[strumminsix]

FWIW, The Dead's shows are not gonna sellout anyhow. Even MSG still has tix left. I'm sure anyone who has face value will be able to get into ANY Dead show this tour. The way the sales have been set up, it looks like they're sold out or only behind stage is left, when in fact they aren't.

Care to shed some light?? The 5/5 show in Chicago is sold out. Also, MSG is huge. Kinda hard to use that as the litmus test I'd think.

[bodiddley]

I'm not going for a number of reasons but mostly just because I don't care. I'd be more interested in seeing Phish this time around and I've never even cared for them. I really don't think the Dead is worth more than $30.00 a pop. If someone gave me a ticket I'd probably wouldn't even go.

[jonarobb]

I got my MSG tickets for $58.50. There were also $100 seats.

[mttourpro]

FWIW, The Dead's shows are not gonna sellout anyhow. Even MSG still has tix left. I'm sure anyone who has face value will be able to get into ANY Dead show this tour. The way the sales have been set up, it looks like they're sold out or only behind stage is left, when in fact they aren't.

Care to shed some light?? The 5/5 show in Chicago is sold out. Also, MSG is huge. Kinda hard to use that as the litmus test I'd think.

http://www.ticketsnow.com/InventoryBrow ... PID=796252

There's tix for Chicago. They're just not good seats or they're way overpriced right now...just like all the other shows.
There's a big scam going on right now with a lot of tix sales. I've read a few things about Bruce Springstein's tix being manipulated by TicketBastard. They set it up so their own "brokers" (a.k.a. TicketsNow) buy all the tix and then put em up for sale at scalper prices.
I think the same thing is going on for Dead shows too. Supposedly some govt official has called the whole thing in question b?c of the bruce thing. BS's people even wrote a public letter about it. I'm no Bruce fan, but I'm glad he had the balls to do/say something about it.

As for MSG, I don't think that it's that much bigger than Chicago, (MSG holds about 20-24,000 and Chic holds about 16-18,000) but it's also on a weekend (my birthday actually) and it's NYC. I mean the GD used to sell out 9 shows there no problem. They'd typically do 2-3 in Chicago. Beyond that, Chicago area is pretty big, so it might actually sell out. My point is that for all the inflated prices on tickets right now, I think it's gonna be a lot cheaper/easier ticket than people think. Scalpers are gonna get reamed and it'll be an easier ticket to buy than sell.

Just like PennState was. I might be wrong but that's what i think.

[mttourpro]

Had to post this...first thing I saw on Ratdog.org's board

A minute after my last post.

I screwed up, but, it was an article about how Canada is cracking down on these illegal practices.

[strumminsix]

FWIW, The Dead's shows are not gonna sellout anyhow. Even MSG still has tix left. I'm sure anyone who has face value will be able to get into ANY Dead show this tour. The way the sales have been set up, it looks like they're sold out or only behind stage is left, when in fact they aren't.

Care to shed some light?? The 5/5 show in Chicago is sold out. Also, MSG is huge. Kinda hard to use that as the litmus test I'd think.

http://www.ticketsnow.com/InventoryBrow ... PID=796252

There's tix for Chicago. They're just not good seats or they're way overpriced right now...just like all the other shows.
There's a big scam going on right now with a lot of tix sales. I've read a few things about Bruce Springstein's tix being manipulated by TicketBastard. They set it up so their own "brokers" (a.k.a. TicketsNow) buy all the tix and then put em up for sale at scalper prices.
I think the same thing is going on for Dead shows too. Supposedly some govt official has called the whole thing in question b?c of the bruce thing. BS's people even wrote a public letter about it. I'm no Bruce fan, but I'm glad he had the balls to do/say something about it.

As for MSG, I don't think that it's that much bigger than Chicago, (MSG holds about 20-24,000 and Chic holds about 16-18,000) but it's also on a weekend (my birthday actually) and it's NYC. I mean the GD used to sell out 9 shows there no problem. They'd typically do 2-3 in Chicago. Beyond that, Chicago area is pretty big, so it might actually sell out. My point is that for all the inflated prices on tickets right now, I think it's gonna be a lot cheaper/easier ticket than people think. Scalpers are gonna get reamed and it'll be an easier ticket to buy than sell.

Just like PennState was. I might be wrong but that's what i think.

But Ticketsnow is not Ticketmaster. Those tickets are not int he possession of Ticketmaster. They are still in the hands of the buyers.

[Emoto]

How did people get tix for $50? I would pay that to see this band. But $100? No way.

Years ago I bought some tix from a small agency at a higher price. I felt kind of dirty doing it. I won't do that again.

