Agenda item

Report of the Managing Director.

Members received a report of the Managing Director providing updates from the six Barbican Directors on their respective areas. The Directors spoke to each update with a number of questions asked by the Board:

·      Website: Assurance was provided that the correct gateway procedures would be followed for the project

·      Cinema bookings: A Member noted that it had previously been possible to buy e-tickets for the cinema; however, this had recently been stopped. It was confirmed that this had been a temporary change during the Hamlet sales given pressures on the servers, but should be restored imminently.

·      Creative Learning: The Deputy Chairman was pleased to note the progress with Creative Learning and particularly the East London and City Culture Partnership, with the ideas of young people being listened to more in the future. She added that she hoped further updates on their ideas being taken on board and implementedwould be provided in future.

·      Hamlet and Secondary Sales: The Director of Audiences & Development outlined the arrangements in place around the sale of Hamlet tickets. It was confirmed that the website stated that attendees would be required to bring photographic ID bearing the name of the primary booker; Members cautioned that this could lead to difficulties which might lead to reputational risks, for instance, where tickets had been purchased as presents for others, or where regular visitors were unaware of the requirement and were turned away for forgetting ID. Officers assured Members that clear advance notice would be given to all attendees and that practical arrangements would be put in place on the day to manage genuine mistakes sensibly and reasonably, and indeed to give a good customer experience overall. The Director noted that this was an increasingly common practice within the sector for popular events, citing the recent Kate Bush concerts as an example, and noted that the intent was as a deterrent to prevent forgeries and ticket touting.

·      Ticket touting: Members subsequently discussed the issue of ticket touting more generally, considering the wider implications and appropriateness of adopting stringent measures to try and prevent this. During debate, a range of views were expressed as to the desirability of trying to prevent ticket touting:

o  Some Members observed that secondary sales provided an opportunity for those who were particularly keen to see a show, but had been unsuccessful in the initial round of sales, to purchase a ticket at a higher price, thereby filling a useful role in the market.

o  It was also noted that on many occasions an individual might no longer be able to attend a show, perhaps due to illness or another commitment, and that they might wish to sell the tickets on to friends or acquaintances at face value to avoid personal financial loss.

o  The wider issue around the appropriateness of the Barbican interfering in the free market was debated at length, with a divergence of views as to whether it was the Centre’s place to take a stance on this issue.

o  The fact that tickets were being sold on at highly inflated prices suggested that in some instances tickets could be being under-priced, or that there should perhaps be a super-premium ticket offered with VIP add-ons which could replicate the benefit of secondary ticket sales, while also benefitting the Centre more directly.

o  The point was made that touting could potentially prevent members and regular attendees having access to higher-profile shows, raising the issue of reputational risk around the treatment of Barbican members. A Member commented that it could be considered a question of fairness, and the Barbican’s status as a publicly funded organisation should be considered alongside these deliberations.

o  Legally, it was confirmed it was possible to restrict the ability to pass on tickets through terms and conditions entered in to at the point of purchase. Members were asked to note that in the case of Hamlet box office income did not come to the Barbican as it was a commercial rental.

o  Members agreed that there was a need for clarity regarding the objectives of the use of ID and the intent to limit secondary sales or forgeries. It was asked that a report come to the next meeting clarifying the legitimate objectives around sales and the appropriate means to achieve these ends, with a view to proportionality.

RESOLVED: That an update on secondary ticket sales be prepared for the December meeting.