FINLEY TICKETS SELL OUT !! MORE SEATS CONFIRMED TO BE RELEASED !!

Wed, 20 Jan 2010, 09:24 pm

Melz39 posts in thread

LATEST NEWS: It has just been confirmed by the ITA after intense discussion and communication with the Theatre Manager, that after 400 seats selling out for the ITA Finley Awards this Saturday, further seats will be released for public sale by way of opening up the upstairs gallery of the impressive Judith Cottier Theatre!!

Yay !! Just goes to show that community theatre is well loved and going strong !!

Peoples... this is going to be a BIG night !!!! Tickets are online now through TAZ Tix www.TAZTix.com.au
or you best phone TAZ Tix tomorrow on 9255 3366

Thread (39 posts)

Threaded Flat

MelzWed, 20 Jan 2010, 09:24 pm

Walter PlingeThu, 21 Jan 2010, 10:27 am

What is the point of buying

What is the point of buying a ticket if winners are going to be announced before the night of the awards? It will be interesting to see if the names going around will be read out on Saturday night; it will be very disappointing if they are, and just one more example of some very unprofessional (and public) conduct surrounding this years judging system. I think Robert Finley and his legacy deserve a little more respect than this.

NormaThu, 21 Jan 2010, 10:34 am

What is the point of buying

We really can't win can we- whatever we do??

The new (from 2008 entries) initiative of having a Nominations Night was in response to a groundswell of opinion and lots of requests to announce the short list for almost all categories before the actual ceremony.

as to the comment about 'winners names already going around'- it's no different to any other awards, there is always discussion, comment and speculation.

And the idea is to come and have a good time and catch up with friends, not just to get awards.

MelzThu, 21 Jan 2010, 10:40 am

It's also the biggest party and networking

Apart from being WA's ultimate showcase of community theatre, the Finley's are also the most wonderful opportunity to meet, greet, network, socialise and the biggest party on the community theatre calendar of the year! It's going to be awesome!! If you haven't been to the Judith Cottier Theatre before you are in for a real treat !! Melz

LabrugThu, 21 Jan 2010, 10:51 am

Who's mentioned what?

I haven't heard any of these rumours? Who's saying what? Genuinely intrigued.

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins
SN Profile
Photographer

KimberleyThu, 21 Jan 2010, 11:01 am

Nothing has been announced

Apart from the nominees. If you have heard rumours, then that is just it... You have heard rumours. There have always been "favourites" in the same way that there are "hot tips" about the Logies or the Oscars or horse races. I haven't really heard much in the way of discussion, but I can tell you that in the past the rumoured "dead cert" has not always come up the winner.

jmuzzThu, 21 Jan 2010, 12:22 pm

Not only Robert Finley

It would be nice "Disappointed" if people would actually pay the ITA and the adjudicators some respect as well. Honestly, if you believe you know all the winners, why not publish your list from top to bottom so we can all be as equally disappointed as your good self? Come on, I'm begging for you to ruin the surprise for me and everyone else. You MUST be very sure of yourself to have posted such an opinion so there's no harm in you doing so and we can all tick off your list on Saturday evening and say "Jeez, Disappointed was SO right - what a scam". But this won't happen will it Disappointed? Y'know why? What you've heard is rumour and nothing more and you were too lazy to confirm where your hot information came from before you posted your scurrilous and anonymous remarks. So please, post away. I also have in mind who I think are reasonably good things for some of the major awards but I'm not privy to the actual list of winners and I have my ear pretty close to the ground when it comes to community theatre. It's called an opinion - but it ain't fact - and I'm sure I'll be found wrong on a number of 'em. If you think your info is so good - back it up. But you won't. Robert Finley's legacy deserves more respect from people like you because you and your ilk are the only ones taking a massive dump on it - not the ITA. O.k?

Walter PlingeThu, 21 Jan 2010, 12:57 pm

Ashton hasn't won, that's

Ashton hasn't won, that's the hot tip.

Walter PlingeThu, 21 Jan 2010, 12:58 pm

But two other females from

But two other females from her cast have.

Robert J WhyteThu, 21 Jan 2010, 01:11 pm

FYI

The above comments have not come from me and if I find who has posted them I will be taking legal action.

MusicalMumThu, 21 Jan 2010, 02:44 pm

Legal action? For what exactly???

....heavens, talk about taking things a little too seriously.... Do you take "legal action" against anyone called 'Robert'? Or is it just anyone calling themselves Robert on this site?

Robert J WhyteThu, 21 Jan 2010, 02:58 pm

Musical Mum, the naming has

Musical Mum, the naming has been quite deliberate....Trust me on this.

MusicalMumThu, 21 Jan 2010, 03:07 pm

Legal action, is not dependant on what you believe...

