All 3 presales, only $549 VIP tickets available in Calgary!

[Kate Gerritsen]

I would really like to know what Leonard Cohen would think if he knew that for all three pre-sales plus the public sale today, not one ticket was available except for the $549 VIP package. What a shameless scam. I'm lucky I saw him in London a few months ago at the O2 but I really wanted my sons to see him here in Calgary. I feel so ripped off. I refuse to pay a minimum surcharge of 50% per ticket to buy them through Ticketmaster's criminal counterpart, TicketBuy or whatever it's called. I hope those people rot in bloody hell.

[swansong]

I would really like to know what Leonard Cohen would think if he knew that for all three pre-sales plus the public sale today, not one ticket was available except for the $549 VIP package. What a shameless scam. I'm lucky I saw him in London a few months ago at the O2 but I really wanted my sons to see him here in Calgary. I feel so ripped off. I refuse to pay a minimum surcharge of 50% per ticket to buy them through Ticketmaster's criminal counterpart, TicketBuy or whatever it's called. I hope those people rot in bloody hell.

Kate, what time did you try to buy presale tickets? We bought 2 tickets on the Wednesday presale , at 10:02, although all the site offered us were balcony. So today we bought 4 on the floor, 10th row, from the Ticketmaster outlet, in person. We were first in line, though. I wonder if only the VIP were left over, after the rest sold out. We may have 2 balcony tickets if my friend doesn't want to buy them off us.

[Kate Gerritsen]

Hi! Three of us were online right at 10:00, and every minute or two after until 10:30 or so. We also were on the phone at the same time. Plus I tried later in the day all of the days. No seats in any categories were available to any of us for four straight days. I know the routine because I bought tickets to about 20 concerts last year, so I got it down to a science. I guess you were lucky and I was unlucky. We would like to get two balcony seats so let me know if you decide to sell them and I appreciate your reply. My email is gerrit@telusplanet.net. Thanks, Kate

[swansong]

Hi! Three of us were online right at 10:00, and every minute or two after until 10:30 or so. We also were on the phone at the same time. Plus I tried later in the day all of the days. No seats in any categories were available to any of us for four straight days. I know the routine because I bought tickets to about 20 concerts last year, so I got it down to a science. I guess you were lucky and I was unlucky. We would like to get two balcony seats so let me know if you decide to sell them and I appreciate your reply. My email is gerrit@telusplanet.net. Thanks, Kate

I know what you're saying. It is so anxiety producing when you know you are dealing with computers and everyone else that wants those tickets. I will definitely email you within the next few days to let you know about the 2 tickets. There are only 1800 + seats in the Jack Singer, so any seat is a great seat, if L.C. is in the house! These are top balcony, center, about 8 rows back , $97.40 plus TM charges each, what we'll pay for them at the Will Call box office, day of show. I'll be in touch.

[Kate Gerritsen]

Hi, that is very thoughtful of you. The seat location is fine. Will-call may not work because the tickets are for my sons and we won't be there to make it happen...it would be better if they had the tickets ahead. But maybe there's a solution... Is there any chance of you getting the tickets ahead of time? I don't think so but do you know a way? Thanks again.

[Fontana]

Cohen takes Calgary, Ticketmaster takes low road


Calgary HeraldMarch 3, 2009

No wonder Ticketmaster has fewer fans these days, considering the questionable sales practices the North American ticket giant continues to defend.

Leonard Cohen tickets sold out within minutes of going on sale in Calgary. Yet seats are still available. Ticketmaster's VIP Platinum program is selling them for as high as $809 apiece -- more than three times their face value.

Ticketmaster defends the service as one that enables the event provider and promoter to sell tickets closer to their true-market value.

The average music fan will-beg to differ. Even Leonard Cohen said he wanted to keep prices reasonable for his fans. So why weren't fewer tickets dedicated to promotions and presales, and more set aside to accommodate the public?

Ticketmaster senior vice-president Joe Freeman con-firmed most were long gone before ever going on sale publicly. "All we had left was a fraction" he said.

Without a connection or hundreds of dollars, fans are left singing in silence. Therein lies the true source of rightful ire and frustration, epitomized by the Cohen controversy.

Ticketmaster may not set the numbers, but it has enough clout with its exclusive contracts at venues to overhaul the system.

The industry must address the needs of the most important member of the entertainment sector, now being ignored--the fans.

The fans are calling for change and a fairer ticketing system. The industry should listen and respond.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Cohen+take ... story.html

[Fontana]

Anger over lack of concert tickets


Updated: Tue Mar. 03 2009 18:00:27

ctvcalgary.ca

Fans near the front of the line to get tickets to Leonard Cohen's April concert in Calgary came up empty-handed.

Despite being third in line, Wendy Dudley discovered all the tickets were gone by the time she got to the counter of the Jubilee box office.

She went to Ticketmaster's website and they were all sold out too.

But when she clicked the link to Ticketmaster's Ticket Exchange she found plenty of tickets selling for more than double the listed price.

Ticketmaster recently paid 350 thousand dollars, without admitting fault, to the New Jersey Attorney General.

The money was paid to settle a claim made by angry fans of Bruce Springsteen.

They were redirected to a Ticketmaster subsidiary Tickets Now to buy tickets at inflated prices.

Ontario's Attorney General is now also looking into the company's practices in that province.

A spokesperson for Ticketmaster says several things conspired against fans involved in the Cohen concert.

Alberta Lopez says the number of tickets Ticketmaster had for the concert was far below normal.

He says five pre-sale events meant that up to 20 per cent of the tickets were already sold.

As for the tickets on Ticket Exchange, Lopez says those are tickets sold by the promoter, venue, or artist.

A class action lawsuit has been filed by a Calgary lawyer on behalf of customers of the Tickets Now website. Similar actions are underway in Ontario and B-C.

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/ ... algaryHome

[foxglove]

I, likewise, had the frustrating experience of being unable to buy ANY ticket when they went on sale at 10:00 last Monday even though I had several friends trying simultaneously. But all is not lost, fellow Calgarian Cohen fans! I just did a quick google search and found any number of sites where tickets are still available. Here are a few samples:
At StubHub.com by my rough count there are 185 tickets for sale. The very best are only $2118 EACH (plus a 'last minute service fee' of $15 plus a service fee of 10% of the ticket price). Did I mention that this is un US dollars? If you are happy with a balcony seat, they start at just under $300 each plus all the appropriate fees.
If you don't like the selection there, check out concertticketcenter.com or ticketspot.com. Front row seats there are only $1800 and $1697 respectively................plus fees, of course. Still not happy? There are lots of other sites to visit.
The way these tickets have been handled is appalling. I am SO GLAD to hear that there is a lawsuit being launched.

[st theresa]

My experience was a bit frustrating but rewarding in the end.
I kept punching in all the info and getting a notice that my card was not valid.
I tried another card--no good.
Finally on my last try I realized that I had punched in MC instead of visa--I had three chances of tickets--two at $165 and the final one at $97. which I managed to get in the balcony. All thanks to Jarkko and his presale info. MY mistake not ticketmaster or Jarkko's. I got my ticket at about 10:20 the day of the presale, even with all the floundering about.