I would like to share a story with anyone thinking about enrolling on a writing course this year, specifically to anyone who might be tempted to sign up to a Raindance event.
Late last year I paid £270 to attend a weekend comedy course run by Raindance. That's a great deal of money to me. Still though, I'd read and enjoyed Elliot Grove's book on screenwriting and I was excited about getting some practical tuition from David Cohen, who I understand is a terrific teacher.
Having received no confirmation from Raindance prior to the event, and with only the vaguest idea of where I was supposed to be going on the day, I contacted them by email to ask if I was missing a welcome pack of some sort. I heard nothing back, and before I knew it, the day of the event had arrived.
When I got to the venue I found no notice of where the class was taking place. There was no reception. Nobody to talk to. I wandered around for a while but the best I could find was a massage class. I tried calling the Raindance office but discovered they only operate office hours.
I arrived home despondent and immediately wrote an email of complaint demanding an explanation and my money back. Again, I heard nothing. The next week I got their course director on the phone who assured me he'd been meaning to call. Between us we eventually discovered that I had been at the wrong venue. Apparently, there are two Diorama Arts Centre's in London. What's more, their website indicated the wrong one.
Three months later, and many letters back and forth, Raindance have told me point blank that they are not prepared to accept responsibility for what happened and will not refund me my money. Frustratingly, they have covered their tracks as far as giving an incorrect venue by updating their website. It's my word versus theirs, and I have neither the time nor the money to pursue a legal case.
The best I can do is to warn people that Raindance is yet another in a long line of organisations more than happy to fleece the writer so long as it suits their bottom line.
