The Telegraph reports that over 1.2 million people had entered the global online lottery for the 17,500 available tickets for the late Michael Jackson's memorial service, 24 hours after the website for applications opened.
Applications are being received at a rate of around 50,000 per hour, or more than 800 per minute.
Doubtless many of these free tickets will end up being sold by touts.
Good luck to the police trying to control the crowd at the service!
In other news, it seems that (in order to facilitate further tests) Jackson's body will be buried without its brain.
Showing posts with label tickets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tickets. Show all posts
Monday, July 06, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A Terrific Wheeze!
AEG Live, the promoter of the late Michael Jackson's O2 residency, has come up with a terrific money saving wheeze to minimise the amount it has to refund to fans who bought tickets.
AEG Live is suggesting that the fans can keep the tickets (non black market tickets costing £50 to £75), if they agree to forgo their rights to claim a refund.
The tickets feature lenticular images, which give them a 3D moving effect. Whilst that may be a small inducement, the real inducement is the possibility that the tickets will become collectors' items.
AEG Live is suggesting that the fans can keep the tickets (non black market tickets costing £50 to £75), if they agree to forgo their rights to claim a refund.
The tickets feature lenticular images, which give them a 3D moving effect. Whilst that may be a small inducement, the real inducement is the possibility that the tickets will become collectors' items.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Vultures Now Circle
It should come as no surprise to anyone, given the complexity of Michael Jackson's life, that there are many "loose ends" to tie up now that he has died a.o.:
- What caused his death?
- Why did the police need to track down Jackson's doctor (Dr Conrad Murray), and impound the doctor's car?
- Who will have custody of his children?
- Did he leave a will?
- What happens to his assets, if indeed there are any assets left after his debts have been deducted?
- Will those who were suing him in life, continue their actions and sue his estate?
- Will everyone who has bought a ticket for Jackson's O2 concerts receive a refund, it is not at all certain that they will? etc.
The vultures are now circling what remains of his estate, and will do their best to pick the carcass of that estate clean.
- What caused his death?
- Why did the police need to track down Jackson's doctor (Dr Conrad Murray), and impound the doctor's car?
- Who will have custody of his children?
- Did he leave a will?
- What happens to his assets, if indeed there are any assets left after his debts have been deducted?
- Will those who were suing him in life, continue their actions and sue his estate?
- Will everyone who has bought a ticket for Jackson's O2 concerts receive a refund, it is not at all certain that they will? etc.
The vultures are now circling what remains of his estate, and will do their best to pick the carcass of that estate clean.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sold Out?
How odd that more tickets are now available for Michael Jackson's O2 shows that were originally billed as "sold out"!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Postponment Petition
The postponement of Michael Jackson's residency at the O2 London, by 5 days, has caused consternation with a number of fans who had bought tickets for those days.
They have had their concerts rescheduled to March 2010.
Some have set up an online petition protesting the delay.
They have had their concerts rescheduled to March 2010.
Some have set up an online petition protesting the delay.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Animal Rights Protest
Animal rights campaigners have called on Michael Jackson not to use live elephants and tigers during his comeback performances at the O2 Arena in London this summer.
Craig Redmond, director of the Captive Animals Protection Society, is quoted in the Telegraph:
"Exploiting animals in this way really is a thing of the past and not something that someone like Michael Jackson should be doing.
It would be like a circus act – a practice opposed by most people in the UK – and we are appealing to him and his management not to spoil the show by using animals."
I don't think the animal rights lobby should worry too much, I suspect that the cost of obtaining and insuring the animals far outweighs the additional revenue streams that they will generate (given that the tickets are now all sold anyway).
A cynic might argue that the complaints raised by the campaigners are in fact adding to the hype of the tour.
As I have already noted, Jackson's PR people are very professional and know what they are doing.
Craig Redmond, director of the Captive Animals Protection Society, is quoted in the Telegraph:
"Exploiting animals in this way really is a thing of the past and not something that someone like Michael Jackson should be doing.
It would be like a circus act – a practice opposed by most people in the UK – and we are appealing to him and his management not to spoil the show by using animals."
I don't think the animal rights lobby should worry too much, I suspect that the cost of obtaining and insuring the animals far outweighs the additional revenue streams that they will generate (given that the tickets are now all sold anyway).
A cynic might argue that the complaints raised by the campaigners are in fact adding to the hype of the tour.
As I have already noted, Jackson's PR people are very professional and know what they are doing.
Monday, March 09, 2009
The Hype Worked
Despite only appearing onstage late, for but a few minutes to announce his 10 concerts in July at the O2 Arena, Michael Jackson has ensured that the events (if they go ahead) will be sold out.
It is reported that over 1 million people have applied for tickets, which go on sale Friday 13th at between £50-£75.
