View Full Version : Mumford & Sons ticket woes and rude fans.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w63/greatgig/mumford.png
Yesterday from 09.00 till 12.15 I tried almost constantly to buy a ticket for Mumford & Sons at Portsmouth Guildhall. The servers and phone lines were clearly overloaded and it took till 12.15 for me to log into the website and believe it or not, I selected the last seat in a side balcony. I couldn't believe my luck, the very last seat shown available.
Anyway, to cut a long story short the server was still having problems and during checkout it timed out and I lost the ticket :steam:
This morning I called the Box Office an hour after they opened, explained what had happened and asked if there was anything that could be done? The lady apologised and said they had been inundated and that the event was totally sold out. But she would put me on a reserve list for any returns and then before hanging up she said "Thank-you for being so understanding"
I said no problem, it happens with popular bands. She replied "We have been on the phones constantly this morning and you are the first person to call who hasn't been abusive, so thanks"
What's the matter with folk today :scratch:
(you may ask why would anyone want to see Mumford & Sons, but I like them ;-))
brian2957
29-09-2012, 20:45
Sometimes we forget that the people at the other end of these ticket lines are only there to do a job too . It's not their fault, and I'm sure it doesn't state in their contract that they are there to take abuse . Civility costs nothing. Honest :)
Audioman
29-09-2012, 20:49
Tim you had a lucky escape ! :lol:
Tim you had a lucky escape !
Yup, can't argue . . . surprised it took someone nearly 9 hours to say it :lol:
I had a similar experience trying to get tickets for Norah Jones - twice the server stalled at the buying tickets phase, and resulted in those seats being locked out as 'sold'. I phoned the box office and waited an age, but the lady who took my call was extremely helpful, unlocked the seats and sold them to me. As you say, it isn't their personal fault and a little courtesy usually results in their being very helpful.
Another thing that REALLY pisses me off, is what's happening now - they are go for £100+ on eBay for a 23.50 ticket!
I f*&^%$£ hate touts, I mean I REALLY hate them :steam:
Another thing that REALLY pisses me off, is what's happening now - they are go for £100+ on eBay for a 23.50 ticket!
I f*&^%$£ hate touts, I mean I REALLY hate them :steam:
Yes but who supplies the touts? Consider - The gig wasn't actually sold out when they said it was and the touts will have paid more than £23.50 to buy those tickets...work it out...
Richardl
30-09-2012, 15:35
Have a look on ebay the week before the gig. You can usually pick up a ticket at a decent price, they just want to get rid if them. Just be careful about the seller though.
Yes but who supplies the touts? Consider - The gig wasn't actually sold out when they said it was and the touts will have paid more than £23.50 to buy those tickets...work it out...
I know what you're saying Martin and generally I would agree with you, but Portsmouth Guildhall is a small venue not backed by the organisations/dirty tricks you are alluding too. I am seeing real tickets being posted, which because of the time factor involved can only have been bought by people lining up at the Guildhall and profiteering - Guildhall supplied tickets are very unique in their appearance and only supplied by them direct from the Box Office - buy them anywhere else and you get a different ticket.
In this case it just pure greed as it was always going to be a money spinner, following their new album release and appearance on the Radio 1 live lounge last Monday - I have a good mind to approach the Guildhall with these ticket numbers, but I doubt anyone will care?
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w63/greatgig/mumford2.png
Are the venue and the promotor one and the same? It does not appear so from the tickets. The venue will have no control over what the promotor does with his 'share' of the tickets. Of course an ordinary punter may have figured out that it would be a sell out and been first in line to buy as many tickets as possible in the hope of making a killing. That may occasionally happen.
Yup, that's what's happened here Martin, it was clearly going to be a sell out - they are playing the O2 Arena later in the year, so somewhere like the Guildhall is a goldmine for those wanting to exploit it. But when I say I dislike touts I mean all of them, the promoters, Seatwave and Viagogo or the bloke who stands and buys a maximum allocation only to run home and mark them up 4 fold, they are all as bad as each other. These were on eBay hours after they went on sale at the Box Office.
Oh well, no point in getting bent out of shape, it is what it is and the only people who will change it are the bands themselves. It is possible to get round ticket touts if you can be bothered, most bands don't get involved and leave it to the promoter - there are some that try to protect their fans, but not enough sadly.
I think it is unlikely - I am not in the business but I know someone who is so have a bit of insight. The promotor will always kep some tickets back - so if it is selling well they can put up a 'sold out' notice and sell the tickets at a higher price to the 'secondary market', thus increasing their profit. If it is selling badly they can offload cheap to the same people who will then undercut the sticker price. If they officially dropped the price then everytone who bought at the higher price originally would want a refund so it avoids that issue too.