[Tennessee Jedi]

A/J
I hate to disagree with you as you guys are very kind ....
Maybe if it was 1989 , not 2009 ....
Aint the same anymore.
Its like the movie MAD MAX
Before the shit hit the fan ,Max was a good cop and a loving Father then after he had no reason to live, he said F it I'm a badass.
For what its worth I going on assumption I will get a extra somewhere from a head.
But .....
Gotta do what ya gotta do ....
Besides ,scalpers go for the stadium shows/ hockey rinks - I try to get my music fix at smaller places anymore ...
Peace

[Good Times]

I agree with TJ, the times have changed over the last 20 years or so. IMHO, the presence of the internet has contributed to the inflated price of tickets. While there were some scalpers years ago it was not as prevelent. If you wanted a ticket to the Grateful Dead or other similiar band you could either mail order or go to the ticket outlet on the day the tickets went on sale. It seems to me there was more "work" involved in this process so people who actually wanted to see the shows were more inclined to put in this time and effort rather than some only looking to make a buck. Now with internet sales of tickets, the consumer base of people has been greatly increased. While there still are the fans looking to go to the show there are many more people who have no interest in the tickets other than making money. Not saying it is right our wrong but just that it is different from "Tour" many years ago. Sometime you just have to roll with the punches.

[strumminsix]

I'll probably pay over for 1 night in Chicago. It sucks but oh well.

[DooDahDan]

Isn't the root of the issue how do scalpers get huge blocks of tickets to begin with? I would imagine it can't be terribly cost effective to hire hundreds of folks to sit on line waiting to get out of the "waiting room" to buy tickets, so they must have some way through the back door to the tickets (either collusion with employees of the ticket agencies or a software sytem to hack through the protocols). Not sure there is a way to stop it.

Generally speaking, I won't pay more than face on principle but I really don't care if folks are willing to pay 2x, 3x or more - if you pay that sort of a vig, just don't cry poverty when the bank forecloses on your house. The "don't feed the scalpers" mantra has been going on since the Touchies arrived and it's a played song. Time to move on.

[mttourpro]

Isn't the root of the issue how do scalpers get huge blocks of tickets to begin with? I would imagine it can't be terribly cost effective to hire hundreds of folks to sit on line waiting to get out of the "waiting room" to buy tickets, so they must have some way through the back door to the tickets (either collusion with employees of the ticket agencies or a software sytem to hack through the protocols). Not sure there is a way to stop it.

Exactly---Ticketsnow is owned by TicketBastard.
That's exactly what I'm talking about when I say Springstein's people are pissed. There's some effort to do as Canada is doing and forbid this practice. That's why all the shows are "sold-out".

And SS,

"But Ticketsnow is not Ticketmaster. Those tickets are not int he possession of Ticketmaster. They are still in the hands of the buyers."

See above. When those tix on TixNow don't sell fopr 500 a piece, they'll be returned to the box office/GDTS or whatever to actually sell them.

I'll try to find the info that proves TB and TixNow are essentially the same entity. They are essentially violating anti-trust laws.

here it is---one of many such stories/articles

http://www.ticketnews.com/Ticketmaster- ... sNow018155

[strumminsix]

And SS,

"But Ticketsnow is not Ticketmaster. Those tickets are not int he possession of Ticketmaster. They are still in the hands of the buyers."

See above. When those tix on TixNow don't sell fopr 500 a piece, they'll be returned to the box office/GDTS or whatever to actually sell them.

I'll try to find the info that proves TB and TixNow are essentially the same entity. They are essentially violating anti-trust laws.

here it is---one of many such stories/articles

http://www.ticketnews.com/Ticketmaster- ... sNow018155

"See above" - to what?

I didn't know that little factiod about them going from TN back to TM if they don't sell - that is news to me! It's intriguing since the prices for the Dead's tix have actually been steadily decreasing on TN from the first week til now then a second show being added made it even drop faster. Looks like I'll either wait for TN to get a low price just over face or try my luck with TM which I've only had bad luck with in the past...

I knew TN was purchased by TM but that doesn't make them the same.

[amyjared]

What happened to Springsteen is that when tickets went onsale for his shows, ticketbastard had a pop-up on much of their ticket sites that directed people right to TIcketsnow and hugely inflated prices. Many bought them anyhow, complained and Bruce, being the gent that he is, heard about it and raised a row, because he can (and should have, imho). This caused ticketbastard to apologize and "make amends" by saying they would "look into the matter" which evidently meant they would buy ticketsnow.

Sorry this has caused such a ruckus. I actually thought it was just a good reminder. I will always look for tickets at cost, and if I ever have extras, I will always sell them at cost. If you would do the same, great. If not, fine as well. Hopefully, those who think alike will still find each other and this will make everyone happy. It was once said...If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Not sure if I totally agree, but it makes some sense to me. While times have changed, what is "right" and "correct" have not. I apologize for the thread and will not post such nonsense in the future.

[strumminsix]

Nothing wrong with the thread, IMO.

BTW, heard the Springstien story differently... When a show was "sold out" TM used to have a box right next to the sold out frame that directed you to TN. After the Springstien debacle that was removed.