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“Bill Cosby, in consultation with the promoter, has agreed to postpone his Music Hall performances to a later date,” The Music Hall said in an announcement late this afternoon to its many fans, ticket holders and subscribers.
Refunds were being offered to those who don’t want to attend rescheduled shows, if there ever are any.
The theater’s chief two weeks ago said he had no choice but to leave any decisions about cancellations or postponements to AMProductions, the promotion company that handles The Music Hall’s bookings..
“We were unaware of this controversy when the show was booked, as I am sure the majority of ticket holders and other concerned individuals were,” Executive Director Bjorn Olsson said in a message to patrons.
“The show happens to be booked by an outside promoter,” Olsson said, “but I think I can safely say that is I had been offered the show back then, I would have booked it directly too.
“The way our business works is that a contract exists between Cosby and AM Productions, the promoter, which in turn rents the Music Hall as a venue,” he said.
“If AM breaks their contract with Cosby, they still have to pay him the guarantee,” Olsson noted. “Same thing if we break the rental contract with AM — except they would then be forced to come after us to recoup the money the owe Cosby.
“Since he is a very expensive artist,” he said, “this would be a tremendous blow to The Music Hall, likely to force layoffs and cuts in our community programs.
“So, in short, cancelling the show or refunding tickets would not hurt Bill Cosby — only The Music Hall, a non profit organization, and the promoter.”
Olsson did say that he would produce an open seat protest list to give to Cosby after the show.
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The Music Hall is a top-notch venue, with outstanding acts and the most courteous service. In an age of conglomeration and corporatization, it’s a homey, secure, comfortable destination, barely a half-hour from most parts of Bergen. At 800+ seats, it’s cozy. There’s music, comedy, film — and the snacks(!). Small wonder that the Mavericks chose to play two (sold out) nights there the end of last month while saving a single trip to Manhattan for February.
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