Should PJ consider a "Beat the Bots" box office only pre-sale strategy like the Foos?

demetrios · November 2014

Zod said:
I'm against it. Pearl Jam never plays the town I live in.

Same here. I live on the dark side of Halifax. Pearl Jam has only played 3 show's here in Eastern Canada. 1 in Halifax, Nova Scotia & 2 in St.John's, Newfoundland. 3 show's in 24 years in Atlantic Canada. Traveling outside the Atlantic to see Pearl Jam is the only way I can see my band work.

Yeah, I'm totally against this ticket strategy.

But if 10club put a rule that old school loyalty paying 10club members between 1x - 170xxx will totally be guarantee a ticket to any city / show of their choice no matter what if they follow these footsteps of the FF, sure, I'm in.

FrankieG · November 2014

I feel like this would be going back to the F5 days where you need to invest 5+ hours in order to get good seats. (Except you would be waiting in line on a Saturday in the weather instead of at a desk..)

If they had this type of presale for a show near me, i would definitely arrange to get there suuper early, probably the night before... But the odds are in my favor because I can relatively easily get to a box office anywhere from DC to NY. The smaller a tour is, the more regional draw a show has, which I think would make this idea a nightmare.

The 10club membership (with the exception of GA) is preventing scalping. I would want to go ticketless/immediate entry upon pickup of tickets before doing a 'beat the bots' thing.

Mercury · November 2014

my2hands said:
More lines?

No thanks

THIS.

Suziemay · November 2014

I genuinely appreciate that the Foos are trying something in the hopes of helping out fans. However, I'm not sure it solves much of anything. As others have said, scalpers will be in line with their buddies. They were in line at Key Arena last year waiting for ticket drops just like the rest of us. Wrigley too.

Only thing I can think of is using unique presale codes the way some other bands do. And I do like the idea of hometown advantage, so maybe a code that's only good for hometown shows a day before tickets are available to the rest of 10c? Then if there's any left, another code will be emailed out that can be used for any shows. Day of show will call only or paperless tickets (although I do like my ticket stubs!). Maybe they can use TicketWeb or BrownPaperTickets or something, but I wouldn't be opposed to TM either.

Already feeling exhausted just thinking of attempting to get tickets for the next tour, whenever that will be!

ldent42 · November 2014

I will say I like this idea, but IN TANDEM with 10c lottery.
Ticketmaster tends to have several presales, like for Amex or Citi card members, or if you buy a CD and get a code, and THEN the general sale.
So if PJ did 10c lottery, on site box office sale, then general sale (ticketmaster) I think it could be a good thing. No, it wouldn't stop scalpers. Yes, it disadvantages people who live in areas that do not get shows in the sense that they can't go line up at the venue box office, but as long as the 10c lottery happens first I'd argue that the benefit to those who CAN go wait in line outweighs that disadvantage, since the lottery won't change and the general sale will still happen.

To my knowledge the Foos don't have a 10c lottery-esque method of getting fan club members tickets prior to the ticketmaster sale, so this is one way for them to go about doing that early access thing. FWIW, without starting a class war argument, I'd like to mention that those of us (including myself) who travel for PJ shows have the privilege to do that. So doing an in person only presale is another way of giving a leg up to fans who aren't so fortunate, who have to compete with traveling fans in the lottery, as well as scalpers, traveling fans, and "casuals" in the general sale.

And no, I will not be waiting on line at Citifield on Saturday. I will try to get tickets in the general sale cuz Foos put on a good show.

Zod · November 2014

Suziemay said:

Only thing I can think of is using unique presale codes the way some other bands do. And I do like the idea of hometown advantage, so maybe a code that's only good for hometown shows a day before tickets are available to the rest of 10c? Then if there's any left, another code will be emailed out that can be used for any shows. Day of show will call only or paperless tickets (although I do like my ticket stubs!). Maybe they can use TicketWeb or BrownPaperTickets or something, but I wouldn't be opposed to TM either.

I like the idea of unique codes. PJ used them for the 2011 Canadian Tour. That was the presale that broke the website and the last of the F5 sales. PJ used unique codes on TM as a last minute measure to sell the 10c tickets on that tour.. it worked pretty good.

