News - Video Games Live Cancelling All But 2 Shows
Posted by
Ashton Liu
at 10:40:44 AM EST on 10.26.2005.
Video Games Live has recently cancelled all but two of its shows, those being the ones in Seattle and Vancouver on October 29 and 30. Tickets at the cancelled locations may be refunded, and the creators of Video Games Live commented on the cancellation.
"To our supporters,
I can really understand everyone's disappointment here... Imagine that times 1000 and that's how we feel.
We have been the ones for the last four years to make this happen and have had a million roadblocks from every direction along the way.
As our message stated... trying to do something as unique as this is VERY challenging. Think about the first time you heard about Cirque de Soilel. No one really knew what it was... they started very small and built up by word of mouth.
If we are guilty of anything it is that we hoped that more people would have been supportive of the concept and idea. Sure people have interest (like everyone here today) but if that excitement doesn't translate into support through ticket sales... how can anyone put on a show? Especially one as complex and expensive as ours. We have been doing something that no one has ever attempted... bringing a live orchestra with tons of special FX, video, rock-n-roll lighting, etc. In order to put on the best experience possible... it costs a LOT of money and ticket sales need to be very positive not average. Why are they average?? Because Video Games Live is a completely new concept that is very difficult to explain to people.
We are doing EVERYTHING in our power to bring this to everyone... We were all a bit guilty of assuming greater passion for something that no one knew anything about.
Please consider this... Becky, Jack & I are the three people who have been working day and night to bring this to everyone. We have NO control over what bigger corporations decide. I know you are all frustrated... I know you are all angry... and so are we. But you must PLEASE understand that directing that anger and frustration towards us is really "barking up the wrong tree" as they say.
I would like to use everyone's passion here today to help support the future of video game concerts everywhere. YES... Please tell us how disappointed you are because you were looking forward to this... YES... Please explain how important a concert like this is to everyone. We will use that information to show the promoters, local markets, cities, venues, etc... that people DO want to see this and they DO care. Right now a lot of the people who are putting on these events are thinking that people aren't as interested in hearing this stuff as we all know they are. But calling us names and blaming us for something which is completely out of our control doesn't really help the situation at all.
Please continue to ask questions and we will continue to give answers to the best of our ability. It's been a very emotional and upsetting week for everyone here (especially Becky who is trying to answer everyone the best she can) and any kind of positive support would be so greatly appreciated.
Thank-you all so much for your passion and understanding. I know I am truly sorry that this has caused people grief or disappointment in any way. We are going to kick some butt in Seattle and Vancouver this weekend and we'll start to plan a series of individual shows in the best markets possible which will give us enough time to focus awareness for a long period of time before the show.
Thank you and sorry again. We will make sure to let you all know how the Seattle & Vancouver shows went.
Tommy Tallarico
Co-creator of Video Games Live"
"To all,
We've been working full out on this concept and concert for the better part of four years. I understand your anger and your frustration. As upset as you no doubt are, we are devastated to make this announcement today. However, we are resolved to reinvent how we do this and do it in a more controlled way so this never happens again. It is not lost on us that for various business reasons we had to pull the plug twice. The bottom line is that the goals we established for this tour were simply too ambitious. We clearly overestimated the demand for a concert that relatively few people understand at this time. That said we still firmly believe our audience is out there.
The reason that we keep talking about "the success at the Hollywood Bowl" is because it really was a HUGE success. No hyperbole here. By all accounts, it was just an electric experience. We need to go back to what we did right for that concert - really good solid marketing in one city - make that a success, then go to the next city - make that a success, next city, then the next city, etc., until we grow it into a show that can support a national tour every year that grows and changes with the Video Game industry and our growing audience.
For my part, I want to personally thank all of you for understanding what this is so early on, your excitement and your energy and your passion. Your early belief is part of what makes us want to continue and we definitely don't want to lose you.
Right now, this is a tough announcement to make, but we're also working hard to put on some great shows this weekend in Seattle and Vancouver. Then we'll regroup and get this thing back on track. There are still loads of interest from many, many people. In the meantime, please accept my most sincere apologies for your personal inconvenience, and know that I understand where you are coming from.
Sincerely and respectfully,
Jack Wall
Co-creator of Video Games Live"
Comments
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mime genocide 10.29.2005 at 01:43:38 PM
geo-he's on serveral shows and has written music for well over 30 games.
yes he has written music for games but he knows nothing of game design. when he worked on advent rising he said it was an amazing game that would win all sorts of awards. the game sucked balls badly.
yes he is on g4 but that is because he is willing to supply them with music for free. his reveiws are always horrable, way off and he sounds very stupid when talking about any thing but music.
one last note he thinks that the katamri games had crappy music yet the cds for the games by far sell more that all of his music put together.
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eggmanimn 10.27.2005 at 04:29:12 PM
scurker - Dear Friends was cancelled in Minnesota due to low ticket sales.
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djkpat 10.27.2005 at 09:36:14 AM
Oh man i had the T.O. show tickets as well, well this a f'in dissapointment...
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thekow 10.27.2005 at 06:39:56 AM
"At least make ticket prices somewhat more affordable rather than having the cheapest tickets be in the $50-60 range."
