Bought tickets, refused entry - too young!

Pont

I'm posting here on behalf of a friend.

The story is that our town recently held a week of music events. One such event was a rock music gig at our local community centre. Posters were displayed and tickets sold, neither stated age limitations. Loads of 14 and 15 year olds bought the tickets (at £5 a pop) to see a local band, with a huge following, play. A week before the gig a committee member of the community centre went around the area and amended the posters to read 'Over 16s Only'. The result was that on the night there were 200 kids refused admission (wandering around town with nowhere to go), and the band had to play to an almost empty hall (not best pleased).

This venue has been used countless times before for similar events with no age restrictions to the main hall (under 18s are not allowed to enter the bar area).

Who is responsible for refunding the ticket money to these kids? I believe it is the community centre committee as they changed the entry conditions after the tickets had been sold. Can anybody point me in the right direction so that my friend can cite the law in this case?

Thanks in anticipation.

lady_stardust

Not sure where the responsibility lies (suspect whoever organised the concert) but I think it is worth contacting the local paper over this as they will contact the relevant parties as part of the story.

pinkshoes

I would first try the place where the tickets were bought from, stating that they changed the terms and conditions AFTER the ticket purchase.

If they won't refund, then take it up with the local newspaper!

Reggie_Rebel

There's a bucket load of goodwill and PR to be gained here.

Said band and community centre should get together and offer a free gig to all the kids who were refused entry

Pont

Thanks for the comments so far.
I think we're on the same lines insofar as approaching the community centre committee and asking for an explanation. If no joy there contacting the local press as there's a lot of unhappy people around here. The suggestion of a free gig (at the community centre's expense) is a good idea to go some way to make amends.
The friend I posted for is in the band and he is furious that this occured. They ended up playing to a near empty hall which did their 'street cred' no favours. Additionally, his 15 year old sister and her friends were part of the large crowd refused admission!
As the committee changed the posters after tickets were sold I think they were accountable (some petty jobsworth!). In effect they took over £1000 in ticket sales but didn't let the kids in to see the band - I think this is disgraceful.

Glad

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hollydays

I don't anything about regulations here,but do you know WHY the under 16s couldn't be admitted?

Debt_Free_Chick

Follow the money ...... the committee might have changed the rules, but did they organise the gig and keep the money? Or did someone else hire the hall?

Follow the money .... then complain to whomever has it

Pont

hollydays wrote: »

I don't anything about regulations here,but do you know WHY the under 16s couldn't be admitted?

Nope - no reason given. There has been plenty of similar events (same band a few months ago) where the under 16s have been admitted with no problems.

Pont

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

Follow the money ...... the committee might have changed the rules, but did they organise the gig and keep the money? Or did someone else hire the hall?

Follow the money .... then complain to whomever has it

The organisers of the gig (festival committee) are really upset this has happened as the posters and admission policy were changed without their knowledge. However, I think you're right - they sold the tickets, so they must be accountable (ie if your TV breaks down, you return it to the shop that sold it to you). As far as I know the festival committee has the money from the gig, less their expenses for the hire of the hall etc which would be paid to the community centre committee.

I'll advise my friend to approach the festival committee and suggest they either return the ticket costs to the kids or perhaps organise another gig by way of compensation. It's seems like it's up to the festival committee to get the community centre to cough up for any losses. Too many d*** committees in my opinion.:rolleyes:

Debt_Free_Chick

Pont wrote: »

It's seems like it's up to the festival committee to get the community centre to cough up for any losses.

That's my view too. In very simple terms it's do with Law of Contract - the contract was between the purchaser of the ticket and the organiser. There was then another contract between the organiser and the hall commitee - but the purchaser of the ticket was not a party to that*

Too many d*** committees in my opinion.:rolleyes:

Probably the reason for the [STRIKE]f*uck [/STRIKE]foul up

*Legal eagles might quote the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act and it might be relevant, but only if the result is legal action.

IANAL