A Conversation With Glen Miller
Copied and Pasted Directly from Facebook Messenger
Glen Miller is the event director of Swing Dance America
He is 1 of 5 Chicago Rebels owners. His views here do not represent the other owners of the organization.
MON 10:25 PM
April
Hey, just a heads up. Due to hotel issues, we had to move the Classic back a week next year. The new dates will be on a regularly scheduled Rebels weekend, March 21st. Sorry to move it to a Rebels date, but it’s what the hotel had open. Thanks
Glen Miller
What? You couldn’t find any other night earlier in March to do your Event?
April
I even had to move hotels just to get a date in March. Not ideal.
I dont think you want me to move to April……
And…. due to NASDE I coudln’t move earlier……cannot have two NASDE events on the same weekend…….MADJAM….
so that was the only option.
Glen
Why move your event towards SDA? Why not keep your event on the weekend that you been having it? The reason you are moving the dates out a week according to the community is nothing to do with Hotel issues. It is said that you want your event to be further away from MADjam. Has nothing to do with hotel issues.
1
April
Glen you are wrong.
Glen
No I am not..
You are pulling a fast one, and think you are slick Stop it.
1
Chicago Classic has always been the week after MADJam. You wanted to have some distance between MADJam and Chicago Classic because you think you will get more people. You are positioning it as a hotel issue, but it is not a hotel issue. We are not stupid.
1
April
You are free to call my hotel and find out that another event booked my weekend. You are also free to call all the other hotels with large ballroom in the area that have at least 16 feet ceilings to find out they are also booked – including the Hyatt it used to be at, both larger Schaumburg hotels and all the Ohare hotels. Then you will see how wrong you are. You can also call Julie Epplett who I had hired to find me a hotel on my date. You are being inappropriate and I do not appreciate your accusations.
Glen
Let me see if I understand this. YOU decided that you want to have your event closer to my Event because you want to be further away from MADJam? YOU ARE INAPPRORIATE!!! YOU decided that you are going to host your event on a night that The Rebels have a dance, and didn’t even have the courtesy and decency to connect with us BEFORE (operative word BEFORE) you made that decision? YOU ARE being inappropriate and disgusting. At a minimum, you should have had the courtesy to connect with one of us IN ADVANCE and not AFTER the fact when you are giving us some gobble di gooo hogwash. I have already checked into it, and know exactly what was available to you as far as hotels. Telling us that hotel issues “compelled” you to move your event on a Rebels Dance night, when you and half the world know the real reason you are moving your event, is taking us as if we are idiots. ch) that you have been having Chicago Classic. We already checked with your current hotel, Hilton Corporate, Double Tree by Hilton Oakbrook, and there were other options available on the 2nd weekend of March for Chicago Classic. ‘
2
April
Again Untrue.
Glen
Double Tree By Hilton Oakbrook was available with the same ballroom space, numbers of bedrooms on the second weekend in March.
1
April
nope. I need ballroom and breakout rooms for workshops.
Glen
Those too..
April
Please call Julie Eplett.
Glen
My guy checked it out and got every weekend in March and April that they were available.
1
April
Incorrect.
Glen
While you were working with Julie Eplett, and you got a location and a date that you were targeting, it never once occurred to you that you could show some decency to see if there are any other local events scheduled on the “NEW” weekend you are moving your event to — and sync up with the folks running those events? You knew exactly what you were doing, and now here you come trying to play the victim status that and claim you had no other choice. Nice try.
1
April
Choosing when to run an event is not dependent upon a local bi-monthly dances. I don’t think you would have wanted me to move it to the end of March on a Mix dance date closer to SDA. I did my best and I would have preferred not to be on the 3rd weekend as now two other events are on my weekend now. Please stop the false accusations and vitriol.
