|
||||||||
O2 Concert Shambles |
![]() |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2
|
O2 Concert Shambles
Is it me or is the O2 not a very good place for concerts? Went to the Viva La Diva show and had a camera boom in front of the video screen for most of the show. Seats were so far away from the stage that the screen was our only hope. The O2 says sorry but its the promoters fault. The promoter doesn't respond to my complaint. The show started really late as they couldn't get all the people in on time. Anybody else had a similar problem?:
|
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,807
|
Yup. Sat in Level 4 and could barely hear the music, what was audible was just a mess of echoing treble.
They moved us, but we only had 30 mins of the show left. They said it's not their problem, and my contract is with the ticket agent, the ticket agent said to contact the promoter, the promoter didn't reply. I've left it too late for my complaint now, but get back on to the agent - your contract is with them, not the venue or the promoter. They sold you the ticket so if you're not happy, it is to them you should complain. It's a bit like buying something in a shop. If you get it home and it doesn't work, you don't complain to the shopping centre, and you don't complain to the manufacturer. You go back to where you bought it from. Unfortunately, it's a grey area and there is no protection for consumers other than if the event doesn't take place at all or is moved or significantly changed. |
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: A Town Called Malice
Posts: 3,915
|
This sounds like problems for this particular gig. As I didn't go to the gig I can't comment on the sound or view etc. Remember each gig/ artist has different staging. Saw Prince at the O2 last year. I was in the level 2 seats. The stage was in the middle. People on the ground level were pretty close to the stage . Gig was brilliant. Views superb. Sound great. No problems at all. My brother and his g/f were in the nose bleed seats but still had a good time. I think if you've got seats waaaay up in the gods in any arena, you're going to have to rely on the screens, but the sound should still be good.
Anyway doesn't sound like you had your money's worth watching Coldplay which is a shame. |
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2
|
Thanks for this, the O2 have replied with " the promoter will take responsibility for this issue, so please contact them directly and they will resolve this for you." Apparently it was the promoter who decided to film the show at the 'last minute' and promised it would not obstruct anyones' view. As yet no reply from the promoter (no surprise there!) - they don't have an email address, so I sent a letter. Think i'll send a recorded delivery one now, just to show I won't go away!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: A pink heart shaped world!
Posts: 10,751
|
At the Spice Girls last year we were literally right at the top right at the back and the sound was awful! Some of the words we couldn't hear and it makes the concert really un-atmospheric (if thats a word!) being right back there. However weve seen Take That & Boyzone from the side blocks near the stage and its so much better - you can hear every word!!
What we don't like about the O2 is the length of time it takes to get out of the actual arena/dome itself because there was only one exit. At Boyzone last week it took about 30 minutes to get outside into fresh air. They had an exit open by the Africa Africa exhibition but we weren't allowed to use it so thousands of us had to use the same exit it was ridiculous! |
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,141
|
I have only been to the O2 once and that was for one of the Prince shows. I was sat in the mid-tier and had a great view of the stage and ideal sound. I had read and been told varying accounts of what it was like to be sat in the lower tier, from people saying they had to look up at the stage (I wouldn't mind that, but others do) and sound being a bit muffled to others saying it was spot on. I then had people telling me the sound in the mid-tier was ideal, which to be honest, I agreed with, though I had not sat in the upper tier or the lower so can't really comment.
