Letter from a Reader: Cosmo Bash 2012 Screw Up

Image courtesy of www.split.co.uk

Dear Fashion PULIS,

I guess everyone knows about the fiasco that happened at the Cosmo Bash 2012 on the night of Sept 18, 2012. At 9:15 to 9:30pm, even before the show started, the World Trade Center management did not allow people to enter the venue anymore even if they had tickets, regardless whether they were regular tickets or VIP tickets. The venue was already jam-packed with spectators, both Cosmo girls and beckys alike.

But I got to talk to some Summit Media employees who practically divulged that the fiasco was more than just about venue over-capacity (I can't believe Summit Media/Publishing hire people like them).

When I asked the person who's wearing a Cosmo Bash ID why they issued more tickets than the actual capacity of the venue, she couldn't answer me. I was told that she was not the right person to ask so she told me to look for anyone in "black" and pointed a group near the hall entrance. Written on the girl's ID was Summit Media's Trade Marketing Arm.

When I approached the group in black, I asked them if they were the right people to talk to regarding my concern. It was a guy from Summit Media Advertising this who asked my concern and I told him the same story, that it was a mistake on Summit's part to issue more tickets than the actual capacity of the venue. Safety-wise, it is a big no-no in events planning. Instead of apologizing for the mishap, he blamed the World Trade Center management for being strict. He was not even apologetic on behalf of Cosmo or Summit that they did not foresee such a problem. He was blaming the venue management for everything and not the Events group who over-issued tickets, that caused it all. The Advertising guy was defensive, but still, no apologies.

I asked the same guy if he knows that some of the people who were still outside, with tickets - were magazine subscribers, actual customers, who wanted to see the show. But he completely dismissed them and said that not everyone outside were subscribers. He arrogantly said that he DID NOT care who the people queuing outside were. When he couldn't answer me anymore, he told me that he was the wrong person to talk to since he was from Advertising and not from the Events team, even after 10 or more minutes of talking.

I gave up on my over-issuing of tickets concern, I understood that the WTC management was not letting people in for the audience's own good. But it was a red flag when the Advertising guy told me that he didn't care whether the people outside were subscribers or customers. Didn't he know that the subscribers are major lifelines of his employer? Worse, I found out from another Summit Media employee that even advertisers were locked out of the event.

I also learned that Cosmo issued 5000 tickets when the capacity of the WTC is only 3000pax. One intern from Trade Marketing informed me that some of the "VIPs" brought entourages who were not ticket holders or Summit Media employees, but were allowed to enter still - the very reason why many subscribers, advertisers and guests WITH TICKETS were not able to enter.

I was lucky enough to enter the bash, but despite so, I was concerned with how Summit Media and the Cosmo Team handled the dilemma. There was no room to move inside the hall and when I got out of the hall, I saw the crowd of people with tickets that were not able to go in, that is when I started to ask the people with IDs about the logistical nightmare they just created for their subscribers, advertisers and guests. I was so dismayed, I did not re-enter the bash anymore, I just went home, frustrated.

I'm writing this to you because I just think that Summit Media and the Cosmo Team did not align properly, creating havoc at the expense of their subscribers and advertisers who got the shorter end of the stick. I was able to attend the last two FHM Top 100 event and it was far different from what happened yesterday. I will not even start bashing people who were lucky enough to enter the hall, because some of them, were just too "chaka," I'm sorry for the term. (To illustrate, and do allow me to speak in Filipino, maraming mukhang parloristang may makapal na kolorete sa mukha, may beer belly pero naka plunging neckline at pekpek shorts parin at naka-bakya. Yung tipong mambabalya ng sino man para lang makalapit sa lalaki - yes, there's a difference between parlor and salon, I know you get my point here, haha), one would know they went there for the topless models, and not because they are avid Cosmo readers.

As a "Cosmo girl" myself, I just felt bad on how they destroyed their credibility to their subscribers and advertisers - their main stakeholders - by reacting the way they did that night and how everyone I approached washed their hands to avoid the blame.

Kudos though to the WTC security for being strict with their policies.

I'm sorry for the long narration, but the bash was that bad. I'm still so disappointed and affected until now. I left the bash at 10:30pm, wasted my time talking to the "right people."

Yours truly,

Sam Go