Which is why I'm quite dumbfounded by what's happened since then. The promised payment date for the first leg of the project came and went two weeks ago, and they simply aren't communicating in any helpful way as to when (if ever) they intend to make good on it. They won't even respond to requests for partial payment. In the first week I got a couple of tepid apologies, and promises to call or write the next day with an update (no one did). In the second week (last week), dead silence.
Compounding all of this is that I suffered a major financial disaster back in March (details won't fit in this post), which left me completely bottomed-out, cash-wise. This April-May gig was supposed to be my "rebound", but I haven't yet received a dime of the promised compensation. Having gone down this road before, it's getting close to the time to hire to a lawyer, preferably a posh and menacing-sounding one, to at least write a Demand of Payment letter. So what I would like would be a recommendation for someone who might feel inclined to work with me for a promise of future payment. I can see the first letter costing $200-$250 or so, and hopefully one and only one letter will be required.
The lawyer doesn't have to be local (to NYC) but that might help of course.
Hopefully someone will respond soon -- my situation really is quite dire at the moment. So I'd like to get the process moving by the end of the week, if possible.
I can be contacted at needthatcheck at yahoo.com.