elizalavelle: (Default)
Elizabeth Jamieson ([personal profile] elizalavelle) wrote2006-11-16 06:37 pm

(no subject)

Hmmm I still dislike Harbourfront... can I dislike them even more? They added a second Sarah Slean date (fabulous!) They didn't promote it at all but started selling tickets today (not fabulous.) Then when Andrea called and grabbed the last two seats in the second row (keeping in mind that ticketmaster had rows 1, 3, 5 etc again and had nothing listed for the 15th yet) she was treated to doing buisness with yet another rude Harbourfront Box Office employee who refused to comment on how the second row was almost sold out but they had no announcement of the show on their website or anywhere else.

Then I checked out ticketmaster.ca when I got home from work and they'd just released the tickets (at 4:24pm WTF!!!???) and I lucked out and got front row seats. How is it that in the last week I suddenly am preferring to deal with Ticketmaster over an actual box office with actual people I can talk to? Something is not so right with that yet due to the extremely rude Harbourfront employees that's what I realized today. I actually felt much better about dealing with buying tickets online. I don't like that.

On the plus side I was proactive about that and emailed the promoter for the show(s) as Harbourfront told me to do... probably not guessing I'd actually know who to email. And my letter of complaint is ready to be mailed tomorrow. I was going to add more onto it about the mishandling of the second show but I just can't say anymore about them... it's just the same declining, disrespectful customer service. Which leads to far too much drama over tickets. I've been 15 once before already, I've done the drama over every little thing phase, I'd just like buying concert tickets to be simple.

[identity profile] andromakie.livejournal.com 2006-11-17 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
I like calling Ticketmaster. I always get better seats that way. It turns out hat what the website thinks are "best seats available" and what I think are "best seats available" ain't ever exactly similar. Glad you got the seats you wanted though. I must listen to that chickie sometime.
Are you going to Tamara's gig next thurs? I'm debating, she's playing for an hour, but it starts at 11.30. That'll be a late night, even if it is right on college and only one streetcar away.

[identity profile] elizalavelle.livejournal.com 2006-11-17 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
Oy starts at 11:30, now I'm not sure... I have to get back to Etobicoke and get to work at 8am the next morning... that'll hurt. I'll think on it for a couple of days. I was just at the Revival on Tuesday and it's a nice venue :)

For this show Ticketmaster didn't have tickets on the phone yet, only online. I honestly prefer dealing with real people for the exact same reason... of course when you buy a row in bulk you can go back and choose your best available seats from that afterwards ;)

[identity profile] gonnashine.livejournal.com 2006-11-17 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, "beast available" isn't always best.. I had the guy on the phone today try to tell me that 4th row would be better than 2nd row, 'cause I'd have a better veiw and in the 2nd row I'd be looking up. Jeez, I've been to concerts before, many at this venue, I know what I'm talking about and what I want! If I say I want close seats, I want close seats!

[identity profile] elizalavelle.livejournal.com 2006-11-17 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
I HATE when they try to do that, if I clearly state which tickets I want then I clearly know where I'd like to sit. What I don't want is someone telling me that I'm wrong and would be better off sitting somewhere else. I like sitting close up, I was spoiled by RENT and thus know that while a few rows back may be a better seat for some people I know it's not better for me.

[identity profile] andromakie.livejournal.com 2006-11-17 12:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I like front row from there too. Rush seats for Wicked are front in NY and London. We did Guys and Dolls from the front row and Jane Krakowski noticed us. And we tormented the last London Rent cast with penis-shaped lollies on Valentines Day, and almost made half of them crack up in act 2. Front is more fun! I've never bought a row in bulk before, though, so I don't know about that game.

[identity profile] elizalavelle.livejournal.com 2006-11-18 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
LOL oh days of tormenting RENT casts from rush seats. hehehehe always a fun time ;)

Buying out a row is a new game to me as well, not one I particularly enjoy but it worked out okay for 1 of the 2 shows this Dec. too much drama around getting tickets though lol

[identity profile] andromakie.livejournal.com 2006-11-17 12:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Exactly. WHen I went to see Bernadette Peters, the website said row P was best, I called and was told there were some in row C but off to the side. I'll take those says I. Same with Wicked in London. We got 2nd row becasue I called, instead of 11th row on the site. That's much better. Idina was right in front of us worth the long distance call!

[identity profile] elizalavelle.livejournal.com 2006-11-18 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
I also prefer dealing with a person if I'm ordering tickets for more than 2 people if we don't all need to sit together. Often if you break people up you can all have better seats than say if you go for 6 altogether on a website.

Idina, second row, totally worth any long distance call you can make! :)

[identity profile] jacquelene.livejournal.com 2006-11-17 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
what about in terms of price? with the convenience &/or processing fee how much is the ticketmaster ticket versus harbourfront?

[identity profile] elizalavelle.livejournal.com 2006-11-18 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
I think in the end ticketmaster came to be a dollar or two more per ticket than buying from the Harbourfront box office. Also Harbourfront states that the very minimal charge they add to your tickets there is used to support the theatre which I do prefer over supporting Ticketmaster. However I'd rather pay the extra bit of money and actually be able to get the seats that I want.