Has anyone else thats competing at harrogate noticed that all players will have to buy a ticket priced at £7.50 to watch any bands and even just to see the results. I think this is ridiculous, our band has had to pay the entry fee, even though its a qualification contest, and incur travel costs and hotel costs. Now on top of this we are expected to fork out £7.50 just to hear the results.
Harrogate Nationals
- Thread starter snapey
- Start date
floral_dance
Member
I think it is awful that they do not offer bandsman tickets anymore. I am going down to Harrogate to listen to the bands as my band did not qualify do you know if I will need to get my tickets beforehand or will they be available on the day? Ta
Jasonp
Member
That sucks, Our band are looking at costs of £3200 just for transport and accommodation so we can take part in the contest, we also have to buy fibre mutes and now we're looking at an extra £200 on top of our costs. I think the organisers are extracting the Urine. It's not going to go down well when I mention it at rehearsal tomorrow night :x
Roger Thorne
Active Member
Could you clarify whether you are having to pay £7.50 to listen to your own section or is this charge to listen to another section other than your own.snapey said:
:?
Ali
Member
I can understand where you are coming from on this but the organisers will have looked at this in the same way as the Open or the Masters. You can only enter the hall to listen to the contest if you have a ticket. Its the same at the Scottish Open as well. It makes for a sure fire way of bringing in the pounds but at the same time, lets face it, how many people will be going in to listen compared to the amount of people consuming large quantities of alcohol? You find that as with most contests, the only time that hall is full(ish) is when the results are announced. Even the Open can't attract a full hall and the best bands in the country are competeing here. Most people are only intrested in drinking, socialising and moaning on about the results (even though as I have previously said, most peolpe dont bother to listen anyway). And even then with an audiance who can pay up £15, they are usually very selective about who they hear! It is only a way of the organisers being able to bring in the money to hold the Finals at a fantastic venue like Harrogate which i'm sure, won't be cheap! Even so, don't let that put you off going. For plenty of people its a once in a life time oppertunity so go and enjoy yourselves in a wonderful part of the country and take part with pride that only a select group of band's will be playing there. There are plenty of bands who would jump at the chance to go and compete (and pay) at the Finals.
:shock: I think it's disgraceful that players who have put all that hard work and valuable time in to make the contest "a contest" then have to pay more to see how they've faired.
Sure, charge the players from bands that didn't qualify, for this contest they're merely spectators, but to charge the players aswell just isn't on.
The organisers could even justify charging players to see bands and results in a different section from the one they've competed in without much argument, but doing this stinks.
If they really want the brass band movement to prosper and grow I don't think this sort of thing will help much.
:evil:
Sure, charge the players from bands that didn't qualify, for this contest they're merely spectators, but to charge the players aswell just isn't on.
The organisers could even justify charging players to see bands and results in a different section from the one they've competed in without much argument, but doing this stinks.
If they really want the brass band movement to prosper and grow I don't think this sort of thing will help much.
:evil:
Roger Thorne
Active Member
Maybe not but a quick costing on ticket sales alone works out at hell of a lot of money.Ali said:
Presuming bands take a 'full' coach. 52 x £7.50 = £390
with approximately 80 bands competing this works out in the region of £31,000 and that's without the Contest entrance fee and money made on refreshments. The prize money only totals £9,000 so it must be a very expensive venue.
:shock:
madandcrazytromboneguy
Member
1 other point adding onto what alan has said, if the pieces for that contest are in polite terms, real rubbish!, then that creates more chances for people to just go and booze themselves crazy rather than listening to the bands. my view on this is bandsmen whether they are playing in the contest or not, should maybe have a reduced price rather than forking out £7 plus or whatever, the reduced price would mean that is wouldnt be 2 bad for us bandsmen and the organizers would still get money in from the price that the bandspeople pay. what is everyone elses view on this idea?
Paul McLaughlin
Member
So what about the band rep on the stage for the results? Are they going to have to pay too? I can understand paying to hear another section but £7.50 to hear the results of your own efforts is wholly unjustifiable IMHO. Is this an official stance or is it still just the rumour mill working?
what next?? Well done you qualified for the nationals!! That'll be a wodge of cash please whether you go or not!!
It's just getting ridiculous.
It's just getting ridiculous.
sparkling_quavers
Active Member
agreed nick!!
It is the sad fact that our contests don't get much support from non-bandsman. At most contests the audience is made up mostly of other competing bands (even if many of them are just there to be critical :wink
It is very disheartening for players to work their socks off just to play to one man and his dog in the corner....this will just compound the problem! We all know that the only time the hall really starts to fill up is for results........if it is empty then what is the point??? They might as well have no entry to the public and just have the band and adjudicator there!
Why should players have to pay to listen to their own section? Infact I get cheesed with having to pay to listen to other sections as well!! If you are taking part in the contest, you are taking part - your band has already paid for the privillage........this would jsut not happen anywhere else...can you imagine taking part in a sports contest and then having to pay before you can pick up your medal?? I don't think so!!!!
It is the sad fact that our contests don't get much support from non-bandsman. At most contests the audience is made up mostly of other competing bands (even if many of them are just there to be critical :wink
It is very disheartening for players to work their socks off just to play to one man and his dog in the corner....this will just compound the problem! We all know that the only time the hall really starts to fill up is for results........if it is empty then what is the point??? They might as well have no entry to the public and just have the band and adjudicator there! Why should players have to pay to listen to their own section? Infact I get cheesed with having to pay to listen to other sections as well!! If you are taking part in the contest, you are taking part - your band has already paid for the privillage........this would jsut not happen anywhere else...can you imagine taking part in a sports contest and then having to pay before you can pick up your medal?? I don't think so!!!!
mikelyons
Supporting Member
As a Lancastrian, I have to say that this is a typical Yorkshireman's trick to squeeze as much money out of the event as possible. :twisted:
No doubt we'll have to pay to go for a pee as well. :shock: There's only one thing tighter than a Yorkshireman, and that's two of 'em!
No doubt we'll have to pay to go for a pee as well. :shock: There's only one thing tighter than a Yorkshireman, and that's two of 'em!