Doubtless his PR people will be telling him to do more than 10 shows, to maximise his revenue stream.
It is reported that over 1 million people have applied for tickets, which go on sale Friday 13th at between £50-£75.
Doubtless his PR people will be telling him to do more than 10 shows, to maximise his revenue stream.
Friday, March 06, 2009
The Final Curtain
Michael Jackson took to the stage yesterday, at London's 02 Arena, to tell the audience that he will perform 10 shows in July at the Arena. The shows will be "the final curtain call".
The 02 Arena performances will begin on July 8 2009, and will run for 10 nights.
Tickets for the performances will go on sale at 7am on Friday 13 March 2009. Presale information is available from michaeljacksonlive.com, or by texting MJ to 81707. Prices start at £50, £60 and £75.
The 02 Arena performances will begin on July 8 2009, and will run for 10 nights.
Tickets for the performances will go on sale at 7am on Friday 13 March 2009. Presale information is available from michaeljacksonlive.com, or by texting MJ to 81707. Prices start at £50, £60 and £75.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Welcome Party
Tickets for a party being organised to welcome the family of Michael Jackson to North Devon have sold out within days of going on sale.
The event (organised by www.mjjparty.com) will be held at the Durrant House Hotel, Northam, on the 8th of June; 160 VIP table seats were sold, along with 80 seated tickets and 30 standing only tickets.
Tito Jackson has seemingly confirmed that he, and "other Jackson family members" will be in attendance.
I remain to be convinced that Michael will turn up.
The event (organised by www.mjjparty.com) will be held at the Durrant House Hotel, Northam, on the 8th of June; 160 VIP table seats were sold, along with 80 seated tickets and 30 standing only tickets.
Tito Jackson has seemingly confirmed that he, and "other Jackson family members" will be in attendance.
I remain to be convinced that Michael will turn up.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Jackson 5 Reunion?
Rumours about a possible Jackson 5 reunion continue, with Janet Jackson discussing the issue with AFP.
Quote:
"I hope so. I really hope so because I'll be the first in line to buy a ticket.
I do know that my brothers want to and I know it's been kind of tough for Mike. He's kind of on the fence, from what I know about it."
She added:
"Maybe he just wants to continue to be a solo artist and if that's what he wants then you have to respect his wishes. But what an impact it would have on the world and he has to see that because everyone else does.
I think he'd have to be blind not to see that."
Michaal Jackson in recent years though has never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Quote:
"I hope so. I really hope so because I'll be the first in line to buy a ticket.
I do know that my brothers want to and I know it's been kind of tough for Mike. He's kind of on the fence, from what I know about it."
She added:
"Maybe he just wants to continue to be a solo artist and if that's what he wants then you have to respect his wishes. But what an impact it would have on the world and he has to see that because everyone else does.
I think he'd have to be blind not to see that."
Michaal Jackson in recent years though has never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Tickets Still Available
Despite the fact that the tickets are incredibly reasonably priced at $3500, it seems that there are still some available for those fans of Michael Jackson who wish to spend 60 seconds talking to him in Tokyo.
Jackson will attend two events in Tokyo in the next few days. On Thursday there will be a meet greet party, followed by a fan art contest the next day.
Fans who pay $3500, at Thursday's VIP party, will get to mingle with Jackson and spend up to one minute of exclusive face time with him.
Organisers are reluctant to say how many tickets have been sold or how many are left.
It is not clear as to whether Jackson will perform at either event. Cynics are not betting any money on that.
Jackson will attend two events in Tokyo in the next few days. On Thursday there will be a meet greet party, followed by a fan art contest the next day.
Fans who pay $3500, at Thursday's VIP party, will get to mingle with Jackson and spend up to one minute of exclusive face time with him.
Organisers are reluctant to say how many tickets have been sold or how many are left.
It is not clear as to whether Jackson will perform at either event. Cynics are not betting any money on that.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Jackson Cancels Christmas
Michael Jackson has pulled out of the Tokyo Christmas party that was due to be held tomorrow.
Jackson had been due to appear at the Premium Christmas Party for 1,600 fans, who paid up to $3K per ticket for the chance to meet and greet him.
However, it seems that the event has now been renamed the Premium V.I.P. Party, and now will be held on March 8 2007.
Seemingly even more tickets, 300 at high prices, will be offered.
Quite whether Jackson attends this event remains in the "laps of the gods".
Jackson had been due to appear at the Premium Christmas Party for 1,600 fans, who paid up to $3K per ticket for the chance to meet and greet him.
However, it seems that the event has now been renamed the Premium V.I.P. Party, and now will be held on March 8 2007.
Seemingly even more tickets, 300 at high prices, will be offered.
