Just days after announcing the fantastic news about Pitbull’s ‘I’m Back Tour for India’, music buffs all over the country have been terribly disillusioned. The super global star, popularly called Mr. Worldwide, has suddenly cancelled his two eagerly awaited shows, scheduled for December 6 in Gurugram and December 8 in Hyderabad.
The official statement given out by the event organizer, BookMyShow, is not only too vague but cites just one reason: “operational constraints.”
This short message has fueled speculation among the ticketholders and industry observers about possible reasons that led to the abrupt cancellation and has ushered in a cloud over an otherwise booming international live music event in India.
The ‘Operational’ Enigma
The term “operational constraints” is the official though annoyingly vague reason given for the cancellation. It could mean a whole bunch of things for a concert of Pitbull’s level, ranging from something super simple like a double-booking at the venue to all-out failure.
Industry sources suggest that an announcement for a tour followed up with ticket sales that were probably far from stellar in chosen Gurugram (HUDA Grounds) and Hyderabad (Ramoji Film City) markets may have played a part in it.
The calendar has seen a huge slew of high-profile international acts over the last few months, and there is evidence suggesting that this might have led to market saturation and possibly a more selective ticket purchase behavior on the part of fans. Potential issues emerging here include Logistical Readiness and local market forecasting.
Fan Disillusionment and Refund Assurance
The abrupt cancellation has, as might be expected, led many fans to storm the social media with public ire and frustration. The most common among the comments has been the insinuation of finding some sort of déjà vu from other international concerts canceled in the region.
The main issue ticket buyers face is how refunds would work, with the organizers promising to refund the price of the ticket in 8 to 10 working days-full refund, an important measure to soothe the organ and restore confidence.
Yet, the timing of the announcement-at a date so near that of the event-illuminates possible mismanagement at the planning levels, evoking greater emphasis on stricter vetting prevent and Consumer Confidence for future international tours.
A recent media graduate, Bhumi Vashisht is currently making a significant contribution as a committed content writer. She brings new ideas to the media sector and is an expert at creating strategic content and captivating tales, having working in the field from past four months.
