"We Want GVF To Survive" — Organiser Asks Concertgoers To Consider Donating Their Refunds
Upon submitting a refund request, ticket holders may consider making a donation to help keep the festival alive in the coming years.
By Aqasha Nur’aiman — 15 Aug 2023, 12:10 PM
Following the cancellation of the festival's second and third days, Good Vibes Festival 2023 (GVF) recently announced its refund policy for ticket holders
GVF issued a statement yesterday, 14 August, via Instagram, explaining the refund mechanism and asking for the public's help in keeping the festival alive in the coming years.
It also expressed regret that the remaining days of the festival had to be cancelled due to English pop-rock band The 1975's controversial set, and that the refund mechanism was designed to compensate ticket holders as best as possible.
"We are deeply saddened by what happened and know it is important to present a refund mechanism to help offset the costs that many of you have faced. The mechanism is not perfect, and it may not satisfy everyone fully, but we hope you understand that we are trying to fairly compensate ticket holders as best we can.
"As you choose your refund option, please bear in mind that we want to be able to continue to put on this Malaysian festival that we love and are proud of and that we hope brings joy to you too; we want GVF to survive," it wrote.
The event's organiser, Future Sound Asia (FSA), also launched the hashtag #SaveGVF to raise awareness of the cause among social media users.
Upon submitting a refund request, ticket holders may consider making a donation to help sustain the festival
Ticket holders have four refund options, including requesting a full refund, making a partial donation, or making a full donation to help those affected by the festival's cancellation.
The refund mechanism is as follows:
- Patrons can request a partial refund and donate the remainder to #SaveGVF.
- Ticket holders can forfeit their refund and exchange their GVF 2023 ticket for a GVF 2024 or GVF 2025 ticket, which includes a RM100 beverage voucher.
- They can completely forfeit their refund without converting their GVF 2023 ticket and donate the entire amount to the festival.
- Patrons can request for a refund of their GVF 2023 ticket.
The refund process began yesterday, August 14, and will continue until September 10.
Festival attendees who purchased GVF 2023 tickets expressed mixed reactions to the refund mechanism in the comments section
One user commented that they would like to support and donate to GVF, but are unsure if the festival will be held again next year due to the controversy sparked by The 1975.
Another criticised the organiser, claiming that the festival was cancelled due to their poor decision-making skills.
"Full refund, please. This is our hard-earned money, there is no way we owe it to you to save you from your terrible decision-making skills," they wrote.
Meanwhile, some users sympathised and defended the organiser.
"Nobody is forcing you to help if you don't want to, just submit your refund quietly," wrote one user.