I'm still against hometown advantage. It's a big F.U. to all the fans that live outside of the places PJ tours. I think there are more 10c members that live in places PJ doesn't tour than 10c members in cities they do tour. I'm against any idea that increases the odds for one segment of 10c'ers to get tickets at the expense of all the other 10c'ers. If you read peoples ideas it's often about ways they can change the system so it increases the odds they get tickets at the expense of other people. In this case giving a hometown advantage to increase the odds of getting tickets for people in that city, but preventing anyone who doesn't live near a touring city from getting any tickets. It doesn't feel right to me when the idea involves making the system work better for me by making it worse for other people. This is why ideas like "Make sure everyone under member #170000" gets tickets first don't jive with me. It would benefit me immensely, but it's a big F.U. to anyone who joined the 10c in the 21st century.

It's pretty obvious the band realizes this by giving you lotto preferences so you can choose the show that's easiest for you to get to (or the one you want to see the most). If the closest show to you is 500 miles away, then you can still put in your preference for that show. I think on a basic level the current lottery handles the geography issues rather well. It give's everyone a shot at picking a show as the one they want to see, which makes it inclusive for all the fans that live in places PJ doesn't play. There's a few tweaks they could do to the lotto system, but the over all concept seems fair and equitable to me.

ckravitz · November 2014

So if the tickets can be offered at the venue instead of, say TicketMasters website, why can't more tickets be made available to fan club websites?. What I am saying is if TM (or whoever) is willing to allow venue only physical sales, it means they are giving control of the sale over to the venue. If that is the case (and I'm guessing there is more to this than we realize) then why can't TM release more tickets to be sold via fan club websites? Seems odd.

jwhjr17 · November 2014

Here's the rules for the St. Paul show in person box office sale. Seems pretty organized to me:

Tickets for the August 22, 2015, Foo Fighters concert will go on sale this Saturday, November 22 at 10 a.m. in person only at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office.

Numbered wristbands will be distributed at Gate 1 of Xcel Energy Center beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday and continuing until 3 p.m. or until wristbands run out. Absolutely no camping overnight or lining up for wristband prior to 7 a.m. will be permitted. Receiving a wristband guarantees the opportunity to purchase tickets to the show. Prices and locations subject to availability.

After receiving a wristband, fans will be directed to form a line. Fans must stay in line as leaving the line will forfeit their position. Fans may not save a place in line for other fans and wristbands are non-transferable. Fans must have a wristband to purchase tickets. There is a ticket limit of two (2) tickets per wristband, no exceptions.

lolobugg · November 2014

jwhjr17 said:
Here's the rules for the St. Paul show in person box office sale. Seems pretty organized to me:

Tickets for the August 22, 2015, Foo Fighters concert will go on sale this Saturday, November 22 at 10 a.m. in person only at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office.

Numbered wristbands will be distributed at Gate 1 of Xcel Energy Center beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday and continuing until 3 p.m. or until wristbands run out. ~~Absolutely no camping overnight or lining up for wristband prior to 7 a.m. will be permitted.~~ Receiving a wristband guarantees the opportunity to purchase tickets to the show. Prices and locations subject to availability.

After receiving a wristband, fans will be directed to form a line. Fans must stay in line as leaving the line will forfeit their position. Fans may not save a place in line for other fans and wristbands are non-transferable. Fans must have a wristband to purchase tickets. There is a ticket limit of two (2) tickets per wristband, no exceptions.

