Are we kidding ourselves that New Order gigs will sell out quickly?

Just looking on ebay at the tickets for Manchester and Brixton.

There are still a load of tickets in circulation and the prices seem to be starting to drop, there are already ‘buy it nows’ appearing at less than face value. Have we spent a stack of money when we could've bought them from the touts when they crash the prices at the last minute? After all it seems no-one else is going to pay to seem 'em.

Looking back at Wireless, we were all in a mad rush to get tickets before the gig sold out and snapped them up the morning they went on sale. As it turned out we could have picked them up for nothing had we waited. The same thing appears to have happened here, I would suggest that Manchester gig only sold out so quickly because most of us bought more tickets than we needed. The question is just how many people beyond the NOOL community give a stuff about seeing New Order, especially at £40 a time? This community is barely large enough to sell out these venues for anything other than the odd one-off gig, put together a tour and there’s not many of us who could afford to do all the dates and at the current ticket price means you’re not going to pull in the casual punter are you ?

New Order are not a big draw at festivals, this year they have headlined side stages or appeared low down on the bill. Is it likely they will be asked to headline their own festival like Wireless? After the money lost (or not made) at Hyde Park I think not.

So what is their game plan for the future? Isn’t it time New Order woke up to the reality that they are largely playing to the same audience and played smaller venues for lower prices on more sensible dates? Surely ticketing could be arranged through NOOL or WIM to cut costs – after all what has a promoter had to do for any New Order gig, tip off Alex or GaryMac or simply post a new thread?

totally agree.NO are heading (or are now at the same) way as the bunnymen.afternoon slots at festivals.a lot has changed in just the few years ince 2001 .

I suppose its hard to say. they aint going to be a big draw with the kids these days, but surely there are new order fans who dont visit this website. Maybe ticket sales would have been different if the gig was advertised?

Can't wait till they play a full set in a small venue again

Like everyone here, I'd like to see New Order stay around a little while longer.

Concerning the USA, this is the 1st time I've seen effort out of Barney. I think he really cared this tour. In the past, I don't think he ever gave a rats ass. Enough sloppy and short concerts and you'll piss off part of the fan base.

I think they can turn it around and continue doing medium sized gigs.

I still wish they'd tour USA with Depeche Mode. I think it would help New Order a lot, and help DM fill the stadiums all the way.

He cared did he? Yep. He sure cared. Fucking up songs, reading the lyrics of the autocue and persevering with playing songs that hardly anyone likes.

I see you are aware that it is Magic Mushroom Season

Oh Bloody Hell, I've just gone into one and it didn't appear!

OK start again; Firstly Unc, stop having a go at Barney! He is nearly 50 you know! Anyway that aside, I think he's great...............

Secondly, within a very short space of time after tix went on sale for Manc they were on Ebay twice the face value. However, after Brixton was announced you could have picked a couple up at either gig for no more than £40. Through simple un-communication (I know there's no such saying!); I still have 2 spare for Manc and despite many MANY attempts on this site, I can't sell them so they are going on Ebay 2mrw.

I s'pose the answer to the question is 'YES'!

Look, they became popular at the start of the '80's. I believe I am one of the 'elders' on this site and so I was 'there' so to speak; I was 18 in 1984 - big birthday next year..... anyway.... there are a lot of people my age who would love to see them live again, they may not have necessarily bought any of their records in the last 10 years, but so what?? When you are nearly/40 - on average - you tend not to listen to 'trendy' music stations - and if like me you have 2 teenagers living in the house, you tend not to hear anything unless it's on CD with headphones; that being the case, as far as I am aware, being a Radio 2 listener (yeah, bring it on.............)!; you would not know anything about these gigs at all. I only discovered the existence of this site this Summer - had I not, then I would not have known about the gigs to be honest!

I can talk my way into a free bar - now, that truly is saying something! - where are the PR guys then??? They could sell out every BIG venue in the UK with the right kind of 'push'. Funny how they do so well in the good ol' US of A isn't it?

Gi'ss a job!

K

PS I may come across as being a little bit on the coarse side, but in REAL life, I am quite a respectable business level headed sort of woman.

Agree with you Al on the festivals front, but Jim does raise a very valid point on the ticket sales for these gigs in Brixton and Manchester. Maybe they should be thinking more in terms of 2k cap venues and certainly cheaper ticket prices!

Maybe I was a bit off target with the festivals but if you were organising a festival you would look at Wireless as an example of how many people New Order alone would bring you through the gate, I think there are plenty of bands that would give you a better financial return on your outlay (however good/bad they were)I'd be interested to see what the comparative attendances were for the other dates at Wireless.

My main point (I think) is that if you do a couple of dates at high cost to (essentially) the same audience you are on a road to nowhere. With an ageing audience money may be less of a problem for some but child care (for example) becomes a problem for others. I am in a situation the same as many others and will do all I can to see them where I can but that is dependent on, distance from work if mid-week and childcare. Were they to announce a string of dates I couldn't get to as many as I'd like for these reasons and when they introduce prices as high as these thats when many of us start to throw the towel in.

I originally said that it is my belief that Mcr sold out at the speed it did becuase collectively we bought many more tickets than we needed. Combine that with touts and the gig sells out, we then cajole friends into going for old times sake and touts try and sell on ebay. The problem is if enough aren't interested at these prices then touts can't sell them and the price crashes, it happened at MEN, it happened at Wireless, it appears to be happening at Brixton.

And I agree, promotion has been dire. Someone will have a hefty wad for doing nothing.

Essentially I want the buggers to keep going long enough so I can take the kids to see them at least once, but I don't see any strategy never mind a long term one being adopted. But then again that's one reason why I love 'em.

