BookMyShow has tendered an apology to Trevor Noah fans after a technical glitch forced the Emmy-winning US comedian to cancel both his shows in Bengaluru. Noah appeared onstage for his scheduled comedy show at Manpho Conventional Centre in Manyata Tech Park on Wednesday, but cancelled the show after realising the audience could not hear him.
For fans who had waited in traffic for hours to watch the comedian perform, the cancellation due to management issues was a massive disappointment. Many took to social media to blast the organisers, BookMyShow, for not doing a basic sound check before the show.
Many also flagged other areas of concern where BookMyShow apparently failed – they said the choice of venue was shoddy and not worth the amount of money being charged for tickets, there was no parking space available at the venue, the washrooms were unsanitary and there was no mobile internet coverage in the area, among other things.
Twitter user Ashok Karanth took the organisers to task in a lengthy Twitter thread where he listed all the areas where BookMyShow failed.
“The venue choice (@manphoco) for this event was atrocious. Terrible access roads, and the parking was utter chaos,” he wrote, adding that some parking spaces were initially cordoned off for supposedly VIP guests, which exacerbated the parking chaos. These spaces were eventually opened up, but remained inadequate for the number of people attending the show.
Even more shocking was the fact that entry to the venue required a QR code, which many were not able to access as there was no mobile data access at the venue. Lack of internet also meant that people who eventually managed to make it inside could not buy the venue’s overpriced snacks using UPI.
Card machines at the venue were not working, and vendors did not have change for those who tried paying in cash, wrote Karanth.
He also raised another issue which many others also pointed out – the venue itself was not up to international standards. He ended his post by writing: “You can hide behind traffic woes, but how does that explain the cancellation of tomorrow's show? Bookmyshow has some serious explaining to do.”
BookMyShow also faced the heat from other customers who were left appalled by the mismanagement at the venue.
BookMyShow issued an apology on X while confirming that Noah’s two shows in Bengaluru stood cancelled.
“Bengaluru, we are extremely sorry for the inconvenience caused at Trevor Noah’s Off The Record show at Manpho Convention Centre on September 27th,” the ticket booking platform wrote. “The Bengaluru leg of the India Tour for both September 27th & 28th stands cancelled. All customers who purchased tickets for both shows will get a complete refund within 8-10 working days. We deeply regret this experience that our valuable customers faced and hope to be able to bring Trevor back to this amazing city at the earliest.”
However, many found the apology and refund inadequate compensation.
“An apology just can't cut it! A convention centre with two concrete walls on the side for a show where acoustics is paramount? Even a newbie wouldn't make that mistake!” wrote one X user.
“How do I lodge a class action lawsuit against the organizers. Spending hours in traffic, paying for the food, super unsanitary Loos can't be settled with just a 'ticket refund'. A sound system is something you should've fixed,” said another.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
