Rationale: I was hardly proud of my own response initially to the arrival of a musician on DA (referenced in many journals). In a sense the following is designed to deal with some guilt and also lay out the results of some thinking and debate Ive engaged in over the last few days.

Ive always believed (and have been taught through my profession) never to show favourites and to treat all others who you work with with fairness and to not show preference at all. Although human nature will mean that showing favour to others does happen, equality is an ideal to strive towards, especially within a community.

The justification for the perks given to this artist can be understood from one point of view and it is following on from that point of view of the artists presence being of benefit to DA that I would like to propose the following both with regard to the musician in question and any further artists who arrive at this site with extensive real world reknown and exposure.

1. 'Hire' him or her to staff on the basis of the admin's choice and criteria.
2. Their staff category would become something like 'DA art ambassador'
3. If there are a number of GD's already selecting DD's in their genre give them the ability to 'guest select' a DD or two a week or at frequency suitbale for that gallery.
4. The artist takes part in the occasional chat (im aware this would have happened anyway) but formalise it
5. any further suggestions welcome

Through this the issues of 'perks' been given to another member becomes moot. I did notice that no one is bothered with new staff being hired to $ positions but then they obviously are working very hard for DA, therefore formalising the 'hiring' of artists such as this musician to become staff or ambassadors to DA should help quell a number of site concerns by showing that these individuals will be conributing to the site.

Yours,

Brian Sharland