Should people who arrive late for gigs be charged more? 

Labyrinth Events in Britain has decided to fine people £30 (€35) if they arrive late for a concert they have organised. 

A spokesperson said people who opt to arrive earlier are offered cheaper tickets and that if they then arrive late "allowing late arrival without an additional charge would be unfair to guests who have paid a premium for later entry".

The company is enforcing the policy and two concert goers were slapped with £30 fines when they arrived late at a Moby concert in London. 

"Time-restricted ticket tiers and late-entry charges are an established and standard practice within the UK nightlife market," Labyrinth Events said in a statement to Newstalk. 

On The Claire Byrne Show, Dave Hanratty of the No Encore podcast described it as an “utterly ridiculous” thing to do. 

“This is bizarre,” he said. 

“I've never encountered this; I'm working in music journalism now for 15 years, and this is a first for me. 

“It can't be allowed to come in, this cannot be allowed to become a thing.”

Mr Hanratty added that he would understand a theatre fining people for arriving late, given how irritating it is when people arrive once the play has started. 

“I mean, these things are very, very structured,” he said. 

“They're unique events and you are told so clearly by the ushers in advance - get there on time, no phones. 

“This is meant to be one of the last bastions of etiquette.” 

Mr Hanratty added that he views gigs as “much more lose” than plays. 

“You go to a show, I might miss the support act,” he said. 

“For example, one of my friends, he tries to go and see every support act he can - he genuinely puts the support in support and support act.

“I myself might just tip up in time for the main event; I hate saying that, but sometimes I'm just like, hey, whatever.”

Despite this, he continued that he would respect artists taking a “case by case” attitude to how they deal with latecomers. 

“f I'm going to see the David Byrne show, The American Utopia, which I saw in the 3Arena and that was a fully seated event and that was almost like a play,” he said. 

“I would like to think that, ‘Yes, if I was late for that one, I should be penalised in some respect, perhaps in public shaming’ - maybe.

“I don't know why my bank account has to be hit harder, we're already hit with surcharges on concert tickets. 

“Concert tickets are as expensive as they've ever been.”

Main image: A concert crowd at a music festival. Picture by: Alamy.