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“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,” Music Hall Executive Director Bjorn Olsson said in a message to patrons.
Cosby is slated for two performances at the historic venue on Dec. 6.
“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’ll 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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Tickets are still available for both the 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Bill Cosby shows at The Music Hall in Tarrytown Dec. 6: CLICK HERE
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