Aiken Promotions - Greed Greed Greed

dedon

I was wondering what others think of the greedy shower that are Aiken Promotions. They seem to have taken over a lot of the concert promotions in Ireland and are responsible for charging ridiculas prices for tickets over the last number of years. And worst of all they are still at it. Sickingly more expensive than the UK.

To be honest I am sick to death of them ripping off fans in this country!!

Karoma

They're promoters. It's what they do. It's also supply -v- demand. And as long as people hand over ridiculous amounts of money, they'll keep demanding it.

iregk

Its not Aikens fault its ours. The reason concert tickets are €70 a pop is because not one of us thinks twice about paying for them.

How many tickets sold for Top Gear recently at €100? They sold out in minutes. Had they known you can guarantee the tickets would have been more expensive. In short, we are the idiots that complain yet still pay.

I remember recently seeing a well known (old) band advertised on tv and a notice on the bottom of the screen Tickets from €127. That concert is now sold out!

mickey1979

Well known American Singer 56 sterling in Belfast 83 euro in dublin roughy 33 euro more for a ticket I know where I am going

Doctor J

As long as the sheep keep throwing money at them, surely the only sane thing to do is keep charging more? Is it not the music business after all?

You have a choice. You control how much you will pay to see an act, not the promoter.

Toast

Ireland has generally higher costs all round so pointing out the difference between the UK and here is kinda pointless as the promoters expenses are significantly different as well. Not to defend ticket prices but theres been a LOT of poor turnouts to gigs this year so covering those losses with higher prices on sure things would be a sensible move. Obviously turnouts may have been better if things cost less to begin with across the board but I think the recession will soon put things back in place.

dedon

Toast wrote: »

Ireland has generally higher costs all round so pointing out the difference between the UK and here is kinda pointless as the promoters expenses are significantly different as well. Not to defend ticket prices but theres been a LOT of poor turnouts to gigs this year so covering those losses with higher prices on sure things would be a sensible move. Obviously turnouts may have been better if things cost less to begin with across the board but I think the recession will soon put things back in place.

If the turnouts are poor then why didn't they have the tickets at a more reasonable price then they would get a bigger crowd.

The thing is this organisation is responsible for ripping off concert goers in this country for years and to be honest I hope they get whats coming to them in the next few years.

The amount of advertising they do for some gigs is sickening and even still advertising gigs that are sold out is a bit stupid.

I know OPs argue people are willing to pay the prices but it is just not right to rip off people. And this organisation seems to be particularity good at it compared to other promoters. All we have seen this year that some concerts were poorly organised so their high prices dont even reflect the service offer and the UK ones were much better organised.

indiewindy

The promoters have been bidding against eachother to get some bands in , thereby pushing up ticket prices, I wouldnt just blame the promoters, this was a great year for gigs, but even some of the lower priced gigs I was at in crawdaddy etc drew very poor crowds. The major exchange rate decline was als a factor in big ticket variations. Some strange decisions too like booking black mountain to play the button factory,when they were more suited to whelans or crawdaddy (of course the gig never went ahead!!!)

rubadub

I keep my old stubs, and was looking back at some, used to go to the point a lot, prodigy, chemical brothers, orbital. All these used to play and it was really cheap. I was not even into many of them, but back then a night club was usually £8, up to £10 max I think, cheapest I used to go to was £5 in. But some of these big names were only £12, so I used to head along. Almost all were under £25, most under 20.

People usually say hosting gigs cost more here, but I cannot see the differential between gigs & clubs should be so much now, compared to then.

They know what touts can charge, so just turn into touts themselves, look at this "fanclub" crap they came up with. Loads are not selling out now, so they will have to drop.

BrianD

Doctor J wrote: »

You have a choice. You control how much you will pay to see an act, not the promoter.

Wrong, ultimately it is the artist who controls the price. Don't think for a moment that artist A or band B doesn't know how much you are paying to get through the turnstile. Live music is where the money is these days.

The cost of performing in Ireland is simply higher then the UK. You have transportation costs, higher VAT and so on so forth.

