What’s Your Hour Worth? A Larger Question from a Cancelled Concert- Cigarettes After Sex

Last evening, like thousands of others, I navigated Bangalore’s infamous traffic to experience Cigarettes After Sex live. The concert was set for 6 PM. At 7:15 PM, just as we arrived, a WhatsApp message from BookMyShow appeared:

“For technical reasons, the event has been cancelled.”

No explanation. No accountability. No representative at the venue. Just a last-minute cancellation, reducing the time, effort, and anticipation of thousands to nothing.

It left me wondering—what are the expectations when it comes to organizing large-scale events in India?

• Are last-minute cancellations an accepted logistical risk?
• Do we expect poor communication as part of the experience?
• Are event organizers legally bound to be accountable, or is the burden always on the audience?
• And what about the artist? Should Cigarettes After Sex have addressed the situation for their fans?

India’s scale, infrastructure, and unpredictability certainly create challenges. We adjust, we accommodate. But should we normalize the absence of responsibility?

This led me to a larger question—do we, as individuals, truly know the worth of our time?

It’s about the value of an hour—and who gets to define it.

In many parts of the world, people measure and protect their time fiercely. In India, we tend to adjust and accept—whether it’s long wait times, inefficiencies, or cancellations like this.

So, I ask:

• What’s an hour of your time worth?
• Who decides its value- your employer, society, or you?
• And should we rethink how we hold organizations accountable when they waste it?

I would love to hear your thoughts | Sowjanya Shetty