Has anyone who purchased aftershow tickets from ticketmaster for the cancelled 11/08 aftershow managed to exchange for another aftershow night?

I phoned ticketmaster and complained about the cancellation, I asked for a refund or exchange, they have now phoned me back and said I need to write to AEG Live at their Canary Wharf office for any exchange or refund, the only other O2 night I am attending is 31/08, by the time they respond to my complaint i've no idea if I will get an exchange for 31/08 in time, I think aftershow tickets are gonna sell out now as there are less nights left and Prince seems to be playing more at them than he did at the start of the tour.
[Edited 8/19/07 13:19pm]

Was just on 3121.com and saw this bullsh*t, all I can say is 'I was at the aftershow Prince, where r u?'

I tried to respond to this before but it appears it did not post properly.

So, I'll try again - I didn't use my aftershow tickets for the 11th, but took them to the desk on 14th before the main gig to swap them for aftershow tix that night. The woman at the counter asked if I'd put my name down on a list on Sat night and I explained that no I hadn't because no-one advised that this was necessary.

She didn't seem too worried about this and promptly exchanged my tickets for the aftershow that night. Which I then promptly sold to the people buying tickets behind me because I already had tix for that night! Lost my booking fee, but was pleased to be able to make the exchange.

Of course, if you want them for 31st, it's a long shot to wait until the night, but I'm sure if you get there early, you might be in with a chance.

I have one more to swap so am hoping they'll take it this weekend and exchange it for 1st Sept - no-one told us that they had to be redeemed within a certain period right?


Good luck!!

themellowone said:

I still have the original unused tickets, were your tickets purchased from Ticketmaster or the O2 direct? Ticketmaster are saying you have to write direct to AEG Live for an exchange or refund (no commitment either way).

I bet AEG are being bombarded, so to get any response before I travel to London on 29/08 is doubtful.... it really annoys me that I may have to buy an aftershow ticket for 31/08 having 2 duds from 11/08 and they may just cancel it all again on 31/08 anyway !!!..... but its the last night i'm at the O2, so might be the last chance to catch Prince on tour in the UK ....
[Edited 8/22/07 14:45pm]

Mine were bought from ticketmaster.

I would just make sure I get there as soon as their box office opens to give you the best chance of getting a ticket. I totally hear what you're saying though.

themellowone said:

Thanks for the advice, decisions decision !!!!

Hi Guys,

Here is the letter (it's rather long) that I sent along with my 11th Aug Aftershow tickets to AEG demanding a refund. I'll let you know how it goes

FAO: Joe Mead
Ticketing
AEG Live
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London, E14 5LQ

Dear Joe,

I am writing to you to express my bewilderment at the decision made recently by AEG Live representatives to deny ticket-holders a refund for those who did not attend the Prince Official After-show Party on Saturday August 11th. There are countless reasons for my dissatisfaction, from with the way in which AEG have handled the fiasco surrounding these supposed ‘After-show Parties’ to the consistent alteration of the information being communicated to those wishing to attend such an event.

On June 11th 2007 press releases cited on web sites such as MUSICWEEK (www.musicweek.com) suggested that these so called “After-shows” would at the very least include an appearance by Prince’s band, the New Power Generation. I quote:

“Promoters AEG Live and Marshall Arts will announce details this week, but Music Week has learnt that the Vegas-style residency at the North Greenwich venue will now see Prince playing 21 nights at the new venue – further beating Status Quo’s arena record of 14 nights. The new dates are August 24 and 25, and September 6, 16, 20 and 21.

In addition, tickets are going on sale for after-show jam sessions at the 2,300-capacity sister venue The Indigo, where The New Power Generation will perform after every O2 Arena show, with some mooted to include appearances by Prince himself.”

From reading the various sources of this information (including Prince’s official site www.3121.com among others) the general consensus was that there would be a “Show” of sorts following each of the main Arena events taking place in the adjacent Indigo2 venue.

Shortly before the first few concerts, the official Prince Website (updated on 30th July 2007), together with TicketMaster and the Indigo2 website, updated the After-show information to state the following:

“After each gig in London, walk over 2 the indigO2 (which will be renamed 3121 of course) 4 the official aftershow parties. This will be the white hot place 2 hang 4 those still in need of some serious grooves. Prince and the band are not guaranteed 2 per4m, but as we all know with these cats - xpect the unexpected.”

Clearly this was a re-positioning from the original information sent out 7 weeks prior to this, which I assume was subject to alterations requested by Prince and his representatives, or as a result of partially false or incorrect advertising on the part of AEG.

Nevertheless, irrespective of whether “The Band”, with or without “Prince”, do or do not attend, the expectation remains that some form of entertainment worthy of the £25 ticket price will be provided. A reasonable example of this applied to the After-show Party on August 3rd, where performer Dr. John played at the Indigo2. Although severely pushing the boundaries of the moniker “Prince – The Official After-Show”, it could be argued by AEG that subject to the updated information at least ticket-holders were provided a “reasonable” although some would say less than suitable replacement.

Upon considering the After-show of Friday August 10th, which was an incredible evening’s entertainment, I was optimistic but not expectant that there would be a similar performance the following night, for which I had purchased 4 tickets. This was especially considering that Prince’s website had earlier revealed an expectation that he would be in attendance. I was however still acutely aware of the possibility of “Prince and The Band” not performing on two consecutive nights, but was very much expectant that some form of “Show” would be provided to at least justify the statement that the Indigo2 would be “…the white hot place 2 hang 4 those still in need of some serious grooves.”.

