Louis CK Ticket Approach

[gyre]

It seems odd that so many people keep saying that burning man has no scalper issues, when every other venue does.

Scalping is clearly detrimental to the artists, which is why it has been so strange that it hasn't been addressed more vigorously.

I first saw Zevon or someone similar using tickets tied to identity.

I just saw Louis CK talking about this.

It's clearly about self-preservation, but still good to see.

They will allow transfers, but only through them.

He claims they will aggressively cancel scalped tickets.


https://louisck.net/

You can't get them ANYWHERE but here.
So no crazy high ticket fees, no scalpers, no annoying emails, no joining a thing that you hate.

Ticketholders are admitted subject to the following stipulations.

By clicking the buy link and purchasing a ticket to this event, you agree to the following:

This is a revocable license for admittance.

We reserve the right to change the method of delivery to Will Call (pick-up at the box office) at any time after purchase.
If we make this change the ticket(s) may be picked up within 2 hours of the show’s start time and a photo ID and the charge card used for the purchase will be required to claim the ticket.

Tickets may not be resold for any amount above face value.

If the ticket is found to be offered for resale above face value we may invalidate the barcode and refund the ticket price.

[KiKi Maroon]

Yeah, I just read about that (and Burning Man was of course my first thought). If they (Louis CK's people) find the ticket on sell above face value on any site, they have the right to cancel that ticket (via the serial number, by refunding the money back to the original buyer). The fear of showing up to the venue and being told 'your ticket isn't valid' has kept people from buying the over priced tickets from second hand sites, thus keeping most online sells at face value. It's pretty smart.

[trilobyte]

I wouldn't say that Burning Man has no scalping issues, but it's a tiny issue compared to other hot ticket events. The registration and list-scrubbing process appears to have been successful, most of the people we've caught/busted/canceled have been greedy individuals.

I also wouldn't say that comedian's licked the problem. A quick look at just ebay shows many more tickets available to most of his shows (which are in fairly tiny venues) than there are available for Burning Man.

[gyre]

I hope you're right about burning man.

I'm sure that if tickets stop selling out, a serious issue won't be inevitable.


Time will tell if his approach works, but it has already apparently worked, as so many are obviously voting with their money.
Since so many won't support scalpers, they are shut out of many shows.
Bad for the artists, as they realize.

I notice he has reserved the right to hold tickets until right before the show.
This is obviously a lot more trouble, but can even be done selectively, to nail large resellers.
It can effectively lock out all remote resellers, or cost them money.
This is the more thorough approach I have seen others use.

Note that a scalper can sell a ticket to a mark that hasn't done their research, and then has the profit, even if the ticket is blocked at the gate.
Even if they give refunds after the show is over, a little of that publicity will go a long way in deterring purchases from scalpers.
They don't have to catch that many to make the risk too high for someone going.
"You overpaid AND don't get in."

We have shows here that seem to be almost completely bought by scalpers.

Happily, they are often eating a lot of tickets, but if they drive up prices for the suckers enough, they don't care.
I have seen some desperation prices on some shows, $10-15 for ZZ Topp.
Can't say what that means without research though.

Many people just won't try to get concert tickets anymore, and they must be feeling it.
But they have overpriced their market anyway.

A lot of scalpers here have Bieber tickets at face cost.
I hope that means something.

I believe these folks are as predatory as any street criminal though.
I think only overwhelming self interest will keep them from trying to profit off of burning man.

Why isn't scalping illegal?
It used to be here.

I think this trend in selling show tickets is interesting, and very overdue.
Food for thought.

[nocturnal_steve]

A lot of scalpers here have Bieber tickets......

I am sorry but anyone who has even a passing interest in going to see this guy
(and knows about the Bieber ticket situation) is not allowed at Burningman.

It is one of the 10 Principals.

[International Incident]

A lot of scalpers here have Bieber tickets......

I am sorry but anyone who has even a passing interest in going to see this guy
(and knows about the Bieber ticket situation) is not allowed at Burningman.

It is one of the 10 Principals.

As much as I hate to give this thread air time - instead it should be starved of oxygen and sink to the bottom of hell where all the other nonsense about "solutions for tickets" should lie - but Steve I need to say I fucking love you!

Don't sorry Steve, i don't think you will see Gyre there. He likes commenting on BM but doesn't actually attend.

[kiss-o-matic]

There's a great Photoshopped picture of Bieber for this thread. I'm sure it's against the rules though... maybe even the law.

[gyre]

Don't be an asshole, Melanie.
Fact is, I will probably have to turn my ticket back in soon, so someone else can use it.
I have to move before the burn.

Bieber is just one of the tickets being scalped locally here.

I will say that I saw him being interviewed and they asked him to play something, something most musicians won't do, for obvious reasons.
Can't hide how bad you suck with no voice processors, no wall of sound to hide your playing.
He had no backup, just an acoustic guitar.
He was pretty good.
Did something he would never use in concert.

Good music is where you find it.
You'll find I am fairly comfortable with my musical taste.

Mark Sandman played for me on a campout.
I got him to play a cheerful song he wrote.
It was fucking fantastic.
He only had the one though.
Bet he never did that one on stage.
His writing style was mostly so different from that.

Did you know that Welk's favorite music was hot jazz?
But he got paid to play the other crap.

I have no apology for offering ideas about tickets either.
It's either useful or not.

[BBadger]

Does your period button automatically start a new line?

[Shambala]

Gyre, why won't you be on the playa this year? The party won't be the same without you.

[gyre]

I got notice to move recently, with one month notice.

Even if I work things out, I don't know how I will make it out there this year.
I already had time and cash issues.
I could probably make some kind of frantic trip out there, if I'm not still moving, but that doesn't sound like much fun.

I really need to get out of here, after the year I've had.
I'm still moving into this place now.
It was supposed to be long term.

I really want to be there this year.

[junglesmacks]

Gyre, why won't you be on the playa this year? The party won't be the same without you.

It'll be the same as it is every other year that he's not there.

Which.. is.. every year.

Isn't there a forum concerning something that you actually participate in that you can armchair quarterback?

I hear the Beiber forum is quite nice.
He may even sing a campfire song for you.
I bet he likes Jazz.

[gyre]

When you deal with my real world, you can criticize.

I'd rather be on the playa.

Very nice.
Torture kittens too?

[gyre]

As for music, weak.
Not really insecure about it.

I brought Iggy Pop to Memphis.

Also
Hanging out with their road crew, we were offered Melloncamp tickets.
They promised a great show.
My friends were too cool to go.
They gave me the seats I asked for, even though it was two hours before the show, so I went.
And it was a great show.
Good sound, good stagecraft, good show.

Have fun with that.

[International Incident]

Gyre, What does this have to do with ticketing? If you want to tell us how cool you are pop into the Open Discussion thread.
Thanks

[gyre]

I apologize for drifting the thread.

Mods feel free to edit anything off topic.

[gyre]

Does your period button automatically start a new line?

No

[catinthefunnyhat]

Gyre, why won't you be on the playa this year? The party won't be the same without you.

Maybe because he's the sock of someone else who will be there?

[Simon of the Playa]

brought Iggy Pop to Memphis.

pics or it didnt happen.

[junglesmacks]

Gyre, why won't you be on the playa this year? The party won't be the same without you.

Maybe because he's the sock of someone else who will be there?

You know.. I've never seen gyre and SOP in the same place at the same time.

Same case with Halcyon and SOP.



Coincidence?