Brits Attend Gigs to Keep the Peace with their Partners

LONDON, August 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

British gig-goers are happy to attend concerts by artists they hate if it keeps their partners sweet, research released by online ticket marketplace StubHub UK has found.

Around one in four Brits (24%) have admitted to attending a show by an act they 'despise' knowing that their partner would enjoy it, while 7 in 10 said they'd consider seeing an act they'd never heard of to keep Mr or Mrs Right happy. 35% of those polled have even gone ahead and bought tickets to see one of these previously unknown acts. However, this is not always an entirely selfless act, with almost half (46%) using this as a trade-off opportunity; 'you come to my event and I'll come to yours'.

The study also revealed a clear divide between the sexes. For men, attending an event they didn't want to was simply a case of making their partner happy, with a quarter (27%) of blokes even admitting it was easier to give in than have an argument. On the other hand, women were a little more retaliatory, with 'I was returning the favour' the most popular reason given for trudging along to a show with their partner.

Meanwhile, women were found to be more likely to coerce their partner into going to undesirable gig, with 60% admitting they've forced the issue compared with 40% of men. One in three women have even guilt-tripped a partner into going along as their plus one in the knowledge that they wouldn't enjoy the show.

Commenting on the findings, relationship expert Donna Dawson wasn't surprised to see this sort of behavior, remarking: "A woman is biologically more alert and sensitive to touch, smell and sound than a man; she also sees more, remembers more of what she sees, and is more interested in people and faces. This makes a 'live' performance more of a heightened sensory experience for her, which could explain why a woman is more insistent on her partner attending an event that she likes. Although perhaps enjoying the event as well, a man is quite prepared to delay his own gratification, knowing that his partner will be warmer and more receptive to him after the event. So while a woman is better at enjoying the moment, a man likes to rack up brownie points that will make a difference to his future."

GM International at StubHub, Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, added: "It's interesting to see that Brits are prepared to try something new to impress a partner. We'd encourage everyone to try something new, even if you think you might not like it, it's the best way to discover new passions!"

Notes to Editors:

• Omnibus data compiled by Censuswide on behalf of StubHub in July 2013

About StubHub

StubHub is a ticket marketplace that connects buyers to sellers, however, unlike current UK competitors, the company does not buy or sell tickets itself or charge fans additional booking fees at the point of purchase - a first for the industry.

StubHub, which launched in the US in 2000, consistently holds the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the entire ticketing industry, and boasts one of the highest scores in all of e-commerce. Every purchase made through the site is backed by StubHub's FanProtect™ Guarantee, which guards against fraud and ensures that buyers get what they pay for.

StubHub offers a full suite of mobile applications, and opened the first-ever central London retail outlet for fans to buy, pick up or drop off their tickets on Great Portland Street earlier this year. Additional pop-up locations are also planned across the country. These will be conveniently located close to major venues, meaning fans will never have to worry about getting in at the last minute.

The company also has a Dublin-based call centre, open from 09:00 - 21:00, seven days a week, to handle any and all customer queries (0800.358.8585).

The StubHub UK site: http://www.StubHub.co.uk    

For more information please contact:

Greg Salmon, Ketchum, +44(0)20-7611-3827, [email protected]

James Hardy, Ketchum, +44(0)20-7611-3672, [email protected]  

SOURCE StubHub UK