Some of the top concerts this year are full of empty seats because of people buying tickets to sell for much more on Ebay, Craigslist and the like and because of scalpers. It is sad because normal fans cannot get tickets at face value and the seats they could have had are empty.

Scalpers are like TIDAL or Spotify or Apple Music, except they don't have fancy offices. They got those tickets tho.

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Maybe I've always been lucky but I've never lost out on a concert experience due to it being sold out. Or had to buy from a 'scalper'.

is this why Gwen Stefani is having so much trouble on her current tour? she's playing to half-empty arenas

This Is What Poor Ticket ...Struggling

MotownSubdivision said:

Maybe these acts shouldn't charge so damn much to see them live.

Several years ago,I made the decision to not spend more than $100 to see any concert.In the past,I have paid twice that amount (and more) to see certain artists and I finally decided 'enough is enough'.I don't care who the artist is.You gotta draw the line somewhere

Maybe I'm trippin' but why are the good seats the only seats still available on that interactive map? Its like the ticket agents distributed the shittiest seats out first. Or her reasonable fans that don't spend outrageously are being played. How strange.

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I've been to shows like that where the bouge-y seats are scattered and almost empty. Its so awkward yet I have never seen an act invite the shitty seats up to the empty good seats.

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Once at a Madonna concert years back I upgraded my seats on my own No one noticed.

who wants to pay all these extraordinary fees to see these lame acts?

I've discovered that cheap side seats by the stage are some of the best in arena settings. Provided that there is no massive video screen backing the act.

There is always some excuse made for todays pop stars....why is that? There was never as many excuses for past legends. I don't think the fact that artists struggle to sell out venues has anything to do with scalpers. I think some of todays pop stars are not as popular as they market themselves as and they book venues that are much bigger than their demand.... period.

MotownSubdivision said:

Maybe these acts shouldn't charge so damn much to see them live.

Here's the thing: If fans show a willingness to spend X amount of dollars for a specific act, and face value is below X amount, then scalpers will buy up the tickets and sell them for X amount. Scalpers will NOT buy up the tickets if the face value is X amount, because then there's no profit to be had.

For that reason, many acts such as GNR basically said "Screw it, since fans are willing to pay X amount to scalpers let's just eliminate the scalpers by charging X amount for face value."

Can you blame them? What's the point of keeping ticket prices low, if it's the scalpers instead of the fans who will benefit from the low prices?

Of course there are ways to keep ticket prices down while also keeping scalpers away, such as paperless tickets or door sales only, but not too many acts are willing to go that route.

mjscarousal said:

There is always some excuse made for todays pop stars....why is that? There was never as many excuses for past legends. I don't think the fact that artists struggle to sell out venues has anything to do with scalpers. I think some of todays pop stars are not as popular as they market themselves as and they book venues that are much bigger than their demand.... period.

>

I agree.

I'm not even an industry insider yet I know that Gwen Stefani is incapable of selling out an 18,000 seat arena.

Pokeno4Money said:

MotownSubdivision said:

Pokeno4Money said:

Here's the thing: If fans show a willingness to spend X amount of dollars for a specific act, and face value is below X amount, then scalpers will buy up the tickets and sell them for X amount. Scalpers will NOT buy up the tickets if the face value is X amount, because then there's no profit to be had.

For that reason, many acts such as GNR basically said "Screw it, since fans are willing to pay X amount to scalpers let's just eliminate the scalpers by charging X amount for face value."

Can you blame them? What's the point of keeping ticket prices low, if it's the scalpers instead of the fans who will benefit from the low prices?

Of course there are ways to keep ticket prices down while also keeping scalpers away, such as paperless tickets or door sales only, but not too many acts are willing to go that route.

It's the consumer who decides the value of the things they purchase, yes and I understand that the artist and all tour personnel have to make money but the fact that they have to jack their prices up so high to turn a profit isn't mutually beneficial. I'm not saying all acts need to pull a Kid Rock and price tickets as low as $20 but the hundreds to thousands that is charged to attend a concert these days is preposterous. Also though this is just me, many of today's top acts aren't worth the prices they demand from the consumer to see them live.

I'm glad you brought up Kid Rock, as most of the $20 tickets for his concerts were paperless. Therefore scalpers weren't able to buy them at $20 and re-sell them for more than double.

