My Chemical Cop-Out

Band cancels Alfond appearance 2 days before show

By David Dauphinee

Posted on Oct. 29, 2007, at 12:00 a.m.

Not since Santa canceled Christmas back in 1964 has there been the level of angst and emotional turmoil amongst the masses as when My Chemical Romance canceled their Oct. 27 University of Maine appearance Thursday night. Unfortunately for us, there was no red-beaked mutant reindeer around to make everything right again.

Student entertainment received word late Thursday night that drummer Bob Bryar injured himself while opening for Jon Bon Jovi at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. This show was the first of a two-night set the band performed with Bon Jovi, the second set being Friday night – after Bryar’s injury. However, that show was not canceled.

Along with the disappointment of fans, this cancellation has left student entertainment approximately $10000 – $13000 in the hole for all the preparation that unnoticeably went into getting an act like this into our area of the back woods.

Unfortunately for Student Entertainment, an injury is contractually considered an act of God, even at a Bon Jovi concert. “Because it is considered an act of God, both parties of the contract are relieved of any obligations to that contract. While that means we don’t have to pay them, it also means they don’t have to pay us for any money already spent [in preparation],” Derek Mitchell, VP of Student Entertainment, said.

The majority of these fees are accrued from advertising and promotional costs, not to mention cancellation fees for everything from staging and caterers to security, even facility fees from electrical upgrades that had to be taken care of in Alfond Arena. Student Entertainment hopes to recoup some of that money from the band; however, it’s looking to be unlikely at this point.

Band representatives had discussed rescheduling with Student Entertainment to a mutually agreeable date.

“I’m hesitant to do it,” Mitchell said. “They’re not a reliable band. They’ve canceled a lot of dates.”

Ironically, My Chemical Romances’ last cancellation was also in Maine. The band, scheduled to perform with Muse in Portland last spring at the Cumberland County Civic Center, ended up canceling mere days before the show. Several students reported having bought tickets to both the Portland show and the one that was scheduled here in Orono. This frustration is bound to put a strain on the New England fan base as many people are less likely to buy for a third time. After all, if there’s one thing a college student hates, it’s being inconvenienced.

At this point, Student Entertainment is viewing the idea of rebooking the band as a bad one, and many are considering it foolish to put that kind of money back on the line for behavior that is looking, at this point, to be a habit masquerading as an act of God.

“We’re essentially going back to the drawing board as far as what acts are available for the future on what dates,” Mitchell said. “At this point a lot of the tours are already booked and getting something for November/December is pretty unlikely, whereas getting something for January/February is far more doable.”

In the meantime, Student Entertainment is consumed with the lengthy process of refunding the thousands of tickets already sold. Those who bought their tickets online need not worry as the online ticket sellers have already issued instant refunds. Students who bought from the athletic ticket office at Alfond can bring their tickets by and get a full refund starting Monday morning. Refunds will be given in the manner in which they were bought – cash for cash and credit for credit. If students did purchase tickets with a credit card, all they need to do is call the office with their credit card information to get a refund over the phone.

This was to be the largest show Student Entertainment and UMaine has ever produced, but Student Entertainment. is confident this will not effect the quality of the next concert to be put on.

“The point is to continue to do bigger shows than before,” Mitchell said. “We’re just going to be extremely hesitant to book My Chemical Romance ever again, or even anyone that works under their same management company, for that matter.”

As for now, fellow black parade-ies, if you want to be chemically romanced, it’s looking like you’re gonna need to do it the old fashioned way.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 29th, 2007, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.