What I will note however is that the particular support act on the night I was present at the 02 had an appalling sound guy. The microphones for the artists were not high enough on the gain and were blocked out by the backing track which had a distorted bass and sounded dreadful. However, Prince's sound was spot on - the vocals were not drowned out by the band, nor was the band drowned out by the vocals. Therefore the sound does also depend on how competent the sound guys are. Overall my experience with the O2 was pleasant and I am sorry to hear others have not had the same experience. I fully agree with !!11oneone regarding the little protection for consumers with concerts other than when they are cancelled or something really drastic occurs like moving the date. I have to say I think it is time that Parliament intervened and introduced specific regulations for the whole buying tickets for concerts and matches, kind of in the way that this was done for package holidays. The law needs to be more specific to concerts. In a way, yes, I suppose you could get a really intelligent argument based on ordinary contract principles and argue that the thing itself which you purchased (e.g. your seat and the whole experience of attending a concert) was fundamentally different from what you expected, particularly if the view was so restricted by a stupid promoter filming, an extraneous event, and particularly if you were in a fairly good seat with a good or adequate view normally without some fool filming and blocking the view, and claim reimbursement. However, the ticket will probably have a pathetically wide get-out term/condition on the back to get out of this very situation. An example I can give you on a ticket I have kept for the George Michael at Wembley gig states: "The promoter and venue management reserves the right to alter or change the programme, staging or seating without prior notification, refund of monies or exchange of ticket." I am sorry but such terms are TOO WIDE, NOT GOOD ENOUGH, DON'T ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE CONSUMER AND WARRANT REACTION FROM PARLIAMENT. I don't think such terms are as drastic as the ancient "we will not be personally liable for death or personal injury" kind of clauses that businesses used, which are now void under statute, yet you still see businesses trying to pull that trick. Nevertheless an example of such a term that does give the venue or promoter a right to just about alter anything, and not offer any sort of concession is unreasonably wide as this doesn't afford protection to consumers. To be honest, this term stinks - ultimately if something is altered from that situation at the time of purchase - let's face it, I doubt it was said "oh by the way, they'll be a camera in the way of your view" when the ticket was bought - some additional consideration should have been provided for that, and why shouldn't it be? It stinks to have such wide clauses and this is why the law needs strict conditions on the promoters and venues. If things are going to be altered then concessions have to be made. Furthermore, from the back of my George Michael ticket - "Any complaint about a reserved seat ticket holder's ability to view the concert shall be made to the Promoter promptly prior to, or during the performance. No such complaints can be accepted after the event." Well, again too vague! Naturally some rep from the promoter will be present at the concert, but this kind of term doesn't adequately cover what happened on the situation told of in the O.P. Obviously the term I refer to was for a different show, but they are pretty standard terms these days. . I only use my example as an illustration. Ultimately somebody from the venue gave whoever it was filming permission to film in that area which then blocked the view - THAT was where the chain of causation ended. In all fairness if it has truly been communicated that the promoter "promised" not to block anyone's view, then having to promise something suggests that permission was sought to film. I think that is only a fair and natural inference. Otherwise, why else would the promoter promsie anything? It would have just done what it wanted and set up the equipment. On the other hand, if the venue truly did not have anything to do with giving permission to set up the camera and film, this sort of situation needs to be halted. The promoter isn't going to give much thought to people's views being restricted - it'll get its share of the money from the tickets and the sales from overpriced T-shirts and the like, so it will damn well film if it wants to. SOMEBODY HOWEVER DOES NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH CONCERNS! I think the law should impose responsibility on an entity for doing so, and if they do not fulfil their duty, then they must bear the cost of failing to do so. Reading between the lines, I think somebody at the venue undertook responsibility by making a decision that showed a complete lack of foresight - they should have taken steps to determine whether views would be blocked before the show started by permitting filming in the area they were positioned. Doesn't really take a lot of intelligent thought to reach that conclusion. Ultimately in this situation whoever made the stupid decision to let that promoter film and block paying customer's views should be responsible for bearing the costs of reimbursement. Last edited by tortfeasor : 04-06-2008 at 23:56. Reason: spelling errors! |
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 1,373
|
I was there tonight seeing Avril Lavigne, and although Avril herself was great I wasn't overly impressed with the venue (it was my first time there).
Don't get me wrong, the setting is quite impressive, and it was handy being able to stop off at one of the bars on the way out to let the rush for the tube die down. But it took absolutely AGES to get both in and out of the actual arena, I can only hope there are loads of fire exits they can open in an emergency. Plus at the bar just outside the arena they were ID'ing EVERYONE, not just people who looked borderline 18. Madness. Fortunately a lovely foreign exchange student with ID bought drinks for me and the person I was with, and wouldn't even keep the change. Which was a nice moment to add to the night, but shouldn't have happened in the first place! I was about 10m from the stage and the sound wasn't brilliant, but not much worse than I was expecting. I still prefer Sheffield arena. |
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,807
|
Quote:
"Any complaint about a reserved seat ticket holder's ability to view the concert shall be made to the Promoter promptly prior to, or during the performance. No such complaints can be accepted after the event.
Of course, it's not possible to speak to the promoter at the event. Only the venue staff.I was trying to argue that the Level 4 seats are simply too high up and too far away, that with a normal production they're above the level of the speaker stacks. This, by design, means it's impossible to get good sound. Especially since they don't have repeater stacks higher up or further back. In my opinion, the top level of seating simply is not suitable for concerts. If you go to the theatre and the side seats don't have a full view of the stage, that's restricted view and cheaper, when you book they say 'you might not be able to see everything'. I believe that Level 4 seats in the O2 should be sold on a similar basis. |
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,303
|
went to the o2 in january to see the spice girls. We were sat on the second row on the top tier. The view was really good actually. The sound was really muffled at the start, but after about 20 minutes it was fine - i think it was a technical hitch.