...it is based on what you can prove. More specifically on what damages you can prove. Tossing about baseless threats of legal action makes you appear foolish. Even if 'Mr Sour Grapes' had called himself Robert J Whyte, you'd still have zero basis for "legal action" based on what he said. Foolish.

Robert J WhyteThu, 21 Jan 2010, 06:27 pm

Really, but, isn't it

Really, but, isn't it interesting that the person making the post hasn't made any further posts? However I am gratified we now have a legal expert on this site now. Thankyou so much for your words of wisdom, I look forward to future postings. R.

MusicalMumThu, 21 Jan 2010, 07:21 pm

"Legal expert" I am not....

Sufficiently qualified and with enough professional experience in legal practise and civil litigation to state what I did and know it to be true about that specific post, yes. Dripping sarcasm notwithstanding, 'You're welcome'. ;)

MelzFri, 22 Jan 2010, 08:40 am

Tune In

Tune into RTR 92.1FM Friday 22 Jan @ 10.30am when ITA's President Kimberley Shaw is interviewed about this weekend's ITA Finley Awards. Melz

MelzFri, 22 Jan 2010, 09:27 am

Finley seats - and the new release

Due to the new release of tickets, we've shuffled some bookings around to enable patrons to either purchase tickets in the main auditorium or in the upstairs gallery. *Hint: if you would like to sit with the performers on the night, choose upstairs. Bookings: www.TAZTix.com.au Melz

MelzFri, 22 Jan 2010, 05:30 pm

Last chance to pre book for the Finley Awards

one more sleep till the Finley Awards... you've only got tonight and until Sat 4pm to pre book your tickets. www.TAZTix.com.au Melz

MelzSat, 23 Jan 2010, 03:19 pm

Finleys - Tonight's THE Night !!

Tonight's the Night ! pre-sale bookings cut off at 4pm - door sales will be available... cash and credit facilities - no eftpos - Doors open 6pm, ceremony starts 7pm www.TAZTix.com.au ph: 9255 3366 Melz

Walter PlingeMon, 25 Jan 2010, 10:47 am

Ticketing

I was extremely disappointed by the egregious approach taken towards ticketing. To be honest, as a student - as many performers are - the ticket fee was a bit steep. $25 is a lot of money. To be honest, it was difficult to justify. I have never been to an amateur show that cost so much - especially without a concession option. But I have never been so absolutely furious as when I was asked to cough up a $5 transaction fee. We were paying cash at the door - as were many people there. Apparently there was a lesser charge for internet bookings - which is where a transaction fee would normally occur. And then my mother and I were told "oh, you can save money if you buy tickets together." We could save more if we hadn't been charged it in the first place. I shouldn't have paid. Especially as the apparently 'top dollar' ticketing services didn't even include ushers to take tickets: I could have walked in for nothing. I am disgusted. I thought the evening was great and I was happy to pay something. The tickets (and transaction fee) were the only downer, especially as I have heard rumours concerning "double-dipping" but I won't repeat them here as they are unsubstatiated. I will take every step I can to ensure that the club I belong to doesn't make the same mistake as the Finley Awards. Money-grubbing of this magnitude is unacceptable.

JoeMcMon, 25 Jan 2010, 11:24 am

Did you book your seats?

Did you book your seats in advance or just fronted up as a walk in?

To use any ticket service to book tickets will naturaly atract a fee of some sort, [ticket service companies arn't the 'good samartains'!

Unless you want to just take pot luck, at the door, in the hope that the house is not sold out?

Walter PlingeMon, 25 Jan 2010, 11:35 am

So what were the results?

Who won what? Or is that kep secret until next year!?

Walter PlingeMon, 25 Jan 2010, 12:56 pm

I was a walk-in. And I

I was a walk-in. And I payed cash. Why was a professional ticketing company used in the first place? Isn't this the first time that's happened? Sure, a couple of bucks would have been fine. $5, though? Why don't they just use a gun? Was such a fee advertised on publicity materials?

Walter PlingeMon, 25 Jan 2010, 01:04 pm

A lot of music gigs

A lot of music gigs highlight that the price might be $20 if bought beforehand but then $25 at the door. Although I didn't see this on any Finley advertising beforehand. However, I believe BOCS were engaged for ticketing the past two years, which is also a professional service.

NormaMon, 25 Jan 2010, 03:44 pm

I was a walk-in

A brief answwr here Scott:

No it's not the first time we've use a ticketing agency, we have used BOCs in the past.

Yes the fee was widely publicised. I think you will find that the "fees apply" is just about universal now. $25 or more is fairly standard for musical entertainment.

AND I can assure you that the ITA does not 'make money' out of the event, the venue costs over $3K, just to hire for the one night plus their staff, which was kept to a minimum to avoid extra costs. THen there are the assocaited costs, trophies, certificates, thank-you gifts, even small ones etc etc.

