Publisher’s Note: This is tricky issue. BITCH is over a decade old and still hanging on by a thread. I understand why it may be necessary to hold firm. Rather they keep going than not. FYI, the fee for participating in the Salon was $35.00 (including tax) and included wine,other drinks, food, coffee, tea, audio equipment, and held in someone’s home to keep costs down. It was priced on a cost recovery basis. The Rotman public lecture the next day included Andi’s book and was priced at $35.00 (also a reception with food afterward).

You can elevate the grassroots or you can commodify it, but you can’t do both. I understand the need to be paid for one’s work, but surely there are some unacknowledged hypocrisies here.