UK Ticket Sales

[del]

I’ve been looking across the AXS and Ticketmaster sights to see how ticket sales are moving. As normal it looks like we are heading towards half filled halls in Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester, and a bigger crowd in Birmingham. The concern is though that it looks like numbers are down on the last tour. Even for the two smaller shows in London you can still pick up a decent number of tickets on one of the nights.

Are we heading for these to be the last arena dates in the UK? A positive if you like the smaller venues but disappointing if you like to see Alice as still being an arena draw.

[Si]

I’ve been looking across the AXS and Ticketmaster sights to see how ticket sales are moving. As normal it looks like we are heading towards half filled halls in Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester, and a bigger crowd in Birmingham. The concern is though that it looks like numbers are down on the last tour. Even for the two smaller shows in London you can still pick up a decent number of tickets on one of the nights.

Are we heading for these to be the last arena dates in the UK? A positive if you like the smaller venues but disappointing if you like to see Alice as still being an arena draw.

A lot (almost all?) of the choice of where Alice plays is down to the promoters and what they offer the artist. They decide the venues, not Alice and co, and they decide based on what is 1) available and 2) is most profitable to them.

The promoters have deals with certain venues, and own/co-own many of them. This means it's actually often more profitable to put an act into a larger venue knowing it will be half full, then a smaller venue that they will "sell out". This also allows them to release more tickets if the available ones sell fast enough without the need to add extra dates (and the extra costs that entails for the promoter).

Also, the term "sell out" is also a little confusing at times nowadays. An act can "sell out" a venue without every seat being occupied. This is because what often happens in these big arenas is that only half the venue is ever intended to be used, and so when those tickets are sold it's technically a sell out, despite half the venue being curtained off and empty.

[drewdavis]

A lot (almost all?) of the choice of where Alice plays is down to the promoters and what they offer the artist. They decide the venues, not Alice and co, and they decide based on what is 1) available and 2) is most profitable to them.

yes, if the supplier meets a reasonable price, the artist can come as usual

[jacknifejohnny]

Atmosphere suffers in a half empty arena imo… even with a curtain shutting out the empty seats

[Si]

Atmosphere suffers in a half empty arena imo… even with a curtain shutting out the empty seats

Atmosphere suffers in an Arena. Full stop. More often that not there is barely any atmosphere in one of those places, especially when the biggest fans no longer stand a chance of getting near the front without paying obscene amounts of money.

[VinceLeeRose]

Maybe they need to bring back the OGs for the UK dates again!

[del]

Thanks Si, I’m aware of the issue with promoters and that deals can also be done for a number of dates at a venue over a period and then filled by the promoter. There are certainly lots of ways to make a profit.

I suppose the answer is that there is always a breakeven point and we will just have to wait and see.

I’m still very surprised by the situation in London though. Thought that was a certain quick sell-out.

[tommycooper]

cooperrocks started a thread back in December headed "The Marketing Of Alice Cooper" and I said that in my opinion he hadn't been marketed well.
Nothing has happened since then to make me change my mind and it must be effecting ticket sales.
Most days I browse Apple News on my phone. I suspect a few people around the world do the same thing. There's a section headed Rock Music so I flick through these stories. If I didn't know better, I'd be convinced that David Bowie was still alive and bringing out new music and that Ozzy was at the top of his game. It is very rare indeed to find any mention of Alice, and for every one there are dozens about Blondie, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith etc. There was a list the other day of "hardest working rock stars"- Alice nowhere to be seen!
I'm guessing it's journos from a different generation to mine writing this stuff- unless it's AI generated!- but what's their source? Surely if Alice had some decent PR a few more people might be reminded that he's still out there and working hard.
In that earlier thread I had a moan about the number and quality of Alice promotional song videos over the years. Can't help noticing that Deep Purple have released at least three so far for their new album- all featuring the band themselves (not merely archive concert footage) and they've been very well received, judging by YouTube views anyway. I mention them because they are, of course, on the same label as Alice.
It's frustrating, to me at least, that if he does make any form of traditional press appearance it's likely to be the chicken story. I don't know, but doubt, that's it's any different on any form of social media. It doesn't help that he's still enthusiastic about promoting it himself!
It would be nice if, well into the twilight of his career, he was remembered for a lot more than that

[dadascot]

Obviously the promoters have a monopoly but I wondered why the bands play the same venues time and again. Several years ago Alice skipped Glasgow and played the Aberdeen arena and sold out. OK a bit inconvenient for fans in the central belt but we had a great weekend away and I am sure this could be replicated across the tour. But I suppose the promoters rule.