1
Glen
FYI.. Every year, I sync up with Jennifer Jeffries to see what are her dates for Chicagoland, and schedule the Rebels dance either the weekend before or the weekend after. Seem like you just decided that your stuff should supercede everything else going on, and then you would try to build a narrative that you think is believable. Only problem is my guy did some work with at least 7 properties in Rosemont, Oakbrook and Lombard. Your narrative in not accurate. Sorry.
1
April
Jennifer does not plan her event according to Rebels dates, you work around her. BECAUSE ITS AN EVENT! Just like SDA or Mix. You don’t schedule SDA around Mix dance dates……
Call Julie. An expert in hotel negotiations.
You are free to call her a liar.
Glen
Nope.. What is not factual has nothing to do with Julie Eplett, or whoever you worked with to contract the Double Tree. What is not accurate is the narrative that you are trying to sell to us that the reason you are moving your event out closer towards SDA; as well as on a Rebels Dance Night has to do with availability of hotel space. For the 4th time, the reason you made a decision to move Chicago Classic out to the 3rd weekend of March is to set up some distance with MADJam, and then repeat the false talking points that it has to do with hotel issues. We are not dumb.
1
April
Please stop harassing me. Call Julie. She can tell you exactly what date we tried to get. You are incredibly unprofessional with these accusations.
1
Glen
You are the one who sent me this message. You are being called out for misrepreseting the facts. YOU are being very unprofessional in doing your dirty work then trying to sell a false narrative after the fact. I was actually working on stuff when you sent your goble di goo above.
1
You added Carlos Garcia and Mark S. Madia.
Glen
My guy did the leg work with at least 7 hotels, and has a different story than you are reporting.
1
I am not buying it one bit, because it is hog wash
1
TUE 10:46 AM
April
Glen I’m sorry if you feel that my moving the Classic 1 week later is intended to hurt Rebels or SDA as that would never be my intent. You and I have been able to run events supporting each other, not hurting each other and I would hope that this could continue. SDA will not be negatively affected by a 1 week move as you have mentioned before that you are having record attendance. I hope you have a wonderful event this year. My intent was simply this: to let you know extremely far ahead of time about my date change so that the Rebels would be able to adjust and still run their dances successfully. There was never any ill will with this action. Since you mentioned my hotel had my original dates open, I checked with them to see if something had changed and if I could move it to my originally requested date as that would make it so much better for me not to compete with other events for staff hires. This was her response. Feel free to call her. March 11 – 14, 2020 Marcia Zeller 10:09 AM (3 minutes ago) to me Hi April- I checked the week of March 11 – 14, 2020. We have an annual church convention over those dates. In addition there is a wedding booked on the Saturday evening in the Grand ballroom. Let me know if there is anything else I can check for you. Best- Marcia Zeller Group Sales Manager Direct (630) 472 6023 | | Fax (630) 573 1909 DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago – Oak Brook 1909 Spring Road Oak Brook, IL 60523
Glen
Dancers in the circuit as well as myself learned and confirmed of your desire and intention to change the dates of Chicago Classic, in 2017 – shortly after it was sold and transferred to you. The space availability today at any of the properties are obviously different from what it was when it was decided to make the change for reasons stated above. Things change weekly.
1
TUE 1:23 PM
Nancy Tuzzalino
Hey, April. Sorry to hear you had to switch hotel and dates for the Chicago Classic next year. When Jim and I had the event, we had a couple years where we had to change the weekend of our event due to hotel issues. Once we started booking two years at a time, this problem was minimized. It shouldn’t be a problem for the Rebels if we end up having one dance in March for 2019. Thank you for letting us know. Nancy
2
FRI 5:18 PM
Glen
OK..Back from my out of town trip. No, I don’t agree that we should just summarily cancel a Rebels dance, just because April plopped her event on a night we would normally host a dance. We can and will host a second dance in March 2020. We are not embasiles, or any ones punching bag, who will just throw up our hands, with a “…we can’t do nothin…” attitude. Therfore, on my way from the Airport, I booked the 3rd AND the 4th Saturdays of March 2020 at Franklin Park. One option is to move the second dance oit by a week to the 4th Saturday. Another option is to host a mostly Hustle party on the 3rd Saturday. Options are avaiable other than canceling. Nancy, if you just want to participate in the dance on the 1st weekend, and recuse yourself from the second dance, that’s fine. We will carry on just fine. Mark & Carlos, let me know if you are available for a 2nd dance in March 2020. We will back fill with Trustees; just like when one or more of you are absent from the dance.
