TOMEEBOY said:

Well it has finally happened......As much as we admire him..I feel he has let us down. We have been with him through the past decade supporting his visions and missions and in the past he took care of his supporters by rewarding us with the best tickets at his concerts. It is a problem when you get in to the TICKETMASTER website at 10:01 AM and the "true fan seats" are sold out! As was stated in another post...these seats were for sale by brokers before we even could buy them. I hope everyone who is sitting at the tables knows how to do the HOUSEQUAKE!

I would suggest you keep searching. I found some $200 floor seats about 20 mins ago.

It's been about an hour since I searched, but there were still single seats available in good places. Of course, it's not great when you have to split up from your friends.

I miss the NPGMC presales too. On the other hand, all the presale codes were posted here on the org yesterday plenty early, so there was that. And having the multiple codes really helped.

A couple more thoughts:

I understand how we all want to be as close as possible, but really, how close do you need to be? I wouldn't want the nosebleeds, but the mezzanine is not too bad. In a big arena with good sound and video screens, you're getting pretty much the same concert experience as everyone else.

Also, if I understand the stage setup correctly, this is theater in the round (or theater in the glyph, I guess). In a setup like that, beince too close actually works against you, because you can only see Prince when he's near your part of the stage. If you're up and/or back a little bit, you can see more (or all) of the stage so you can follow what's going on with him and the rest of the band.

Finally, sitting at a table at a Prince concert is about the last thing in the world I'd want to do.

Efan said:

A couple more thoughts:

I understand how we all want to be as close as possible, but really, how close do you need to be? I wouldn't want the nosebleeds, but the mezzanine is not too bad. In a big arena with good sound and video screens, you're getting pretty much the same concert experience as everyone else.

Also, if I understand the stage setup correctly, this is theater in the round (or theater in the glyph, I guess). In a setup like that, beince too close actually works against you, because you can only see Prince when he's near your part of the stage. If you're up and/or back a little bit, you can see more (or all) of the stage so you can follow what's going on with him and the rest of the band.

Finally, sitting at a table at a Prince concert is about the last thing in the world I'd want to do.

^^ What he said.

y'all 4get not just freaks dig Prince

I'm glad I got up at 7am yesterday (despite just fying in from a trip) to get my tickets using the presales.

It did seem crazy that the TM windows took anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes to repspond, and I had 2 computers going at the same time.

I am happy I ended up with MSG 12/18 section 82 or something like that and MSG 12/39 section 132 Or something lke that. Basically Red Loge seats one night and 100 level the next.

I was buying pairs each time (2 tickets each).

I am curious though, I don't think any actual floor seats were available beyond singles. the people on the "I got tix" thread seem to report getting single tickets in those sections.

In general, I always wonder:

1) are floor seats (other than random singles) ever sold to the public (given how many radio stations are giving away tickets, music industry insiders, MSG employees etc.)

2) HOW do those scalpers get those seats they then charge thousands for? What exactly is their connection??

how many different concerts i've been shut out on through out the yrs. on ticketmaster at 10 but nuthin. like chris cornell solo. i got shut out in the presale but got general public.

ok after reading all these posts about ppl getting nosebleeds or nothing i'm in a state of shock i'm not in the catergory with you and actually got close seats. i never luck out on anything. except for u2. both times row 3 and 4? face value!

too bad for fleetwood mac and phil collins my seats were fair. i'd love to have much closer for those 2 but i was glad to be in the building

chocolate1 said:

aurora1 said:

<----will schlepp from Greece to new york only if I have guaranteed up front row seats.....sheesh thats the least I deserve.......

Deserve? Wow.

No one told you to come all the way from Greece for a show.

It's not like Prince would invite you, and then make you sit upstairs.

Yeah Prince knows.....that lots of his fans are willing to travel, get time off from work, and go the extra mile to see him....he's not dumb or oblivious to this.......and this is coming from someone who has no qualms about paying top dollar to see Prince live...he deserves every penny......just a bit bothered about the fact that we have not been re-imbursed for Geneva as of yet......so yeah I have invested a lot ..and have received plenty.....but am not gonna settle for just any old seats.....just like he wants the best......so do I....and thats that.......

all the really good seats were snatched up by scalpers. they are charging $2000 for close floor and $3600 for vip on ebay. come on? the nosebleed $20.10 seats are going for on avg $500. wth?!

GaryMF said:

I am happy I ended up with MSG 12/18 section 82 or something like that and MSG 12/39 section 132 Or something lke that. Basically Red Loge seats one night and 100 level the next.

I was buying pairs each time (2 tickets each).

