In mid 2007, Casper had the idea of me performing at his festival in Almelo, Holland, with my husband accompanying me. Sellaband were paying for me to go and perform at the Paradiso at around the same time, so Casper asked for a bunch of investors on Sellaband to put in some money to sponsor his flight and our accomodation. Casper also promised some money from his Almelo Festival for other costs and spending money etc. He said he would pay for a bungalow near his house. We told Casper not to do that as it would be a waste of the sponsors money (as he'd already said we could stay at his house, which made alot more sense for rehearsals, recording etc).
Casper invited me to perform in Holland at around the same time as Sellaband were getting me over for the Paradiso gig, so he could entice Sellaband community members to his festival in Almelo and make it more successful. He also wanted to discuss plans and possibilities for himself being heavily involved in the recording of my forthcoming album. Gary totally revamped his (previously awful) Almelo Meets Nashville website for him before we flew out, which saved him thousands and made the festival more professional online. As you know, I performed for free (although all the other artists were paid a fair bit).
Casper told us he had booked the bungalow (against our wishes) for 4 weeks (even though we probably wouldn't even be in the area for 4 weeks), and that it had cost 1300 Euro's. He also told us that there was no money left after the flight and bungalow. We knew he hadn't put in what he had promised, but didn't want to pursue it as we felt grateful for his help anyway. We spent thousands of our own money to survive in Holland, including buying food for Caspers house (which is only fair we think).
A few weeks later Casper was complaining that we had never used the Bungalow (in the end it was a total waste like we had thought it would be, as it was impractical for us to be there as we had no transport, I had to rehearse at his house, perform in town and were also away in Amsterdam and London and elswhere having meetings and gigs and staying with a lovely lady called Lydia). Anyway, Casper said that the Bungalow had cost 1100 Euro's. A few days later he said the Bungalow had cost 900 Euro's. Casper couldn't get his story straight, and this made us very suspicious.
We asked Casper about this money discrepancy but he just went ballistic and accused us of alot of things and actually didn't answer the questions.
We heard from one person in the area that they believed (had it on good authority) that the holiday bungalow was actually owned by Caspers dad.
During the Almelo Festival, Casper had organised some rooms for the artists at the Hotel which was the main venue (over 2 nights). Well, for all artists except me, as Casper said the hotel was full. I didn't mind as a lovely person (Pat Sticks) kindly gave us a lift back to Caspers house at 4:30 am. What I didn't appreciate though was finding out that the hotel hadn't been full at all. I don't mind not staying there, but would have preferred the truth.
Before leaving for Holland, Casper had asked me to learn a bunch of cover songs for us to perform in Almelo (along with the original ones). I learned extra songs (covers) each night before we left Australia, but we didn`t actually end up doing most of them. This was a waste of time. I also worked hard when I got to Holland, rehearsing soon after we arrived after a 30 hour trip, and even staying up late (12-1am) waiting to rehearse with Casper while he went out and came back at midnight or 1am. Most of this work was wasted as Casper wasn`t interested in most of my songs. His interest lay mainly in playing 3 of the tunes we had written together. I felt very obliged to Casper and didn`t complain although I thought it was unfair not to let me showcase many of the works that the investors (believers) had come to know me by. Some of my believers had made the trip to Almelo to hear, meet and greet with me.
When preparing for the Sellaband Paradiso gig in Amsterdam, I had wanted Casper to ba a part of the performance (I had asked him and he had accepted before arriving to Holland) as the guitarist in the session band, with his singer Maaike as a backing singer. This would give Casper and Maaike alot of exposure and promote their band on Sellaband. Casper initially agreed and appreciated this. When in Holland he changed his tune, saying he didn't want to perform with the band as he would feel like an idiot. We said ok how about we do 'Grey' as an acoustic number with just him on guitar and myself singing. He agreed with this.
When rehearsing, Casper wouldn`t listen at all concerning how 'Grey' should be played. He said he didn`t want to play like a child. Gary (the songwriter of 'Grey') may play like a child but he has the right `feel` that is needed for the song. Casper got into a huff with us only a few days after we arrived as he wanted to play everything of mine HIS way. If it's not Caspers way then its not right. It was a very uncomfortable feeling being in Casper's house with his controlling nature and childish moods. We were desperate to leave and feel relaxed again.
A few days before the gig, Casper was petulant and in a mood, saying he didn't want to do the gig as it wasn't worth his time for one song. I said it would be a shame but it was up to him. I emailed Sellaband to tell the session band to be prepared to do 'Grey' after all, just in case.
We travelled by train to Amsterdam the day before the Paradiso gig. The next day I was at rehearsals (each artist had an hour each for rehearsals. I didn`t get an hour as the hired band seemed more interested in lunch, the sunshine and meeting Clemence (the French bombshell), so we rehearsed 'Grey' a couple of times, along with the other two songs.
I didn`t know if Casper was going to perform at the Paradiso until 2 hours before he arrived (tipsy but jolly) with Maaike.
Casper and I performed 'Grey', which was nice, but it need not have been such a stressful time to get that performance to happen.
When seeing a producer (Dick Kemper, who seemed really nice and professional) in Holland with Casper, Casper was speaking alot in Dutch. At one point Dick told Casper to talk in English. Casper was saying to Dick that he (Casper) could supply musicians for the album, and they would cost a certain amount, but he and Dick could invoice Sellaband for alot more (inflate the cost) and split the extra funds between them. Dick didn't agree with this.
While in Holland I found out I was pregnant. Casper was amongst the first few people I told. I felt he had a right to know. He said disappointedly, "Your career is over now that you are having a baby." I said, "Casper, I already have two young children at home. What does another one make any difference?" From that point he became even colder. I was shocked about the situation (we hadn`t planned this pregnancy), but I didn't need Caspers snide remarks to myself and others (including Dick Kemper) about being pregnant (and about how much sex Gary and I had had). It was disgusting and insulting.
During one of our rehearsals at Caspers house, we had a break. When Casper and I came out from his small studio room we met Gary and Sylvia (Casper`s girlfriend) in the kitchen. Sylvia asked what we were doing and Casper looked at Gary and frankly said, "I have just been fucking your wife". I was pretty appalled but tried not to look too prudish. In my opinion no-one should say such things like that because it isn`even joke material.
During the Almelo festival, one evening, as Casper and I rehearsed only 10-15 minutes before the actual performance he commented, "You must be so bored after, how many years with Gary?" I replied, "It`s been 17 years and no, I am not bored at all. We love each other very much". As one of my believers passed by (Pat, who was helping with the festival), Casper looked at him and then said to me, "Don`t you think he is good looking, huh?" At this point with Casper`s gesturing, questions and assumptions, I felt that if I were `willing`, then despite a husband, family and music venture, perhaps some slap & tickle and removal of clothes could be on the cards. Being a lady of morals, conscience and loyalty (let alone NO interest in any other men, including Casper), I would never be so low. Soon afterward we performed beautifully... but on the stage!
After my performance at the Paradiso, Casper was feeling pretty happy downstairs in the artists chillout rooms. A Dutch lady we knew was in there as well, and Casper actually plunged his face into her boobs and wriggled his head alot. Casper had a girlfriend so we were shocked by that. We didn't think his girlfriend would be too happy if she ever found out.