It looks like the touts are panicking on E-Bay as the Brixton ticket prices are dropping through the floor. Agree with you all wondering where the publicity for these gigs has been? Why are they performing them as there is no record to promote? Still can't wait for the Manc gig mind and hopefully a chance to chat the Hatters most loyal fan

Thought there would have been at least one advert in NME last week for Brixton.But there wasn't even a small one.

very eloquently put. Like many people I bought four tickets for both with the intention of selling to genuine fans at face value if I had any spares. Everybody loathes a tout and there can be no better feeling than helping out a fellow fan if you do have a spare. I still have one spare for Brixton and probably one for Manchester. Looks like I'll be losing a few quid. Hopefully it is touts and not fans getting cleaned out on ebay.

I think the almost total lack of promotion is probably the biggest culprit in this. The only promo for the Manc gig I've seen was a tiny piece buried in the MEN, and I haven't seen anything on Brixton.

Once you throw in the fact that the gigs are during the week and the time of year (everyone's saving money and time off for the holidays) it doesn't seem much of a surprise that ticket demand has dropped.

I'm surprised I have to point this out, but speaking as a gig goer and a musician/organiser, it seems that the best gigs are the ones that fill up by word of mouth. Sometimes when you promote the shite out of a gig, you get a bunch of people who don't give a monkey's who show up cos the advertising somehow convinced them....or who are at very least casual take it or leave its. The best crowds I've been in and the best I've played to have been at gigs that filled up wth those who knew or those who cared.

That's not to say such a word-of-gob gig neevr goes totally tits up, but I have high hopes for NO.

As for the tickets on ebay....well it's like this.

Everyone who knew and everyone who cared had their tickets sorted 13 seconds after they went on sale (except skint paddies like me :) ). The cheap tickets on ebay are hilarious....bunch of chancers bought a whole shitload of tickets to try and sell the gigs out then make a fucking fortune selling them back to desperate fans, sadly New Order didn't do their marketing for them and they all got fucked......ROFLMAO, couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of blokes.

For what its worth ... 1). Who cares if they dont do promotion for the gigs...not me!! 2). Who cares if they are not releasing any new tracks..not me! 3). Who cares if it sells out or not..not me! 4). Who gives a shite about festivals..not me!

Bloody hell its like 1983 when they just did what they want, when they wanted..and who cares...ME !!

Because along with aload of other people on this site, thats really what its all about at the end of the day.

The Him wrote: For what its worth ... 1). Who cares if they dont do promotion for the gigs...not me!! 2). Who cares if they are not releasing any new tracks..not me! 3). Who cares if it sells out or not..not me! 4). Who gives a shite about festivals..not me!

Bloody hell its like 1983 when they just did what they want, when they wanted..and who cares...ME !!

Because along with aload of other people on this site, thats really what its all about at the end of the day.

I must admit, i like a good festival. If New Order are playing, then fantastic. But the band arent exactly going to be a massive draw anymore. A one off, like Move, Finsbury or Hyde Park will most likely draw a reasonable crowd, but thats it.

I truly believe that ticket sales would have been a hell of a lot quicker if there was some advertising. Not one penny has been spent on advertising for this gig. I think its pretty much safe to say then if there was some promotion, Brixton would have sold out by now.

Yep we are. I just paid £8 for my ticket (off ebay). So saved myself £44!! Which is great. But I just hope Academy wont be half empty.

Why oh why were the prices so steep in the first place? That was bad judgement, as more would have sold at lower price.

And why no publicity? Again, bad judgement.

It amazes me how bad the whole concert ticket stategy has been. Complete amateurish and basffling.

It will be a shame if the accademy is half empty, but I won't let it spoil my night.

I'm just happy there are any gigs at all to go and see. I went to see them at t-in-the-park and I also saw them in Turin as i happened to be close by at the time, but I'm much more excited by indoor gigs than festivals. So I (rather selfishly) have no complaints about publicity or 'reasons' for the gigs. However I have to say again that the only reason i knew of them was this website.

I do however have great sympathy for people who can't afford to go to these gigs because of the short notice etc.

I'd be happy if the venues started to get a little smaller for NO, and perhaps they will.

I don't have issues over the price, per se, but I've half a dozen mates who might've gone, just saying they're not paying those sort of prices

well I've got 3 goin for whatever price your friends want to pay - ((and no I'm not an unsuccessful chancer - just found myself at computer when gig was announced so got em for people who might have missed out - but obviously didnt))

Well in Hookys own words they are doing another london show for the "cockneys" sure its all about money, but its a bit presumptious to book somewhere as famous as the Brixton Academy and not even stick a few flyposters or magazine ads out. I've heard it mentioned on london radio twice but thats it, ok so we will all go but theres a hell of a lot of "casual" fans which will probably have recently gone out and bought Singles and probably are thinking.. wouldnt mind seeing this lot live! - or maybe not!! ;)

DoN wrote: Well in Hookys own words they are doing another london show for the "cockneys" sure its all about money, but its a bit presumptious to book somewhere as famous as the Brixton Academy and not even stick a few flyposters or magazine ads out. I've heard it mentioned on london radio twice but thats it, ok so we will all go but theres a hell of a lot of "casual" fans which will probably have recently gone out and bought Singles and probably are thinking.. wouldnt mind seeing this lot live! - or maybe not!! ;)

Publicity has taken a back burner as the group are concentrating on rehearshals and ensuring they put on a fantastic show!

On a serious note, however, it would have been an opportunity to attract new fans who, like you say, might have bought Singles. A few ads and lower prices would have resulted in a bigger audience. Its not rocket science for gods sake!!