TAZ was contracted to do the tickets, she also did ALL the Publicity FOR NOTHING and that is a huge amount of cost. Mel has a business to run and she does one hell of a lot for the ITA without charge. Come onto the commitee and see the sheer amount of hard work that's involved on everyone's part. It's far too big now to do it all in-house.

for the last few years everyone has agitated for the event to get 'bigger and more professional' and this all takes money. If everyone wishes to go back the "Afternoon garden-party' (which is how the Finleys started) then let us know- it'll be a lot less hassle!!

And as a dedicated member of the ITA I object strongly to the term "money-grubbing"

Walter PlingeMon, 25 Jan 2010, 04:05 pm

But was it made clear the

But was it made clear the fees apply cover both online sales and tickets bought at the door? Or just the online sales?

LabrugMon, 25 Jan 2010, 04:15 pm

Promotional material said

Promotional material said "TICKETS: $25 transaction fee applies"

That, to my mind, is clearly a blanket transaction fee. It never said the fee was for specific types of transactions which usually means All transactions.

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins
SN Profile
Photographer
Community Spirit

Walter PlingeMon, 25 Jan 2010, 04:57 pm

To me, that applies to

To me, that applies to online or over the phone bookings. Not door sales.

MusicalMumMon, 25 Jan 2010, 05:02 pm

Well to me it means if I wear my shortest party dress...

...I should be entitled to a 25% discount and a free glass of water, but hey, it doesn't say that either...... ;) What you *think* should apply does not make it so.

Walter PlingeMon, 25 Jan 2010, 05:26 pm

Well, I apologise if I was

Well, I apologise if I was out of line... I never suggested that the ITA was making a profit. My ill-advised use of the term "money-grubbing" was not aimed at the ITA. I was simly airing my view that the transaction fee was excessive. I understand that the event is an extremely expensive one... I never saw any promotional material for the event, so I may have let my anger cloud my judgement. I also don't remember a call for volunteers. I would gladly have sat and taken tickets, or ushered if necessary. But then, I wasn't asked. I stand by my statements that it is something to be avoided in the past.

Walter PlingeMon, 25 Jan 2010, 05:39 pm

It's not very clear though,

It's not very clear though, is it? Wonder what Consumer Protection would make of it?

Robert J WhyteTue, 26 Jan 2010, 04:11 am

Consumer Protection

Would find everything in order, as TAZ Tix is a member of Live Performance Australia and operates under the Code of Practice for the Ticketing of Live Entertainment in Australia. Here is the direct link to that code of conduct, freely available on the net. http://www.liveperformance.com.au/site/_content/document/00000023-source.pdf Regards Robert

Robert J WhyteTue, 26 Jan 2010, 09:52 am

Well..............

The ITA must have done its job really well this year, by now we usually have at least another 50 bitchy anonymous postings... Only a couple of whinges about the tickets! Must mean most people were actually happy for a change. OMG!!!

jeffhansenTue, 26 Jan 2010, 11:50 am

Seemed to run smoothly from

Seemed to run smoothly from where I was sitting in the auditorium, though I'm betting it was more like a duck swimming - all smooth on the surface, and chaos below. Well done to the organisers. I managed to avoid the processing fee by buying a ticket from a couple who ended up with an extra and were refused a refund. Win/win. www.meltheco.org.au

Robert J WhyteTue, 26 Jan 2010, 12:14 pm

Yes I agree

Congratulations from me too, shame I wasn't well enough to go, I've heard lots of good feedback on the evening from those that attended. Cheers R.

NormaTue, 26 Jan 2010, 12:28 pm

Seemed to run smoothly from

Actually Jeff it really did run smoothly, there was the odd moment of panic, but nothing that wasn't resolved without much fuss- as I spent more time backstage I can tell you this without guessing!

A big part of the credit goes to Danni Ashton the Co-ordinator for the event and of course the two SM's, Daniell Ramsell and Stephen Carr, both unflappable!

Attendance was just short of 450

Robert J WhyteWed, 27 Jan 2010, 04:31 am

Pretty much on Par

Thats about the average amount of attendees, it has been around that number for the last few years, contrary to claims that more tickets were sold than in previous years.

breevreeWed, 27 Jan 2010, 11:04 am

Finleys - Just elbowing in on the discussion...

OK, so I've read all the posts, I've considered the arguments over ticket prices, I've scoffed and wondered at the possibility that winners are known prior to the event..... but in the end, all I can say is this: I went to the Finleys with no nominations, no expectation of winning anything, and had a great time catching up with friends, seeing excerpts of awesome plays from throughout 2009, and cheering for the winners (of whom I would suggest were quite deserving) Personally, I see nothing wrong with a bit of competition. It adds to the spice of performance. If you don't like competition, don't enter your show into the Finleys. Easy as that. Well done to the ITA committee for a great night. xoxo Bree

breevreeWed, 27 Jan 2010, 11:04 am

Finleys - Just elbowing in on the discussion...

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