Bob from Dane Productions writes: While we sit here and speculate as to what went wrong this past Saturday night, whether the venue or the promoter was at fault, I am sitting here this morning at about 7:00 feeling very sad because this whole thing began with an idea a few weeks back as to what we can do as a company and in totality, an industry for some of the people who were so horribly displaced, lost and in many instances as we are now learning killed in the devastation of hurricane Katrina.

I wanted to illustrate to people outside of this industry that we are not a bunch of sleazy idiots who have no feelings other than what is done in the movies we make. I know we all care about the people Katrina affected.

I felt this was good opportunity to collect money, food, clothing, stuffed animals, and whatever else we could get to help make the suffering of people affected a little easier.

I saw children who lost everything, animals not understanding why their masters were not bring them their meals, and the faces of adults not knowing how they would survive with no money, no homes, and no prospects of finding work.

I remembered 10 years ago, the earthquake that devastated this valley, and the feeling I had when my business was destroyed, my home damaged, and the horrible uncertain feeling of how I would take care of my 2 children. The kindness of total strangers is what sustained us. People we never knew before came forward to help not only my family, but all those in need.

I wanted to take a lead and have the opportunity to give all we could to people in need. Instead, we are trying to place blame somewhere for a failed opportunity. While the event did not go off as planned, we did not lose, the people who needed our donations are the ones that lost. Shame on all of us for losing sight of the real victims of our failed efforts, the people who are suffering, those we could have brought some comfort to.

I do not want to give up on this idea to help these people. We could be the next ones in need. I want to ask you all in the industry to help me do this the right way, no egos, no bull-shit no excuses. I need your ideas. There are a lot of companies larger than Dane, and many smaller ones. I need you all to work with me to bring this event to fruition. The only thing I ask is that we all deal from our hearts. I know all a lot of you, and many I do not. I hope you will call me, help me, and in doing so, help all of us to be the best we can be. Thank you in advance for your efforts, bob b., vice-president, dane/danehardcore.