Why do we charge £200 a ticket? Because the touts do, says the O2
source: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/why-do-we-charge-163200-a-ticket-...
-
-
- Mcellie
- added this
From reading the article you can analyse this in different ways, either the prices are because of touts, from online sales, venue profit making plans or the music industry looking for profits in tours instead of album sales.
Either way, when going to the O2 it sounds like you cannot be guaranteed to creep to the front unless you've brought a 'platinum ticket'. If the 'better view' ticket system works then it might be used by more big venues, since I recall some bands let early arrivals get a free wristband to a zone set at the front of the stage.
"Some bands appearing at the 23,000-seat venue seem to have avoided the temptation to charge Platinum prices, so tickets including service charge for Peter Kay, the comedian, cost £40, Shakira £45, Roxy Music £67, and Lady Gaga £84, including the best seats.
However, other bands appear to be taking advantage of the Platinum system to maximise their profits. Two seats in block A2 for Jean Michel Jarre's show next month cost £195, against a normal face value of £51. Only one Platinum ticket is left for Supertramp, at a cost of £204. At £98 each, Platinum tickets for the Australian comedian Tim Minchin on 14 December are double the normal £44 face value."-Independent
IMO, it is strange to says high price tickets are a tout reaction system, since some football venues use a membership oyster card system that in theory might reduce the sale of paper tickets, which are easily toutable. Though higher prices for certain seats are not a surprise since festivals and touring are more popular at the moment.
Either way, when going to the O2 it sounds like you cannot be guaranteed to creep to the front unless you've brought a 'platinum ticket'. If the 'better view' ticket system works then it might be used by more big venues, since I recall some bands let early arrivals get a free wristband to a zone set at the front of the stage.
"Some bands appearing at the 23,000-seat venue seem to have avoided the temptation to charge Platinum prices, so tickets including service charge for Peter Kay, the comedian, cost £40, Shakira £45, Roxy Music £67, and Lady Gaga £84, including the best seats.
However, other bands appear to be taking advantage of the Platinum system to maximise their profits. Two seats in block A2 for Jean Michel Jarre's show next month cost £195, against a normal face value of £51. Only one Platinum ticket is left for Supertramp, at a cost of £204. At £98 each, Platinum tickets for the Australian comedian Tim Minchin on 14 December are double the normal £44 face value."-Independent
IMO, it is strange to says high price tickets are a tout reaction system, since some football venues use a membership oyster card system that in theory might reduce the sale of paper tickets, which are easily toutable. Though higher prices for certain seats are not a surprise since festivals and touring are more popular at the moment.
-
- groups:
- Entertainment, Music, Technology