While standing in the queue for an inordinate amount of time with many hundreds of other people, the doors to the Indigo2 opened at approximately midnight, 30 minutes after the scheduled time advertised on the tickets. After a further 15-20 minutes the queue had finally meandered its way from outside the venue into the O2 Arena complex where we were met by a number of O2 staff. We were then informed that there would be no performance at the After-show by Prince, The New Power Generation, or any other artist for that matter. We were told we could either enter the venue or advised to queue at the Indigo2 box office outside of the venue to redeem our unused tickets against a future After-show performance. By 1.00am the number of aggrieved ticket-holders in the queue was still significant, and we were told that we could return to the box office on another occasion or phone TicketMaster for further information the following week, where we should be entitled to transfer our tickets to another night.

This option to those who live in the near vicinity of the venue could be considered “reasonable” recompense. For those of us however who had incurred costly rounds trips of hundreds of miles, not to mention the countless fans who had flown in from overseas Europe and beyond, this option was not a reasonable alternative. Clearly having already been misled into believing that there would be some form of “performance” or “live entertainment” there was certainly no possibility that those who had travelled great distances would be returning on another night, at significant additional expense, with the knowledge that a similar situation could occur.

My own personal circumstance is that the tickets were purchased for my father’s 60th birthday, and we had already spent £120 per night on hotel accommodation for that weekend. When factoring additional taxi fares to and from the O2 Arena site, as well as fuel costs to come back for another night, the overall cost of returning for a single After-show performance alone was never a justifiable option.

I have since noticed that within the terms and conditions of sale on the tickets provided for this event (see enclosed e-ticket) the following is clearly stated:

“Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase unless the event is cancelled. Ticket holders for a cancelled event will be offered either tickets for a rescheduled date (subject to availability)…”

As AEG and TicketMaster are currently offering the possibility of exchanging tickets for another date, and considering that there was no “show” or “entertainment” provided (with the exception of DJ music played through the speaker system of the Indigo2 which hardly justifies a £25 ticket fee), I must only conclude that the event was considered as “Cancelled”. As clearly stated “Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase unless the event is cancelled.”

Reading on within the paragraph it also states:

“…if the ticket holder is unable to attend the rescheduled event, a refund of the ticket face value plus the per-ticket booking fee.”

Therefore, if I or any other ticket-holder who chose (under the guidance of the O2 Arena Staff) not to attend the event, and by the definition of the terms and conditions of sale this event was (for all intents and purposes) “Cancelled”, those unable to attend a rescheduled date should be entitled to a “refund of the ticket face value plus the per-ticket booking fee”.

I have since been intrigued to read on the BBC News Website on 15th August 2007 the following statement:

“a spokeswoman for Prince said it was "never guaranteed" he would appear. "What's always been up on the official website was that Prince's band would play most nights, and on any given night the Purple One could come.”

Reading on she continues to tell the BBC News website that..

"…every night was going to be different and special"

In all honesty I hope that the representatives of Prince and AEG do not consider a £25 entrance fee for an over-priced bar playing Prince music through a speaker system “special” and worthy of the price? I would agree with the spokeswoman that indeed it is “different”, but in a disgracefully dishonest and commercially deceitful way.

I have since spoken at great length with TicketMaster agents, who although sincerely sympathetic to my situation and in agreement with my grievances, have advised that they are powerless to intervene. It was suggested by one agent that discussions were ongoing between TicketMaster and AEG to try and appease the hundreds, if not thousands of Prince followers who have complained about this particular situation.

I am therefore enclosing my e-tickets which were purchased via TicketMaster on Friday 27th July 2007, together with a copy of the Ticket Confirmation email. I will be expecting a full refund “of the ticket face value plus the per-ticket booking fee” in due course. I also respectfully request that you contact me via telephone on one of the above numbers to confirm receipt of this correspondence and that my request for a refund will be obliged.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I went to the O2 a few days later and exchanged my 3 for another night, actually 2 for one night and 1 for another - if you can travel to the venue that's your best bet - I believe refunds are given if there aren't any dates that take your fancy

MidasG, a well worded letter. Hope you get some satisfaction from them

TheLodger said:

I'm going to London on the 30th August for 2 days and going to the main gig on 31st August, so when I get to london on 30th August I will goto the O2 and see if I can sort an exchange out for the 31st, no gig on 30th so should be quiet at the box office, if they won't exchange I will buy an aftershow for 31st and pursue AEG Live for a refund.


Fingers crossed it doesn't sell out for 31 st August.

Best of luck - I believe refunds are given at the O2 box office (if it comes down to that) - it's a much easier route than writing a sequel to War and Peace to, lets be honest, folk who really couldn't give a damn; though I do understand the predicament some are in, especially if they live out of London or even abroad

TheLodger said:

Is it the O2 box office or Indigo that are refunding/exchanging aftershow tickets? an ealier post said the indigo box office opens at 18:00, I'd prefer to go during the day and sort it when its quiet.

ecnirp98 said:

I exchanged my aftershow tickets on the 11th for the 14th and i have to admit the box officeat theindigo did so with no hassle. good luck

damn, looks like aftershow for 31/08 has sold out, only balcony tickets at £75 are on sale now ...