05/08/2009
No Fee Wed. Extends to Smaller Venues
Live Nation is extending its No Service Fees Wed promotion to include St. Andrews, the Shelter and the Fillmore Theater.
Here are the dates/shows:
8/21/09 Our Lady Peace Fillmore
9/14/09 Snow Patrol Fillmore
10/10/09 Hanson,Hellogoodbye,Sherwood,Steel Train Fillmore
10/24/09 Daniel Tosh Fillmore
11/2/09 Carolina Liar,One Republic,Rob Thomas Fillmore
11/21/09 Deadmau5 Fillmore
8/7/09 CKY St. Andrew’s Hall / The Shelter
8/16/09 Emery St. Andrew’s Hall / The Shelter
8/23/09 Clipse,The Cool Kids St. Andrew’s Hall / The Shelter
9/03/09 Jedi Mind Tricks St. Andrew’s Hall / The Shelter
9/11/09 Fun St. Andrew’s Hall / The Shelter
9/15/09 Billy Talent St. Andrew’s Hall / The Shelter
9/23/09 Joshua Radin St. Andrew’s Hall / The Shelter
9/29/09 Moby St. Andrew’s Hall / The Shelter
10/2/09 Mat Kearney St. Andrew’s Hall / The Shelter
10/6/09 Frank Turner,Murder by Death,The Gaslight Anthem,The Loved Ones St. Andrew’s Hall / The Shelter
10/24/09 The Damned St. Andrew’s Hall / The Shelter
It’s nice that Live Nation is making some effort to reduce onerous and irritating processing fees and I’m glad that they’ve extended the promotion to “smaller venues” they manage. Live Nation and ticketmaster have shown little consideration for customers, so it’s nice to see them at least acknowledge the fee problem.
But that doesn’t really excuse their management of St. Andrews/the Shelter in the past few years. I know times are tough — but it’s shame how little they book in venues that are good places to see shows and in a great downtown location. Even the Shelter, which use to be a fairly terrible place to see a show is now pretty good since it was fixed it up, including improved bathrooms few years ago (not that you’ll probably ever be down there again.)
I don’t even think it’s a case of being out worked or out classed by the Majestic or Crofoot folks (although you could argue for either) — it would seem that it is simply that Live Nation is taking a short sited view of these venues — if they don’t think they can sell out the venue or don’t need to dump a touring act being promoted by corporate on an off night — they don’t book these rooms. I don’t think they should operate as a charity, if you can’t afford to cover the costs of opening the doors, then you shouldn’t book the show. But I really don’t believe that the place can’t make money unless the crowd is near capacity.
A sale is a nice gesture — but when you look at a largely empty event schedule — the gesture isn’t quite as meaningful.
Text posted at 09:09
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