[killer wolf]

probably be a lot more sell-outs if ticketbastard got kicked out and ticket prices/releases went back to being sensible.

[del]

Alice was the second entertainer and first music gig at the P&J Arena in Aberdeen and there had been a big effort to get names in the calendar. The pricing was a one off and worked well for everyone. It was great to see that they put up a picture of him in the venue last year to recognise the occasion.

Just one additional point. It was indeed a sellout but on a smaller configuration with the stage brought forward a bit from the full capacity.

[rgallie]

I normally snap up 4 tickets on pre-sale.

But with the usual nonsense of better tickets coming up later I have decided to give it a miss and check closer to the time, if i miss out, so be it.

I dont know if ticketmaster is to blame or who in regards to pre-sale offerings but I am sick of it and although it wont make a difference, im speaking with my wallet.

[rgallie]

Obviously the promoters have a monopoly but I wondered why the bands play the same venues time and again. Several years ago Alice skipped Glasgow and played the Aberdeen arena and sold out. OK a bit inconvenient for fans in the central belt but we had a great weekend away and I am sure this could be replicated across the tour. But I suppose the promoters rule.

Glasgow or Aberdeen is about 3 hours for me either way, I was delighted with that gig, was a breath of fresh air going to Aberdeen

[del]

I’m going to revise my position a little on this now. With six weeks or so to the Glasgow gig I’m told there are more tickets sold than last time. As usual, there will be some draw for the support but I don’t think Primal Scream will get more than the Cult or the Stranglers previously.

So, good news from Glasgow but I’m still interested in why no sellout at the Hammersmith. Surely the good folk from London can fill it completely at least once. It’s not an arena so the atmosphere will be great. I want to see a sellout sign going up somewhere.

[Si]

So, good news from Glasgow but I’m still interested in why no sellout at the Hammersmith. Surely the good folk from London can fill it completely at least once. It’s not an arena so the atmosphere will be great. I want to see a sellout sign going up somewhere.

As I understand it Sunday sold out very quickly, with print adverts showing that (and lots of people have been asking for them), but there's still crappy seats available for Monday. It will likely sell out on the night if not before.

I agree I can't see the support acts pull that many. It's Glen Matlock, and The Meffs in London. Primal Scream and The Meffs at the other shows.

[del]

Good to hear but I see there are over 20 front stalls seats available plus a few VIP tides left on Sunday. Probably just the usual drip feed of extra seats by AXS and Ticketmaster. Almost there…

[Si]

Good to hear but I see there are over 20 front stalls seats available plus a few VIP tides left on Sunday. Probably just the usual drip feed of extra seats by AXS and Ticketmaster. Almost there…

Venue only shows a handful in the circle for Sunday, AEG is showing 5 VIPs near the front, but at £211 - nearly four times the face value. Yes, we've seen in the past AXS/AEG holding back decent tickets (or unsold VIPS) and then slowly releasing them in the run up to shows. Just another of their scams. A few years ago a whole load of 1st-5th row suddenly went on sale a couple of weeks before the show. On the night it was clear many right at the very front couldn't have cared less about seeing the band. Were more interested in playing with phones and running in and out for beers.
It's disgraceful. Die hard fans who grabbed their tickets as soon as they went on sale are miles back behind people who aren't really that bothered. Happening all the time nowadays and kills the atmosphere at shows.

[Saint&Sinner]

Its just the fear of leaving it and not getting any tickets. I hate it. I love alice but i genuinely hate the seat/ticket situation. absolutely horrible. really brings a downer on the evening for me. no atmosphere which in turn pulls the bands energy down. i know "its not alices fault" but its just a money grabbing tactic and i hate it.

[Si]

Its just the fear of leaving it and not getting any tickets. I hate it. I love alice but i genuinely hate the seat/ticket situation. absolutely horrible. really brings a downer on the evening for me. no atmosphere which in turn pulls the bands energy down. i know "its not alices fault" but its just a money grabbing tactic and i hate it.

Completely agree.

[del]

Agree as well but it’s also the half full arenas that pull the atmosphere down.

On one hand it’s great to see that Alice has actually rebuilt attendances in the UK over the last 20 years or so. I remember the Barrowlands gigs in Glasgow in the late 1990s. A fantastic 2,000 capacity venue and great atmosphere but it was not full in 2000. I remember wondering how long he might keep touring so it’s great that he has more than trebled the regular audience in Glasgow since then.

On the other hand, it’s put him in the world of half full large arenas which automatically affects the atmosphere. Compound it with the ticketing issue and you get the worst of both worlds.