content on the Net is not a good way to get what you want. These checks will be coming for those who have not done something to cancel their compensation. If you just wait, it will show up! If your address has changed, please be sure to email the new one to us. When these do mail, we want to avoid having them returned and have to send them out again.
For those of you who have not participated in such conduct, the effort to identify those involved is causing a delay for everyone. If you know who is doing these things, I suggest you contact them and request they do as I have noted above. Some of you have shared info with us that has been sent to you. I assure all that anything you provide to us will be strictly confidential; no one will ever know you sent it.
The agency works about 14 hours a day, 7 days a week. Getting compensation out the door is always the #1 priority and will remain so. These checks will be sent to you if you don't engage in conduct that violated the terms of the agency agreement you signed. I hope all of you will avoid posting any further defamatory content on the Net. The agency WILL litigate against you for damages if it does not stop. The time it is taking to research who is involved is slowing down everything for everyone. If getting a check is truly what you want, I suggest you avoid becoming involved in things like this. It's up to you."
Then on July 29th, 2013, Roger made a final deadline for the checks to go out. But of course, it didn't happen!
"GCA checks will mail today and again on August 14th. The GCA booking is one of only 3 that will pay out during this period. Some of you will receive a check by Thursday of this week but all will be mailed no later than August 14th. If you sent us an updated address, via email, your check will go there. Otherwise, it will go to the address you put on the agency agreement.
Nearly all of you have been civil while we have worked through getting this show paid. For that, we thank you. We wish it had not taken this long. For the few of you who have showed your true character.....we suggest you take the check we are sending you and feel very fortunate that you have not yet been served. Your lack of maturity will visit you throughout your life and you will no doubt routinely pay a price for your conduct. You will no longer be booked by any of the legitimate services who provide talent in San Francisco. We've seen to that. We've also shared your identity with every contractor on our San Francisco roster so they can alert the companies for which they work (through our agency, another agency, or on their own.) We strongly suggest that you do not force us to demonstrate how much worse it can be for you.
Along with the rest of America, we are experiencing the slowest economy in our history. Times have been tough the last 4 years for everyone. This spring and early summer were especially bad and several across the U.S., not just you who worked the GCA, have waited longer than normal for a check. Although it will be at least another 3 years before things have a chance to truly improve, we are adjusting to the new reality of a depressed economy and our bookings are improving as a result. By the middle of August, everyone nationwide will again be happy."
Lastly, I recieved this email today on August 21, 2013. And this is where my patience ran out.
"Half of the GCA checks have now mailed and the other half will mail as soon as possible. Our next check batch will be on August 31."
I do want to note that the only women that I know of that have been paid by Roger for this specific event are the ones who fought back against him. The ones who filed with the Indiana Labor Board, the Better Business Bureau and the Indiana Attorney General, so I encourage anyone waiting for payment to do so. Small claims court of Indiana is willing to work with you even if you are from a state outside of Indiana, like California for example.
Indiana District Office: 317-226-6801
San Francisco District Office: 415-241-3581 (Ask for Brian)
Attorney General of Indiana: 800-382-5516
Small Claims Court Marion County, Indiana: 317-327-5060
Better Business Bureau of Indiana: 317-488-2222