An Interview with Richie J. Smithy

Eric Renderking Fisk | March 8th, 2018

Eric Renderking Fisk: I've been talking to some of our fellow retropunkers (both diesel and steam) and your name came up as someone to talk to about Jeff Mack Events. I'm working on my own article about what's going on and trying to talk to as many people who have something to say. Would you like to chat about what's going on and what happened to you and your business?

Smithy Richie: Sure I feel honored my name came up as a person of interest well last year I was a performer there, doing blade smiting demos, I had been in talks with this girl Jeff Mach directed me to, Genevieve or whatever, she confirmed me as a performer but was always super vague about my package id get for it, for example I kept asking if I’d get a room as a performer and she said I’m working on that, or don’t worry we’ll take care of you when I got there, after buying around 250 lbs. of coal and paying an assistant out of pocket to drive down from upper Massachusetts she told me they couldn’t get me a room, all I was given as a performer was a pass and some food vouchers, she even had to dig to find my assistant a pass so after swinging a hammer doing blade smith demos all day long I had to go through the embarrassment of asking around for floor space for my assistant and I, and keep in mind I was filthy from coal soot and sweat, so the last thing anyone wants is me on their floor messing up a room so then after the event I messaged Jeff’s people saying id need a way better deal if they wanted me back, no response for months, then Jeff tells me to message this guy Andy who was taking over for Genevieve, Andy never responded to any of my emails and now out of the blue,. a couple months before the event all of a sudden I was contacted once again but instead of getting any actual details I was just sent this generic fill out this performers application, which I did, about 2 weeks ago, and still no details which pretty much sums up my position in all this basically they tried to convince me that the event just doesn’t make enough money to properly compensate me, despite having way more vendors than I’ve ever seen at an event and a complete sea of ticket holders, it was a joke…..

Eric Renderking Fisk: You're in good company, I've been having similar conversations with other vendors who have said pretty much the same thing. What are your thoughts about the abuse allegations? What have the other vendors said to you about their experience with JME?

Richie J. Smithy: well keep in mind I’m a performer not a vendor, vendors usually pay for a spot where as performers are traditionally payed to be there, so this is especially irritating, not to mention they didn’t know where to set me up and I had to share space with the kids section, much to the chagrin of the lady running the children’s section.

I honestly can’t say anything either way about the more sexually based allegations because I never personally saw any of that going on but from my experiences there with Jeff and his staff I wouldn’t doubt the truth behind them.

ERF: Thanks for straightening me out with the difference between the two - vendor and performer! So, you were hired to be there - as a performer - but just didn't' get paid for your performance?

Smithy: Yup, or given a room, or even had anyone still to this day have a talk with me about what I might be owed and what their willing to shell out to have me back.

ERF: How many times have you contacted them, asking them to compensate you for the work you did?

Smithy: I couldn’t give an exact number, but I’ve sent a handful of messages to Jeff and his people, Jeff Mach is the only one whose responded at all, and those responses have literally just been him redirecting me to other people who never respond

ERF: Have you investigated taking other resources, like filing a claim with The Better Business Bureau? Or small claims court?

Smithy: I’m more interested in just telling them I’ll never work for them again unless they pony up than I am with having to file paperwork and possibly travel down to jersey for court stuff just to get stonewalled.

ERF: Barring that, do you see any resolution to this problem in the near future? And what would you say to anyone thinking about participating in The Steampunk World's Fair in the future?

Smithy: honestly, I don’t know much at all about the new crew running things since Jeff stepped down, until tammy actually has a conversation with me I don’t want to say either way, but I can say I won’t work under Jeff again.

Links and Continuing Coverage.

"Why Did Jeff Mach Events Become Just Magical Events? The former head of The Steampunk World’s Fair stepped down in January due to wave of allegations in the wake of the #MeToo Movement." by Bess Goden.

"Owl Eye View: The view from the owl nest; a blog about weird life, semi-liberty, and the pursuit of what should be happiness." Screen Caps and reposts found around The Internet in reference to "Jeff Mach Events" and "The Steampunk Word's Fair."

An Interview with Richie J. Smithy | March 8th, 2018 - A performer's experience with "Jeff Mach Events" and The Steampunk World's Fair. [Fixked Link]

"Statement of Permanet Withdrawl from Steampunk Conventions," by John R. White | February 6th, 2018 [Fixked Link]

"Requiem for Steampunk" by Eric Renderking Fisk | March 4th, 2017

"The Harlot of Steampunk Babylon," by Eric Renderking Fisk | July 11th, 2017