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Post by roger on Jul 20, 2010 10:47:44 GMT
Could it be that an evening of wartime songs, poetry and speeches may not be everyone's cup of tea, including mine ? Yes Jeff, I think it could.  Roger |
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Post by Richard on Jul 20, 2010 13:33:13 GMT
Hello Jeff and everybody,
I thoroughly enjoyed the concert in Southend, and particularly Hayley's rendition of the 1940s songs. I hope the concerts in Croydon and Nottingham will go ahead as planned.
Richard
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Post by nicola on Jul 20, 2010 14:32:32 GMT
Found an agency website that books artists. They seem to estimate that hiring Hayley will cost you £10-25K! Paul Potts has the same estimate, whilst Blake and Keedie are predicted to be between £5-10K. Just... don't know, thought it was interesting. No where else to put this nugget of info. Forgot to leave a link. Der. x www.jla.co.uk/cabaret-and-dance-bands/hayley-westenra |
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Post by larryhauck on Jul 20, 2010 14:54:53 GMT
Found an agency website that books artists. They seem to estimate that hiring Hayley will cost you £10-25K! Paul Potts has the same estimate, whilst Blake and Keedie are predicted to be between £5-10K. Just... don't know, thought it was interesting. No where else to put this nugget of info. Forgot to leave a link. Der. x www.jla.co.uk/cabaret-and-dance-bands/hayley-westenraHi Nic, I think Hayley's worth more. Were she in the states with a savvy promotion team when she released PURE she'd be very wealthy today. Talented youth sells over here and we have people that will spend the money to make them successful. Can you beleive Taylor Swift being in the Song Writers Hall of Fame with the likes of Irving Berlin and Duke Ellington. Never doubt the power of a good American agent with a good track record and some deep pocket backers. Larryxx |
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Post by Richard on Jul 20, 2010 15:10:29 GMT
Hello Nicola, Larry and everybody, Can we please keep this important thread on topic - The Battle of Britain Tour (what's left of it).  Many thanks, Richard  |
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Post by larryhauck on Jul 20, 2010 15:12:52 GMT
Hello Nicola, Larry and everybody, Can we please keep this important thread on topic - The Battle of Britain Tour (what's left of it). Many thanks, Richard Sorry Richard ....as usual not thinking. Larry |
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Post by larryhauck on Jul 20, 2010 15:26:01 GMT
Could it be that an evening of wartime songs, poetry and speeches may not be everyone's cup of tea, including mine ? Of course it's a good cause but there are so many good causes around these days . I'll be at Russell Watson's charity gig next week but my pockets are only so deep which means I have to choose my concerts carefully now especially if travel is involved and only see shows that really appeal to me. I can understand that people who grew up or took part in WW2 would welcome such an event but personally I prefer Hayley when she performs crossover repertoire. Anyway, we'll see what comes of her collaboration with Morricone. Hi Jeff Please don't take offense but everyone in the free world should have the greatest respect for the brave men and women that saved the world from the grip of the Axis powers. Without the sacrifices of these brave troops the world would not be the free world we enjoy today. I recommend two books to read." The Good War" by Studs Turkel and "The Greatest Generation" by Tom Brokaw. Be Well Larry |
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Post by larryhauck on Jul 20, 2010 15:39:37 GMT
Well I supposed most of you must be getting tired of my opinion and I don't blame you.
This will be my last word on the subject.
Although I not happy with the money I lost that's not the main reason for my consternation.
I think it's a shame that people will not put aside a day to honor the brave men and women of the free world that save Britain and probably all the free world.
Many of you were probably not alive when this took place but that doesn't change the fact that this endeavor was probably the most important and courageous undertaking of the 20TH CENTURY.
Larry
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Post by roger on Jul 20, 2010 15:41:08 GMT
Please don't take offense but everyone in the free world should have the greatest respect for the brave men and women that saved the world from the grip of the Axis powers. With respect, Larry, Jeff never suggested otherwise. But that does not mean we are obliged to spend our hard-earned money on concerts which musically are of no interest to us. Roger |
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Post by roger on Jul 20, 2010 15:47:48 GMT
Well I supposed most of you must be getting tired of my opinion and I don't blame you. This will be my last word on the subject. Although I not happy with the money I lost that's not the main reason for my consternation. I think it's a shame that people will not put aside a day to honor the brave men and women of the free world that save Britain and probably all the free world. Many of you were probably not alive when this took place but that doesn't change the fact that this endeavor was probably the most important and courageous undertaking of the 20TH CENTURY. Larry Putting a day aside is not what this is about. We do that every year on Remembrance Day and on other significant occasions. We don't even know if poor ticket sales is the reason for the cancellations. Even if it is, that does not necessarily mean it is due to limited support for our armed forces. There is a recession on. It may simply be that. It could be that the venues being within one anothers catchment area reduced the sales for each of them. Or it may be something entirely different - like recording commitments. We just don't know. Of course, if Bedlam would have the curtesy to respond to a simple enquiry, it would at least stop this speculation. Roger... beginning to wish I had never logged in last night. |
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Post by larryhauck on Jul 20, 2010 15:59:00 GMT
Please don't take offense but everyone in the free world should have the greatest respect for the brave men and women that saved the world from the grip of the Axis powers. With respect, Larry, Jeff never suggested otherwise. But that does not mean we are obliged to spend our hard-earned money on concerts which musically are of no interest to us. Roger Yes Roger you are right and so is Dave. It's just as being a child and having my father fighting in the war it is so special to me that I would attend every remembrance event I could. I guess it's just an emotional thing with me. I know I kinda tend to go off the deep end at times and I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone. If I did I sincerely apologize. Be Well Larry |
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Post by roger on Jul 20, 2010 16:06:18 GMT
No worries Larry and no apology needed. Just for the record, my father was on board ship throughout WW2 so I empathize with your views just as I do with your frustration over the cancellations. It is because emotions are running so high that Bedlam should respond urgently.
