Ringo made a beeline to his drum kit, John and George went to the microphones and Paul took a play list out of his pocket written on Shoreham Hotel stationary and placed it onto a speaker. Everything seemed in a state of confusion, as The Beatles couldn't quite figure out the configuration of the stage. The stage was essentially a boxing ring with people on all 4 sides. Ringo was placed in the center of the stage on a foot-high circular platform. Unfortunately, the drums were set up facing a different direction than the microphones and speakers. Ringo jumped off his platform and tried to turn it but was unsuccessful. John got the attention of one of the stage hands, attempting to solicit help by making circular motions with his hands pointing at the platform. Ringo jumped down again, bent over and attempted to rotate the platform once more. John tests out the microphone with the first hello of the evening. After turning it 90 degrees, he straightens up, steps back and pretends to be tired. Ringo walks over to where John is and both Beatles again motion to the stage hands to come and rotate the platform. Brian Sommerville and Mal Evans at last came to the rescue, completed the rotation of the platform, and the show was ready to begin.

George starts out with the microphone in front of him, but doesn't like the sound strength and switches to the microphone in front of John. Ringo steps down off his drum kit while stagehands quickly run over and rotate Ringo's platform 180 degrees and move the microphones to the opposite side of the stage. Ringo takes this opportunity to set up to the microphone and say hello. John and Paul had shared the microphone positioned in front of John. Jellybeans can be seen covering the stage floor. The Beatles received $12,184.76 for the performance. Jerry Perenchio had done a wonderful job of quickly pulling together the concert. His final comments about the show:

I left GAC later in 1964 and started my own agency, Perenchio Artists, with my partner, Fred Dale. I never booked another Beatles date and I never saw Brian Epstein or any of the boys except Paul, whom I met briefly at an Andy Williams concert at Royal Albert Hall in the late 60's. By the way, The Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus had just left the building three or four days before The Beatles' appearance and it still reeked of the animals and their dung.

After the concert there was a reception at the British Embassy, given by Lady Ormsby-Gore. Cynthia stayed behind at the Shoreham Hotel while the Beatles went ahead to the reception. Upon arriving there were greeting by the ambassador, Sir David Ormsby-Gore. When the Ambassador was introduced to John, he said, "Hello, John." "I'm not John," said John, "I'm Charlie. That's John," and he pointed to Ringo. "Hello, John," said the Ambassador, turning toward Ringo. "I'm not John," said Ringo, "I'm Frank. That's John," and he pointed to George. "Oh, dear," the Ambassador said, "I'll never get all these names right. My wife is much better at remembering names." "Would you care for a ciggie?" asked Ringo.

What followed was extremely unpleasant. The Beatles were there because Brian thought it would be good for their image and they were required to hand out raffle prizes at the end of the affair. The Saturday Evening Post reported that just before the prizes were to be given out, the British Community made up of men in stiff collars and their wives pushed and struggled for autographs, at the same time belittling the Beatles with demeaning remarks like "can they actually write?"

John found himself besieged by dignitaries, their wives and their girl friends, all of whom were thrusting autograph books at him. Finally, John, his face flashing a warning, pushed away the pens that were aimed at him and said, "Where's the bar?" Forcing his way there through the ranks of stiff British upper lips, John ordered a Scotch and Coke and told David English, the London Daily Express columnist, who happened to be standing at his side "It's terrible, terrible! These people are worse than the fans! At least the fans are sincere, but these people have no bloody manners! Now, the ambassador, I liked him, he's a good bloke, we talk the same language. But I wouldn't give a thank-you for his friends. If I have any more of this, I'm going."

At that moment, a young embassy official approached John and said: "Come along now. Come and do your stuff." John glared back at him. "I'm not going back through that crowd," he said. "I want a drink!" "Oh, yes you are!" the official said imperiously. "Come on! Come on!" John responded by turning his back on the official, who was promptly reinforced by a British debutante type in a ballroom gown. "Oh, yes you are!" she said, giving John a shove. Livid, he turned to Ringo and said: "I'm getting out of here!" With a smile that remained almost deadpan, Ringo put an arm on John's shoulder and calmly replied: "Oh, come on, let's go do our 'stuff' and get it over with."

The "stuff" consisted of drawing names out of a box for a charity raffle. When the Beatles left the embassy that night, the ambassador's wife, Lady Ormsby-Gore, told them: "Thank you so much for coming. I'm sorry about all that down there. It can't have been much fun for you." It only got worse. One female aristocrat produced nail scissors and cut of a piece of Ringo's hair just behind his left ear. When reports of the proceedings were printed in the British press, the embassy issued a denial. When the Beatles, on their return to England, insisted it was true, Parliament asked the Foreign Minister for a statement on the "disgraceful behavior" of the Embassy staff. Brian was told firmly by the group never to expose them to that kind of gathering again. /