good luck with that one

Amongst the Ani · November 2014

^^^^ This seems insane to me. You can't line up early so what happens right at 7am when the box office is ready to start the process. If PJ tried this they would probably get banned from playing in that city ever again as the mayhem that would ensue right at 7am would need the national guard called in to calm it down. I assume FF is thinking since it is GA who cares if you are 1st or 201st as long as tickets are available. For FF that is probably the case in most cities. With PJ though the demand would far outweigh the tickets available. Old videos of people getting trampled on black friday would be nothing compared to what would happen as soon as wrist bands started getting handed out at 7am with no line or structure up until that point. PJ has it right for their fan base who travels to the few shows a year they play with the system they are using. Keep the current system

lolobugg · November 2014

cdysinge said:
^^^^ This seems insane to me. You can't line up early so what happens right at 7am when the box office is ready to start the process. If PJ tried this they would probably get banned from playing in that city ever again as the mayhem that would ensue right at 7am would need the national guard called in to calm it down. I assume FF is thinking since it is GA who cares if you are 1st or 201st as long as tickets are available. For FF that is probably the case in most cities. With PJ though the demand would far outweigh the tickets available. Old videos of people getting trampled on black friday would be nothing compared to what would happen as soon as wrist bands started getting handed out at 7am with no line or structure up until that point. PJ has it right for their fan base who travels to the few shows a year they play with the system they are using. Keep the current system

Agreed. Speaking as someone who used to be a retail manager- they are setting themselves up for some bad shit to happen.

my2hands · November 2014

honestly it seems like a bit of a gimmick to build hype to me, since i dont really see a need to do this...

why not just use non-transferable willcall pickup tickets for the best seats in the house like Uncle Neil and Bruce (and other artists as well)?

Zod · November 2014

I agree that doesn't seem logicial. How many tickets are being sold for the presale? What if it's 1000 tickets and 2000 people show up for 7:00am? How do you create any order. It's not like people will arrive single file starting at 7:00am. A bunch of people will come at 7:00am....

josevolution · November 2014

F any f'n lines i'm done with any of this crap , i'd rather hear concert announcements from the Radio stations like in the old days they'd announce a show and tickets would go on sale that afternoon or that morning you had to go and find a ticket outlet to get tickets .....

Suziemay · November 2014

Zod said:

I'm still against hometown advantage. It's a big F.U. to all the fans that live outside of the places PJ tours.

Totally see your point. I guess where I'm coming from is, it's really not fun being shut out for tickets to shows at my doorstep. I live in NYC so yes, more bands pay here more frequently than most cities, however, I also pay a premium to live here precisely because I want that access.

I don't have a good answer, other than the next time Pearl Jam comes back to MSG, I'd better be getting a ticket

bootlegger10 · November 2014

josevolution said:
F any f'n lines i'm done with any of this crap , i'd rather hear concert announcements from the Radio stations like in the old days they'd announce a show and tickets would go on sale that afternoon or that morning you had to go and find a ticket outlet to get tickets .....

There were still lines back then. I didn't even sniff the front of the line for the 1998 shows before they were sold out. It probably just varied by which outlet you went to.

deadendp · November 2014

Not a fan of this idea at all. PJ doesn't play NE Ohio, so that leaves us to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati or some other place. It would cut us out of the ticket loop and selfishly, that would make me sad. Besides, how would Derby Dave go to multiple shows in a tour?

Believe me, I stood in plenty of TM lines back in my early college days. I had the experience. I can cross that off of my list. I'm okay not to revisit it.

derbydave · November 2014

deadendp said:
Not a fan of this idea at all. PJ doesn't play NE Ohio, so that leaves us to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati or some other place. It would cut us out of the ticket loop and selfishly, that would make me sad. Besides, how would Derby Dave go to multiple shows in a tour?

Believe me, I stood in plenty of TM lines back in my early college days. I had the experience. I can cross that off of my list. I'm okay not to revisit it.

I promise you Amy...
I would find a way to make it to a few!!!

jervin007 · November 2014

Aren't most pre-sale allotments via ticketmaster not always the best seats? I would be disappointed if I waited outside the box-office only to receive mediocre seats. The first few people in line will probably score great seats, but keep in mind that there is still a general on-sale that will have tickets set aside for it.

ldent42 · November 2014

I would like to add to Suziemays comment that when your hometown market is a huge draw like in ny it's much harder to get tickets in public sale. If you see my sig you'll notice I attended Newark but not MSG 2010. I was shut out of TM public sale for MSG, before I knew about 10c tickets. If you're familiar with that show, you know exactly why I'm still bitter about it lol

Should PJ consider a "Beat the Bots" box office only pre-sale strategy like the Foos?

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