Concert promotion is a risky business so the stakes and the ticket prices are going to be high. Some artists set a fee so reducing the price for a venue with a maximum capacity is not an option. Plus if they are reducing the price for a poor selling gig then you would have to allow the same market forces to allow the ticket price ti inflate in price for a 'hot act'. The reality the promoter takes a risk by selling to you at a published fixed price.

rubadub wrote:

People usually say hosting gigs cost more here, but I cannot see the differential between gigs & clubs should be so much now, compared to then

There is a massive difference. In a club you generally have costs that are almost fixed - bar staff, security, DJ, probably don't need a lighting op or sound etc. Plus nothing has to change from night to night. For a gig, yoy have the band fee, all their equipment/lighting/props have to be transported in/out, installed, removed, the crew have to be accomodated, lighting and sound techs are required, you need a different type of crowd control and therefore more security, you may need barriers... there is a very long list of differences between DJ Micko playing a club night and Micko & The Muppets playing a gig - even in the same venue.

craiginireland

Theres no doubt about it that Ireland has higher production costs (somewhat due to us been an island off the mainland). Aiken have just taken advantage of that and added a bigger margin again for themself.

I've often wondered what would happen if the Government decided to cut the VAT rate for tickets for Irish bands. Would it encourage people to support Irish acts / irish products / irish crews etc.

Fad

Thing about AIKEN is that they only really ever take big big bands, so these bands are by default gonna charge higher fees.

Amusingly his (The Head Honcho) so is in my year in school

Doctor J

Doctor J wrote: »

You have a choice. You control how much you will pay to see an act, not the promoter.

BrianD wrote: »

Wrong, ultimately it is the artist who controls the price.

You should try reading it again

murraymints

Is it my imagination or have the prices of tickets reduced in the last couple of months?

Soundman

mickey1979 wrote: »

Well known American Singer 56 sterling in Belfast 83 euro in dublin roughy 33 euro more for a ticket I know where I am going

How much will it cost for you to get to and from Belfast? Staying overnight or returning same day? Parking?

Bluetonic

Soundman wrote: »

How much will it cost for you to get to and from Belfast? Staying overnight or returning same day? Parking?

Having done this recently for a gig, petrol for a 1.4 was around 20 euro round trip, parking £6, tolls 3.80 euro.

So approx 30 euro per trip.

The journey take less than two hours comfortable driving.

Soundman

Bluetonic wrote: »

Having done this recently for a gig, petrol for a 1.4 was around 20 euro round trip, parking £6, tolls 3.80 euro.

So approx 30 euro per trip.

The journey take less than two hours comfortable driving.

So basically you aren't saving anything yet you have to travel further quite possibly?

Doesn't seem worth it to me. I know if I had the option between Dublin and Belfast I'd stick with Dublin.

ghostdancer

Soundman wrote: »

So basically you aren't saving anything yet you have to travel further quite possibly?

Doesn't seem worth it to me. I know if I had the option between Dublin and Belfast I'd stick with Dublin.

not everyone is travelling from Dublin....

Soundman

Hence the "quite possibly" that I put in my post.

Bluetonic

Soundman wrote: »

So basically you aren't saving anything yet you have to travel further quite possibly?

Doesn't seem worth it to me. I know if I had the option between Dublin and Belfast I'd stick with Dublin.

You still have to travel within Dublin to the gig so you still incur extra expenses over the cost of the ticket.

I don't know about you but I don't go to gigs alone, so therefore the expenses are shared. Simple enough to see that in the example above one person going to the gig pays the same as going in Dublin (ticket/petrol/parking in Belfast == ticket in Dublin), then every person extra in the car saves upwards of 30 euro)

Jumpsfromplanes

One answer to this problem is to start going to see some of the less-well established 'alternative' 'indie' bands that play in whelans, dorans, mezz etc. The prices are way lower, and you are usually supporting local talent. Some of them can be brilliant aswell. I find some of the big name high priced bands can be not just over priced, but very anti-climatical !!