Roger
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,699
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Post by Dave on Jul 20, 2010 17:25:00 GMT
Hi everyone,
I don't want anyone to think that Hayley's management is ignoring our concerns and enquiries, they did respond as long ago as 2nd of July with a statement specifically for our members, which I posted earlier in this thread:
Yes, it is short and not very enlightening so I have tried several times since then to persuade more than one of their staff to provide more details, but it is clear that they do not currently have clearance to do this. I suspect that this week, they are unlikely to be able to obtain it anyway due to holiday absences within the company.
It has also crossed my mind that there may be contractual reasons why they are unable or unwilling to say more. When everyone I need to contact is once again available, possibly some time next week, I will try again so until then, let's try to be patient please - badgering them isn't going to help.
But above all, remember that all of this will be outside Hayley's personal control and when the decisions are initially taken, it may be outside her knowledge. It should not be seen as an adverse reflection on Hayley herself in any way and I am sure that we will all continue to support her as strongly as ever, and I most certainly will.
Cheers, Dave
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Post by comet on Jul 20, 2010 17:41:52 GMT
The National Concert Hall in Dublin sells OUT for Hayley ( Approx 2,000 seats ) Bangor , Derry, UCH Limerick, SOLD OUT,
I gather Hayley usually sells out at most venues in the UK as well.
So I would think the BoB concerts are NOT selling out because they have had insufficient promotion, Also their captive audience might be rather elderly , immobile and unable to travel long distances. With Hayley only doing 7 or 8 songs she is more of a guest artist than a headline act in her own right at this series of concerts.
If we look at an average audience at Hayley's concerts, I suspect more than 95% have travelled less than a few miles to the concert,
People like Larry, Karsten, Grant, TimJ, Joyce, (are the exception) and other travelling HWI members who are prepared to travel thousands of miles for a Hayley concert would only account for far less than one per cent of almost any total audience. Was the largest number of HWI members at one concert about 33 people ?
I think many other concert goers book on a whim, firstly because it is local and convenient, Very few would travel long distances. They would not be specifically dedicated Hayley fans. It is merely another night out, an excuse to dress up and go out on the town.
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Post by martindn on Jul 20, 2010 21:52:33 GMT
Hi All,
Hayley has apologised on Twitter foor the cancellations, although I'm sure it wasn't her decision as she points out
"I also offer my deepest apologies to those of you affected by the concert cancellations... It was out of my control. I'm so sorry."
Although I hate to say it, Bedlam and Decca should take a look at what Simon Cowell does to promote his artists. Susan Boyle outselling Hayley? That's a joke isn't it? Then why am I not laughing?
And no, my rant isn't just about these concerts. This is simply the latest in a long string of mismanagements, in the last year the promotion (or rather non-promotion) of Winter Magic was another disaster.
Simon Cowell manages to make singers with far less talent than Hayley into household names. Yes Dave, Taiwan was a one off, it was the only one that was properly managed, and look what that has done for Hayley. I hear that her new record has just gone straight to No 1 in the classical chart there, so her appeal is no flash in the pan, the World Games was a year ago.
There is no good reason why she couldn't do the same in the UK, the US, mainland Europe, China or anywhere else, given proper promotion. But nobody will buy a product, no matter how good it is, if they haven't been told it exists. That is the root of the problem.
Oh, and some people it seems need to be told something is good too, as if they can't decide for themselves. Simon Cowell is doing that all the time with his artists, even when they give a poor performance.
Yes, there are plenty of excuses - crossover doesn't sell, Christmas albums don't sell etc. There is some truth in that, but much of crossover is the same old songs over and over, as are most Christmas albums. So once you have one recording of a song why would you need another?
Well there is one reason. The new version is vastly superior to any other. You might buy a second recording of a song, if it is so good that you just have to have it.
I can only think of one song I ever heard from Hayley that is not the best version of that song I ever heard. So she ought to be able to buck the trend of that type of music not selling, just by the sheer quality of her performances. Hayley's selling point is her voice and the way she uses it much more I think than the material she performs. And yes, the visual aspects of her performaces too. People buy Hayley's music becuse they love her singing, not because they need yet another recording of Ave Maria. It is HAYLEY that sells records and fills concert halls, not the songs she performs.
It seems to me that neither Bedlam nor Decca have understood that.
But it's true that this is the opposite of most classical music, where the emphasis is always on the work being performed much more than the identity of the performers, who are often interchangeable. I suppose that's what the classical music industry is used to.
Martin D
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