Quite whether Jackson attends this event remains in the "laps of the gods".
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Jackson Booed Off Stage
As widely predicted, Michael Jackson's appearance at the World Music Awards in London last night was an embarrassing failure.
He started off badly by not greeting the fans, who had been expecting him to sing "Thriller".
Needless to say Jackson did not sing Thriller. Instead, in what clearly was a pr blunder of the highest magnitude, he was placed on stage with a choir of children.
I wonder what the pr people behind this stunt were thinking?
Jackson, having told the crowd how much he loved them (an overused showbusiness term lacking any sincerity whatsoever), then launched into a rendition of "We Are The World".
His voice then cracked four lines into the song.
At this stage the crowd began to boo, and started stamping their feet before Jackson left the stage.
One onlooker was quoted in a tabloid as saying:
"When he stopped singing no one could understand why. But when he started rambling a lot of people lost their patience.
That's when the booing started and got louder and louder until he left the stage."
Jackson claims that the story that he would perform "Thriller" was a "misunderstanding". That being the case, why did his pr machine not correct that misunderstanding before the event?
The auguries, warning that this event would be a flop were there for all to see.
Jackson had been making backstage demands totalling £250,000. Within these demands he included personal hair and make-up artists, a private jet and 20 first-class plane tickets for his entourage.
Not content with pissing off the awards organisers, he decided to also annoy the Hempel Hotel, in London's Bayswater area, where he was staying at £6,300 per night.
The hotel had to erect an 18ft wall on its first floor to provide more privacy for him and his three children, Prince Michael, Paris, and Prince Michael II.
Seemingly many other hotels had already turned down his request for accommodation.
It seems that he is now trying to live off past glories, the question is when will the money and patience of the fans run out?
He started off badly by not greeting the fans, who had been expecting him to sing "Thriller".
Needless to say Jackson did not sing Thriller. Instead, in what clearly was a pr blunder of the highest magnitude, he was placed on stage with a choir of children.
I wonder what the pr people behind this stunt were thinking?
Jackson, having told the crowd how much he loved them (an overused showbusiness term lacking any sincerity whatsoever), then launched into a rendition of "We Are The World".
His voice then cracked four lines into the song.
At this stage the crowd began to boo, and started stamping their feet before Jackson left the stage.
One onlooker was quoted in a tabloid as saying:
"When he stopped singing no one could understand why. But when he started rambling a lot of people lost their patience.
That's when the booing started and got louder and louder until he left the stage."
Jackson claims that the story that he would perform "Thriller" was a "misunderstanding". That being the case, why did his pr machine not correct that misunderstanding before the event?
The auguries, warning that this event would be a flop were there for all to see.
Jackson had been making backstage demands totalling £250,000. Within these demands he included personal hair and make-up artists, a private jet and 20 first-class plane tickets for his entourage.
Not content with pissing off the awards organisers, he decided to also annoy the Hempel Hotel, in London's Bayswater area, where he was staying at £6,300 per night.
The hotel had to erect an 18ft wall on its first floor to provide more privacy for him and his three children, Prince Michael, Paris, and Prince Michael II.
Seemingly many other hotels had already turned down his request for accommodation.
It seems that he is now trying to live off past glories, the question is when will the money and patience of the fans run out?
Monday, November 13, 2006
Christmas Dinner With Michael Jackson
Those of you who are fed up with the endless round of turkey dinners over the festive season, may find the prospect of having Michael Jackson for dinner an interesting alternative.
That at least is what the promoters of the "Premium Christmas" are hoping. The organisers are expecting Michael Jackson to appear at a Christmas party in Tokyo.
If Jackson agrees it would be officially announced this week, and will be held in Tokyo on December 19th, at a cost of a "mere" $3400 per plate.
Jackson will not have to sing for his supper, merely be there whilst recorded music is played.
Those with the platinum tickets would be allowed to "sit nearer to Jackson", and have a group picture taken with him.
Surely there are better ways of wasting $3400?
That at least is what the promoters of the "Premium Christmas" are hoping. The organisers are expecting Michael Jackson to appear at a Christmas party in Tokyo.
If Jackson agrees it would be officially announced this week, and will be held in Tokyo on December 19th, at a cost of a "mere" $3400 per plate.
Jackson will not have to sing for his supper, merely be there whilst recorded music is played.
Those with the platinum tickets would be allowed to "sit nearer to Jackson", and have a group picture taken with him.
Surely there are better ways of wasting $3400?
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Come Fly With Me
Cynthia Montgomery, a travel agent, gave testimony in the Michael Jackson trial yesterday.
She told the court that she made a flight booking to Brazil for the Arvizos, after a request from Frederic Marc Schaffel a Jackson associate.
