Celebrity 'Influentials' short of pulling power

They're dubbed the Influentials, but a line-up including Sir Bob Geldof, Survivor's Mark Burnett and impresario Malcolm McLaren did not have enough sway to get Melbourne's citizens to fork out $975 a head to see them.

Their Melbourne appearance, due to be held yesterday, was cancelled partly because of low ticket sales.

Red Carpet director Simone Williams said the Auckland event on Friday would not suffer the same fate, and was "pretty full", although there were still tickets available.

The event is aimed at business people, and includes ex-Sex Pistols manager McLaren discussing the future of popular culture, Geldof on leadership in business and politics and humanitarian advocacy, and Saatchi & Saatchi creative head Bob Isher-wood on ideas that change the world.

Ms Williams said the Melbourne event was cancelled late last week, partly because of a "scheduling issue" with one of the speakers.

Australian newspapers had reported it was because of poor ticket sales.