Brittany Fore
Not only are you wrong Glen you’re incredibly unprofessional.
1
Glen
I’m sorry… And who are you Brittany???? What is your relevanance? I don’t even know your stupid self, and you have the balls to place judgement? You are irrelevant, and unprofessional. At this point, I am not sure what the objective of this forum is. We, The Chicago Rebels, actually don’t need a quorum of outsiders to “help” us decide when, where, and how many dances we The Chicago Rebels should or shouldn’t have. That is an internal to The Chicago Rebels discussion. You are free to thumbs down any and every comment. I am not now or in the past looking, or begging for your permission to run the Rebels.
1
Nadia
Glen I have heard April’s discontent about having to switch the dates and hotel when it first happened. April is the most honest person I know. She would not do anything to sabotage or split up the swing community. I’m really surprised at your accusations. She didn’t even HAVE to tell you about the switch but she did as a courtesy because she cares about preserving the relationships that she has with others in the swing community. I am with Brittany on this one. This is highly unprofessional.
Brittany
I am a ballroom manager and assistant for both The Chicago Classic as well as Swing City. I saw the hotel response sheet from Julie Eplett which details the status of hotels for the date. I watched April work for months to try to avoid this exact situation that you clearly have no idea what you’re talking about. If you have so much leg work that your “guy” did then lets see it. The proof is in the pudding and April has it so where is yours?
Glen
Nadia… mind your damn business. Focus on YOURSELF. We are not in the same league. I am told by my colleague that you Brittany just plopped up on the scene 2 years ago, meaning you’re a pre-madonna. I don’t need your assessment on how, when, where, I run the businesses that I own. Have a nice life. Typical MO from April Price. Get others to do your dirty work, then hide behind them and claim you are a “victim.” Won’t work with me. You tried that and failed miserably with those idiots Solomon Krebs, and Ugly Angei Kostoff… Looks like you are trying again.
Glen
You will fail AGAIN.
At this point, you are time wasters, and serve no real purpose. I have no obligation to “produce” anything to you, Brittany Fore. I don’t know or care who you are. Sorry.
Brittany
It’s really funny that you’re trying to say we are the problem when you keep diverting the conversation into other directions. I don’t care how you run your business. What I do care about is how you speak to people. You call me a pre-madonna, but have you stopped to take a single second to realize just how juvenile you sound in all of this? How absolutely out of line you are?
Nadia Oussekno
Glen you are so unprofessional and out of line. But keep digging that hole. Thanks for showing your true colors. When you attack someone for absolutely no reason and make accusations (April) it is natural for that person to get support from people they trust. You should have quit while you were ahead or not everyone would see this thread. Hopefully you are exposed for the person you really are. Good luck with your events in the future.
Glen
Britany, I will speak to anyone the way I choose. Get it.. I don’t need your permission, approval, or consent.
Digging a hole? Nadia, you are so screwed up that we couldn’t even find a way to hire you for SDA Videos.. Again, focus on improving YOURSELF, rather than giving advice and assessment to others that you are not particularly relevant to.
1
Who’s next???
Nadia
Lol that is funny! Actually I believe the reason was you didn’t want to pay me for what I’m worth? But keep telling yourself that.
Glen
I am here all evening and will counter any and all the gobble di goo… bring it!
Nadia
(Oh right and then you left me hanging for a month about whether or not you wanted to hire me. That is also really bad business.)
