Super Happy Robot Hour cancelled

[Gutter Monkey]

Hey gang. Due to my venue schizzing out 24hrs before the comedy festival guide was going to print, I've had to cancel the Super Happy Robot Hour.

Basically the publican at the Portland Hotel upped the venue fee to $15,000 and refused to budge, and since I couldn't find a new venue in time to get my entry into the festival guide corrected I instructed Edwina just to pull the entry altogether, because it would be less than useless going in incorrectly. So without venue or an entry in the festival guide the show was effectively hamstrung before it had a chance to run. I still feel that the idea for the show is a winner and it deserved to be done properly or not at all, and I'm going to wait until the Fringe festival rather than doing it half-assed during Comedy Festival.

So, apologies for letting you all down ...

[nikksta]

Meep!

*hunts down the fucknut of a publican and kills!!!*

[Munchkin]

That bites.
Any other shows at the venue suffered as a result of the fuckwit?

I can answer that ... it affected Nicko and Joe, Late Night at the Portland, and Joel Ozborn/Clint Paddison.

The first we heard about a problem with the venue (after discussions dating back to September last year, proposals being agreed to at least three times in front of witnesses, countless emails/phone calls, and a contract being sent to the Portland at xmas time) was last Friday. The owner asked me to wait until Tuesday afternoon when he could phone back with an adjusted $ figure. We were ready and willing to increase our rental $ offer by 50% more.

He phoned back on Tuesday and asked for $15,000 - no negotiations - take it or leave it. It was 3 times his quoted price back in September, yet this new figure was apparently his 'break-even' point, and the manager was trying not to screw me over.

I flew down early yesterday from Sydney to Melbourne to make a last ditch attempt to find a replacement venue. I work on the principal that I would rather something than nothing - and I feel better if I try one last time. If you are to email or call me right now, I can guarantee I'll be in a state of stress and panic.

Whilst it is not 100% confirmed (via signing of a contract tomorrow), it appears that Nicko and Joe, and the former 'Late Night at the Portland' (which will now be a early slot, with a working title of 'Early Risers') shows have found a replacement venue. I am now looking for one more venue in which to host Clint and Joel.

Of course, you'll find when the guide comes out that there will be no ad for the Late Night show, and that the details for Clint and Joel will be marked as 'tba'. I say, just keep an eye out here, on the MICF website and in the press for the correct details.

[Nick]

This is shit! =S Really really shit!

=( *hugs GM*

[Mythor]

The price TRIPLED? Ouch.
Are any comedy acts still scheduled to appear there during ComFest? It seems pretty odd that the manager could be so far wrong on his initial estimate. I wouldn't dispute that it could cost that much, but they should've known that...

Good luck finding another venue, Sharleen. And good luck getting your show into the Fringe, Gutter Monkey.

[sharleen]

at $15,000, the only acts that could afford the venue are the ones that are too big to play the venue.

I doubt anyone will play it now. I'm not touching it with a bargepole.

I guess they'll have NO income now... instead of the $$$ we offered, plus bar takings, all the marketing...

oh well. You live and learn.

[dermo]

Well, I have a flask of the Ebola virus ready to go if anybody is interested in helping me pour it into the soda taps at the venue.

[Fiona Rohana]

awww shit. Sorry to hear that.

I was really looking forward to seeing your show GM.

[smuffy]

That is totally fucked. Big hugs to GM, and to Dermo - glad you've managed to find another venue, looking forward to seeing your show!

Hey, GM, KrystalB*tch just suggested that you could give the show in our living room - maybe during the MOSH ComFest party! Yes, your robots are invited, but only if they meet the rules of the party! :P

I know Joel but who is Clint?

[dermo]

Originally Posted by smuffy

That is totally fucked. Big hugs to GM, and to Dermo - glad you've managed to find another venue, looking forward to seeing your show!

Hey, GM, KrystalB*tch just suggested that you could give the show in our living room - maybe during the MOSH ComFest party! Yes, your robots are invited, but only if they meet the rules of the party! :P

while we are happy to have found a new home for our show, we are both TOTALLY FUCKED OFF that GM's show was cancelled. We were really looking forward to, not only, seeing it but maybe having some kind of Dalek exchange going on (although his dalek is way better than ours).

I think a private showing of it is a great idea!

Oh my god! I am so sorry GM to hear that.

Is there anyone with low-to-no rent who is able to help? Maybe you could saddle up with another show and just wiggle the timeslot abit.

Basically, The Age would have to do a 'first run' with the festival and have the copy approved before officially going to print. Find out what 'run' they are doing before you officially cancell. (Or maybe that's what you've already done?)

It's such a shame GM. I've seen the Dalek / Dexter several times and I really think it has 'sell out' potential written all over it!

Yep, thats the reason GM cancelled. The guide went to print on Wednesday - and we found out about the Portland on Tuesday at 7pm. We had less than 24 hours to confirm a new venue and get it in the guide.

I flew down at 8am Wednesday morning to try and do my best with short notice... and during that time we found one place (Club UK... its now confirmed) that could host two of the four shows. As it was a small space, GM couldn't accommodate his show there unfortunately, so the UK shows were given the slots instead.

We are still looking to house one more show (Clint and Joel), but we have some leads, have meetings with two venues today, and one looks very very likely.

For info on Clint (for the guest above who was asking), Clints website is www.clint.com.au

I'm very upset I couldn't come through for Scott early enough, but he is looking at various avenues of still performing at MICF, and the show will be on at Fringe. And there's always next year...