Linn Forums

Scooter · 2012-02-24, 16:23

Interesting programme on C4 here in the UK last night showing how Viagogo get tickets allocated to them from the promoters and then sell them on for themselves at a vast mark up. Who suffers? Us the poor music fans. They get the tickets and put them on sale at the price that they dictate. Such is the profit that they make doing this that they also bought tickets themselves (if they hadn't got any from the promoter) using a bookfull of credit cards so that they could sell them at inflated prices that they again dictated. A tweet says it all "Wonder if any of these hi-profile "Save the Whales" type rockstars will make a stand against these corrupt promoters & touts?" One of the biggest bands who they made a big profit on was Coldplay on the current tour. I have been going to gigs for nearly forty years and the biggest change I have seen is that the touts (scalpers for our US readers) have now gone corporate. Viagogo tried and thankfully failed to stop the programme with an injunction. Check it out, hopefully it will be on 4OD.

To be a Rock and not a Roll · 2012-02-26, 00:14

Didn't see the show but I have used the service from Viagogo and it was great, I managed to get most of money back on cricket tickets I couldnt use Smile

Re: the principle of reselling tickets, dishonest maybe, ripping people off not really, it's your call if you want ticket X or Y, no one is putting a gun to your head.
Is this any worse than wrapping the best tickets up in Gold Packages ?

Everybody knows if you want the best tickets at face value, then you join the bands fan club or sign-up clubs with the venue.

To me, most of this behaviour is associated to mega venue shows, personally I try stay well clear of these types of shows, if possible, why go to gig where your looking at screen and it's louder in my lounge... That's not a gig it's a DVD on a large screen.

The real issue here is definition - British Tour didn't used to mean, Glasgow, O2, Manchester, Cardiff & Birmingham Sad

I like your point re: Coldplay, in reality Chris Martin flies around in private jet, hasn't done a theatre gig in living memory, is married to Film Star and has a child called Apple, so don't expect a refund from the man of the people any day soon Tongue

Scooter · 2012-02-26, 10:24

Yes the service of you selling tickets is good and they say it is site for fan to fan buying/selling.The reality seemed to be about them getting tickets and then reselling at a very high price for themselves. A price that they also dictated by monitoring demand. The case of Take That was that Viagogo had 29,000 tickets, they also acquired 9,000 tickets for Coldplay. These tickets they sold for themselves at a huge profit. Fans were saying that they couldn't get hold of tickets for gig's within minutes of them going on sale yet later they are for sale on Viagogo. Take a look at Bruce Springsteen tickets, selling for about £65 now going for £89 to £1,135 on Viagogo. It proves that demand is there but is it morally right? Should promoters give tickets to it's sister company to sell at inflated prices. Shouldn't the tickets go on sale directly to the fans and profit to the artist?

To be a Rock and not a Roll · 2012-02-26, 10:41

Agreed the transparency is poor...
But the reality is that the Bands choose to play these venues and therefore choose to buy into this system which enriches them.
The ticket company, promotors, venues etc all ultimately work for the band, they choose to 'play the game' here.
I have a issue with people who blame others, while leaving the band out of the debate, like they're some innocent partner in this trade.

I'm not anti your point, I'm anti bullshit PR from the bands about 'well what can we do" - the answer is everything if you choose to make a commercial contract with your providers that fails to safeguard your fans.

Rant over... Big Grin

Scooter · 2012-02-26, 11:59

(2012-02-26 10:41)To be a Rock and not a Roll Wrote: Agreed the transparency is poor...
But the reality is that the Bands choose to play these venues and therefore choose to buy into this system which enriches them.
The ticket company, promotors, venues etc all ultimately work for the band, they choose to 'play the game' here.
I have a issue with people who blame others, while leaving the band out of the debate, like they're some innocent partner in this trade.

I'm not anti your point, I'm anti bullshit PR from the bands about 'well what can we do" - the answer is everything if you choose to make a commercial contract with your providers that fails to safeguard your fans.

Rant over...

Good and justified rant.