TAPSCon 2 – the gift that keeps on giving. Or maybe not.

I got an email from a reader today who was patiently waiting for the Clewiston Inn portion of TAPSCon 2. Surprisingly (or perhaps not so much), neither the TAPSCon 2 website, nor the Odyssey Star productions website lists the new TAPSCon 2 at the Clewiston Inn. Unless I am missing something (which is always a possibility), the rescheduled TAPSCon 2 has disappeared.

According to the reader, “He took the ‘New Venue’ off his site and the contact email address and since has been showing that ridiculous junk…what happened to the Clewiston Inn info?? Also Clewiston Inn has not responded to my emails asking about the event, which leads me to believe there is no such event planned.”

I’d say that there’s a good chance she’s right. A quick visit to both sites shows very little in the way of attempted relief for those who paid for the event and have not been issued refunds nor been given a new venue to attend.

I did, however, find this gem on Fair’s site, TAPSCon2.com, which seems to have become his ad hoc self-defense locale.

Quoting Mr. Fair: “Oh and to the people that I’ve issued a refund check to a short while back, that shortly after cashing my check, filed a chargeback reversal through their credit card company anyway: Much love to you. You know who you are. Now I won’t and can’t dispute any credit/debit card reversals (even from purchases a year ago) but I would at least hope that people wouldn’t do this even AFTER I sent a check to them. Its all I can to do already to take care of folks, wade through the rumors and threats, all while trying to put on the postponement event.”

The poor, victimized man.

He is also using the space to make it abundantly clear that TAPS had nothing to do with TAPSCon, nor were they given any money to attend. They attended the original TAPSCon on their own dime, and were planning to do same for TAPCon 2. This is information that has been received from every single source. Brent Fair. Jason Hawes. The Belleview Biltmore. I know that there are many who still believe that TAPS, and particularly Hawes, had something to do with TAPSCon. We get comments on previous blogs that essentially say that on a regular basis. And yet, consistent information from all sources tells us that TAPS and Hawes had nothing to do with TAPSCon 2, other than being scheduled as a special guest at the event.

TAPS had the misfortune of working with the wrong guy. We’ve all done that at one point or another in our lives. Maybe not to this level of public disaster, but I challenge each and every one of you to not come up with at least a single time in your life where you just may have associated with the wrong person. Ex-boyfriend (or girlfriend), perhaps? Someone you thought was a friend, but turned out to be a snake?

I’d tell you some of mine but the list is a long one, my friends. Fortunately, I learned from those associations and can only hope I go forward stronger, wiser, and more capable of making better choices. While I can’t speak for them, I am relatively certain that Hawes – and TAPS – are doing the same.

There is no evidence linking TAPS as an entity or Jason Hawes with the fiasco that has become TAPSCon2. Brent Fair is, in his own whiny and defensive way, accepting full responsibility. Does a guy who is now accusing his victims of victimizing him (see the above quote for evidence of this) seem like the stand up type of guy who would step forward and accept full responsibility if he thought the blame could be shared by pointing a finger at a media giant like TAPS? I don’t know about anyone else, but to me that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

Sorry for the long ramble. I actually had a purpose with this blog. The reader that contacted me today sent me specific contact information about TAPSCon, and I want to encourage anyone who still hasn’t seen a dime of their money to use it. If you are waiting for the rescheduled TAPSCon2 at the Clewiston Inn, I would strongly suggest that you do some digging and see if that event is still planned. I have contacted the Clewiston Inn for clarification and will hopefully have information for you soon.

In the meantime, if you’re getting tired of someone else having the money that you spent to go see TAPS at TAPSCon 2, and you haven’t been able to get a refund from Mr. Fair, here is the specific contact information.

Contact: TAPSCON 2 Victims need to call our main number at 727-464-6200 and request that a complaint form be mailed to them. They’ll need to fill out the form and return it along with any documentation that they have. If they file the online form, it just delays the process.
Investigator Rick Adkins
Pinellas County Government
Department of Justice & Consumer Services
15251 Roosevelt Boulevard, Suite 209
Clearwater, FL 33760
Office: 727-464-6459
radkins@co.pinellas.fl.us

They’d like to hear from everyone – even those who have already been reimbursed.

Update: Email to the Clewiston Inn has bounced. My guess is that they are being inundated.

Another update: I notice Odyssey Star productions lists on their site that they are “newly incorporated.” This removes the liability from the individuals and places it on the corporation, instead. Seems like some learning has taken place, after all.