Leonard Cohen and Ticketmaster

[blue_94_trooper]

Detour... How dare you debunk a popular conspiracy theory! I think the villagers were just about to get their torches and pitchforks... This was going to get good!

[captrenault]

I bought tickets for the Hamilton show with the fanclub presale, and wound up in the nosebleeds (I'm going to need a Sherpa and an oxygen tank to get to my seat, but that's neither here nor there).

On a whim, I went through Ticketmaster yesterday with the general public sale, just to see what tickets were available. I was quite surprised to see that the tickets on offer were better than the ones I had bought, meaning that the presale people were shunted off to their own section beforehand. Who would be behind that, I don't know, but given my experience with Ticketmaster over the years, I expect that they put the die-hards in the back, and left better seats for those people they actually had to do a selling-job on. But this is pure guesswork on my part.

It was a bit frustrating to see that I could have gotten better tickets with the main public sale than I did with the fanclub presale, though. It's a balance, I suppose -- tickets in hand now, or a risk of better tickets (or none at all) later.

But I'll be there, and that's the main thing.

[Steve Wilcox]

Keep this in mind. When you buy a bag of apples from a grocery store that money does NOT go to the Farmer. Nor would you blame the Farmer for the price of apples at the grocery store. Nor did the Farmer set the price of the apples at the retail level! And, the Retailer bought them from a Wholesaler.

As much as the Farmer would like to see his apples eaten by happy healthy people, he doesn't have that much control once they leave the farm. The promoters are just as happy to turn them into apple sauce or McDonald's hot apple pies.

The Entertainment "Business" is the same. Leonard is just the Farmer, AEG Live is the Wholesaler, and the Retailer is either a local promoter or the venue. Each one takes some risk along the way that the tickets will sell, but normally it's the final stage -the Retailer/local promoter - who gets stuck with rotting un-sold apples or tickets.

When we buy a commodity known as the Leonard Cohen concert ticket, we are NOT paying Leonard to perform for us. Only AEG Live pays Leonard Cohen to perform. We are paying AEG and other promoters for the logistical costs of producing the show, plus a profit of course.

On another note - this tour has become a victim of its own success. The huge interest in acquiring tickets has - in the commercial sense of supply & demand - driven their cost to the limit. As has been posted elsewhere, Leonard, AEG and everyone associated with this venture has been amazed at its success.

Starting out in a 700-seat venue in Eastern Canada and nearly a year later, twice to Europe, back to Canada in between, then Downunder, all the time building incredible reviews and buzz, then taking New York - the Tour is now heading for the largest entertainment marketplace on the planet. And it has come a-shore in North America with incredible fanfare and a head-of-steam that no expected. Someone deserves a lot of credit for how the tour was laid out.

And I doubt that is Leonard, a mere Farmer.

[Patrycja]

^Cap, I got Hamilton ticket via the pre-sale as well and I have to say that many of us fared better than nosebleeds. Not trying to rub it in, just saying that although the matter of designated seating sections for pre-sale has crossed my mind (as opposed to solely a number of pre-sale tickets available), it seems there was a variety of seats available if indeed only certain sections were open for pre-sale.

Questionable practices from TM et al aside for a moment, it never ceases to amaze me how people complain about tickets being sold out when they get to the venue or start trying for them online a half hour after they go on sale. LC's been getting glowing reviews and selling out worldwide so I don't really see how people expected to get good seats (or tickets at all for that matter) by not being ready to get them right when they go on sale. Sometimes life does not permit such luxuries, but in such cases where it is possible to be by a phone or online at a designated time, why risk diminishing your chances?

[Landi]

As a comparison to Ticketmaster, I had the exact opposite experience with "Telecharge" the ticket service that handles the Wang Theatre box office in Boston. My first choice was to try for front row mezzanine tickets during the fan club presale for Boston. The Telecharge web site was overwhelmed for the first several minutes and I kept receiving error messages, then magically it started working and I got Row A, Center Right on my first try. Yesterday, I went on line at 10:00AM, the general sale to public, to try for 2 more tickets anywhere for our friends and immediately I was offered 2 front row center balcony tickets, which I grabbed. I understand they sold out quickly and I was lucky, my point being that I was on my home computer like everyone else and it seems that in contrast to Ticketmaster, perhaps Telecharge follows a more equitable protocol with their venues.

[donalagata]

Hi ,

[MaryB]

Donalagata,
At the box office, probably the day of the show. But, to be on the safe side, contact the box office.

Best regards,
Mary

[MaryT]

I am not sure this is the best topic to post this message under, but I have just registered now to write to you because I think that some people are taking their frustrations out on Leonard Cohen which is not a nice thing to see. I think it is very unfair to suggest that Leonard Cohen personally has arranged or approved the manipulation of the ticketing process in the US, if manipulation has taken place, but it is also funny in a way. Not only because this would contradict the values that he represents, but also because the interviews I have read all show that he takes absolutely no interest in financial or legal matters (losing his money, not knowing where to find the bank, inadvertently signing over the copyrights in some of his songs etc.). I find it hard to believe that such a person would even begin to think about or try to understand the pricing mechanisms entering into force in this situation.

