Free Theatre/Concert Tickets Discussion Thread

[Snowwhite]

im also reconsidering whether to go as my friend went last night and said she was quite dissappointed, although it could have been because she was also sitting on level 4 and couldnt see the screen like everyone else

[Beate]

I checked twitter last night and most of the comments were positive and I could only find a few negative comments but they all said how loud it was.

[mupton]

im also reconsidering whether to go as my friend went last night and said she was quite dissappointed, although it could have been because she was also sitting on level 4 and couldnt see the screen like everyone else

We must have been lucky as we can see the screen from level 4, though the lighting rig got in the way a bit. We ere in row L, so half way up and in the corner block. So I suppose it depends where you are seated. That said, it would have been better for all if they had two additional screens either side of the stage.

I also found that the screen was not that important to follow what was going on on-stage; it was often than not used as a backdrop not showing the stage action.

[fetta]

I don't think people are 'freakin' moaning', howyoudoin. They are just reviewing the show which they are perfectly entitled to do. Just because it's free doesn't mean you have to leave your critical faculties at home.

Of course. I apologise if I came across as arrogant.

But it worries me that some people using this site may go to the theatre/cinema evenings JUST BECAUSE they are free, regardless of whether they think they will enjoy it. There are plenty of other people using FMUK that are able to say "no thanks" when something comes up that isn't their bag, therefore not depriving other members from going.
I only REALLY got annoyed when someone said they were seriously thinking of not going tomorrow because of a review on here. That suggests to me that (i) they have free tickets and (ii) they are going to go to waste.

HYD

How did what I say suggest to you (ii)??? I had tickets for the matinee and they have been available throughout yesterday and this morning. So at no point did I disadvantage anybody wishing to book. I guess you'll be happy to know that the tickets are now canceled. Not that I feel I owe you an explanation but I booked them in the first place as the original film is one of my my favorites and even though I know I would never be totally cool with any other cast I was excited to go and see it for free. The fact that a few negative reviews came in and seemed to reinforce my original fear that my favorite musical is butchered made me change my mind. I'll be watching it with the volume just right in the comfort of my own home as soon as I manage to find where I've left the dvd. Please in the future try not to jump to all the wrong conclusions, I personally in the three years that have been aware of SFF have just once contributed to the empty-fully-booked-cinema-syndrome and felt horribly guilty. Try to judge others by your own standards, life is easier that way.

[howyoudoin]

I don't think people are 'freakin' moaning', howyoudoin. They are just reviewing the show which they are perfectly entitled to do. Just because it's free doesn't mean you have to leave your critical faculties at home.

Of course. I apologise if I came across as arrogant.

But it worries me that some people using this site may go to the theatre/cinema evenings JUST BECAUSE they are free, regardless of whether they think they will enjoy it. There are plenty of other people using FMUK that are able to say "no thanks" when something comes up that isn't their bag, therefore not depriving other members from going.
I only REALLY got annoyed when someone said they were seriously thinking of not going tomorrow because of a review on here. That suggests to me that (i) they have free tickets and (ii) they are going to go to waste.

HYD

How did what I say suggest to you (ii)??? I had tickets for the matinee and they have been available throughout yesterday and this morning. So at no point did I disadvantage anybody wishing to book. I guess you'll be happy to know that the tickets are now canceled. Not that I feel I owe you an explanation but I booked them in the first place as the original film is one of my my favorites and even though I know I would never be totally cool with any other cast I was excited to go and see it for free. The fact that a few negative reviews came in and seemed to reinforce my original fear that my favorite musical is butchered made me chance my mind. I'll be watching it with the volume just right in the comfort of my own home as soon as I manage to find where I've left the dvd. Please in the future try not to jump to all the wrong conclusions, I personally in the three years that have been aware of SFF have just once contributed to the empty-fully-booked-cinema-syndrome and felt horribly guilty. Try to judge others by your own standards, life is easier that way.

I am judging others by my own standards. And they are high.

If you book free tickets to a big show such as this and then decide you are not going to go based on one or two poor reviews, then you obviously didn't want to go that much in the first place.

Others here have said that they loved the show, and also the newspaper reviewers in the Telegraph and Independent loved it, so it's not been bad opinions all the way.

But it's your choice. At least you bothered to cancel your tickets giving others the chance to go.

HYD

[mupton]

How bad is Level 4 for people who suffer from vertigo?

I sat in the gods at the Lyceum and whilst it was just about ok near the front, I did think the seats right at the back were so steep, they would have been challenging even for me and I have no problem with heights. One of our group suffers from vertigo slightly, so I'm a bit worried. I haven't been to the arena part of the O2 before (just the Cineworld), so don't really know what it's like.

Interesting though that a relative late comer got a ground floor seat!

Is there an official diagnosis for vertigo? If so, I didn't get one. But I do feel heights. There have been certain places and situations in football grounds, concert venues etc where it has taken me a bit of courage to walk up the steps and at least 20 minutes to settle in my seat. Does that count?

If it does, then, I was seated in Level 4, Row L about half way up and I did not feel a thing. It was probably because although it was high up and I didn't affect me in anyway probably because it did not seem steep (to me). But I was only half way up.

By the way, yes the late coming got a ground level seat but was at the back of the arena, and this may have not have provided a clear view of the stage, as being higher up. Who knows maybe he was lucky and got a late returned ticket, it was full downstairs.

[fetta]

At least you bothered to cancel your tickets giving others the chance to go.

HYD

Please find someone else to bully.

[Celini]

Hmm, I really don't see what is wrong in changing one's mind according to poor reviews! This is what I did as well, I know canadian_turtle's and funthing29's tastes well enough to be confident that it would be a waste of time for me.

Regarding the fact one cancels one's tickets or not, this is nobody's business and it anyway makes the places a little less overbooked!
(but I cancelled mine)

[howyoudoin]

Regarding the fact one cancels one's tickets or not, this is nobody's business and it anyway makes the places a little less overbooked!

I'm sure SFF and theatre show promoters everywhere will be delighted to hear that opinion and it just reinforces what I thought about some people who abuse the system.

But anyway, it takes all sorts and I certainly don't want people to think that I am 'bullying' them just because I don't share the same opinion. So i'll leave it there.

HYD

[Celini]

You know this the exact reason why SFF over-allocates venues. My guess is one should except an average of 15-25% dropout.
And again I am not saying people should NOT cancel their tickets if they can't go; I am just stating a fact.