April
Glen I involved people who have intimate knowledge of the Chicago Classic and the hotel acquisition process that I went through. This has nothing to do with how the Rebels board chooses to run their dances. I’m saddened by the accusations towards me and others in your responses.
Glen
Nadia… of course I didn’t want to pay you. You were not worth it then, and not worth it now. Maybe you don’t know this, but we actually hired a more expensive company who could stream, and much more competent….. So it wasn’t the money. We felt you were an amateur trying to present yourself as a Pro.
1
Glen
You should be saddened April Prince. However, I am not surprised… Typical get others that you can manipulate, to do your dirty work…
I am harder to manipulate than most. You should know that by know. To have a bunch of irrelevant (to me, The Rebels,) chime in to make their assessment of me, my choice of articulation, you do so at your own (and their) peril.
Nadia
Thanks glen. I’ll make sure to share all this thread with as many people as possible so they don’t accidentally hire me.
Glen
Share away, Nadia… I won;t hire you for videos, because you were not competent enough; nor did you have the video assets needed for an event like I produce. Nonetheless, you wanted to be paid like the “real” video companies.. Fat chance.
Anything else Nadia? Should we now conclude that you (Nadia) and you Britney were and are irrelevant to anything, or do you or anyone else want to mumble inarticulately? I am waiting.
Glen
Anyone else that is irrelevant to me, and or The Rebels, that should be added April to do some more “Drive By” Trash talking? Do so at their own and your peril..
1
Glen
You (plural) invade my air space, you do so at your own risk. People who have never even been a contributor to anything are here casting judgments, when they themselves are in serious need of help, and improvement — just to be OK on par with others in society.
FRI 11:13 PM
Roxanne Nagel
Glen…as a professional corporate accountant I find your accusations without sufficient supporting documentation deplorable. I have seen and know that the hotels were not available and worked with April to secure another venue. You belittle yourself with these childish tantrums.
1
Joe DeAntonis
So@April Prince has gone beyond what is necessary to explain herself to you @Glen Miller and there is little to no more to say about this matter. I’m disgusted with your tone and allegations. April had no negative intent towards you, your event or anyone else and she made a reasonable and needed decision. I would think any local dance would be accommodating as Nancy confirmed. Now the crux appears to be a one week change from 6 to 5 weeks closer to SDA. April said she couldn’t go earlier so she went one week later. I’m not sure how anyone with an understanding of the circuit would say that would have a material effect on a subsequent event. And this is one year…and there will probably be another year where April or yourself may have to make a more difficult decision than a one week change. I hope that your continued conversations with my wife stick to the facts, employs some empathy and is professional and respectful. I would think this would be in your best interest in all regards within the local, regional and national dance communities.
2
12:49 AM
Glen
Roxannee.. Can you even be more original or creative?? You’re no different that the other 2 irrelevant under achievers that tried to Trash Talk before you joined in. Guess what: I am not impressed that you claim to be a professional corporate accountant. Sorry. I am a professional corporate IT Marketing Consultant, so you don’t impress me much. I find you deplorable and idiotic. Next!
Glen
Joe… don’t worry about my “tone.” I determine my tone. No one, commits an offence, invades my air space, an then tell me how I should or shouldn’t react to the offence. That only works with poor under educated people on the South Side of Chicago, or uneducated folks in Eastern Kentucky. I am a rich black guy in Barrington, and nope… no one will dictate my tone and or demeanor AFTER an offence. Sorry.
1
Roxanne
If you’re so great why are you so against providing proof of your claims. Who is this “guy” how said the hotels have availability? You may think that attacking me personally makes you a big man but it doesn’t. Offer up your proof. We know ypu cant produced it because you dont have it.
1
Glen
YOU Roxanne attacked me personally using the world deplorable. Are you on medication, and can’t remember? Go back and read you garbage. I don’t need to provide anything to you. There are many names I could call you. Again, not impressed that you claim to be a “corporate accountant.” I hire and fire people like you on my day job. Looks like you too will earn a SILVER or BRONZE medal in trash talking garbage.