I understand your frustration.

rubadub

rubadub wrote: »

People usually say hosting gigs cost more here, but I cannot see the differential between gigs & clubs should be so much now, compared to then.

BrianD wrote: »

There is a massive difference........ there is a very long list of differences between DJ Micko playing a club night and Micko & The Muppets playing a gig - even in the same venue.

Doctor J wrote: »

You should try reading it again

My bit too!

I realise it will cost more to host a gig than a club, my question was why was the difference so little back in the early 90's and yet huge now. They now touting is big business, so just do it themselves. People can go to clubs again, but will pay over the odds for some gigs. And once in they can screw you too, €7.50 for a large popcorn in the O2, no messing.

Bluetonic

The difference now compared to years ago is that album sales years ago made up major artists main income, now album sales have gone to the wall and make up very little of the main income. These days it's all about the income from live shows, hence the bigger gap.

BrianD

There was also a hug difference in how gigs are operated and staffed. H&S costs are quite extensive for gigs these. Even smaller gigs in the likes of The Button Factory might require mojo barriers up the front to prevent crushing etc.

Furthermore, audiences expect more. Sticking a band on a stage might have been fine in the past but audiences expect more production values - better audio, lighting etc.

raindog.promo

I don't know, I've just got back from mainland Europe and the prices on EVERYTHING just astounded me.

If you're going to a gig that costs little in, and the drink is relatively cheap, you would have no problem expecting less.

In Ireland the experience of "we're being fleeced for everything it's possible to get off us" maybe then is why a gig-goer might expect the highest values of everything. They're certainly paying for it.

Personally - If it sounds good and the band are great, I'm happy.

Soundman

BrianD wrote: »

There was also a hug difference in how gigs are operated and staffed. H&S costs are quite extensive for gigs these. Even smaller gigs in the likes of The Button Factory might require mojo barriers up the front to prevent crushing etc.

We have our own in house ones now.

dedon

When I heard Aiken were involved with Bruce Springsteen I knew the ticket prices would be crazy expensive. And there were!!!

raindog.promo

Don't buy them. Don't go. Send Aiken a message saying you are not buying the tickets at that price.

"but it's the only chance I'll get to see him"
Fine, pay for the tickets, but stop moaning about the price. You can't have it both ways.

(not personally directed at you dedon, just the Irish market in general.)

AnonoBoy

dedon wrote: »

When I heard Aiken were involved with Bruce Springsteen I knew the ticket prices would be crazy expensive. And there were!!!

Yeah - cause any other Irish promoters would have him on for 17.95.

dedon

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Yeah - cause any other Irish promoters would have him on for 17.95.

Work for aiken??

If the above company is not making end of year record profits then I dont know who are!

Motley Crue

Doctor J wrote: »

You should try reading it again

True, but their can be peer pressure, caused when your friends are all attending a certain concert and you want to go with them. I remember being 15 and not wanting to feel left out and being the only one who didnt go.

Although in response to prices, if you think how much you would spend drinking on a Sat or Fri night....if it was an occassion, unlikely to happen more than a handful of times a year, you'd easily spend the admission price plus more on drink....and in the morning you have a hangover or memories...and its the same when you go to a gig

xseanx

Slander, we dont want boards been sued by aiken.
haha

AnonoBoy

dedon wrote: »

Work for aiken??

Yeah. I signed up two years ago and made nearly two thousand posts just so I could make this one point about the company I work for. :rolleyes:

Listen there's only two promoters who could bring someone like The Boss to Ireland at the moment. They'd both charge roughly the same - there's no real difference price wise between them and just because we can't discuss one on here isn't any reason to make Aiken out to be some manner of 'evil corporation'.

They're a company and like all companies they need to make profit to survive. They'll charge what the market will bear. Personally I don't pay out that much money for big gigs like that because I don't think they're worth it. But I go to lots of gigs that are more modestly priced, luckily the bands I'm really into generally come in around the 30 euro mark max for ticket prices.

muffinob1

murraymints wrote: »

Is it my imagination or have the prices of tickets reduced in the last couple of months?