Getting in was fine, but getting out was a nightmare. It took about 30 minutes to get down them stairs, and we were one of the first groups out. There was hundreds and hundreds of people behind us. God knows what would happen if there was a fire.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,141
|
Quote:
Of course, it's not possible to speak to the promoter at the event. Only the venue staff.
1) it has nearly always arisen in standard form contracts/terms, like this which 2) consumers like you and I have had NO opportunity to negotiate their inclusion AND 3)also mainly because the court expects the drafter of the contract to take into account as many foreseeable situations as possible in relation to the term for it to be enforced. How anybody could not argue the toss that including a term like this and imposing an onus to inform the promoter during the event about a complaint and the promoter actually not being available to be contacted during the event itself would quite simply be ludicrous. Quote:
In my opinion, the top level of seating simply is not suitable for concerts. If you go to the theatre and the side seats don't have a full view of the stage, that's restricted view and cheaper, when you book they say 'you might not be able to see everything'. I believe that Level 4 seats in the O2 should be sold on a similar basis.
Don't get me started on administration fees either - again another example of consumers getting well and truly taken for a ride. The administration fee should be per transaction NOT per ticket. Everytime I buy a ticket, I'll always get more than one because I don't like going to gigs on my own, yet everytime I get charged a separate administration fee per ticket, despite the purchase of say 3 tickets being part of one transaction. |
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: West London
Posts: 24,325
|
Quote:
Don't get me started on administration fees either - again another example of consumers getting well and truly taken for a ride. The administration fee should be per transaction NOT per ticket. Everytime I buy a ticket, I'll always get more than one because I don't like going to gigs on my own, yet everytime I get charged a separate administration fee per ticket, despite the purchase of say 3 tickets being part of one transaction.
Tickets should be sold for face value plus a fair charge for postage, no more. Ticketmaster, bless 'em, now have a facility where you can download the ticket to your computer and print it out yourself. It's a great system, I've used it myself. But they charge postage for downloading the ticket! So you pay the face value of the ticket, the "adminstration fee" and the postage - and do all the work at your own expense as well! |
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Cambs
Posts: 587
|
Dont get level 4 seats if you have a fear of heights. Its worse than Alton Towers!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#13 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,141
|
Quote:
Ticketmaster, bless 'em, now have a facility where you can download the ticket to your computer and print it out yourself. It's a great system, I've used it myself. But they charge postage for downloading the ticket! So you pay the face value of the ticket, the "adminstration fee" and the postage - and do all the work at your own expense as well!
That is disgraceful. This needs to be drawn to the attention of somebody who can do something about it. I understand that several MPs were tabling an Early Day Motion at the start of the year but I wonder if they were aware of this little practise, which I must admit, even I had not heard of. How on earth can you be charged postage if something isn't physically posted to you? If that isn't an example of consumers being taken for a ride, then give me strength! By the way, I agree with your analysis of the true meaning of the 'administration fee' and your example of a supermarket charging an extra amount on the retail price of the good bought. A supermarket would NEVER get away with doing something as explicit as that, yet we have virtually the same thing going on every day when you purchase tickets for a concert or a match. I just can't believe that this sort of thing hasn't been dealt with because it has been going on for far too long. Last edited by tortfeasor : 05-06-2008 at 18:12. Reason: additional comment |
|
|
|
|
|
#14 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Letchworth
Posts: 3,446
|
I've been to the O2 6 times now for different concerts and each time have loved it and it's my favourite concert venue now
! Never had any bad experiences there. I have always had seats either on the floor or the lower tier (tier 1) so maybe the problems occur in level 4. Anyhow I'm not planning to ever get tickets up there cuz it looks scary!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#15 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,416
|
I’ve been there twice now, the first time I was on Level 4 and the second time I was on level 2. I thought both seats were good and I found level 4 was fine for sound, we saw Linkin Park and the sound travelled perfectly well up to us!! But I would add that if you have a hate of heights then level 4 isn’t for you!!
|
|
|
|
|
#16 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: West London
Posts: 24,325
|
Quote:
I’ve been there twice now, the first time I was on Level 4 and the second time I was on level 2. I thought both seats were good and I found level 4 was fine for sound, we saw Linkin Park and the sound travelled perfectly well up to us!! But I would add that if you have a hate of heights then level 4 isn’t for you!!
