Avalon spurned over lost dates

NEWS 

The Stage  26/07/2001 

BY JEREMY AUSTIN 

Comedy giant Avalon has been accused of not caring for grassroots club operators by a venue manager who had three of the company's acts cancel on him within a six-month period.

David Hall, manager of Shenley Leisure Centre, Milton Keynes, said he is now looking at teaming up with Avalon's comedy rival Screaming Blue Murder after acts Noel Fielding and Simon Munnery pulled from appearing at the venue on separate occasions and with little notice.

Hall claims the company, which handles some of the best known names in British comedy, has yet to give him a satisfactory explanation for the cancellations - a claim refuted by Avalon.

"I am trying to get some information out of Avalon.

They have clammed up and can't give me information or an apology for their dismal service, " he said.

"We have a number of occasions where we have booked comedians from them and they haven't turned up.

We have had to badger them for explanations and we have had to badger them for compensation."

He added: "There have been all sorts of problems in the last six months, they just don't care.

"They have probably got people at the top level saying 'sod you at the grassroots, we are okay'. We have been here seven years and we have used Avalon all that time."

But Avalon booker Nick Canham said both compensation and an explanation had been given to Hall.

Fielding was taken ill on both occasions and a replacement was found in Ian Cognito - as well as compensation. A new date was also arranged which subsequently sold out.

Munnery had to deal with a family crisis that cropped up shortly before he was to leave for the gig.

Although a replacement was not found, the club was compensated. A future date is also currently being organised.

Canham told The Stage:

"I am still talking to David Hall and I realise he is unhappy with that, but I have offered him a compensatory package. We have done everything we can in trying to help them.

"Live work is our lifeblood and this is our acts' lifeblood, but however hard you try there are some things in life that are totally unaccountable. This has been one of those circumstances. I am still trying to get a suitable date for Simon Munnery to go back and perform."

He added: "I am trying to get live work for people and nobody thinks that they will not bother turning up, but I totally understand why he is upset.

I would be if I was a venue manager."