I agree I can't find my ticket for Bruce last summer but I'm sur this summer's ticket is ten euro cheaper

Griff77

I think that other promoter would, if anyting, charge more in with less facilities! I believe Aiken charge the going rate IN Ireland and unfortunately the cost for gigs is high in Ireland. Hopefully we will see a drop in ticket prices this year. I have noticed that prices for DJ's playing in clubs has definately dropped in the last few months! The summer may bring a drop in the cost of gigs, we live in hope...

RuailleBuaille

What pisses me off is the surcharge PER ticket, not sure if this is Aiken's responsibilty or Ticketmaster or whoever, but can somebody explain to me how if I buy 6 tickets to one gig, I pay a handling fee for EACH AND EVERY ticket, even if it's just one transaction? That really bugs the shit out of me. :mad:

Miguel_Sanchez

RuailleBuaille wrote: »

What pisses me off is the surcharge PER ticket, not sure if this is Aiken's responsibilty or Ticketmaster or whoever, but can somebody explain to me how if I buy 6 tickets to one gig, I pay a handling fee for EACH AND EVERY ticket, even if it's just one transaction? That really bugs the shit out of me. :mad:

That's ticketmaster I believe. If you buy from a Ticketmaster stand (like the one in Stephen's Green or Jervis Shopping Centres in Dublin) then I think you don't pay that surcharge.

yknaa

€45 to see Priest, Megadeth and Testament tomorrow night is a bargain. Not sure how well it is selling though.

Skipper12

The service charge absolutely annoys the bejaysus out of me. It is such a scam and yet nothing has ever been done about it. What makes it worse is that the concerts are advertised as one price but is it EVER possible to buy them at that price?? I know that someone mentioned go to a ticketgangster bricks and mortar location and they dont charge a service charge. Is this definitely true? Even if this is true what chance have you of avoiding the service charger when about every gig that is in demand being sold out in the first 20 mins with probably 99% being sold online.

One more thing is the way the dearer the tickets are the higher the service charge per ticket!! Even if the gig is in the same venue! How does that one work out? Same venue, same paper that ticket is printed on, same computer system processing the order! And then on top of all that ticketgangster actually recommend that you print out your tickets yourself for some gigs!! Using your own ink and printer. Now that is just taking the proverbial.

Well thats my rant over... yo would you know that I have recently purchased tickets would you

Service charge = Money for nothing

BrianD

Skipper12 wrote: »

The service charge absolutely annoys the bejaysus out of me. It is such a scam and yet nothing has ever been done about it. What makes it worse is that the concerts are advertised as one price but is it EVER possible to buy them at that price?? I know that someone mentioned go to a ticketgangster bricks and mortar location and they dont charge a service charge. Is this definitely true? Even if this is true what chance have you of avoiding the service charger when about every gig that is in demand being sold out in the first 20 mins with probably 99% being sold online.

One more thing is the way the dearer the tickets are the higher the service charge per ticket!! Even if the gig is in the same venue! How does that one work out? Same venue, same paper that ticket is printed on, same computer system processing the order! And then on top of all that ticketgangster actually recommend that you print out your tickets yourself for some gigs!! Using your own ink and printer. Now that is just taking the proverbial.

Well thats my rant over... yo would you know that I have recently purchased tickets would you

Service charge = Money for nothing

This is simple not true. The service charge is not "money for nothing". You are paying for the service that TM provides - to buy a ticket on your behalf for your chosen show from the relevant promoter. This ticket may be delivered to your home or you may buy it over the counter at a local outlet. The service allows you the convenience to pay by card or cash. The service charge covers the provision of an online booking system and multiple telephone operators to take your call, help you with individual seat selection ...

These are just some of the items covered by the service charge. It also includes the implementation of the system that allows you to print your own unique ticket. Remember what used to happen if you lost your tickets? Major hassle. Now you can just print them off again.

