Advance ticket booking for Files/Forum members

[FatCat08]

So please clarify who can join your forum and who can't. My husband has been a Cohen music fan since the 1960's but has never seen Leonard Cohen live. I browse the web from time to time wishing that one day there would be a concert. I signed up on the forum as a way to try and get tickets for my husband as a "surprise". If I am not welcome then I will certainly withdraw from your forum as there are other avenues to try and get tickets. I certainly do not what anyone to think I am stepping on others getting on the ticket bus as that was not my intent and I do not conduct myself in that manner in life. Sorry if I have joined a secret club by accident.

[BerlinBerlin]

Hoping for Berlin.........

[Vauxhall]

I find it peculiar and slightly worrying that the initial press release said US and Canada in May / June, with Europe to follow. Now, the most recent press release has dropped 'US' altogether and just said Canada and Europe.

Perhaps I'm reading too deeply (and I'm sure there has already been a long discussion about this, I'll admit to not having combed through all of these threads), but I hope that the States haven't suddenly been ditched.

[linda_lakeside]

Don't put my words in granite, but I think I heard (at some point), that the tour will be starting in LA. At first it was the Maritimes, then LA. I think we'll all have to sit on our hands, with our plastic in our teeth, and just wait..

[Byron]

Whatever is happening in cyberland, I think it is safe to say that whoever wants to sell as many tickets for as much as possible for any lc events, then the furore that is sweeping through this site and the American site, is causing a real 'hunger' in what is fast becoming a feeding frenzy for 'hint-hint-nudge-nudge,' leonard's possible final live appearance(s).
Someone is going to make a huge amount of money out of the snowballing effect of this drive to get tickets. The prices quoted in Dublin that appeared briefly, were phenomenal. And that is before all the little 'add-ons' would be piled onto the bill price. I'm not going to any of the concerts because I'm not able to go, so I feel that I can look at what is happening in a dispassionate way. I don't like what I see.
The best intentions and best intent of lc and jarkko are admirable. Unfortunately, the outcome is less than what was envisaged. The fact that they want to be fare/fair (you choose the pun or the proper spelling) to everybody is to be applauded. I thank them for their approach to the many fans. But we have to remember that these two gentlemen are not the prime movers behind the marketing of the brand, known as Leonard Cohen.
Years ago there was a band from Manchester called the The Hollies. They had several hits, eg; "He ain't heavy, he's my brother." For every record they sold they received one old shilling. The rest of the money went to the people behind the scenes. Oh, and that one old shilling (5pence in today's money) had to be shared by all the band.
I'm old and cynical. What goes round, comes round. There's nothing new in human behaviour.
I hope I'm wrong.
By the way, one member of the band went on to be part of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Or so I've been told.
Keep raiding the piggy-banks.

[tinderella]

wow, so any idea of the price of the Dublin tickets.... even if i manage to get a hold of one?

[hydriot]

It's been a week or so since I looked in on the forum, and I have to say I am very disappointed at the possessive attitude of established forum members to newcomers. And I think Leonard would be as well.

At the time of the Philip Glass concert in London in October, there was a very positive feeling in the forum, with members helping each other find the odd ticket that became available. Where is that spirit today?

I really don't think there is likely to be an absolute shortage of tickets. The pre-sale tickets give us the chance to sit together in quality seats, that's all. If those run out, then we are in no worse a psoition than the general public.

My main concern is that I really don't want to see Leonard at an open-air festival, as the rumours suggest his summer appearances will be. For me it's an intimate concert-hall or nothing.

[PanCogito]

Thank you Leo!! Thank you Jarkko!! I was waiting for that for a very long time. I was waiting night and day.

[BaDkO]

Hello people
Just registered. Because I want a ticket. For me. Just one. Hopefully - for Montreal. But I'm also looking forward to becoming a contributor to the forum.

[Red Poppy]

tinderella,
the brief post on ticketmaster Ireland was starting at E88 before booking fees etc, if I remember correctly. And that, of course, is probably a wheelchair price - which is often advertised without that clarification, so Tiny Tim may do well on the double.

Knickerless - are you not worried you'll catch cold at an open air gig, especially in that state of undress?

[linda_lakeside]

Byron:

The prices quoted in Dublin that appeared briefly, were phenomenal.

Phenomenal tix prices lock me out as just as well as many new fans. I just felt that 'good for those that can'. I so wanted to be at the Barbican - and would have done the 'Glass Thing' just to see Leonard, but for finances.

Last night I watched older versions of "Whither Thou Goest" and the one with Anjani - I'll live through not getting tix. I know it. I have the Vids, and CDs to prove it. Aye, and a bloomin' fine poster 'Blue Guitar' poster. And a few other trinkets....that's all 'I' can hope for. When the ticket prices are announced for Canada, I'll know more, but I'm not going to 'feel like a brand new razor blade'. I hope - but I don't 'expect' to get tix.

