Ticketmaster Going Paperless?
invest-it-all
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Ticketmaster Earns First Honest Dollar
Ticketmaster, that ogre-like middleman who guards the bridge between between concert promoters and music fans, has already made a fortune charging customers for doing the work of cashiers. However, the company may be on the verge of earning its first honest dollar by implementing a ticket-less system that would deter scalpers.
After buying a ticket online, concert-goers must present the credit card they used for the purchase and a government ID in order to enter. Basically, the will call office will get replaced by a door guy who swipes your card and checks your ID.
By providing its first actual service to consumers, Ticketmaster should make it harder for scalpers to profit -- and for friends to transfer their tickets to each other if they can't attend a show due to unforeseen circumstances.
Tom Waits' "Glitter and Doom" Tour is the first to use the new system. Ticketmaster plans to launch the service throughout North America over the next 12-18 months, and ultimately wants to roll it out toworldwide venues.
"No tickets will ever exchange hands," according to Ticketmaster, and right they are! We have yet to hear about any sort of hand-exchanging ticket (next time can I be a lefty?). However, it could also be true that "no tickets will ever change hands" using the system.
"With 'Paperless Ticket' there is no waiting in will call lines," said executive Ticketmaster VP David Goldberg. "All it takes is a single swipe of a credit card at the door of the venue and a photo ID check by door staff that leads to a quick, secure, and simple way to experience live entertainment."
http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/05/ticketmaster-ea.html
For some reason it doesn't seem that quick, especially for a concert on a large scale.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
It would take no longer than the scan of the paper ticket.
The Raconteurs show at the Fonda last Sunday did this:
2 tickets per purchase... will call only... proof ID... once you pick up the tickets, you and your guest are ushered inside. There is no way a scalper can go back outside to sell the ticket. At most... he gets one sale.
I think it is a change in the right direction. Scalpers are a notch below Usama bin Laden on the scumbag scale.
Hail, Hail!!!