Are TM fees to high? Competition is good but it's very hard to beat the service that TM provides. I hear complaints about their pricing but I've rarely heard a complaint about their level of service. In regard to pricing, I think it is beneficial that that the charges are extra (they are never hidden) as then it means it's transparent and in theory individual ticket agents could compete on the service charges.

Fad

Skipper12 wrote: »

The service charge absolutely annoys the bejaysus out of me. It is such a scam and yet nothing has ever been done about it. What makes it worse is that the concerts are advertised as one price but is it EVER possible to buy them at that price?? I know that someone mentioned go to a ticketgangster bricks and mortar location and they dont charge a service charge. Is this definitely true? Even if this is true what chance have you of avoiding the service charger when about every gig that is in demand being sold out in the first 20 mins with probably 99% being sold online.

One more thing is the way the dearer the tickets are the higher the service charge per ticket!! Even if the gig is in the same venue! How does that one work out? Same venue, same paper that ticket is printed on, same computer system processing the order! And then on top of all that ticketgangster actually recommend that you print out your tickets yourself for some gigs!! Using your own ink and printer. Now that is just taking the proverbial.

Well thats my rant over... yo would you know that I have recently purchased tickets would you

Service charge = Money for nothing

The surcharge has nothing to do with the promoters, so you cant hold that against them.

RAMAN

Jumpsfromplanes wrote: »

One answer to this problem is to start going to see some of the less-well established 'alternative' 'indie' bands that play in whelans, dorans, mezz etc. The prices are way lower, and you are usually supporting local talent. Some of them can be brilliant aswell. I find some of the big name high priced bands can be not just over priced, but very anti-climatical !!

I understand your frustration.

I would have to go along with you on this. There is so much music out there right now you don't have to depend on the big acts. I have seen peopel like Holly Golightly, Boards of Canada for around 17 euro and peopel like Jenny Watson or Mark Lanegan for around 30 euro. The venues are smaller and you get a lot more for your money. These gigs are full of real fans so there are no muppets there to see the Big name but with no real interest in the music, you know the type!

youcancallmeal

BrianD wrote: »

Wrong, ultimately it is the artist who controls the price. Don't think for a moment that artist A or band B doesn't know how much you are paying to get through the turnstile. Live music is where the money is these days.

Very few people realise or will simply refuse to believe but that this is actually the truth of the matter. I used to be of the same opinion that Aiken etc were ripping us of when a gig in Northern Ireland/England was a fraction of the price for the exact same thing over here. There was a very good article in the Ticket(Irish Times entertainment supplement) about a year ago that broke down the fees for a various gigs in Ireland and England and it worked out every time that tickets were more expensive in Ireland because bands/artists were demanding more, or to be more exact their agents. Its a bitter pill to swallow for punters that the big evil corporation isn't ripping us off but in fact our beloved performers.

Any number of explanations could be given for why they do it. Performers may just look at the going prices for tickets in Ireland and follow suit with their demands. It may even be a case of good album sales in Ireland or that coming to Ireland takes them away from the central European tour routes? Bottom line is the extra money on tickets in Ireland are generally going to the performer(s) and NOT the promoter.

I'll try and dig out that article if I can but it probably requires a subscription to the Irish Times or something.

g5fd6ow0hseima

Tom Waits' few gigs in the Phoenix park last year were priced €135 each.
Im not a big fan of him, I respect him and all, but dont see how people would be willing to pay that collossol amount of cash to see him. I wouldnt go over 50 euro for my favourite bands.

Aridstarling

I would have killed to go to that Tom Waits show... I have one gig from that tour as a podcast and it is mindmeltingly good. But the tickets were gone in minutes and I couldn't have afforded it anyway. I wonder who the promoter was for that or does Waits even go through a promoter? Anybody know?

BrianD

Aridstarling wrote: »

I would have killed to go to that Tom Waits show... I have one gig from that tour as a podcast and it is mindmeltingly good. But the tickets were gone in minutes and I couldn't have afforded it anyway. I wonder who the promoter was for that or does Waits even go through a promoter? Anybody know?

