HOB ticket situation

["Corkface" <corkface@delphi.com>]

I just wanted to throw my two cents' into this tirade (fwiw). I kicked my
husband out of bed at 3 am, dragged the kids into the minivan with pillows,
blankets and cereal and headed to Chicago from Milwaukee (after just having
moved here 3 weeks ago, surrounded by boxes). Hubby knew better than to
complain about this trip. The kids know how much I love The Who, and were
very cooperative ... looked at it as an adventure.

We got there at 5:15 (how appropriate!) and I hopped out of the van with my
daughter (saving hubby's space in line). The line was already around the
corner of the building and almost reached to the end of the building. No one
seemed to know exactly what would transpire (how many wristbands, how many
tickets to be sold, etc.). I have to say that the folks I talked with were
very nice, BIG Who fans and hoped my kids could get bands as well (no way,
since they were obviously under 21!). There were no signs of "scalper
agents" at that hour.

When we were let into the building, the "agents" came out of the woodwork! I
had no idea how many were inside HOB with bands until I ran back to the
restroom. I knew about the 20 or so standing behind us next to the sound
booth, but the crowd had to have been 1/3 "agents"! It was disheartening to
see, knowing that any tickets they got their grubby paws on would go for 3-4
times the price, with the proceeds going to the scalpers. Unfortunately,
some of these guys did have their numbers drawn. They didn't jump around and
scream, but waited a few minutes, then picked up their belongings and went
to the ticket window to purchase their tickets.

I can't come up with any ideas on how to keep these "agents" out of these
situations ... maybe have the buyers answer a question about the group??
Name some songs?? Name the members?? Who knows? They do have the right to
stand there with a band and buy the tickets, but once they're outside and
off the premises there's nothing HOB can do.

What it boiled down to that morning was out of 1300 tickets, only 400 were
sold to the public, with the rest of them being held for employees, charity
events (auctions, etc.), and possible radio station giveaways. This is what
the "man with the scissors" told my husband as he waited in the cash line
... yes, after all that we did get two tickets. Someone also told him they
had been offered a trip for four to DisneyWorld by someone (a scalper?) for
the tickets. When we walked out, we were approached by four scalpers who
offered us $500 each. F*** you, a**hole!

There's got to be a better way for the fans to get their hands on tickets,
and some method to reduce the scalpers' presence at these things. What I
don't understand is why HOB only had 400 tickets to sell?? Why, out of 1300,
with about 1,000 people there, would they hold back that many?? Any ideas
anyone? I plan to call HOB today and see what I can find out. In the
meantime, I'm very grateful we got two tickets, feel horrible for those who
had been there all night and left with nothing, and despise the scalpers who
did have their numbers drawn. From what I understand (and overheard), their
tickets will be over $1000. Jerks! What percentage of their proceeds will be
going to Maryville Academy???

Corkface
P.S. If there's a Tim from CA on this list, thanks for watching the kids for
us! Send an e-mail so we can hook up before the show. George from CT: tell
Mark (aka Roger) it wasn't a nightmare!!!