tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285162121291357473.post5377257262411531648..comments2024-03-03T19:52:17.901+00:00Comments on ReARM ~ RedNev's Blog: Liverpool Beer Festival – the annual ticket ritualNeville Grundyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10923209266005338452noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285162121291357473.post-31040771605037240242011-12-01T12:20:52.465+00:002011-12-01T12:20:52.465+00:00This is all in sharp contrast to the impression we...This is all in sharp contrast to the impression we are given in Mersey Ale of jolly, bantering people queueing happily for hours in the cold, as though bad service to the public was something to be proud of. If they're cheerful, it's probably because they're putting a brave face on things; after all, no one really likes the process of queueing.<br /><br />Born Against: you mention the pressure the organisers are under, and I'm sure that's true, but the system they operate racks up that pressure tremendously. The on-line system I mentioned is a piece of cake by comparision: one person could sort it all out in half an hour, and that would be it: it would operate itself and all they'd need to do is wait until the ticket company sends them some money. But I've been told to my face by 3 Liverpool Branch members that it wouldn't work for them (even though none of them knew how the on-line ticket system actually operates), so I conclude they must enjoy the hassle. In addition, the fact that I'm not in their branch means my suggestions are going to be dismissed out of hand anyway with a "how dare you?" response.Neville Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10923209266005338452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285162121291357473.post-37020036162258738382011-11-29T15:38:02.760+00:002011-11-29T15:38:02.760+00:00...a FAR more successful approach was long ago ado......a FAR more successful approach was long ago adopted by one of my mates... <br /><br />Go on the Friday night without a ticket, and just ask people in the queue if they've got a spare. Less than 5 minutes later, he's got a ticket and job done.bornagainsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06776517414202117663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285162121291357473.post-50314243177748980442011-11-29T15:35:59.487+00:002011-11-29T15:35:59.487+00:00I'm normally very much a supporter of the Live...I'm normally very much a supporter of the Liverpool Beer Festival and the pressure the organisers are under, but the method of allocating tickets looks more arcane and off putting every year.<br /><br />Not least, that this year I have applied for 2 priority tickets (me and mrs CAMRA members), but I don't know if I've actually been successful until they are posted back to me. They haven't arrived yet (if they will at all), so I still have to keep the morning of Sat 10th free, just in case I need to queue.<br /><br />And the queuing system is pretty brutal, as last year, each person in the queue could buy 4 tickets (if available), so 200 tickets on the door for each night meant that anyone outside the first 50 people in the queue was lucky to get a Friday night ticket. I got there a good bit before 8am and managed to get Friday night tickets, but it was clear that everyone who could was buying 4 Friday tickets each.<br /><br />It badly needs a complete overhaul, and I'd happily pay more for the ticket just to not have to freeze my **** off in the street for 2 and a half hours.<br /><br />rightly or wrongly, amongst my friends, the cost of the ticket is largely irrelevant, so it would be easy to absorb any 'setup' costs of a new system by adding a quid to the ticket price.<br /><br />Fingers crossed.bornagainsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06776517414202117663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285162121291357473.post-12592716400074393952011-11-29T00:47:26.420+00:002011-11-29T00:47:26.420+00:00That's how the National Winter Ales Festival o...That's how the National Winter Ales Festival operates as well, and I recall the old CAMRA Bury Beer Festival used to have long queues down the road. On-line ticketing is not my preferred option, but it would be better than the confused and cumbersome system that operates now.Neville Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10923209266005338452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8285162121291357473.post-49361272507872600252011-11-26T23:29:20.889+00:002011-11-26T23:29:20.889+00:00I agree 100%. Even when I was Wirral Branch Chairm...I agree 100%. Even when I was Wirral Branch Chairman I had to beg for a ticket. We sold Birkenhead Beer Festival tickets in Liverpool pubs but they refused to reciprocate.<br />The organiser of the Chelmsford Beer Festival made interesting points to me on ticket sales. They sell no tickets in advance. So anyone who wants to attend has to get there very early. the result is that the festival is packed out within a few minutes of opening which means that there isn't a dead first hour with low beer sales. It also means that as one customer leaves another can be allowed in within the maximum capacity. You don't have to make allowance for ticket holders who may or not turn up.Birkonianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com