oh dear, oh dear. That took a while to get through all the posts.
My $.02:
I agree with what someone said earlier in that the only issue was just a call on time management of the signing, and whatever took the delay to show up to the signing. That's it.
The announced the show a week or two after the signing was announced (whether or not they were planned at the same time, only mgmt knows) but I think it's a good assumption if you say the club is 10 blocks away we can get there in a half hour (being 10pm for 10:30 on stage) and ready to go on. But it still probably would've been wiser to bump the signing earlier an hour or two.
Scott was late to the signing supposedly because of sound-check at the venue...who knows. Was he late to start that? Were there unexpected difficulties in getting things setup? Can't tell. So maybe you give him the benefit of the doubt on that one.
Next, the people saying he was 3 hours late to hit stage. It was an hour. It stinks yes, but it wasn't 3. The blame for anyone who says this should really be aimed at mgmt of The Grammercy. They solicited the show as 7pm. While many of us know better from experience, or from catching the news from the book show time limit, Gramercy still printed 7pm in their listings, to pack the place and sell $10 beers, and apparent shot-glasses of wine.
And for Scott hitting the stage an hour late. The big question is, did he sign every book for every person that showed up? I don't know (as I'm sure most of us dedicated enough on this site wouldn't either) because I got to the signing early to get a good spot. But did Scott leave the signing at 10pm and just take his sweet time? Or did Scott choose to go ahead and sign the rest of the people waiting for him. If anyone knows this, please advise?
Because if Scott stayed to sign ever last book then it's really "damned if you do, damned if you don't" for him in this scenario. Now I know he had a responsibility to be to the stage at 10:30pm, but if he turned around while there's still a good 100 (just guessing) people left who were waiting for his autograph and said, 'Sorry it's 10pm, I have to get to the show' then 100 people would be saying "Scott's inconsiderate to his fans" for bailing after they waited so long to get the book signed. But I would also say he chose right because he fulfilled his commitment to his signing and fulfilled the commitment to the show. And with NYC shows too there's a steep fee you have to pay the longer you push concerts past the curfew (usually 11pm). BUT, Doug did say that Scott was just leaving B&N @10:30. Now was that, in the car pulling away ready, or he's just about to finish signing the last book say last goodbyes to fans, B&N mgmt, then get to the car ready?
I dunno, there's a lot that I really think went into it and a lot of people who'd normally dedicate a lot, are pushing directly on Scott. But the tri-state area was burned just a couple years ago @ PNC which I'm sure regular fans still hold in the front of their minds. Plus you mix in the fact that so many college or mid-20s neanderthals feel the need to leave no brain cell behind in the quest for black-outs because they think it makes them special or a leader of some sort. And it's just bad news.
I was bummed by all the waiting myself (@ B&N and @ Grammercy, but you have to put some on management of SW, mgmt of B&N, mgmt of Gramercy as well).
In the end I feel bad for the people who had things soured for their experience. It's not right, and it does suck. Especially if you had your back against the wall in terms of a deadline when you had to leave due to transportation or priorities/responsibilities. The late show should have been booked as such from the start.
It annoys me when he does, but my dad often says "in NYC, one minute can sometimes cost you an hour." but he's right. I've dealt with it first hand when I used to work there.
Having said that.....I'll post my review of the day/show in general. Kinda bummed cause I wanted to do that now, but I felt maybe putting a thought in on the hot debate would be read with a little more care.