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By Yahoo!
However, the pitfalls for punters trying to re-capture their youth and see their idols in action was starkly shown by the shocking death of Michael Jackson. Thousands of fans have been left expecting refunds and AEG Live, the promoter of Jackson's doomed 50 show schedule at London O2 arena, has been left liable. Questions are now been raised on how much insurance cover it was able to finally secure due to Jackson's fragility and pre-existing health cover. > How to avoid losing your money Even this weekend the T in the Park festival was hit by artists who were either sick or just didn't even show up. Frankly, having fun has become a bit of a gamble. So what can consumers do to minimise the risk of ending up out of pocket as well as simply disappointed? Quite a lot, it just so happens. Music and entertainment broker Heath Lambert specialises in placing insurance for major entertainment events. Barry Pickard, Executive director for the company's entertainment division says consumers need to take practical precautions when purchasing tickets. “Consumers should always look to buy tickets directly from recognised ticket agencies or the venue itself. Buying from the internet leaves the consumer exposed and in the case of Michael Jackson, anyone buying from ebay or other auction sites would have found themselves out of pocket.” Not all festivals are the same Music festivals such as V Festival or T in the Park will have completely different insurance arrangements than indoor, single performance events. “Festivals have many acts with multiple stages. V Festival has its two main stages plus a further two stages. The promoters of V Festival reserve the right to change the billing and running order, so if The Killers don't turn up for whatever reason, the festival will still go ahead but there is no obligation for V to give ticket refunds. “Only if the whole event is cancelled, will a refund policy be activated,” Pickard says. Putting the non-appearance of an artist to one side, the exposures that V may look to insure would be the inability to use the venue. Damage or destruction could make it unavailable or unsuitable for the performance or event. Heavy rain, for example, could cause chaos with parking facilities and restrict access for emergency services. Top five tips for music fans this summer 1) Always purchase tickets from recognised ticket agencies 2) When going to see an aging rock legend, look at the schedule of concerts they are expected to play. In the case of former Smiths frontman Morrissey, who has already cancelled a number of gigs this year, be aware there is a potential risk that the latter concerts in his schedule may not take place. 3) Look at the prior commitments of the bands/entertainer leading up to a gruelling schedule of gigs. For example, Spandau Ballet have re-formed but many of the band members have not been touring or even professionally singing for many years. There is a strong case for a potential cancellation if Tony Hadley loses his voice or one of the band suffers an injury. This could mean the concert(s) are rescheduled so the venue may have to change if there are prior commitments or the ticket holder can't make that date. 4) Another issue is prior health conditions. The worries surrounding the number of concerts a frail Michael Jackson was intended to complete were widely documented. In May, Depeche Mode's lead singer Dave Gahan was rushed to hospital in Athens suffering from "suspected gastroenteritis." The gig was cancelled though Depeche Mode are still embarking on a world tour. Artists such as Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty have a history of ‘no-shows' and many promoters might find it difficult to get insurance cover for these acts. 5) Fans following their heroes across Europe might have to consider political or civil unrest in the region the concert is scheduled to take place. Rock dinosaurs Iron Maiden may not be massive in the UK anymore, but in eastern Europe they fill 50,000-60,000 seat stadia. Some countries have said the cost of the potential security to deal with any unrest before and after the concert means the gigs are not worth the hassle. Useful links: |
Music lovers are frantically queuing and clicking this summer to get their hands on prized tickets to see a raft of rock legends. Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Blur, Spandau Ballet – the line-up of aging rock and pop stars headlining major festivals and filling the UK's biggest venues is almost without end.
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