However, I wouldn’t mind being wrong on this. I would be absolutely delighted to learn that Mr. Cohen himself benefits from the extra prices that are being charged for the tickets and that all the extra net profits would go directly to him and not to the managers, promoters, Ticketmaster, scalpers etc. If anyone deserves to cash in on the present success it is Mr. Cohen who is really taking a risk here. My mother is exactly the same age as he is, and I am pretty sure that a travelling schedule like Mr. Cohen’s tour schedule would kill her, literally. I won’t even begin to suggest what it is that drives him to do a tour as extensive as this (hopefully not any contractual obligations), but I am very concerned that although he may enjoy every concert, he is also wearing himself out. Try to compare the videos and pictures from the first part of the tour with those from the last part. I think he looks much more tired and worn out now than at the beginning. See also the Globe and Mail interview: He is an old man! But no one – not even the most devoted fans - seems to care. Everybody keeps requesting more concerts (and lower prices), and even if he – or rather his management, I am afraid - accommodates the fans with four new concerts in the US, they just ask for more. Knowing that this is probably his last tour so many people and companies are trying to squeeze everything out of it and of him. I truly hope that he has good and loyal advisors and that someone close to him would persuade him to slow down before it is too late.

Please accept that what is really at stake here is Mr. Cohen’s good health, and not some increased prices or a limited number of concert tickets. I am from Denmark, but wasn’t able to get tickets for the Copenhagen concerts, and quite frankly I am just as happy after not seeing him as I was before.

So, Mr. Cohen, at the risk of becoming unpopular at this forum, I kindly ask you not to arrange any more concerts than those already planned (cancel some if you want to), please feel free to charge the highest possible prices for the tickets, and do try to take good care of yourself as the most important thing from now on.

A concerned Dane

[mirka]

if manipulation has taken place, but it is also funny in a way. Not only because this would contradict the values that he represents, but also because the interviews I have read all show that he takes absolutely no interest in financial or legal matters

Well, this might be true in the past, seems that LC learned his lesson now:

So, you ask him, what have you learned about yourself from the ordeal?
"The next time around, I'll try to know where the bank is," he grimaces. "I was very, very, very absent from these day-to-day concerns.
Coffee and candour with Cohen
Globe and Mail, February 27, 2009
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13779"

Otherwise I agree with your concerns, and hope LC takes a good care of himself, and will be touring only as long as he really wants to.

mirka
--

[Dream Warrior]

With all due respect to those claiming that Leonard Cohen and his personal mangagement are ripping people off by offering these tickets for sale at inflated prices, how are you privy to this knowledge?

There are some very large claims being made wihout solid evidence being presented to support those claims. Just curious where your informastion is coming from.

L

[TonyVa]

I am just venting......but here we go.

I logged on this morning, all psyched up to get tickets for the second Chicago Theater show. I let out a whoop of joy as I yelled to my wife "Got 'em, 4 seats in the mezzanine booth", as far as I'm concerned the best seats in the place, plenty of leg room, a giant booth with a giant table, bathroom right outside, bar right outside. No lines. Great view. Way cheaper than the main floor seats. I saw Neil Young and Ray Davies twice each, and the mezzanine nights were WAY< WAY more enjoyable.

Then it happened. I had about 5 minutes to correct my old expired credit card info. My old address was also involved. For some %$#@#$%ing reason, the site wouldn't accept my new info. It kept telling me to complete or correct the information. Which I did, for the next 5 minutes.

I timed out and the tickets went to some LUCKY other. I feel like crying.


On the bright side, I did manage to get 2 good seats in DETROIT, a 4 1/2 hour drive..........

And I guess I'll get Chicago tickets at a price I can't afford.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!

[subrosa]

You may also want to note that the New York Radio City Fan Club pre-sale was all but a complete sham. I was hitting refresh and entering the password at 10 a.m. sharp and couldn't purchase two tickets for the life of me. The same happened to two friends who also tried to purchase pairs of tickets this morning. I did notice that one could buy individual seats (although the best their system offered me was in the corner of, get this - Orchestra Row ZZ ). It appears that some people did luck out - perhaps a token gesture on Ticketmaster's behalf - but all in all if this doesn't have scam written all over it I don't know what does.

[TonyVa]

Ticketmaster is just an obscene, evil example of corporate America at its worst.
But life is too short, I'm feeling a bit better today knowing that I will get to see
the great Leonard Cohen live.

[douard]

Hello. I just discovered another ticketmaster scam, and this one is probably not connectd to Cohen himself. In this morning's New York presale, I had tickets but when I was asked for my passwod the system didn't take the password, so I lost the tickets.. When I went back to ticketmaster's general url and put in my ID and password just to sign on it took the password. I am furious about this. The Amex presale didn't have a functioning link in the email I'd been sent, and when I went to ticketmaster it said there were no more tickets. Ticketmaster is a scam all the way down, and frankly, I've been listening to Leonard for 40 years and now I'm too old for this nonsense.

john

[AmeliaBedelia]

Just curious if people who are upset about not getting good seats are usual ticketbuyers? Judging from the frequency of repetitive questions regarding how to buy tickets, how to enter passwords, etc., I feel I can assume the answer to that question is no.

Almost any concert of this magnitude sold through Ticketmaster that is not general admission results in this kind of frenzy and quick ticket sell-out. The problem is NOT Leonard Cohen. It is Ticketmaster.