Venue Tickets Solution

Artists, sports teams, orchestras, and every other venue where sales of tickets are necessary, such as for capacity, have always been a luck of the draw kind of event. And the recent controversy surrounding Ticketmaster as a monopoly verses every other event ticket sales companies right to sell tickets on an equal platform is enough of a problem that I think there should be provided a simple solution for all concerned, sellers and buyers alike. So, here we go…

The best first way to prevent venue ticket problems is for each artist to have their own venue and website portal that only allows verified subscribers access to buying tickets online, first come, first served. By having a venue in a farm field or barnyard, high school football field, soccer field, national park, etc. and advertising on their website the dates, this gives the artist the time to sell enough tickets to plan the event any way they want. They do not have to rely on a venue provider to set up their event at all. The artist can hire an outside agency to handle their event because they plan and pay for all of it. The artist has the money in hand giving them total control over how, where, when, and to whom they play for. No more bots buyers or scalpers. Tickets may only be sold back to the website for a refund to be resold by the artist at a possible discount. Yes. I know. I love you, too.

There are several ways to ensure that customers or fans are fairly represented during sales of tickets to any event. One of the first things I think should be done is to only sell tickets in the immediate area of the event capacity. For instance, if an event is scheduled for, let’s say, the Walmart AMP theater in northwest Arkansas, then there should be address verification with names allowing those within the surrounding area to be the first in the que to purchase a ticket per person (depending on how many are in the family – such as purchasing for children). Yes, we can know all people in an area because they will have an account with any qualifying ticket seller if they know they will at some point purchase any tickets. They would have an account with a password attached to their name, phone number, email, and address. This simplifies ticket sales as presales can be made for that event. If a person changes their mind about their ticket purchase, they should be made to sell the ticket(s) back to the ticket seller so it may then be reoffered to locals.

Further, I think that when an event is planning to occur in a certain area, any ticket seller should have equal access to the total number of ticket sales for that event. This means that if Taylor Swift uses any venue, such as a Madison Square Gardens or any other owned venue – even Live Nation owned venue buildings, then every qualifying ticket sales companies with a presence or brick and mortar in that area (city) receive equal number of tickets from the Swift concert to offer for sale to the locals first, then the surrounding area, then state-wide. So, if Ticketmaster, tickets.com, or other ticket sellers would like to expand their business selling tickets, they must provide customers a place or business front where the tickets may be bought or at least to complain. 

The customers will most often buy the tickets online (a certain time frame sales to locals, then the seller can spread or radiate out and expand their sales area) but having a presence in the area makes it a legitimate business front qualifying that seller to be included in the total number of tickets to be sold for that venue. This means that Seatgeek, and other smaller ticket sellers wishing to expand their business, may set up a business front specially to serve the local community. This is only fair for all concerned, even the large seller Ticketmaster. It provides Ticketmaster the ability to outperform, but not block other businesses from expansion as the tickets are automatically spread equally between all registered businesses in the area the event is scheduled to occur. A state-wide registration may be necessary for the sales of county, in country, venues allowing all citizens in the state to attend that out of venue event.

Another concern for ticket sellers, especially online, has been bots that flood the site with fake buyers. Using my solution, the ticket sellers could send the customer in that area a notice on their email that an event is happening with seating options and a buy now button. At the very least they could put a ticket on hold for that person allowing them to either purchase right away or to hold their place until about a week or two before the event. Then, if they change their mind, they notify the ticket seller who may then resell or offer that ticket to another in the area or even further out. This process totally prevents scalping or fans paying exorbitant prices for tickets. 

As a further process that may be a little more invasive and expensive, the ticket holder may be required to present their credentials as they enter the event. I know this would help cut out resales because some people might just purchase a ticket for resale at outrageous prices to superfans. Credentials could be as simple as swiping their phone under a scanner allowing the owner of that phone into the event because they are in the sold que programming at that venue. The scanner scans a QR code that has been previously sent to the buyer that the event scanner recognizes as it is scanned at the gate.

Let’s break it down. If a stadium capacity is known (it is) for ticket sales for an event, and let’s say Live Nation owns or books the entertainment for an event to occur there, and their division, Ticketmaster, does NOT have an office or registration in that city or venue area but Seatgeek or Tickets.com or other seller DOES have an office there, then Ticketmaster would NOT be allowed the equal share of possible ticket sales for that event. Only those businesses with established ties to the community and a physical presence there would be allowed to offer tickets for sale at that stadium. Also, tickets are sold at seating prices, which means that if you are at the stage seated, then those seats are higher, but set prices with no extra fees, ever. Likewise, the cheap seats are just that, cheap.

This solution provides confidence and fair prices for fans or customers, prevents monopolization, and promotes competition among ticket sellers which is a win-win for everyone. This process also benefits the team, orchestra, ballet, theater, or artist as they may now find that they may expand their event planning to include more events without the chaos or concerns that people will “storm” their event or website in upset or anger over unfair ticket sales practices. 

Just think. When you can receive event notifications for venues in your area, you are assured a seat at that event (how fast can you push the I want it button?), first come, first served. Also, this gives the artist or team family members in an area first chance for tickets if they negotiate with the ticket seller. This is only fair for the artist or player wishing moral support for their business artistic efforts. Then, people who support those on the stage are allowed preferential treatment when an event occurs near their home. For others attending events, this solution gives them the opportunity to breathe a sigh of relief that they can wait for their favorite artist or team to arrive in their local venue. Why drive ten hours from home to attend an event when it would probably be in your area within the year, anyway?

© Copyright, Venue Tickets Solution, 1/25/2023, April Graves-Minton, Love MoonEagle. All Rights Reserved.