What happened to the show in Lisbon next week???

[Roger Rabbit]

With shock I am reading the messages, what I just heard from a random Portuguese gamer I was playing with through World of Warcraft.

I am from the Netherlands, and this concert was my initiative to meet up with my guild members of Portugal, and hang out.
To hear this cancellation so close to the concert date is beyond believe. I spent a considerable amount on free days, plane tickets and hotel costs. I am very much in doubt that my guildies received notification of this at the moment.

I am trying to contact them now to discuss the situation, and what party I need to address to look for compensation on the matter.

[Roger Rabbit]

To update: My guild members were unaware of the cancellation either. I used the contact form from Mandrake yesterday night, but no response so far. Tomorrow morning I will ring them up. Lets hope they talk English.

[Tommy Tallarico]

Hi Everyone,

This cancellation was devestating to us as well. The Portugese people welcomed us so greatly last year and the show we did was a huge success (although the promoter tried to do 2). We were all looking very forward to coming back (as I mentioned in the video I made).

It makes VGL look unsuccessful when things like this happen so it personally hurts me very much after all of the hard work we've done over the years to further game music and build VGL to the level we have.

But unfortunately there is nothing we can do when a promoter runs into difficulties and needs to postpone the show. I believe the economy and sponsorship had a lot to do with the Portugal & some of the Poland shows being rescheduled. Last year in Portugal (for example) they had 2 gaming tents set up outside the event. This year they weren't able to get the game companies support. 2009 was a very tough year for all concert promoters around the world... especially when corporate sponsorship becomes important.

I was told by Mandrake (local Lisbon promoter) that there had been an announcement to everyone who bought tickets. So that is concerning to us that some people didn't seem to get the info. I will speak to them about it and find out what could have happened.

The people over at Mandrake are really good people who really do believe in Video Games Live and the fans. To be honest, they lost a bit of money last year (because they needed to cancel one of the shows) but still tried everything in their power to bring us back for 2009. I know it's easy to be angry and upset (and I feel the same way!), but please believe me when I say that EVERYONE wanted this to work out this time around and I hope no one gives up on us over there. In fact, maybe this can be used to help us out in the future? We need everyone over there to help us spread the news to as many people as possible. Mandrake told us that they did do promotion over there including (as a few people here confirmed)... posters, e-mails, tv commercials, etc.

The fact that Video Games Live once again grew this year (almost 60 shows!) in the most challenging financial climate the world has seen in almost 100 years... is a good thing and a fantastic sign for things to come.

I'd like to personally apologize to all our Porguese supporters. I love your country and I loved performing there. I'm just as disappointed (if not more) as everyone here and I hope to be seeing all of you in 2010.

If any of you have any specific questions, please let me know and I'll do my best to answer them... or to try and get an answer for you.

Thanks,


Tommy

[don]

Greetings Mr. Tallarico,

Is there already an idea of about more or less what time of the year in which you're planning to reschedual the show?

[Kira]

Originally Posted by don

Greetings Mr. Tallarico,

Is there already an idea of about more or less what time of the year in which you're planning to reschedual the show?

Yes, I too would like to know if there are already date options. I decided to maintain my tickets, because they said they still were valid to the show when the new date comes up.

Things like this happen sometimes. It's sad, but if people are looking forward to the show (like me!), they'll still go, I think.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the show!

Cheers!

[FFGirl]

I was really surprised and sad to know the show was postponed. I went to the concert last year and, of course, I couldn't miss this year's concert as well. I even got tickets for the same seats.
I think what is throwing people of is the fact there was no announcement of the postponement, it was so close to the date of the event and the fact that we have so little information on what happened. I only knew about this because I kept checking the site for information on the activities.

Mr. Tallarico, thank you for shedding some light on this matter. It is very nice of you to take the time to give us some information, when the promoter has kept us in the dark.
I think I speak for everyone when I say we were very much looking forward for your return and we are all very sad and disappointed it turned out this way, even if there is no one to blame.
I hope you will be back soon and I join the others in asking you if there is any idea as to when the concert will take place.
We are waiting for you.

[FFGirl]

Originally Posted by Tommy Tallarico

I hope no one gives up on us over there.

No way! We are waiting for you and you better come or we will go after you.

[Tommy Tallarico]

Thanks for the support everyone.

I was told that one of the reasons that no one knew what was going on until the last moment is that the local promoter (Mandrake) was trying everything in its power to keep the date.

Currently we have no idea when a return date will be held. Something that will be discussed between our agents and Mandrake soon I'm sure.


Tommy

[FFGirl]

Originally Posted by Tommy Tallarico

Thanks for the support everyone.

I was told that one of the reasons that no one knew what was going on until the last moment is that the local promoter (Mandrake) was trying everything in its power to keep the date.

Currently we have no idea when a return date will be held. Something that will be discussed between our agents and Mandrake soon I'm sure.


Tommy

We will keep our fingers crossed and hope to see you back to Portugal really soon.

[PtSpMrp]

Sounds like a pretty simple case. Regardless of whose fault it is, Mandrake did not sell enough tickets until a week before the show to be able to afford to pay for both the VGL crew and venue from the expected revenue even according to their best predictions, and so moved the date (and probably will move to a cheaper venue as well). I can see they did their best here, waiting as long as possible before rescheduling, but it does suck for those who aren't from Lisbon and had already incurred in non-refundable expenses in order to be able to attend. No concert should ever be cancelled so close to the scheduled date.

Guys, when you come in 2010, make sure you play something from MYST. I was in the 2008 concert and after it ended I thought "wtf, that was Jack Wall down there, why was there no MYST segment?" I'll be waiting!