Melvin talks out against touts

[Justiceforcedave]

Reading and Leeds boss Melvin Benn has called for ticket touts to be banned at festivals.

In an article for The Independent , Benn – who also organises Latitude festival, says the government should restrict secondary ticketing for festivals in the same way it has for the Olympics – where tickets can be re-sold at face value with permission from Olympic authorities.

"I don't, unlike ticket touts, want to see ordinary people priced out of going to see concerts, plays or matches in a time of austerity," he wrote. He added:

"I also believe it's very unfair that the profits made on secondary ticket sales go not to the organisations that take on the risk of mounting cultural events like Latitude, which brings together hundreds of bands, theatre companies, writers and artists, nor to the charities we work with. Instead, they go straight into the pockets of touts, who in turn then pay no tax on their profits."

Ticket touting is illegal for football matches, but the market for secondary ticket sales for live music events is unregulated and tickets can be re-sold for however much touts can get for them.

Benn, along with some music industry representatives, have called for a 10 per cent profit cap on the resale of tickets to avoid sellers charging fees way beyond the face value of a ticket.

[Justiceforcedave]

...damn it! I pressed enter by accident. Can someone who the power change the title to something more appropriate!

[jump]

Ticket touting is illegal for football matches, but the market for secondary ticket sales for live music events is unregulated and tickets can be re-sold for however much touts can get for them.

[eFestivals]

give us the changed title,. I'll sort it.

[jump]

give us the changed title,. I'll sort it.

Edited July 5, 2012 by jump

[eFestivals]

"Melvin talks hypocritical shit again"

I think I'll let Dave pick the title for his topic.

[kaosmark2]

"Melvin desperate to get punters to buy overpriced tickets directly"

[LondonTom]

"Melvin desperate to get punters to buy overpriced tickets directly"

[thetime]

Didn't his company have direct links to viagogo?

[jump]

Didn't his company have direct links to viagogo?

[Justiceforcedave]

I was going to write "Melvin talks out against touts".

Sorry it's not more jazzy! ; )

[eFestivals]

I was going to write "Melvin talks out against touts".

sorted.

[kevinboyle82]

In the end that's just words, actions are needed

[RichieParf]

I think the second part of what you've quoted is most telling, he's most upset that someone else is profiting and not him. I should add I think he has every right to be annoyed, just as any other businessman would be. I haven't done my research on this so I'll leave it to others to inform me, but it seems nevethteless that he expects legislation to do his work for him in tackling the problem.

[LondonTom]

I think the second part of what you've quoted is most telling, he's most upset that someone else is profiting and not him. I should add I think he has every right to be annoyed, just as any other businessman would be. I haven't done my research on this so I'll leave it to others to inform me, but it seems nevethteless that he expects legislation to do his work for him in tackling the problem.

[dip]

"I'm annoyed people are being ripped off and I'm not benefiting from it" If he really cared he could pull a Glastonbury and not partner up with Viagogo and the likes. All talk, no action. What a prick.

[kaosmark2]

"I'm annoyed people are being ripped off and I'm not benefiting from it" If he really cared he could pull a Glastonbury and not partner up with Viagogo and the likes. All talk, no action. What a prick.

[AcademicPistol]

^ Agreed, let's see some action next year then Melvin.

[eFestivals]

Technically they're not partnered with Viagogo any more. But that's blatantly due to the bad publicity they received in dispatches, rather than any anti-touting decision.

Hmmm, I'm not entirely sure that it's just that.

After all, the likes of Viagogo only have a 'role' to play with R/L tickets if R/L has sold out. As it didn't last year and clearly wasn't going to this year then it ceases to haver any relevant role.

If it was still selling out then it's quite possible that Viagogo would still be a R/L partner I reckon.

[rug568]

surely if he really dislikes touts R and L should do a glastonbury and have a registration process and only one person per ticket?

[kaosmark2]

Hmmm, I'm not entirely sure that it's just that.

After all, the likes of Viagogo only have a 'role' to play with R/L tickets if R/L has sold out. As it didn't last year and clearly wasn't going to this year then it ceases to haver any relevant role.

If it was still selling out then it's quite possible that Viagogo would still be a R/L partner I reckon.

[rug568]

yeah you have a point. i do understand why melvin partnered with viagogo though.

in 2009 huge numbers of people bought fake tickets, although viagogo are c**ts at least you're guaranteed to get the ticket.

Although i obviously am pissed off by the way that FR might have used the site to flog off unsold tickets.

[eFestivals]

although viagogo are c**ts at least you're guaranteed to get the ticket.

You're not, despite them suggesting they make and fulfil that promise. The actual guarantee is that you'll get the ticket or your money back.

[TalkShow Bob]

Viagogo would have sold FR tickets with or without FR partnering with them and its safer than ebay. They were very unscrupulous but I cant see Melvin Benn having known that from the outset. High insight is 2020 as they say.

Edited July 6, 2012 by TalkShow Bob

[GuitarManDan15]

I would say ebay is safer than viagogo.

As long as you pay by paypal on ebay you'll either get the item or your money back as they mediate the dispute. With viagogo if your ticket doesnt turn up you're just arguing against them.

Another plus point for ebay you know what you're paying or what you are willing to pay, viagogo has ridiculous service charges. I was thinking of going to, IOW08 i think, and i found a ticket on viagogo was just above face value, by the time i got to check out the price had gone up £50!