It's downright disturbing...

[kamera]

Tix for the 5 shows have only been available through the presale, and there are already lots of them listed on ebay. WTF?

[H.Stone]

Yeah, that totally sucks.

[froggie]

scalpers are pretty smart people, you know

[ZenLunatic]

scalpers are pretty smart people, you know

 

I would say money grubbing assholes, not smart.

[hazel]

I would say money grubbing assholes, not smart.

 

i second that.

[markosis]

So I should be checking ebay for Philly tickets, huh?

[ZenLunatic]

So I should be checking ebay for Philly tickets, huh?

 

For everyone who didnt get tickets, I would sugguest waiting till closer to the show than pay scalper prices. Usually prices go down along with opportunities that a real Wilco who bought tickets cant make it and sell them at face value. Keep an eye out here in Via Chicago, I have gotten tix here at face value for sell out shows days before the concert. Gotta make the scalpers sell for at little profit as much as possible at the least. Dont pay their high prices.

[markosis]

Yeah, I've actually had alot of luck with this site, the last two Wilco shows I've been to. Last one I got a ticket at face value and the one prior I sold two that I had extra. I'm not giving up!

[jerryskid89]

It is still early. I have, one too many time, been stuck with extra tickets. There will be those honest people that have come on hard times and need to get rid of tickets.

 

I think all tickets should be picked up at will call, where you would have to show I.D. to get them, problem solved (with long lines)!

[froggie]

> I would say money grubbing assholes, not smart.

 

that too..

[embiggen]

this sort of thing happens all the time.

[JRiordan]

I think all tickets should be picked up at will call, where you would have to show I.D. to get them, problem solved (with long lines)!

 

Smashing Pumpkins did this for the "residencies" this summer (9 shows at Orange Peel in Asheville, NC and 12 shows at Fillmore in San Francisco). It was perfect. Eliiminated 99.9% of all scalping. The scalpers didn't even bother getting tickets because there was no way to sell them because the original buyer had to show ID at will call to pick them up and then enter the venue immediately (i.e. no heading back out to the street to sell them).

 

This is the way to do it for any "big deal" shows. Wilco, please take note.

[Doug C]

Smashing Pumpkins did this for the "residencies" this summer (9 shows at Orange Peel in Asheville, NC and 12 shows at Fillmore in San Francisco). It was perfect. Eliiminated 99.9% of all scalping. The scalpers didn't even bother getting tickets because there was no way to sell them because the original buyer had to show ID at will call to pick them up and then enter the venue immediately (i.e. no heading back out to the street to sell them).

 

This is the way to do it for any "big deal" shows. Wilco, please take note.

I've been a huge fan since No Depression broke. I am not much of an internet guy but my melancholia at missing tickets for the first 2 residency shows brought me over to read and post. I have to admit that, I too, expected more foresight and "scalper reality" savvy from the best band in the world. I am flabbergasted that tickets were on ebay and other sites before the public onsale even took place. I had our room booked in Chicago and a birthday surprise trip ready for my wife. Thank God that I didn't get the flights yet. Also, they haven't been to FL since March 2006. Why no love for F-L-A? I've still caught several shows since then because we'll travel for Wilco but why don't they want to be down in Pensacola hiding from the snow anymore?

[chitaper]

I have to admit that, I too, expected more foresight and "scalper reality" savvy from the best band in the world. I am flabbergasted that tickets were on ebay and other sites before the public onsale even took place.

Bands actually have little control over ticket sales most times. Ticketbastard has contracts with venues, not bands, to sell tickets. Typically, the band gets ~10% of the tickets (which Wilco sells through their pre-sale), the promoter gets an allotment, the venue gets an allotment, the sponsor (WXRT) gets an allotment. Probably only 60% or so of available tickets for most events are made available to the general public.

 

Oh, and it gets worse for large venues such as the United Center and Soldier Field. Did you know that Bulls/Blackhawks season ticket holders get first crack at all events held at the United Center? Same for Bears season ticket holders for events at Soldier Field. That's why you end up with nosebleed seats at the UC even though you're "first" in line for tickets.

 

As you can see, there's lots of ways for brokers to get their hands on tickets before they ever go on sale to the general public.

[VenusStopsTrain2]

I decided after all this mess with scalpers and seeing how many of us were unable to get tickets I would email those in charge, cause let's face it, we may complain but unless we say something to those in charge, things are NOT going to change. So I emailed the following and you can choose to email them as well.

 

info@highroadtouring.com - High Road Touring Co.

info@tmmchi.com - Tony Margherita Management Co.

 

I emailed both the same courteous well thought out email. I say courteous because I'd much rather sound nice then mean. I even talked about a solution to the issue with ticketmaster, and the fact that some of us seem quite willing to pick up at Will Call with our i.d.'s to make it harder for scalpers to re-sell tickets.

 

Any other ideas or plans of action?

[Doug C]

Bands actually have little control over ticket sales most times. Ticketbastard has contracts with venues, not bands, to sell tickets. Typically, the band gets ~10% of the tickets (which Wilco sells through their pre-sale), the promoter gets an allotment, the venue gets an allotment, the sponsor (WXRT) gets an allotment. Probably only 60% or so of available tickets for most events are made available to the general public.

 

Oh, and it gets worse for large venues such as the United Center and Soldier Field. Did you know that Bulls/Blackhawks season ticket holders get first crack at all events held at the United Center? Same for Bears season ticket holders for events at Soldier Field. That's why you end up with nosebleed seats at the UC even though you're "first" in line for tickets.

 

As you can see, there's lots of ways for brokers to get their hands on tickets before they ever go on sale to the general public.

I see your point but disagree. They have some control. Regardless of Ticketmaster venue contracts, a band/management can still have in their contract that all ticket sales will be willcall only. It has been done before. Ticketmaster would still sell them to you via computer, you'd just have to take the willcall option rather than choose it. I already knew about the 10% for pre-sales, it is on the website, and know that less than 100% of tickets are made available but I think that a band has some weight in determining the amount sold to the GP.

We aren't talking about large venues, we are talking about the Riviera Thetare.

No matter how you analyze it, the simple ironic truth is that a series of shows designed with the hardcore fan in mind, was organized in a way to make serious, longtime fans unable to attend or have to pay prices that Wilco did not intend to have folks pay. That is sad.