(The reality is it doesn't really need fixing.) this
There are layers of middle men making more off the tickets than the face value. Worse, it's baked into the system, the 2nd layer middle men have the ability to pre-purchase/get in front of the line. Ticket master is cool with this because it guarantees their sales.
The artist generally hates this.
The consumer generally hates this.
But it's fine?![]()
I'm okay with the TM fee itself, they gotta make their money somehow.
$3 to print the tickets at home is recockulous though.
Brokers will always be able to get around whatever limitations are imposed.
Still, if Ticketmaster (or whomever) institutes some type of "RealID" system so you have to be a real person instead of a bot, it will make it harder on the brokers.
Register the tickets to a name at time of purchase. Provide ID at entry, doesn't match? Ticket is invalid. Have a system setup to allow transfers (shit happens), but monitor it so 1 person isn't transferring 50 tickets for one show, or multiple shows.
Usually it's more trouble than its worth unless we're talking about the Rolling Stones playing a 1200 seat venue. But it definitely works. Besides, as others have mentioned it's a free market economy.Some venues matches names to purchases. But since you can usually purchase more than one ticket at a time, the brokers walk their clients in and then just eat the cost of a ticket.
Ticket Master kicks back some of the fees t the band. They are there to make money for themselves and for the bands. They let the bands charge a lower price but recoup through fees all the while the fans get angry at ticket master instead of the musicians.I'm okay with the TM fee itself, they gotta make their money somehow.
$3 to print the tickets at home is recockulous though.
Some venues matches names to purchases. But since you can usually purchase more than one ticket at a time, the brokers walk their clients in and then just eat the cost of a ticket.
Limited tickets per ID, it's not complicated. Obviously have to do something to allow families/children but that's not really the problem. You put reasonable limits in place with a system to allow exceptions, then track the exceptions so it's not abused like if the same person buying tickets to every show they are obviously a broker.
We have computers to do this shit, but they elect not to, because they are perfectly happy with the system in place. Which is the point.
Why would a performer or promoter want this again?
I'm not against any of those measures.
I'm just saying that brokers will always find a way to work around them.
I wouldn't say it doesn't need fixing, but it's more an implementation detail. The only real problem is that the face value of tickets is too low to begin with. The value of these tickets is much higher; they should skip the middle-man and sell at $600 from the start.Why would politicians need to be involved?
If it really was a huge problem, like you say, the industry would fix it. If it affected the performers as much as you say, their unions would get it fixed.
The reality is it doesn't really need fixing.
I just paid $20 for tickets to Disturbed and Breaking Benjamin. It partially matters WHERE you buy them from.
I wouldn't say it doesn't need fixing, but it's more an implementation detail. The only real problem is that the face value of tickets is too low to begin with. The value of these tickets is much higher; they should skip the middle-man and sell at $600 from the start.
This is a classic case of a value good being sold well below the equilibrium price. Which is why you have unnecessary resellers.
Did you even read the OP?It's actually related to the ridiculous amount of liability insurance that any public event must carry these days, thanks to the trial lawyers, a Tort system desperately in need of reform, and a "Get Rich or Die Tryin" litigious society. I know someone who was an event planner for some small time shit; as in pie baking, best chili contest, several small time bands, car show, not expected to exceed 15K or 20K attendees during the entire weekend level event. The liability insurance they had to carry was exorbitant.
Point being that tickets are underpriced if there's a viable reseller market scooping up all of these tickets. TM and the other sellers could be doing all of this themselves and cutting out the middle man if they priced them correctly from the start.The value of the tickets is (almost certainly) not $600 each. This is fairly straightforward price discrimination (i.e. setting different prices for different markets).
Only a small number of tickets will be sold at sky-high prices, but they represent a great deal of profit for the resellers. Some tickets will be sold for less profit, and some will be dumped closer to the list price, or even eaten as the date approaches.
From the reseller's point of view, they have an expiring good to sell, they know their costs and they have studied the behaviour of their customers. I am almost (but not completely) certain that some resellers are already working on behalf of bands and venues.
The value of the tickets is (almost certainly) not $600 each. This is fairly straightforward price discrimination (i.e. setting different prices for different markets).
Only a small number of tickets will be sold at sky-high prices, but they represent a great deal of profit for the resellers. Some tickets will be sold for less profit, and some will be dumped closer to the list price, or even eaten as the date approaches.
From the reseller's point of view, they have an expiring good to sell, they know their costs and they have studied the behaviour of their customers. I am almost (but not completely) certain that some resellers are already working on behalf of bands and venues.
The band needs to get paid and no one is buying music anymore is my guess.
That sounds like a good show!