Ben&Ben, Ovation Productions apologize to fans after a 'stressful' concert
Ben&Ben have spoken out after many Liwanags, or Ben&Ben fans, were outraged about the mishaps that happened during their homecoming concert last Dec. 18 at the SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque.
In a statement, the Pinoy folk pop band apologized to those who had a "deeply stressful experience" during the concert. Complains such as disorganized queing, lack of ticket validation, poor crowd control, and delays were aired out on social media.
"We hear you. We feel your pain, frustration, and anger," they wrote.
"While we are grateful that the #BenAndBenHomecoming2022 concert was an unforgettable night of music and emotions shared between the band and Liwanag, we’d like to sincerely apologize to those of you who had a deeply stressful experience with the queuing, the entry into the venue, and the general gaps in the organization of the event. We know that you have given so much in order to be able to attend our concert," Ben&Ben added.
They added that they were "deeply affected" by it and promise to be "more vigilant" in the future to ensure that their future concerts will be well-planned.
"[Y]ou deserve only the best. Again, pasensiya na at maraming salamat," the band said.
"While we can’t undo the pains that you’ve been through, we can help make things right moving forward. Thank you."
Meanwhile, concert organizer Ovation Productions also issued a statement on Wednesday, Dec. 21 for the multiple concert failures.
Having been experienced planning outdoor events such as One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Metallica, and Sting in the Philippines, they said that they have "never encountered complaints of this nature."
Ovation Productions explained that there was a "joint decision" by the planners and venue management the night before the concert to close the gates on the right side so that guests won't have to walk over deep mud in the construction area.
They also said they weren't allowed to put up signs that would lead to the concert area, and that they had to be more lenient when it comes to security to "unclog the choke points."
"This was to prevent a potentially hazardous influx at the gates from occurring."
The concert producer also said that they had "adequate" security marshals for the concert, and that ambulances and police were on standby.
"Nonetheless, we still recognize that at the end of the day, it is the Ben & Ben fans who have been inconvenienced by all this and we apologize," they said.
"We will do better next time."
Ben&Ben's Homecoming concert was supposed to take place for Sept. 3, but was cancelled on the day of the show due to inclement weather. It was rescheduled to Dec. 18 and featured other artists like Clara Benin, KZ Tandingan, Zild, Juan Karlos, among others.
They will perform again on March 3-5, 2023 at the Clockenflap: Hong Kong’s Music & Arts Festival alongside Artic Monkeys, Balming Tiger, and many more.