Jimmy on Scalpers

BostonFins · Post by **BostonFins** » June 17, 2005 11:21 am

"Most musicians concede there's little to stop scalpers. "Scalping has been around forever," says Jimmy Buffett. Front-row tickets to Buffett's show Sept. 4 at Chicago's Wrigley Field are being offered by online scalpers for $1,560."

"I don't have any answer to it," Buffett says. "I'm doing less dates, and there are fewer tickets, and that's the problem. It's the law of supply and demand. If people didn't want to sit there, it wouldn't be happening."

You can see the whole article here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/200506 ... getaticket

jbfins · Post by **jbfins** » June 17, 2005 12:44 pm

HOG WASH! A simple little system of mail order tickets would easily solve the problem.

Since he is into DMB and Phish and the Dead, maybe he should take a play out of their playbooks.

Short and sweet, he doesn't give a crap! About time someone asked the questions though.

YuppieParrothead · Post by **YuppieParrothead** » June 17, 2005 1:28 pm

jbfins wrote:HOG WASH! A simple little system of mail order tickets would easily solve the problem.

Since he is into DMB and Phish and the Dead, maybe he should take a play out of their playbooks.

Short and sweet, he doesn't give a crap! About time someone asked the questions though.

On the contrary, I think Jimmy does give a crap. I know my opinion might be controversial but here it is. Jimmy likely embraces scalpers, as do the majority of artists today. Scalpers buy loads of seats for his show which leads to a 9 minute sellout. 9 minute sellout means high demand, which means the price can go up the next year. Fans, seeing that last year sold out in 9 minutes, will take whatever ticket TM spits at them for whatever price. It's good business on Jimmy's part to continue the illusion of very rapid sellouts. I'd be pretty surprised to ever see Jimmy take a real stand against scalpers.

This is all just my opinion. I personally don't have a huge problem with scalpers (unless it's illegal in that state). They have come in handy for me several times when I needed decent tickets to a show.

I would however be very impressed and thrilled if he would try to limit the best seats for his actual fans. Won't happen though.

jbfins · Post by **jbfins** » June 17, 2005 2:08 pm

I don't have a problem with scalpers either as I am sure that the next time I choose to see JB in concert I will most likely be in need of their services. However, it is sad when JB says there is nothing that can be done. Many, many, bands assist their loyal fans through fan-club mail order in obtaining tickets.

He doesn't care who goes to the shows as long as the seats are filled.

PA PAR8 HED · Post by **PA PAR8 HED** » June 17, 2005 2:41 pm

Since Jimmy doesn't get any additional revenue from the secondary market, I can't see them being a big help to the performer. Jimmy certainly would sell out in 9 minutes without them.

And I don't think that scalper demand creates higher prices on the primary market. Jimmy can clearly charge $100+, as he has for certain venues this year, and still sell out.

People are quick to point out that Jimmy is a smart business man, from starting new ventures to protecting his marks. I am surprised that he hasn't stepped up on this issue.

F1NZUPP · Post by **F1NZUPP** » June 17, 2005 3:10 pm

Let's be real here folks. I'm a very big JB fan and have been to every Nissan show for the last 5-6 years (including both nights when he was doing two shows). But, Jimmy obviously doesn't care about scalpers. He is obviously very interested in making money....and lots of it at our expense. And why shouldn't he, we'll pay it every time. My 300 level tickets went from being around $35-40 face value (not including the rape job by TM) to $86 this year! Are you kidding me! But I paid it to see my beloved Jimmy. Oh yeah that includes the parking which is a 2.5 hour exit procedure (One road in and out of Nissan, who the f designed that sh!thole). Anyway, with restaurants popping up in such places as friggin Woodbridge, VA (Hoodbridge), that man is concerned about only making as much as he can before he calls it quits and has his retirement (restaurants/merchandising) already set up. He's a marketing genious. But does he care about our struggles to get tickets, or the overinflated prices? Please don't kid yourselves folks. The only difference between JB and a pro athlete is that he actually gives an honest effort each night, but make no doubt about it, he is there for a paycheck these days, not like the old days! How much money does he need?

fishinthepilins · Post by **fishinthepilins** » June 17, 2005 3:20 pm

I wouldn't complain about scalpers if we were all in fair competition for tickets. My beef is that some people obviously get tickets other ways. I've bought tickets from scalpers who had 20 tickets in a row for sale when there was a limit of 6. They obviously didn't get lucky online getting into ticketmaster. I'm all for free market supply and demand, but I'd love it if abuses were addressed. I'd love to see an audit of blocks of ticketmaster tix that went out over the limit, or a survey of people sitting in promotional seats that bought the tickets on ebay for 2 or 3 times face value. These abuses could be addressed.

Tampico · Post by **Tampico** » June 17, 2005 9:39 pm

I think all major touring artist/groups, including Jimmy Buffett, are using the high price of tickets on ebay & other scalper locations to get more money per shows from the promotors. They know they can't stop it but by demanding more money (which causes the face value to go up) they feel they are getting their piece of the pie. There are a few bands that are keeping their ticket prices low but very few.

CaptDave · Post by **CaptDave** » June 18, 2005 2:26 am

jbfins wrote:HOG WASH! A simple little system of mail order tickets would easily solve the problem.

Since he is into DMB and Phish and the Dead, maybe he should take a play out of their playbooks.

Short and sweet, he doesn't give a crap! About time someone asked the questions though.

well - if he played out of their playbook, you wouldnt be able to listen FREE on RM to every show - even some that arent easily accessable by the public... and, if you know any U2 or Phish fans, they will tell you that those programs are as problematic as any regular ticket sales - especailly when there are less shows available.... unfortunately, its impossible to be fair to everyone, and an attempt that doesnt work would just make things worse...

personally, I have never gone to a show and not been able to get tickets at the event if I needed to... if there were unilateral rules against scalping, the odds of being able to 'walk in' to a show go down dramatically.... sometimes I have even paid less than face value if i was willing to forego 'hot hot hot'... that sorta evens things out in my book....

dont get me wrong - Im not saying its right or fair.. but, I think that Jimmy does do more than MOST artists for his fans- at least there is a Radio Margaritaville option that no one else has, and I think the odds of happening by a bar in the Bahamas or a Cheeseburger in Paradise and catching an improptu show is much better than those that Phish fans have.... (and no, I've not been that lucky, but yes, Im still holding out hope!)