Wow, congrats on the section 82 -- that was one of the sections I was hoping for! I ended up with 3 sets of 2 loge seats (1 set for my boss) a little lower than center. After checking out the view from my sections on the MSG seating chart here (http://www.thegarden.com/...index.html) and reading how most people got seats in the 100s or higher I feel very lucky to have gotten loge seats for both nights during the presale, and for my boss through the public sale. (I didn't want floor seats.) I also checked stubhub.com and they don't even have loge seats in the sections I wanted (79-84 or 50-55). Between here and MQ, I've only seen about 5-6 people post they are in loge sections so I don't understand who has all those loge level tickets -- I suspect those seats are reserved for Livenation, BET, guests of the band, Ticketbastard & MSG employees, music industry vips, etc.

GaryMF said:

2) HOW do those scalpers get those seats they then charge thousands for? What exactly is their connection??

I think the Ticketbastard employees sell them to the scalpers.

.

[Edited 10/30/10 14:30pm]

I had two browsers going right at 10:00. I put one for best available and one for the next level down. I ended up, after about four minutes of searching, with two floor seats in section 31 (not even shown on the map, but saw on another map in the very back of the floor, rear side of the stage for $200 each or $400.00 total and on the other search section 334 row M for $229.00 for both. I took the 334 section as I am on the floor for two of the three NJ shows and just up from the floor for the third. I figured I would save almost $200.00 and have a different perspective for this one rather than being all the way back on the floor and at the rear or loop side of the symbol stage.

The 12/18 show - $200, $114, and $61.40, and $31.40 tix are sold out, but there's still seems to be seats left for the 300 section at MSG.

[Edited 10/30/10 16:03pm]

NPGMC was hands down the best, they took care of us, Good emails, info, free music, etc.

Got on ticketmaster at 10am - all VIP sold out???? really!!! Still on floor but not the seats I wanted.

Oh well

slvrhrt7 said:

NPGMC was hands down the best, they took care of us, Good emails, info, free music, etc.

Got on ticketmaster at 10am - all VIP sold out???? really!!! Still on floor but not the seats I wanted.

Oh well

i agree, look at ebay. what a joke!

purplemookiebut said:

all the really good seats were snatched up by scalpers. they are charging $2000 for close floor and $3600 for vip on ebay. come on? the nosebleed $20.10 seats are going for on avg $500. wth?!

How do they get them???? this should be illegal. why did eliott spitzer get rid of the scalping laws? waht was the logic?

GaryMF said:

purplemookiebut said:

all the really good seats were snatched up by scalpers. they are charging $2000 for close floor and $3600 for vip on ebay. come on? the nosebleed $20.10 seats are going for on avg $500. wth?!

How do they get them???? this should be illegal. why did eliott spitzer get rid of the scalping laws? waht was the logic?

is that why its like this/ i seen the plotical commkericals. what a fuckup

Hey FREDDY....did you get tickets??? Going the 18th and 29th and I am very excited!! Hope you are doing well........

banks said:

TOMEEBOY said:

I guess you were not a member of the NPGMC and did not experience The Musicology Tour like the rest of us did. If you did, then you would know exactly what I am talking about....! Every member was given an opportunity to purchase every price ticket in advance in a Prince fan exclusive pre-sale. The first twentyor so rows were blocked out and given exclusively to NPG Music Club members. His true fans got the best seat at face value! Not the case this time. Enjoy the show!

[Edited 10/30/10 7:50am]

Your correct...I liked how he handled the tickets for the Musicology Tour.... he blocked out the best seats for us and sold them to us direct... I got Tickets for 4 out of 5 shows but the seats are not the greatest, however i'm glad to see him once again.. I've never missed him in NYC since the Purple Rain Tour...

Jam! You've been to some P Concerts then!

Vysyons said:

TRUE ARTIST LETDOWN...having fans bitch and moan and act like 2-year-olds about every little damn thing. Where the hell does it say that Prince (or any musician for that matter) owes you anything more than the music that they release? He's not your G-D friend, you pay him to hear his music, to see his shows. If you don't like what you are paying for, don't open up your wallet.

Well Said!

GaryMF said:

purplemookiebut said:

all the really good seats were snatched up by scalpers. they are charging $2000 for close floor and $3600 for vip on ebay. come on? the nosebleed $20.10 seats are going for on avg $500. wth?!

How do they get them???? this should be illegal. why did eliott spitzer get rid of the scalping laws? waht was the logic?

Unfortunately, scalpers have an edge over you and me. Ticket broker companies often times have hundreds of people working for them. They also have ways of tricking or defeating the CAPTCHA words using automated systems and they simply get in faster than you or I do. There is also the issue of backroom deals made between brokers and Ticketmaster etc. This may be happening, but nobody has been able to find proof. It would take a whistle blower from the inside to bring any wrongdoing into the open and that has yet to happen.

