Aiken Promotions - Greed Greed Greed

dedon · 23-12-2008 02:01AM #1

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 · 23-12-2008 02:03AM

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 · 23-12-2008 09:50AM

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 · 23-12-2008 12:09PM

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 · 23-12-2008 12:21PM

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 · 23-12-2008 01:42PM

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 · 23-12-2008 03:40PM

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 · 23-12-2008 07:10PM

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 · 24-12-2008 12:17AM

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 · 24-12-2008 12:50AM

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 · 24-12-2008 01:40AM

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 · 24-12-2008 02:56AM

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 · 24-12-2008 02:49PM

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 · 28-12-2008 01:06AM

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

Soundman · 28-12-2008 01:20AM

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 · 29-12-2008 03:34PM

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 · 30-12-2008 06:20AM

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 · 30-12-2008 12:36PM

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 · 30-12-2008 07:13PM

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

Bluetonic · 30-12-2008 07:51PM

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 · 30-12-2008 09:35PM

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 · 30-12-2008 10:01PM

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 · 31-12-2008 12:12AM

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 · 31-12-2008 03:57PM

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 · 01-02-2009 11:21AM

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 · 02-02-2009 05:44AM

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 · 03-02-2009 10:27AM

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

raindog.promo · 03-02-2009 07:14PM

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 · 03-02-2009 07:27PM

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 · 05-02-2009 04:06PM

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 · 05-02-2009 06:45PM

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

Aiken Promotions - Greed Greed Greed

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