[openeye]

I am usually not an excitable person, but aaaeaaeaeaeaeaeaeaeaeaeaeaeeaeaeaeeaeaow!!
is how I feel right now. That was a happy yet nervous shriek of excitement. I am thrilled beyond belief (for everyone who is a Leonard Cohen fan) that this tour is going to happen.

[Davido]

Whatever is happening in cyberland, I think it is safe to say that whoever wants to sell as many tickets for as much as possible for any lc events, then the furore that is sweeping through this site and the American site, is causing a real 'hunger' in what is fast becoming a feeding frenzy for 'hint-hint-nudge-nudge,' leonard's possible final live appearance(s).
Someone is going to make a huge amount of money out of the snowballing effect of this drive to get tickets. The prices quoted in Dublin that appeared briefly, were phenomenal. And that is before all the little 'add-ons' would be piled onto the bill price. I'm not going to any of the concerts because I'm not able to go, so I feel that I can look at what is happening in a dispassionate way. I don't like what I see.
The best intentions and best intent of lc and jarkko are admirable. Unfortunately, the outcome is less than what was envisaged. The fact that they want to be fare to everybody is to be applauded. I thank them for their approach to the many fans. But we have to remember that these two gentlemen are not the prime movers behind the marketing of the brand, known as Leonard Cohen.
Years ago there was a band from Manchester called the The Hollies. They had several hits, eg; "He ain't heavy, he's my brother." For every record they sold they received one old shilling. The rest of the money went to the people behind the scenes. Oh, and that one old shilling (5pence in today's money) had to be shared by all the band.
I'm old and cynical. What goes round, comes round. There's nothing new in human behaviour.
I hope I'm wrong.
By the way, one member of the band went on to be part of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Or so I've been told.
Keep raiding the piggy-banks.

This month's 'WHICH?' consumer mag. in UK has a piece relating to the rising cost of gig tickets:
"GIG PRICES ARE SET TO ROCKET"
"Reselling tickets on sites like eBay is pushing up entertainment costs dramatically."
"Ticket agents and event promoters have threatened to raise prices massively for concerts and festivals this summer due to MP's failure to address the problem of touts.
Their warning follows a report by the House of Commons Culture,Media and Sport Committee on the growing power of individual and organised touts.
It stopped short of demanding changes to the law, despite concluding that touting was 'unfair' and that people were making huge profits from internet selling.
Many agents and promoters want it to be illegal for people to sell on tickets.
Otherwise, they say they'll sell directly on to the secondary market, which makes major profits for touts as well as individuals who often sell on eBay.
This means that buyers could see fewer tickets available at face value and, in some cases, standard prices could more than double.
Rob Ballantine, of the Concert Promoters' Association, told Which? that selling policies would have to change.'Promoters, agents and artists want their part of the secondary market.It's open season.It's the Wild West.'
He added that many artists, including The Police and Beyonce, were already auctioning their tickets to the highest bidders.
His comments came last month as one major agent, Ticketmaster, bought exchange site Getmein! where tickets can be sold considerably above face value.
Jonathan Brown, of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers, said that the growth of the tout market was now unavoidable: 'Agents will be after the deepest pockets.'
Their concerns came as a Which? survey of 1,000 members of the public, in January, found that eight out of ten favour some restrictions on reselling tickets for events and 75 per cent think there should be a limit on the profit that can be made by reselling a ticket."
Dave
BTW, Byron, the songwriter for The Hollies, Graham Nash, did indeed go on to join Crosby,Stills,Nash (&Young) and his printing business was responsible for the
printing of Leonard Cohen's artwork at R Goodall gallery last summer.

[Anastasia]

This is lovely news.

I joined this forum in 2004, but I've only posted a couple of times. I do visit regularly and read, even though I don't usually log in. I'm here....although usually silent....and I hope that's okay.

I did see Leonard in concert in 1993 in Atlanta and it was the best live concert I've ever been to. Magic. Now that I live in southern California I might be able to see that magic again, maybe in Los Angeles...I only hope.

[cocktailtalk]

This week seems like it's shaping up to be wonderful!

I've had the pleasure of seeing Antony Gormley at a public lecture, I have a very exciting (yet nerve racking) sculpture critique on Monday, I get to see the stunning Hawksley Workman play on Monday evening, annnnnnnnd the best of it, the update of Mr. Cohen's tour. The thought of Tuesday is making me anxious!
I'm so giddy over it all! It's lovely!

And perhaps I'll be able to surprise my momma with the trip of her lifetime. It wouldn't be right, seeing him play without her by my side.


This is all such lovely work on the part of Jarkko, the man himself, and management.

I'm crossing my fingers, toes and eyeballs that we all get to see him play.

Cheers!