The prosecution contend that Jackson associates wanted the Arvizos to vanish to Brazil indefinitely, after the airing of the Bashir documentary.
Montgomery testified that she although was told to book a one-way flight, she reserved a round-trip flight because Americans aren't allowed into Brazil without a return ticket.
The Arvizos never actually made the flight.
Montgomery also said that she watched Jackson being taken into custody, and noted that the sheriff's deputies did not manhandle Jackson.
Jackson contended that they did, in a December 2003 60 Minutes interview. A subsequent California state investigation cleared them of any wrongdoing.
Montgomery gave her testimony under immunity, as the FBI is investigating her in connection to Jackson being secretly videotaped on a charter jet flight she booked.
Montgomery is suing Jackson for allegedly stiffing her on the charter flight's $18K fee.
Does anyone have clean hands in this case?
She told the court that she made a flight booking to Brazil for the Arvizos, after a request from Frederic Marc Schaffel a Jackson associate.
The prosecution contend that Jackson associates wanted the Arvizos to vanish to Brazil indefinitely, after the airing of the Bashir documentary.
Montgomery testified that she although was told to book a one-way flight, she reserved a round-trip flight because Americans aren't allowed into Brazil without a return ticket.
The Arvizos never actually made the flight.
Montgomery also said that she watched Jackson being taken into custody, and noted that the sheriff's deputies did not manhandle Jackson.
Jackson contended that they did, in a December 2003 60 Minutes interview. A subsequent California state investigation cleared them of any wrongdoing.
Montgomery gave her testimony under immunity, as the FBI is investigating her in connection to Jackson being secretly videotaped on a charter jet flight she booked.
Montgomery is suing Jackson for allegedly stiffing her on the charter flight's $18K fee.
Does anyone have clean hands in this case?
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Greed
It is reported that a judge has approved a class action suit against Ticketmaster and Madison Square Garden, for allegedly selling seats with obstructed views of Michael Jackson's 30th anniversary concert in 2001.
The suit could cover over 7000 ticket holders, who were not warned that they would have an inadequate view.
The suit was filed by Dana Gross, who paid $98.50 plus service charges for each of six tickets to see Michael Jackson in September 2001.
She is asking for a modest compensation of $14M!
To venture a non legal opinion, if I may, but does this not seem to be a teeny weeny bit excessive?
The suit could cover over 7000 ticket holders, who were not warned that they would have an inadequate view.
The suit was filed by Dana Gross, who paid $98.50 plus service charges for each of six tickets to see Michael Jackson in September 2001.
She is asking for a modest compensation of $14M!
To venture a non legal opinion, if I may, but does this not seem to be a teeny weeny bit excessive?
Friday, April 30, 2004
The Circus is Coming to Town
Just hours to go, as I write this, until Michael Jackson appears in court; in respect of the charges brought against him for child molestation.
The details of the grand jury indictment will be made public for the first time. It is possible that they may add to, or remove, some of the original charges.
The Santa Maria Police Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and Santa Barbara Superior Court are going to erect almost 1000 feet of fencing and barricades to control the crowds; which are expected to be huge (up to 2500).
Fans will be bused in from Los Angeles, starting at 4:00AM; they are being charged $20 per ticket.
It is hoped, by the local law enforcement officials, that Michael Jackson does not repeat his January court appearance antics; whereby he climbed on to of an SUV and a did a "moonwalk".
There still seems to be some confusion as to who precisely will be guarding Michael Jackson; it is understood that he has sacked the Nation of Islam, who provided his guard during January's court appearance.
The cost of the appearance this Friday, to Santa Barbara County, is expected to be around $150K on top of the $273K already spent.
I am sure that the people of Santa Maria must be thoroughly fed up with the entire spectacle.
Just hours to go, as I write this, until Michael Jackson appears in court; in respect of the charges brought against him for child molestation.
The details of the grand jury indictment will be made public for the first time. It is possible that they may add to, or remove, some of the original charges.
The Santa Maria Police Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and Santa Barbara Superior Court are going to erect almost 1000 feet of fencing and barricades to control the crowds; which are expected to be huge (up to 2500).
Fans will be bused in from Los Angeles, starting at 4:00AM; they are being charged $20 per ticket.
It is hoped, by the local law enforcement officials, that Michael Jackson does not repeat his January court appearance antics; whereby he climbed on to of an SUV and a did a "moonwalk".
There still seems to be some confusion as to who precisely will be guarding Michael Jackson; it is understood that he has sacked the Nation of Islam, who provided his guard during January's court appearance.
The cost of the appearance this Friday, to Santa Barbara County, is expected to be around $150K on top of the $273K already spent.
I am sure that the people of Santa Maria must be thoroughly fed up with the entire spectacle.
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