Ticketing

Booking patterns match pre-pandemic behaviour, survey finds

21 Mar 2022

Advance booking patterns for performing arts shows last year were “very similar” to before the pandemic, according to analysis from TRG Arts and Purple Seven.

The organisations' ‘Two Years On’ survey found more than half of bookers last year were first time patrons.

TRG Chief Executive Jill Robinson said the result is "heartening news" but is "not new behaviour in the post-Covid world".

Analysis of 288 UK theatres found the average age of ticket bookers has fallen to 56.4 from 57.4 years old.

Fewer bookings are coming from those born between the mid-1940s and 1960s (down 3%). The greatest increase has come from those born between 1965 and 1980.

The research found the pace of Covid recovery varies across the country, with the South West of England and Northern Ireland performing stronger than Wales, Yorkshire and the North East of England.

Sunak urged to abandon VAT ticket hike

15 Mar 2022

Plans to revert VAT on ticket sales to pre-pandemic levels will be “hugely damaging” for the music industry.

UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin has urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to scrap an anticipated 7.5% hike on live event ticket sales expected in next week's 'mini-Budget'.

A return to 20% would see the UK’s VAT on tickets - already one of the highest in Europe - far surpass levels set in Spain (10%), Germany (7%) and Belgium (6%), the association says.

Promoters and music industry chiefs are concerned it will force rising in ticket prices, which Njoku-Goodwin said would "leave music fans facing a cost of gigging crisis”.

“Dumping the planned VAT hike would help keep ticket prices down for fans and help music businesses pay down debts they built up during the pandemic, generate thousands of new jobs and nurture new talent,” he added.

Missing audiences present major challenge to arts income

09 Mar 2022

New research suggests venues may not be able to convince up to 14% of regular attendees to return as restrictions lapse. How can organisations adapt?

Audience development

Should buying a ticket really be this hard?

a crowd of people watch a performance

02 Mar 2022

Buying tickets online is something people do every day, for thousands of events, on millions of websites, all around the world. But, as Kathryn Mason writes, it’s not always plain sailing.

Living with Covid plan could erase 'significant minority' of audiences

22 Feb 2022

The end of restrictions and free Covid testing pose challenges for workforce safety and encouraging cautious customers back.

Human resources

Mission should inform everything

image outside building of Farnham Maltings

16 Feb 2022

Being purpose driven and mission driven through the pandemic set Farnham Maltings up for success long into the future, just when they needed it most, as Paul Fadden reports.

A is for absurd

20 Jan 2022

Taking the 'new normal' seriously means accepting some changes might need to stay.

Indoor restrictions to be lifted in Scotland

19 Jan 2022

Scotland will ease its Covid restrictions from Monday (January 24), removing limits on attendance at indoor events.

Nightclubs can reopen from the same date, coinciding with the end of social distancing requirements.

Scotland's Covid certifiaction scheme will be only be mandatory for entry to events of over 1,000 people.

Organisers must check proof of vaccination or a negative lateral flow test for whichever is lower of 1,000 people or half an event's attendees.

The Scottish Government says it stopped short of certifiaction checks at all venues because of the "significant fall" in Covid cases.

Theatres Trust Director Jon Morgan said the restrictions, announced before Christmas, had effectively shut down the majority of theatres in Scotland.

"It will be a huge relief to theatres, artists and audiences that they will soon be able to reopen."

Vaccine passports 'not sustainable' in Wales

17 Dec 2021

A month after implementation, venues say Covid passes have had the opposite effect on audience confidence than the policy intended.

'Catastrophic' collapse in attendance under Plan B

15 Dec 2021

It's estimated nearly £2bn has been lost from music venues since last week's announcement.

Sector split on Plan B mandates

Masked audience members

09 Dec 2021

Concert arenas and nightclubs will be most affected as theatres prepare for a drop in ticket sales.

Omicron has little impact on theatre sales

08 Dec 2021

Against fears the new variant might scare off audiences, data suggests ticketing and income has remained steady so far.

Fraudulent ticket touts' appeal rejected

30 Nov 2021

Two touts who amassed millions reselling tickets have had appeals against their convictions dismissed.

BBZ Limited’s Peter Hunter and David Thomas Smith were jailed in February 2020 following the first successful prosecution of a company over fraudulent ticket resales.

The pair will now serve their full sentences - four years and to-and-a-half years respectively.

They used at least 97 different names, 88 postal addresses and more than 290 email addresses to evade ticketing platform restrictions for events including Ed Sheeran concerts and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child theatre performances.

Upon upholding the conviction, The Court of Appeal noted: "[The] ticketing market is one which appears to be characterised by a high degree of criminal fraud.”

National Trading Standards Director Wendy Martin called the ruling a “major milestone” in efforts to combat unscrupulous secondary ticket sales.

Rishi isn’t coming to the rescue

26 Oct 2021

This week’s budget shows that there’s no easy path to high wages and low ticket prices in theatre. So what’s next? asks Robin Cantrill-Fenwick.

Audience development

Scotland starts enforcing vaccine passports

19 Oct 2021

Venues that fail to comply face a maximum £10,000 fine but policing falls to overextended local authorities and underserved security.

Local authorities

Safety inspectors shut down Manchester theatre

11 Oct 2021

Manchester’s Grange Theatre has been closed with immediate effect after safety inspectors found faulty electrics and wiring in the building.

A statement from the theatre says it will remain closed until it is deemed safe to reopen.

All events in October and November have been cancelled, with ticket holders set to be refunded.

Located on Oldham College campus, the theatre’s annual pantomime has been transferred to nearby Queen Elizabeth Halls.

Legal challenge to vaccine passports in Scotland fails

01 Oct 2021

The policy has taken effect but tech issues are rife, guidance is lacking and venues say there hasn't been a "meaningful consultation".

Vaccine passports put on ice

16 Sep 2021

In yet another U-turn, vaccine passports will become England's 'Plan B'. What can venues expect this winter?

Scottish theatre scraps 'risky' panto plans

13 Sep 2021

PACE Theatre Company will not produce a Christmas pantomime this year because it is too financially risky.

The company's home of 30 years, Paisley Arts Centre, is experiencing delays to its £2.8m refurbishment and won't reopen in December as planned.

"Coupled with the ongoing impact of the pandemic and the uncertainty about any future restrictions, we feel the risks are too great to commit to staging a production this year."

READ MORE: Danger for small pantos as sales lag by £23m

It will not pursue an online panto either. Last year's production was only possible because of an emergency grant.

"Without this additional funding, the model is not sustainable," a statement from the company said.

PACE has produced the pantomime at Paisley Arts Centre since 1988.

The loss of the panto has left "a massive hole" in its funds and it is seeking donations.

Danger for smaller pantos as sales lag by £23m

02 Sep 2021

A decline in group bookings - mostly from schools - is driving a loss in income that is expected to hit smaller producers hardest.

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