367 replies to this topic

[dayonestar]

DavidB, on Sep 25 2009, 08:08 PM, said:

dayonestar, on Sep 25 2009, 08:00 PM, said:

Yes, I know what you say about one guest, BUT....

Well given the fact that this event virtually sold out of higher-priced tickets on the strength of the announcement of John, and that SM did a very clever marketing campaign to ensure that that happened, I do think that some sort of offfer of limited refunds is now in order.  I have a gold ticket, which I won't now be using, and somebody else may want.  I'd even happily accept the difference between a standard and gold.

In the circumstances, for SM not to offer anything would be very poor form, and would not exactly encourage John's legion of fans to book any future SM events.

As much as I sympathise, I have to disagree completely.

It was never a 'clever marketing campaign' - it was signing up a main cast member for a convention, who at the time was available to appear. It would have been the same had it been Eve or anyone else.

To open up refunds based on the cancellation of a single guest would set a precedent that would cause so many problems in the future.

People know that guests can cancel, and it's solely the choice of the individual to risk booking an event based on one single guest. People need to take responsibility for their own actions, and not act as if Showmasters/Massive Events have done something wrong.

I didn't actually say, and nor did I mean, that anyone has done anything wrong.  I do sympathise with SM, this is an awful thing to happen for them.  But there most certainly was a marketing campaign before and during Hub 2 to sell tickets on the strength of John's announcement.   It made absolute business sense to do so.  Now that he's not coming, people should be offered some sort of choice as to whether they want to or not.

To offer nothing is tantamount to saying that if you're solely a John fan (as I am, and therefore really not interested in any of the other guests, lovely people though I'm sure they are), don't bother buying tickets at all.

[Doctor Who]

lizzy88, on Sep 25 2009, 08:21 PM, said:

I'm more disappointed for my mum than me, I convinced her to come.

I'm gutted for my mum too, when Showmasters posted that message earlier that he still plans for the Sunday I told her and she was over the moon as she was only going so she could see John Barrowman. Now he's cancelled, she won't really want to go as she isn't the biggest of Torchwood fans but she will come so that I can go too.

Edited by Doctor Who, 25 September 2009 - 07:24 PM.

[lams9999]

Time for Naoko maybe ?  

On the other hand, this means that I will not spend any money at this event since I was looking for an additional autograph from John and maybe one from James but now there's no reason anymore.  So I will just enjoy my free autographs and my photo shoots included in the silver package.

Still looking for the event and ... for Naoko

[piksa]

Not a big surprise that I feel disappointed. Was hoping to see John again. Due to not living in the UK my chances of attending different events are pretty limited. I know that's solely my own problem so not blaming anyone for that :)

Still I'm sure we'll have a great con!

Any chances of getting John to record a message for us so that he could sort of be part of the event?

[x_moonshine_x]

dayonestar, on Sep 25 2009, 08:23 PM, said:

I didn't actually say, and nor did I mean, that anyone has done anything wrong.  I do sympathise with SM, this is an awful thing to happen for them.  But there most certainly was a marketing campaign before and during Hub 2 to sell tickets on the strength of John's announcement.   It made absolute business sense to do so.  Now that he's not coming, people should be offered some sort of choice as to whether they want to or not.

To offer nothing is tantamount to saying that if you're solely a John fan (as I am, and therefore really not interested in any of the other guests, lovely people though I'm sure they are), don't bother buying tickets at all.

Well, it is a Torchwood convention, not a John Barrowman convention. It has been said from the beginning guests appear subject to work commitments and that no refunds can be given.

[Doctor Who]

piksa, on Sep 25 2009, 08:26 PM, said:

Any chances of getting John to record a message for us so that he could sort of be part of the event?

That would be great but if you could do that, could you please show it before the talks on Saturday? Everyone should be there then and I, like many other people, won't be there until the Saturday morning.

[lizzy88]

Doctor Who, on Sep 25 2009, 08:24 PM, said:

lizzy88, on Sep 25 2009, 08:21 PM, said:

I'm more disappointed for my mum than me, I convinced her to come.

I'm gutted for my mum too, when Showmasters posted that message earlier that he still plans for the Sunday I told her and she was over the moon as she was only going so she could see John Barrowman. Now he's cancelled, she won't really want to go as she isn't the biggest of Torchwood fans but she will come so that I can go too.

yeah I told mine that and she was happy too lol. That's lovely of her still coming for you though
Originally I was going on my own but as she's a Torchwood fan too I convinced her to come too. She's still looking forward to it and doesn't seem too bothered now I've told her John won't be there, but I still feel awful.

