Garth Drabinsky still managing to (indirectly) screw people over

Not even performances from acclaimed musicians like Diana Krall and a healthy dose of optimism could save the nascent BlackCreek Summer Music Festival from stiffing performers. Sure, one obvious explanation for the festival’s malfeasance is that noted financial fraudster Garth Drabinsky provided the artistic direction while out on bail. But it’s really more complicated than that. The Toronto Star reports that the festival was also bogged down by poor ticket sales and crummy weather. Now performers and businesses claim the festival owes them over $100,000 in late payments. A spokesperson for the festival attributed the late payments to poor ticket sales, complications with a credit card–processing company and trouble with financing. “Art festivals take time to become mainstays,” he said. Yes, that’s true. It’s just too bad most creditors don’t take payment in the form of, um, time. Read the entire story [Toronto Star] »