50-60 is still ridiculous from me, speaking as someone who has paid 120 for Tori Amos tickets and now regularly pays 5-15 for small shows that were equally as breathtaking. Running an arena show does not cost 60 bucks a head when there are 10k there. The profit margin is getting f***ing insane.
But that's an entirely different fight, haha.
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mk613 10.27.2005 at 04:42:24 AM
Well this sucks i had purchased tickets for this barely 2weeks ago. Oh well.
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scurker 10.27.2005 at 12:42:08 AM
I have to agree with earlier comments.
When I first looked at purchasing tickets for this show, the prices were outrageous for what was going to be an outdoor concert (at least in the Atlanta area). And needless to say, I don't attend a concert to see flashy lights, or famous actors. I go to hear what I enjoy: the music. That's exactly what Dear Friends was, and was done right. It was a no frills, professional example of how I would really enjoy a video game music concert. And as far as I know, Dear Friends has sold out in most of the cities they've performed in, although I don't know if I could credit that to it being because of the success of Final Fantasy, or people were generally glad to see a professional concert of video game music.
Either way, I would rather see a more professional, scaled down version. At least make ticket prices somewhat more affordable rather than having the cheapest tickets be in the $50-60 range.
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deeblite 10.26.2005 at 11:44:57 PM
I was there at the opening of the tour in LA back in July, and I've gotta say... those of you who live in areas where it was cancelled, you aren't missing much. It was a VERY mediocre performance.
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ifrit 10.26.2005 at 11:17:31 PM
actors on stage?
what did they do?
dance?
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mime genocide 10.26.2005 at 10:01:23 PM
Tommy Tallarico=douchebag
he knows nothing of video games and his concerts sucked. I wish they had more black mages concerts.
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bongo bill 10.26.2005 at 07:18:52 PM
Seattle... you stole my concert HOW COULD YOU
As long as it happens eventually, I'll be there. I was just excited that a major games-related event was happening somewhere other than the east and west coasts and/or Chicago. There are cities out here in the middle of the desert/mountains/farmland/Canada too, you know!
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beavis christ 10.26.2005 at 06:18:15 PM
I was planning on going but at the same time I feel less for them because I have always been a proponent of music being the whole show. Flashing lights and other crap don't excite me nearly as much, unless I'm going to a flashing lights show.
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thekow 10.26.2005 at 05:54:31 PM
I had two free tickets to the show here in Denver, and I thought it was decent. I would pay... maybe 10 bucks to see it? But ticket prices were atrocious for what was a lackluster performance of some largely forgettable music.
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much-love 10.26.2005 at 04:34:56 PM
I'd like the idea of an light show accompanying orchestra music, but I see no need for actors. Maybe something like this will happen again in the future but a little better planned.
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drakken 10.26.2005 at 02:57:16 PM
Disappointing. Hopefully they'll learn from this and be able to come back strong next time. I was really looking forward to going.
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mindkiller317 10.26.2005 at 01:47:39 PM
I saw the first show at the Hollywood Bowl last summer, and it was pretty stupid. I think word of mouth spread and people were turned off by the lousy selvetion of music and really cheesy actors on stage. just make it a mature orchestra performance with no frills and it would sell tickets. Tallarico is an ass.
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c 10.26.2005 at 01:32:17 PM
I was all ready to buy tickets for this show, but they kept changing and cancelling dates left and right, and I was waiting for them to make an official announcement that it was actually going to happen.
I was excited to see The OneUps perform in Chicago. I would have paid the good moneys... The endeavor did not seem to be organized very well. Understandable considering the amount of work, but...
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creid 10.26.2005 at 01:03:14 PM
Well that blows.
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phoenixxx1974 10.26.2005 at 12:39:23 PM
Dude that is the whole point to the concert to be cool loking and flashy so people will have a good time. I am sadden but i understand. My friend works for the concert and i support her all the way. She worked so hard on this day and night. But it was upto the local revenues to promote the concert and did not do one shred of promoting or advertising it was their fault not the concerts they did not want to cancel it. But it makes sense to put on a couple of concerts this weekend and then use that to hype it up some more and do their own advertising and plublicity since the local ones suck and did a horrible job.
I say take as long as you need and i will be ready when you try it again :-)
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trwilliams 10.26.2005 at 12:29:04 PM
Perhaps if they didn't spend heaps of money on lights, video, celebrities, and licensing mediocre popular music (Beyond Good and Evil excluded), this would have worked.
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eightbitonline 10.26.2005 at 12:09:41 PM
VIP tickets for Van City! w00t!
Tommy T is a god amung men.
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beelzebozo 10.26.2005 at 11:52:17 AM
Tommy Tallarico is kind of a douchebag.
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darkesword 10.26.2005 at 11:37:17 AM
That's pretty disappointing. I was hoping to go to one.
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citruspastels 10.26.2005 at 11:29:52 AM
Ah, thank goodness they're still comming to Seattle. I gots myself sum tickets! Can't wait to see how it is.
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drumlord 10.26.2005 at 10:50:34 AM
Wow, these events have been a rollercoaster for them. First a few events, then a lot, then less again, then more, etc.
If I were then, I would have done things a lot different. But in particular, focus on core areas instead of the entirety of North America in one tour. Hit LA, Chicago, Boston, and NY. You're guaranteed crowds in all four areas and if the demand is there, you can spread. Don't schedule 30 dates and hope to God it all works out.
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