[DarknessHayz]

x_moonshine_x, on Sep 25 2009, 08:26 PM, said:

dayonestar, on Sep 25 2009, 08:23 PM, said:

I didn't actually say, and nor did I mean, that anyone has done anything wrong.  I do sympathise with SM, this is an awful thing to happen for them.  But there most certainly was a marketing campaign before and during Hub 2 to sell tickets on the strength of John's announcement.   It made absolute business sense to do so.  Now that he's not coming, people should be offered some sort of choice as to whether they want to or not.

To offer nothing is tantamount to saying that if you're solely a John fan (as I am, and therefore really not interested in any of the other guests, lovely people though I'm sure they are), don't bother buying tickets at all.

Well, it is a Torchwood convention, not a John Barrowman convention. It has been said from the beginning guests appear subject to work commitments and that no refunds can be given.

Ditto.  I agree whole heartly with Moonshine!

[DavidB]

dayonestar, on Sep 25 2009, 08:23 PM, said:

Now that he's not coming, people should be offered some sort of choice as to whether they want to or not.

To offer nothing is tantamount to saying that if you're solely a John fan (as I am, and therefore really not interested in any of the other guests, lovely people though I'm sure they are), don't bother buying tickets at all.

If people booked the tickets solely to meet John and John alone, then that was a very risky move on their part, but one that they chose to take. No one was forced to do so, nor were they under any illusion that John was guaranteed to attend, or that it was a John Barrowman convention.

To say to fans that they "shouldn't bother" purchasing tickets for one guest would be going a bit far, but I would certainly urge them to consider the huge risk they take before doing it.

What about fans who book tickets based on any of the other guests and then they pull out? I assume you would then support a similar refund system across the board regarding each single guest, not just John?

[Tashi]

F***! What a waste of time and money for me without him     

[Scar]

I'm so gutted that John won't be there! Was really looking forward to meeting him/seeing him and Gareth together.

But...

Maybe now we can get Tom? Y/Y? That would definitely make up for it (for me anyway ;D).

[dayonestar]

DavidB, on Sep 25 2009, 08:32 PM, said:

dayonestar, on Sep 25 2009, 08:23 PM, said:

Now that he's not coming, people should be offered some sort of choice as to whether they want to or not.

To offer nothing is tantamount to saying that if you're solely a John fan (as I am, and therefore really not interested in any of the other guests, lovely people though I'm sure they are), don't bother buying tickets at all.

If people booked the tickets solely to meet John and John alone, then that was a very risky move on their part, but one that they chose to take. No one was forced to do so, nor were they under any illusion that John was guaranteed to attend, or that it was a John Barrowman convention.

To say to fans that they "shouldn't bother" purchasing tickets for one guest would be going a bit far, but I would certainly urge them to consider the huge risk they take before doing it.

What about fans who book tickets based on any of the other guests and then they pull out? I assume you would then support a similar refund system across the board regarding each single guest, not just John?

No, in all fairness John's name was linked with Hub 3 right from the outset.  And as I said, at the time, it made absolute sense to use his presence to market the event.  But now the circumstances have changed, and I think that people should be offered some sort of choice because of that.

Edited by dayonestar, 25 September 2009 - 07:42 PM.

[x_moonshine_x]

Because he was coming then, so of course it would have been...

[ElectroxGirl]

People shouldn't have bought tickets just for John as there is always a chance he could cancel (like he has) I don't really understand why people would buy a ticket (and quite an expensive ticket!) just for one guest when they could easily meet them elsewhere

Edited by ElectroxGirl, 25 September 2009 - 07:43 PM.

[DavidB]

dayonestar, on Sep 25 2009, 08:40 PM, said:

No, in all fairness John's name was linked with Hub 3 right from the outset.  And as I said, at the time, it made absolute sense to use his presence to market the event.  But now the circumstances have changed, and I think that people should be offered some sort of choice because of that.

Yes his name was linked as A guest at a Torchwood convention.

Sorry, but there's absolutely no difference between his cancellation, and any other guest cancelling elsewhere.