I agree, scalping should be illegal. As for anti-scalping laws, there never have been any in the US. The reason has everything to do with the politicians who are supposed to protect public interest. Those politicians sure do like getting those comped courtside seats to basketball games, or whatever it may be at the time. Lobbyists pay big money for those tickets and give them to politicians as "small" gifts. The politicians only have to report the face value of the ticket, not the fact that the lobbyist paid $5000 per seat for them, or whatever. Scalping is illegal in Canada, but I don't think it will ever be outlawed here unless incredible pressure is put on politicians. And again, the politicians as well as the rich are the ones who benefit the most from ticket scalping. So, it's not like they're going to raise a hand to help you or I unless a proverbial gun is put to their head. Sorry about the bad news.

Well news about the Prince performances actually turning into a tour. The DJ on the local oldies station I was listening to KISQ 98.1 FM just announced: "Good news for Prince fans...the Prince tour is headed our way...more details later!" My jaw nearly dropped off after all the time and money I spent trying to get to the Prince concerts in December! That means he is headed toward Northern California, which probably means other U.S. venues... I'll believe it for real when I hear more information, but it looks like he is heading for the West Coast...

coldrain said:

GaryMF said:

How do they get them???? this should be illegal. why did eliott spitzer get rid of the scalping laws? waht was the logic?

Unfortunately, scalpers have an edge over you and me. Ticket broker companies often times have hundreds of people working for them. They also have ways of tricking or defeating the CAPTCHA words using automated systems and they simply get in faster than you or I do. There is also the issue of backroom deals made between brokers and Ticketmaster etc. This may be happening, but nobody has been able to find proof. It would take a whistle blower from the inside to bring any wrongdoing into the open and that has yet to happen. [/quote]

BUt how does having lots of people guarantee them the best seats? There are hundreds of not thousands of regular people trying to get in at 10am too, so how do they get better seats than we do? it should be luck of the draw for them.

As for anti-scalping laws, there never have been any in the US. The reason has everything to do with the politicians who are supposed to protect public interest. Those politicians sure do like getting those comped courtside seats to basketball games, or whatever it may be at the time. Lobbyists pay big money for those tickets and give them to politicians as "small" gifts. The politicians only have to report the face value of the ticket, not the fact that the lobbyist paid $5000 per seat for them, or whatever. Scalping is illegal in Canada, but I don't think it will ever be outlawed here unless incredible pressure is put on politicians. And again, the politicians as well as the rich are the ones who benefit the most from ticket scalping. So, it's not like they're going to raise a hand to help you or I unless a proverbial gun is put to their head. Sorry about the bad news.

In New York, it used to be illegal to sell a ticket for more 10% of face value or something like that, but then Spitzer revised hte law or let it expire, which is weird because he claimed to be the "Watchdog" etc.

Astasheiks said:

banks said:

Your correct...I liked how he handled the tickets for the Musicology Tour.... he blocked out the best seats for us and sold them to us direct... I got Tickets for 4 out of 5 shows but the seats are not the greatest, however i'm glad to see him once again.. I've never missed him in NYC since the Purple Rain Tour...

Jam! You've been to some P Concerts then!

yes i have !!!!!!!

cracknbush said:

I loved the NPGMC.... During the ONA tours, I got into press conferences, private shows, release parties, sound checks, first 15 rows, and free aftershows. All the club shows and as many Musicology shows I could afford in the first 15 for under $200.

Now, Lotusflowr clearly didn't work, but I personally think Prince bailed on the fan base, because of the disrespect shown. This site sounds like a tea party rally most of the time.

You sound just like the people who said Prince wouldn't play any shows in the US for the same reason...ridiculous! He no longer has the apparatus or staff in place to handle ticketing...simple as that.

I seriously doubt that Prince bases his decisions on what a few clowns post on a fansite. I'd bet that fams worry a lot more about it than Prince ever will

The inmates in this asylum represent only a small fraction of the fanbase and y'all really have a grossly overblown sense of the org's importance.

GaryMF said:

coldrain said:

BUt how does having lots of people guarantee them the best seats? There are hundreds of not thousands of regular people trying to get in at 10am too, so how do they get better seats than we do? it should be luck of the draw for them.