Glen
Proud to be referred to as deplorable by someone who is actually irrelevant.
Roxanne
Let me clarify for you. I called your actions deplorable not you. I am not interested in lowering myself to “trash talk”.
Glen
Then I will clarify as well. You are deplorable. Did you think you were going to come in as Johnny come lately with your trash talking and thing I was going to look the other way? Nope… Nope… not happening. You are just another human mass doing April Prince’s dirty work, but it won’t work with me, because I don’t depend on you for wisdom or income. So scram, and get be in your corporate accounting under achieving role, because as I said: I am neither impressed nor fascinated.
Glen
Anything else????
I plopped over to your profile and it says you studied Accountancy at Devry in Addison. Impressive.
Hope my grand kids get to go there and get educated.
Not.
Roxanne
So sad you feel the need to belittle me. Please feel free to continue I’m an adult and can handle your childish attepts at bullying
1
Glen
You will be belittled when you jump into a forum as Johnny come lately, and the first contribution is to attack… Try that with me, and you will be another statistic like the previous under achievers Brittney Fore and Nadia Ossounko. I’ll add you to the group. At least Joe made some intelligent coherent points in a diplomatic way. Cudoos Joe.. Always admired your coolness and thoughtfulness.
Brittany
Just shows the true character of a person to have to seek personal attacks like that. He doesn’t have a leg to stand on but can’t admit that he is at fault for being utterly rude and unprofessional.
2
Glen
Look who’s back. Again, I choose the demeanor and the tone to RESPOND to idiots who go on the attack. If your feelings are hurt, then perhaps you should focus on YOUR tone, YOUR sentences, and you. Trying to shift the focus on me because you lost the argument, and because you thought I would melt when an irrelevant Pre-Madonna who knows nothing about anything, and who have never achieved anything, you are sadly mistaken. Again, Brittnay Fore… in the broad scope of things you are irrelevant, and congrats in earning a BRONZE medal in your trash talking with me. Keep trying.
Brittany
No one is trash talking but you. This whole conversation was a COURTESY that was extended to you by April. Now after seeing what kind of person you are I’m shocked she even did that because you clearly didn’t deserve it. I’ve met some delusional people in my life but this takes the cake if you think anyone came out of the gate to initially attack you. You keep changing the narrative of the conversation and getting off topic. Focus on the matter at hand. The date changed and there is nothing that can be done to change that. How about you just try to be a decent human being to someone who was only trying to inform you of the incredibly tough choices she had to make. It wasn’t a malicious attack. It was a necessary adjustment. This change puts April up against other events that weekend as well so I highly doubt it was done to ruin your attendance. Why don’t you sit back and look at the scope of things because it seems you’re quite irrelevant as well
2
Glen
Ummm… Did you not notice that you connected and started talking to me? I have never said didly squat to you ever. You are not worth my time or smartness. Not changing any narrative. Still remains the same. The entities that I am owner of will not be punching bags to you or any other under achieving being; nor should we pretend to be embeciles to people like you. How about you try to earn your relevancy in the scheme of things. So far, you intellect is lacking, but I deal with people like you daily. They usually loose in the end.
1
Brittany
No one was made to be a punching bag. You are the one throwing around insults and checking people’s facebooks to see how relevant they are. Like Nancy said even when they owned the event the date had to be changed due to hotel issues a couple of years. I’m sure they weren’t made to be some villain for it. Life happens.
Glen
Some people are slow learners. Let’s stipulate that if you come at me with a negative condescending tone, you do so at you own peril. Expect a harder counter of some sort. You missed the original dispute. That is whether the change was due to no hotel space available on the 2nd weekend of March, or the change was made in order to get more distance from MADjam. Go back and re-read the beginning of the thread. This time slowly. You may comprehend things better. Every time you comment, you show how naieve and Pre-Madonna you are.