Neo-Scalpers
Ticket scalping is being talked about on blogs and social media in Omaha. This past week, Smashing Pumpkins tickets went on sale for a show at the Slowdown that happened on Tuesday Oct. 11. The show announcement was big news around the Omaha music community even though Billy Corgan is the only original member of the band. They can still play much larger venues than the Slowdown, and this was a pick-up show for a small warm up tour.
One is probably not going to get to see Billy and Co. in a more intimate venue anytime soon. So, obviously tickets were going to go super-fast. I know people who got tickets right away, and I know people who did not. The initial reaction is to blame the venue, then the promoter, and even the band when tickets go tolo fast and you were right there at the zero second with everyone else.
The people that really deserve the blame are the ticket scalpers or ticket touts if you are in the UK. Ticket scalping is big business these days, it is no longer the guy on the corner that is also probably able to sell you weed at the same time. Now it’s done online, in offices, and with computers able to manipulate ticketing systems. It’s now run as a business and it is mostly legitimate, except to the person that has to shell out an extra $150 for a Smashing Pumpkins ticket.
I went online minutes after the Smashing Pumpkins on sale and most ticketing sites had tickets for sale from $149 to $249. One person on Craigslist felt that they could sucker someone in at $1,000 (that ticket was still listed today – which is day of the show).
The government doesn’t seem to want to help us in anyway with ticket scalping. just today the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in favor of ticket re-sale giant Stub Hub stating that they do not have to pay a second tax on re-sold tickets. Sentiments such as this by our system of justice and from politicians are common. The ticket buyers wear suits now, not jean jackets. There is a part of me that feels a little comfort with having them out there. What if I miss out on getting a ticket? What if I don’t have much cash that week and closer to show time I am flush? It’s a safety net, albeit one that I have only used once, which was a horrible shady experience. I got into the show though. I have bought some cheaper tickets outside a venue before; in fact I do that quite regularly for bigger shows where scalpers eyes were much bigger than the publics.
If you get shut out of a show right away do these things before paying a stupid amount of money. Do not buy from a scalper on the day of the on sale. There are Smashing Pumpkins tickets at scalping sites right now for face value plus “fees”, which can be high, but this is nowhere near the $249.00 that I was seeing for a ticket. Keep an eye on Craigslist one to three weeks out from the show. There are honest people who had things come up and are not going to gouge you on ticket prices. Put up a Craigslist want ad, and maybe offer to pay $10 above the ticket price. You might save that honest person some time putting up their ad, and you will stand out from the people that put up “face value” tickets wanted ads. Also, watch the official venue website, mailing lists, and social media pages. Sometimes tickets become available. That is what happened this week with Smashing Pumpkins as some of my friends were able to get tickets when a small group of tickets that were reserved by the bands management were made available.
MarQ Manner has been involved with music in Omaha his entire adult life – from managing and booking bands to a 15-year run as manager at Homer’s Records to writing a local music column for the past 11 years. Currently, Marq is the Music Nominating Chair for the Omaha Arts & Entertainment Awards.