If they did it for John, you'd get fans from the Twilight Proms complaining that they couldn't get refunds on that because guests cancelled there.

What if Lara cancels this event and someone claims they bought a ticket just because she was going? They should then be entitled to it because John fans were given that chance.

I don't think being a John fan makes anyone entitled to different treatment, sorry.

[catfish]

dayonestar, on Sep 25 2009, 08:40 PM, said:

DavidB, on Sep 25 2009, 08:32 PM, said:

dayonestar, on Sep 25 2009, 08:23 PM, said:

Now that he's not coming, people should be offered some sort of choice as to whether they want to or not.

To offer nothing is tantamount to saying that if you're solely a John fan (as I am, and therefore really not interested in any of the other guests, lovely people though I'm sure they are), don't bother buying tickets at all.

If people booked the tickets solely to meet John and John alone, then that was a very risky move on their part, but one that they chose to take. No one was forced to do so, nor were they under any illusion that John was guaranteed to attend, or that it was a John Barrowman convention.

To say to fans that they "shouldn't bother" purchasing tickets for one guest would be going a bit far, but I would certainly urge them to consider the huge risk they take before doing it.

What about fans who book tickets based on any of the other guests and then they pull out? I assume you would then support a similar refund system across the board regarding each single guest, not just John?

No, in all fairness John's name was linked with Hub 3 right from the outset.  And as I said, at the time, it made absolute sense to use his presence to market the event.  But now the circumstances have changed, and I think that people should be offered some sort of choice because of that.  It's normally referred to as a goodwill gesture.

If it had been advertised as a John Barrowman event/John Barrowman and guests, I would agree but in this case he was one guest (albeit a big name guest) at a Torchwood convention.  It is still a Torchwood event with 11 Torchwood guests.  There is never any guarantee of a specific guest in a generic series related convention, that's standard practice as I understand it as people get work.  What are ME/Showmasters supposed to do? Announce the con, say we've got guests but we are not telling you who until on the day cos they might get work and pull out and we don't want you to feel we have cheated you by marketing the guests we have got at the time we have got them in case they pull out?

[dayonestar]

John is not doing La Cage on 20th November, because he's doing Children In Need.  People who had already bought tickets for the show when that was announced were contacted, told, and offered a refund or an alternative date.  Obviously in this case the latter is not possible, but I do think that some sort of goodwill gesture is in order.

[dr_is_in]

ElectroxGirl, on Sep 25 2009, 03:23 PM, said:

Doctor Who, on Sep 25 2009, 08:18 PM, said:

DavidB, on Sep 25 2009, 08:15 PM, said:

Jason said they're working on more guests, so while they can't guarantee there'll be additions to the lineup, I'm sure they'll try their hardest to bring some. If not, there's still a substantial lineup.

Thanks for answering. Personally, I do hope they manage to get some more guests (especially Naoko or Burn) but yeah, if they don't there's still a great line-up. I'm sure they'll manage to get at least one replacement, fingers crossed.

I think it's been said previously that Burn is busy on this weekend so my vote is for Naoko!

Actually, he's not. He's taking a break and spending time with his family.

But you never know....

And I have to say something to the people all demanding they be refunded. I've worked for a major US convention for 6 years. Guests, when booked, always have a clause in their contract that states they can cancel because of work or an emergency. But when that happens, you don't get a refund of part of your convention ticket because they aren't attending. And this WAS NOT a John Barrowman convention, this is a TORCHWOOD convention. Yes, he was front and center of advertising, because at the time HE WAS slated to be there. He's had to cancel due to work commitments. That doesn't mean you get a refund. You should NEVER attend a convention (unless its an event slated to be SPECIFICALLY around one person) just because one guest is booked to come. There is always a chance they will cancel.

Edited by dr_is_in, 25 September 2009 - 07:54 PM.

[EdwardsLamb]

Im gutted Mum is more gutted Meeting John was her mothers day present.. guess ive got to take her to La Cage aux Folles now

[Never]

catfish, on Sep 25 2009, 08:48 PM, said:

What are ME/Showmasters supposed to do? Announce the con, say we've got guests but we are not telling you who until on the day cos they might get work and pull out and we don't want you to feel we have cheated you by marketing the guests we have got at the time we have got them in case they pull out?

Basically what they did with Hallowhedon.
And I'm not agreeing that people should get money back so don't flame me for that.