So today was the day that my show was supposed to start at the Ironworks gym. I was psyched. I dropped a load of cash to get my shots printed and framed professionally. They looked awesome. But when I brought them to the gym, there was some confusion.

The general manager, Stein, who was the one who looked at my photos and booked me, wasn't around. He doesn't keep any kind of calendar or leaves any notes, so there was no way for the guys running the desk to know what was going on. Interestingly, the photographer who's stuff is currently up on the wall was climbing in the gym this morning. When we talked to him, he said that Stein had told him a few days ago that his shots were going to be up for another month and that there was another photographer (not me) who scheduled to go up in February.

Well, I was pissed. I tried to stay clam and did. It was just a simple mistake. But I was pissed. Who wouldn't be? I had to load all the prints back into the car, drive home and stick them in the garage instead of hang them on the wall in the gym. Had this been any old show, it wouldn't have been as big a deal. But this is my first show.

I sort of had a premonition that this would happen. Stein is very cool guy, but he's also very laissez faire about the whole photography thing. I kind of expected the process to be more formal, but he just came out, saw my shots, liked them and told me he a slot for me on January 15th.

Just to be sure, I sent an email to him to confirm and got this response:

Andrew,

Thanks for the note. The best way to correspond with me is definitely through e-mail. Look forward to seeing your images in here in Jan. Talk to you soon.

Stein-Erik Skaar
General Manager
Berkeley Ironworks

But this was back in November. And I hadn't heard from him since. No confirmation. Nothing. I didn't expect it. I just assumed the show was on as planned.

Since then, so I've been told, Stein has gotten married, went on a honeymoon and hasn't really had his head in the business. So I understand that. But I hope we can sort this mixup out and get my prints up on the wall where they belong.