If fans refuse to pay above face value to scalpers, ticket prices would come down ... guaranteed. In the end it's the fans who dictate prices, always.

MotownSubdivision said:

Pokeno4Money said:

Here's the thing: If fans show a willingness to spend X amount of dollars for a specific act, and face value is below X amount, then scalpers will buy up the tickets and sell them for X amount. Scalpers will NOT buy up the tickets if the face value is X amount, because then there's no profit to be had.

For that reason, many acts such as GNR basically said "Screw it, since fans are willing to pay X amount to scalpers let's just eliminate the scalpers by charging X amount for face value."

Can you blame them? What's the point of keeping ticket prices low, if it's the scalpers instead of the fans who will benefit from the low prices?

Of course there are ways to keep ticket prices down while also keeping scalpers away, such as paperless tickets or door sales only, but not too many acts are willing to go that route.

It's the consumer who decides the value of the things they purchase, yes and I understand that the artist and all tour personnel have to make money but the fact that they have to jack their prices up so high to turn a profit isn't mutually beneficial. I'm not saying all acts need to pull a Kid Rock and price tickets as low as $20 but the hundreds to thousands that is charged to attend a concert these days is preposterous. Also though this is just me, many of today's top acts aren't worth the prices they demand from the consumer to see them live.

Agree with this 100%

Pokeno4Money said:

If fans refuse to pay above face value to scalpers, ticket prices would come down ... guaranteed. In the end it's the fans who dictate prices, always.

Yeah. That's the main problem. Even when artists set their prices somewhat cheap, scalpers snatch those tickets up, put their own spin on the prices, to make them sky high and the fans are stupid enough to pay those prices. So artists obviously get wind of that and think, that since fans are paying those prices anyway, they might as well set those prices themselves, instead of letting the scalpers make all the money. But even then, after scalpers jacked up the prices, some people are still buying those already expensive tickets at scalper prices.

Pokeno4Money said:

MotownSubdivision said:

Maybe these acts shouldn't charge so damn much to see them live.

Here's the thing: If fans show a willingness to spend X amount of dollars for a specific act, and face value is below X amount, then scalpers will buy up the tickets and sell them for X amount. Scalpers will NOT buy up the tickets if the face value is X amount, because then there's no profit to be had.

For that reason, many acts such as GNR basically said "Screw it, since fans are willing to pay X amount to scalpers let's just eliminate the scalpers by charging X amount for face value."

Can you blame them? What's the point of keeping ticket prices low, if it's the scalpers instead of the fans who will benefit from the low prices?

Of course there are ways to keep ticket prices down while also keeping scalpers away, such as paperless tickets or door sales only, but not too many acts are willing to go that route.

Exactly. And that's really the heartbreaking thing about this reunion tour. Having to pay 250 $ for a standing tickets, which are gone in seconds and then still end up on secondary sites for 3 times or more that money. So in the end, the fan still loses.

thedoorkeeper said:

Which acts are you talking about? Who is playing to half empty venues? [Edited 7/7/16 13:04pm]

https://www.youtube.com/w...lt2zvFg0m8

Hopefully him

These are what you call real fams , he can do anything and his fans still love him. He's a little brat

Pokeno4Money said:

mjscarousal said:

Why are some of you saying it is good that you cannot get good seats? That is insane. You should want scalping to be banned.

There are special speed dialers that can snatch tickets super fast.

PatrickS77 said:

Pokeno4Money said:

Here's the thing: If fans show a willingness to spend X amount of dollars for a specific act, and face value is below X amount, then scalpers will buy up the tickets and sell them for X amount. Scalpers will NOT buy up the tickets if the face value is X amount, because then there's no profit to be had.

For that reason, many acts such as GNR basically said "Screw it, since fans are willing to pay X amount to scalpers let's just eliminate the scalpers by charging X amount for face value."

Can you blame them? What's the point of keeping ticket prices low, if it's the scalpers instead of the fans who will benefit from the low prices?

Of course there are ways to keep ticket prices down while also keeping scalpers away, such as paperless tickets or door sales only, but not too many acts are willing to go that route.

Exactly. And that's really the heartbreaking thing about this reunion tour. Having to pay 250 $ for a standing tickets, which are gone in seconds and then still end up on secondary sites for 3 times or more that money. So in the end, the fan still loses.

