Caution on Platinum Membership

[Bruce]

Scalping is the way to go.  For EVERY show I have ever scalped the day of, I 
got
in for under (sometimes way under) face value:  Neil Diamond (yes, I did 
go):
2nd row $130 for 2 $120 tickets, Who MSG 2002 and 2004 about 7th row for 
$50.
Fleetwood Mac 4th row dead center 3 $120 tickets for $80 each.  At the last
Rolling Stones concert in Philly, my limit was $60 bucks.  $160 tickets were
changing hands for $80/$100.  I tried to get them down another $20 with no 
luck
because it still seemed high to me.  I left, no biggie.


It's even better in my neck of the woods where scalping is legal.  Over the 
years I got to see Elton John $15 ($50 face 5th row side) , Eagles $10 ($110 
face 3rd row side), Clapton $10 ($60 face 2nd row side) and about a dozen 
Stones shows most out of state at half face or better.  For smaller theatre 
shows I can get in for free (people just wanting to unload tickets to get 
back to their friends or get in before the lights go out) to no more than 
$5-10.  These shows average $30-50 face.

My funniest scalping story was the Stones in Nashville 2002.  At the time it 
was the most expensive show I had tried to get into.  I bought a $150 cheap 
seat for $80.  I get inside and it is literally on the last row of the upper 
deck. I'm not really happy as it wasn't worth it to me. During the first 
song some guy comes up and says I have his seat. Yea right.  A couple songs 
later he comes back with cops.  They take me out to the concourse.  Turns 
out the guy's tickets were stolen from UPS.  I have to give his ticket back 
and the police question me.  I'm thinking I just blew $80 and I'm going to 
get tossed out.  Afterwards a cop says to an usher "do you have any tickets 
for these guys?" (there were three of us with stolen tix)  "Yea follow me." 
A huge sigh of relief.  I feel much better as we walk down to the 1st level. 
:)  The usher hands me a ticket to sit in the handicapped section mid way 
back on the 1st level .  However, someone is in my seat. Turns out some guy 
was sitting with his friend that was in a wheelchair and wanted to stay with 
him.  He says "here take my ticket and I'll take yours."  After assurances 
it is a better seat I take it.  I end up on the 10th row next to the stage 
with a $300 ticket. :)

Bruce