Also if the venue has standing area (like this one) then they can print extra tickets and overfill that without 'official' sales exceeding the venue capacity. It's a game, it really is. Without those practices going on there would be no touting.
Well shall have to agree to disagree on this one Martin, might apply to other larger venues, but I know this one well and I do know how the ticket market operates and this isn't a promoter keeping tickets back to stroke the prices, this is individual profiteering IMO. I think we are talking on two differing levels?
Anyway, water under the bridge I didn't get one and TBH as they have become popular and 'mainstream', by definition they should now drop of my radar. I am also quite confident I will get a call from the Box Office with the offer of a ticket at some point ;)
Fingers crossed for you mate :)
Fingers crossed for you mate :)
Cheers Martin, I have to wonder what I am doing wanting to see them actually, but I really like their new album. Very well crafted songs and musicianship - if you like banjo :lol:
The only way to defeat touts will be to print tickets with names on and insist on ID being produced on entry.
I have a good mind to approach the Guildhall with these ticket numbers, but I doubt anyone will care?
I bloody would... I always used to be a "live and let live" kind of guy - but just lately I've become a grumpy old man, not taking any sh1t, complaining when I'm not happy about service and reporting one particular tnuc to the police for his rampant idiocy... :) None of it will do any good, but it makes me feel better! :lol:
The only way to defeat touts will be to print tickets with names on and insist on ID being produced on entry.
It is not the touts who are the problem. Martin, that is what I am trying to explain. Except for the odd case of individual profiteering as Tim has experienced the touts get all their tickets from the promotor. It is a very useful tool for the promotor as it allows him to maximise his profit and minimize his loss. No promotor would want a system like you describe to be put into place.
I bloody would... I always used to be a "live and let live" kind of guy - but just lately I've become a grumpy old man, not taking any sh1t, complaining when I'm not happy about service and reporting one particular tnuc to the police for his rampant idiocy... :) None of it will do any good, but it makes me feel better!
:lol: . . . welcome to my world Alex.
No promotor would want a system like you describe to be put into place.
I guess you're right, Martin. One case where legislation would be a good thing (and I dislike the constant introduction of new laws).
I guess you're right, Martin. One case where legislation would be a good thing (and I dislike the constant introduction of new laws).
A nice thought Martin, but I doubt you will ever be able to legislate out greed, but I know there is an MP trying.
I'm not sure who it was, I think it was The Stone Roses who did a gig once at the Apollo. Purchasers had to give a mobile number when they booked and they got a text an hour before the show with a code which allowed entry. Then the Led Zep gig and wristbands - I'm sure they are many ways to get round it, but as Martin says the promoters have a large part to play as well. Then there's the extra cost of administering it, but the text idea is pretty simple. Not foolproof, but a step in the right direction.
Tim, I just noticed that the Tina Dico concert we are going to requires presentation of the (Music Glue) printed ticket and matching ID. Way to go!
Tim, I just noticed that the Tina Dico concert we are going to requires presentation of the (Music Glue) printed ticket and matching ID. Way to go!
Yes, it says that but I have yet to be asked for ID from a Music Glue booking. Some venues don't even ask to see the e-ticket, just ask for your name and tick you off a list. If they did insist on ID that would definitely be progress, ID and the credit card you booked with, but in practice that causes problems if the purchaser is absent for a totally legit ticket.
That reminds me I must take Judy off and put Tina on ;)
That reminds me I must take Judy off and put Tina on ;)
Either you're talking about the music or you're a lucky boy ;)
Either you're talking about the music or you're a lucky boy ;)
Hahahaha, well if I'm ever lucky enough to have such a choice, Judy is going to get very tired and Tina's got a long wait ahead :D
Hahahaha, well if I'm ever lucky enough to have such a choice, Judy is going to get very tired and Tina's got a long wait ahead :D
Don't worry, I'll keep Tina busy while she's waiting! :eyebrows:
Why not watch Tina and Judy 'get busy' together, and then join in the action later? ;)
Marco.
Threads are no longer killed on this site - they simply descend into lesbian related sexual fantasies instead.
And you're complaining? :lol:
Marco.
P.S Not lesbo, but bi. They're much more fun, less selfish, (and usually better looking)! ;)
Put a fork in it - It's done !
Put a fork in it - It's done !
I'm never really sure how these AoS derailments happen, but you can bet your bottom dollar that Marco is normally lurking somewhere :lol:
Wot moi? I'm just a shy and innocent type!
Marco.
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