I've been following the Orlando ticket situation pretty closely. Even though it's very nearly sold out, scalpers aren't making money on StubHub. Plenty of great lower and floor level seats near the stage for less than the $290 price Ticketmaster is charging. And prices were slashed for the 2nd shows in Chicago and Foxboro because of poor sales, as well as KC and a few other places. One thing about StubHub, when you see tickets listed at skyhigh prices it doesn't mean they are selling at those prices. I always look at the prices tickets were sold to guage the demand.

PatrickS77 said:

Pokeno4Money said:

Here's the thing: If fans show a willingness to spend X amount of dollars for a specific act, and face value is below X amount, then scalpers will buy up the tickets and sell them for X amount. Scalpers will NOT buy up the tickets if the face value is X amount, because then there's no profit to be had.

For that reason, many acts such as GNR basically said "Screw it, since fans are willing to pay X amount to scalpers let's just eliminate the scalpers by charging X amount for face value."

Can you blame them? What's the point of keeping ticket prices low, if it's the scalpers instead of the fans who will benefit from the low prices?

Of course there are ways to keep ticket prices down while also keeping scalpers away, such as paperless tickets or door sales only, but not too many acts are willing to go that route.

Exactly. And that's really the heartbreaking thing about this reunion tour. Having to pay 250 $ for a standing tickets, which are gone in seconds and then still end up on secondary sites for 3 times or more that money. So in the end, the fan still loses.

MotownSubdivision said:

Pokeno4Money said:

PatrickS77 said:

Exactly. And that's really the heartbreaking thing about this reunion tour. Having to pay 250 $ for a standing tickets, which are gone in seconds and then still end up on secondary sites for 3 times or more that money. So in the end, the fan still loses.

I've been following the Orlando ticket situation pretty closely. Even though it's very nearly sold out, scalpers aren't making money on StubHub. Plenty of great lower and floor level seats near the stage for less than the $290 price Ticketmaster is charging. And prices were slashed for the 2nd shows in Chicago and Foxboro because of poor sales, as well as KC and a few other places. One thing about StubHub, when you see tickets listed at skyhigh prices it doesn't mean they are selling at those prices. I always look at the prices tickets were sold to guage the demand.

Yeah. You're right. Compared to resellers on Ticketmaster, prices on Stub Hub have come considerably down. I wonder why that is though. Somehow I still don't fully trust Stub Hub to actually get a genuine ticket for what I have paid. Especially with E-tix you'll only find out at the door.


And of course, just because it's listed high, it doesn't mean it will sell for that price. But I'm sure, many fools will buy it for those prices, otherwise they wouldn't set them in the first place. And in the end you never now, whether the scalpers did get what they asked for or if they really had to slash prices hours before the show. I did try to buy a ticket for Madonna in New York once and even though the show has already started, they didn't back down from their asking price.

who ..in todays scene.... would u pay to see for over $100??? no one i say

PatrickS77 said:

Yeah. You're right. Compared to resellers on Ticketmaster, prices on Stub Hub have come considerably down. I wonder why that is though. Somehow I still don't fully trust Stub Hub to actually get a genuine ticket for what I have paid. Especially with E-tix you'll only find out at the door.


And of course, just because it's listed high, it doesn't mean it will sell for that price. But I'm sure, many fools will buy it for those prices, otherwise they wouldn't set them in the first place. And in the end you never now, whether the scalpers did get what they asked for or if they really had to slash prices hours before the show. I did try to buy a ticket for Madonna in New York once and even though the show has already started, they didn't back down from their asking price.

I'd say at least 20% of the GNR tickets that were bought have been put up for resale, so when places like Chicago and Foxboro added a second show it absolutely screwed all the scalpers trying to sell tickets to the first show. I just checked out Foxboro, $26 to get in and $140 for Pit ... scalpers will be losing their shirts on those two shows.

Really the promoters screwed up with the pricing. There's plenty of people willing to pay those $290+ prices in high income cities like LA, NY and Toronto, but in cities where incomes are lower like Pittsburgh, KC, Cincy and New Orleans it was crazy to expect people to afford those prices. I know they looked at what the Stones charged for tickets, but I think the Stones did a lot less shows than the 29 GNR is doing in the US and Canada this year.