As for anti-scalping laws, there never have been any in the US. The reason has everything to do with the politicians who are supposed to protect public interest. Those politicians sure do like getting those comped courtside seats to basketball games, or whatever it may be at the time. Lobbyists pay big money for those tickets and give them to politicians as "small" gifts. The politicians only have to report the face value of the ticket, not the fact that the lobbyist paid $5000 per seat for them, or whatever. Scalping is illegal in Canada, but I don't think it will ever be outlawed here unless incredible pressure is put on politicians. And again, the politicians as well as the rich are the ones who benefit the most from ticket scalping. So, it's not like they're going to raise a hand to help you or I unless a proverbial gun is put to their head. Sorry about the bad news.

In New York, it used to be illegal to sell a ticket for more 10% of face value or something like that, but then Spitzer revised hte law or let it expire, which is weird because he claimed to be the "Watchdog" etc.

Having lots of people working for them gives them more chances to get seats, period. It's not a guarantee that all of them will get good seats, but enough of them will. You can mess with the CAPTCHA words to some extent by spelling the first word right and typing gibberish for the second word. It works sometimes, but not all the time. Try it yourself. You'll see what I mean.

Scalpers have recently been busted for writing programs that pretty much bypass the CAPTCHA words, and I have no reason to believe that it isn't still happening on a smaller scale that's harder to detect. While most other people are still struggling to enter the words correctly, they are already in the system snapping up the best seats.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/01/cbsnews_investigates/main6255803.shtml

I'm pretty fast on the computer and I've done worse and worse over the past several years as ticket purchasing has become internet only. The scalpers have an advantage with the internet because they circumvent the security features that slow the rest of us down. The proof is on Stubhub. If you look at the seating map for the MSG shows on Stubhub, notice how the floor seats are heavily in the hands of scalpers and center seats in the loge are not. Why do you think this is? I think it's because scalpers got the jump and dialed up floor seats upon doing best available. The fans who got in behind them and also went for best available got the center loge and promenade seats. After that it was a free for all. I'm just speculating, but it seems to make sense.

With the VIP packages becoming more popular the money that would otherwise go to some a-hole scalper is going to the artist, promoter, and anyone else who gets a piece. The scalpers won't buy up the VIP packages. Not enough profit margin and too much financial risk, I suppose. Either way the fans pay.

The bill Spitzer passed had a sunset clause that ended in mid-2009. All anti-scalping laws have been either sidestepped or ignored altogether. New York does have a more restrictive anti-scalping law from the 1920's that limits resold tickets to $2 above face value, but I don't see anyone enforcing it. The $5000 floor seats for 12/29 that are on Stubhub right now are proof of that. Over 420 floor seats are for sale. That's a lot when you consider how much of the floor is taken up by the stage.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/05/21/2010-05-21_gov_reenacts_tough_ticket_scalping_law.html

Wow all this trouble to see yet again another greatest hits package. Ya'll are like sheep, no seriously..

well then i should move to canada

GaryMF said:

2) HOW do those scalpers get those seats they then charge thousands for? What exactly is their connection??

Mostly the brokers have runners that camp out over night at brick and mortar ticket outlets (sometimes many for the same show spread out over the area). They're almost always first in line (and aren't really doing their job properly if they're not) and have given the person running the onsale information regarding what they want before the computers click on at 10:00. You can't actually buy tickets before then because the system isn't up. I used to sell tickets at Tower Records and work for a VERY prominent broker here in the Bay Area (as a runner, so I've done exactly what I just described many times).

These days they're also signed up to any and every program that will allow them to access to presales (even if they cost money, because you can clearly see they make it back). Most of them also have a crew working computers as tickets go on sale. But with those working the computers they don't buy them unless they're the best of the best seats. The unfortunate side affect of that is that they're still adding to the clogging of the system so it makes it more difficult to get in and grab the seats you want.

Two more things...

1. Those ticket prices are ridiculous to BEGIN with. Count me out. But I wouldn't expect anything less from working with LiveNation.

2. There will never be a way to get tickets like we did at the NPGMC unless Prince chooses to have another similar fan club. Pearl Jam and DMB do it very succesfully and have for many years. I'm not sure who else bothers to do so at this point.

cracknbush said:

I loved the NPGMC.... During the ONA tours, I got into press conferences, private shows, release parties, sound checks, first 15 rows, and free aftershows. All the club shows and as many Musicology shows I could afford in the first 15 for under $200.

Now, Lotusflowr clearly didn't work, but I personally think Prince bailed on the fan base, because of the disrespect shown. This site sounds like a tea party rally most of the time.

agree about the disrespect...where has the love gone? i don't like to admit that in years gone by, scalpers would sell the front row seats (maybe ticket price of $75) for $500 per ticket, two minimum. this was in 1993. so, in 2010, $1500 for two tickets upfront isn't so bad. hopfully, Prince gets a major portion of this draw. love and respect is key. it really is an honor 2 see such talent live - how many respected mozart when he was alive?