Lucky ticket ... but how much would
you pay for one?
Photograph: Sergio Dionisio/AP
The Rolling Stones habitually proclaim every tour to be their last, but the time can't be far off when age and infirmity will make it a self-fulfilling prophecy. Even so, would a ticket for this summer's stadium shows be worth £1,777 to any sane person? Apparently, it would - that's what online ticket agency Getmetickets.net was charging last week for tickets with a face value of £150.
Immoral toutery? Or just free-market economics in action? In other words, if there are people nutty enough to pay over a month's wages to see Sir Mick, should Getmetickets be allowed to relieve them of their money?
The Department of Trade and Industry thinks not. This week, following numerous complaints, mainly about over-priced tickets that never arrived, it ordered the company to close. But while Didntgetmetickets may be history, the episode has highlighted the increasing problem of tickets for major gig tickets finding their way into the hands of touts, while fans are shut out - unable to get through to constantly-engaged telephone or internet booking lines. The Arctic Monkeys' tour, which sold out in minutes when it went on sale last week, is another example: punters spent all morning fruitlessly trying to phone in, only to see tickets on sale on eBay an hour later for £100 each.
The Monkey affair has spurred indie station Xfm into an unofficial campaign to stamp out touting, both online and outside venues (yes let's not forget those old-school touts who'd rather mutter "I'll buy or sell" on street corners than figure out how to use the internet). It's admirable of them, but unlikely to succeed. Firstly, as any tout will tell them, they wouldn't have a job if people weren't willing to pay. Secondly, some within the industry suspect that insider trading sometimes goes on to furnish touts with their supplies, a problem that Xfm can't address. Thirdly, what else would Seedy Sid (you'll recognise the grubby fleece) do for a living if he weren't ripping off indie kids?