However that reminds me that a lot of "smart" venues sell tickets direct: Albert Hall, Barbican, South Bank Centre, many regional venues; so it's possible to sign up to their mailing lists and then buy tickets for face value with either no fees or just a nominal postage charge. Both the South Bank and the Barbican have some great bands from time to time, as long as you don't mind a comfy seat rather than moshing down the front. |
|
|
|
|
|
#17 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,718
|
been there a few times and have found the teir 4 seats to have very bad sound. What seems to happen is the sound bounces of the roof and the back of the venue and creates an echo. At ground level you don't notice this but at the top you do.
The problem is the venue is made out of concrete and the sound bounces off of that and back into the venue creating huge sound problems. |
|
|
|
|
|
#18 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,807
|
When Sainbury's buy tins of beans from Heinz, they buy them for probably around 25p each. Sainsbury's DO add the admin fee, by setting their store price at 35p. They make a small profit on every item sold.
When you buy a ticket from See or Ticketb*stard, they're selling £35 tickets that cost them £35. They don't make any money from the face value. So they add a bit in admin charges. But it's ridiculous that they can add £5 per ticket, plus £4.75 postage. What should happen is like in Sainsbury's when you buy beans: tickets should be advertised at x amount each, including all fees and postage. If See can do them for £40 including their profit, then Ticketb*stard or anyone else would either have to match it or undercut it or lose custom. Then there'd be fair competition and it would be easy to compare them. Venues and events should also not be allowed to use a sole ticketing agent, they should by law be required to use at least two competitors selling from one pool of tickets (so that if See sell out, you don't have to use the other). I had an argument with Ticketb*stard about them charging admin fees on e-tickets, which I'd bought online. This effectively cost them very little as no human had been involved in the chain, but still cost me just as much as if I'd used their call centre to talk to staff, then had the tickets posted out. Outrageous. |
|
|
|
|
|
#19 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,303
|
Quote:
Ticketmaster, bless 'em, now have a facility where you can download the ticket to your computer and print it out yourself. It's a great system, I've used it myself. But they charge postage for downloading the ticket! So you pay the face value of the ticket, the "adminstration fee" and the postage - and do all the work at your own expense as well!
That is absolutely disgusting. Surely they are laws against this type of thing. If not, there should be! ![]() Because people are willing to pay £60+ for a ticket, they probably don't really think much about the admin cost, it's just like 'meh, it's only another £6.50, i can spare that'. I'm the same. But when you sit and think about it, it's shocking! |
|
|
|
|
|
#20 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 16,886
|
Quote:
Ticketmaster, bless 'em, now have a facility where you can download the ticket to your computer and print it out yourself. It's a great system, I've used it myself. But they charge postage for downloading the ticket! So you pay the face value of the ticket, the "adminstration fee" and the postage - and do all the work at your own expense as well!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#21 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: West London
Posts: 24,325
|
Quote:
There is no postage on downloadable tickets, there is an admin fee and that is it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#22 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 16,886
|
Quote:
There is the face value of the ticket, the "service charge" (£2.95) and the "postage" (£1.25). If I remember correctly the charge for downloading the tickets is the same as First Class Post - I can't verify this as the charge is simply included in the final cost, but it's £1.25 more than the cost of the tickets including "service charge".
|
|
|
|
|
|
#23 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,718
|
what annoys me is when I get a booking fee and a transaction fee ?
One time the admin fee was dearer if you bought tickets in the highest price range, i mean are they trying to say the dearer tickets are heavier and they have to do more work ? |
|
|
|
|
|
#24 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,303
|
what exactly is the admin fee for. Sitting at a desk, mail merging a confirmation letter, sticking it in an envolope along with the tickets then placing it in the 'Out' tray ready for posting. Sounds like a well paid job
|
|
|
|
|
|
#25 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: West London
Posts: 24,325
|
Quote:
what exactly is the admin fee for. Sitting at a desk, mail merging a confirmation letter, sticking it in an envolope along with the tickets then placing it in the 'Out' tray ready for posting. Sounds like a well paid job
![]() And then they add on the "service charge" and "admin fee"... |
|
|
|
![]() |
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 15:33.




God knows what would happen if there was a fire.
! Never had any bad experiences there. I have always had seats either on the floor or the lower tier (tier 1) so maybe the problems occur in level 4. Anyhow I'm not planning to ever get tickets up there cuz it looks scary!!
