We are going to go see Sarah Millican on her current tour but despite being 'near' to a large city she is not playing there because the only venues are owned by The Ambassador Theater Group and she is boycotting them (so we've booked tickets to go see her slightly further away)
FYI article is 2 years old and their response was they were 'reviewing' their charges (but it looks like the review was 'yup we can get away with still charging these so lets stick with it')
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-enter ... 35800.htmlQuote:
The comedian Sarah Millican is refusing to perform at venues operated by Britain's largest theatre operator, the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), because of its high booking fees.
Millican, whose debut DVD became the bestselling of any female comedian in Britain, is due to tour in September next year, but said she had "avoided" the venues owned and run by ATG. The company – which runs the Liverpool Empire, the Edinburgh Playhouse and many others – adds up to £4.90 to the face value of each ticket bought online or over the telephone, with an added transaction fee that can be as high as £4.
Writing on her website, Millican said: "I don't agree with the extra charges ATG put on top of the face value ticket price to you the customer and a number of other restrictions they have in place, so that's why I've avoided their venues this time round."
Helen Enright, chief financial officer and commercial officer for ATG, said it was "concerning" that an artist would take such a step. She told The Stage: "We are always reviewing our charges to make sure they're fair and we are in the process of revisiting all of that."
A similar story for another comedian
http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/0000 ... king_fees/Quote:
"Now usually I pop on here to say 'hey there's tickets left for such and such a gig, buy them'. But I just popped on the Oxford New Theatre website where I am performing next Monday and Tuesday and noticed that ATG (the company that owns it) are charging a whopping £9 booking fee on top of my ticket price of £22.50 (a price I already took £2.50 off from the last tour's £25 because of rip off booking fees).
Quote:
I mean, you do it all your fucking self! That's what gets me, you log on, you choose your seats, you even print the bastard out at home! What are they charging for?!!? How are they getting nearly half of what I get when I'm the one who spent a year writing and perfecting it, driving to the gig, paying travel, accommodation, tour manager, promoters, agents, advertising, not getting to put my kids to bed 6 nights a week for 10 months! I do my best to never rip anyone off but this makes my blood boil. I'm kicking myself for not noticing it sooner! Argh!"
Quote:
"The maddest thing about ATG is they also own the venue! So not only do they take £9 off you but they take 20% off me as well. So they actually make £13.50 off both me and you! And for what exactly?"