It was Aiken Promotions.

The other reason why Ireland is going to be more expensive is the cost of transportation. If you have a big tour you have to pay for all those trucks to come accross the Irish sea and back again. Even if you leave the gear at home then you are going to have to hire locally. In the UK you have a wide range of sound, light and staging suppliers available competing for business. Over here, you don't. There's only one big lighting co and a handful of PA companies. You have one LED screen company and there are very few stages (most of the stages used in the Summer come in from Belgium). Plus in the last few years, everything is this country got more expensive from hotels to food.

So why are shows in Belfast appear cheaper then down south? May suspicion is that the ticket price is based on it being "a part of the UK".

Aldini98

murraymints wrote: »

Is it my imagination or have the prices of tickets reduced in the last couple of months?

Some imagination !

Ticket prices here are a joke. Im off to Manchester next month for a gig, 2 huge American bands for £34.50 including booking fee. Could you imagine getting to the O2 for less than 40 Euro ? Could you heck !

If the trip works out I'm heading to England for gigs from now on. Yeah I'd rather give the money to the British economy than get screwed by aiken, mcd and the likes.

Fajitas!

Just to add another (Genuine) reason in - Insurance in Ireland is a nightmare, often costing more than 100% than that of the exact same gig in belfast. Actually, never mind 100%, in some cases it can cost 100 times the same gig in Belfast. It's another price a promotor is going to have to cover, which means sticking the price up.

NIBBS

BrianD wrote: »

It was Aiken Promotions.

The other reason why Ireland is going to be more expensive is the cost of transportation. If you have a big tour you have to pay for all those trucks to come accross the Irish sea and back again. Even if you leave the gear at home then you are going to have to hire locally. In the UK you have a wide range of sound, light and staging suppliers available competing for business. Over here, you don't. There's only one big lighting co and a handful of PA companies. You have one LED screen company and there are very few stages (most of the stages used in the Summer come in from Belgium). Plus in the last few years, everything is this country got more expensive from hotels to food.

So why are shows in Belfast appear cheaper then down south? May suspicion is that the ticket price is based on it being "a part of the UK".

There are plenty of valid reasons why expenses are greater here than in other countries, the transport thing is valid - but all of these excuses are greatly exaggerated, stop fooling yourselves, the main reason that ticket prices here are so much more expensive is profit margin, plan and simple.....

BrianD - I take your examples into consideration and they are all valid, the availability of equipment for shows here isn't great and is certainly open to higher costs to a promoter, but on the very big gigs, or even anything on in say the O2 these are nearly always Full Touring lineups which includes stage and most equipment, and of course the bigger the gig the bigger the revenue.
Where are there cheaper transportation costs bringing a show to Belfast rather than to Dublin ???????
Trucks and equipment still need to be ferry'd across the sea and these costs should be very similar ?

The Insurance thing is beginning to really annoy me, I know that Insurance costs for most things here are much higher than any other country, but when promoting a show the Promoter will already have built these costs in - unless they are doing this for the first time ????? it still doesn't explain the crazy variance in ticket prices ??

oneweb

Aldini98 wrote: »

Some imagination !

Ticket prices here are a joke. Im off to Manchester next month for a gig, 2 huge American bands for £34.50 including booking fee. Could you imagine getting to the O2 for less than 40 Euro ? Could you heck !

If the trip works out I'm heading to England for gigs from now on. Yeah I'd rather give the money to the British economy than get screwed by aiken, mcd and the likes.

I much prefer to make a weekend of a gig, it costs a bit more but you KNOW you're getting much better value for money! I've found Mancs to be ideal and have gone to London and Cardiff for other gigs.

Granted the new O2 venue finally gives Irish people a reason to go to a gig, but you still can't beat getting away for a bit!

Check out Sound Cellar (Nassau St, no website) for slightly cheaper tickets

Bluetonic

NIBBS wrote: »

it still doesn't explain the crazy variance in ticket prices ??

Your talking about two totally different economies, it's totally unfair to try and compare them like for like.