For music lovers everywhere.
A Personal Letter From
JEFF BOWN
To all those who bought tickets to
The London Symphony Orchestra’s
“THE MUSIC OF HOLLYWOOD” TOUR
It is with deeply sincere regret that I was forced to cancel what was, to me, the dream of a lifetime. It was not lightly done, for I had worked for the past three years to put this tour together with some of the finest musicians in the world, playing some of the most stirring, moving music in the world. And all this bound together with some spectacular special effects. I know there was nothing like these concerts going to be performed anywhere in the world, this year or next.
We didn’t rush into this. Two and one half years ago, we piloted the concept in Nashville and Birmingham. It was a great success - selling for example over 7,000 tickets for one night only in Nashville. Based on those early experiences we put together even better shows for 2004. The venue managers/owners, and our marketing partners in each of the cities foresaw a great success for everyone, perhaps something that could become a tradition.
But the early ticket sales were just not there and despite extra marketing and advertising money being committed, they remained slow, coming nowhere near to the patterns originally established in Nashville and Birmingham. Why, we asked ourselves? And we talked to many experts in the field in the cities where we were about to perform. Most said the market was very slow for all performing arts.
But I still don’t get it.
We had what I thought was the best concert experience in the world. We certainly had the best, most recorded symphony orchestra in the world. And there is no doubt about the immense power and appeal of the music.
But in the end our ticket sales overall were at about a third of our predictions with only a few days to go before the opening of the tour. And apart from the further losses we would incur, we were on the verge of giving a less than perfect experience to our audiences as they would sit in half empty halls, lacking the emotion and excitement that a full or nearly full house brings to everyone - both onstage and in the audience.
So one dark and sleepless night I decided I had to cancel my dream, and perhaps in a small way it was your dream too. For that I am extremely sorry. Maybe there will be another time, when conditions are better, more secure; in which case I will write to all of you with a very special offer.
Thank you for your support.
Jeff Bown
President and CEO
Jeff Bown Productions