Canadian Politics Today

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/a-public-relations-nightmare-ticketmaster-recruits-pros-for-secret-scalper-program-1.4828535

They collude with scalpers to hike ticket prices then double dip on the resales.... It may not be illegal, and honestly I think anybody who goes to these big shows is a stone-cold sucker... but still.  I would be happy if they fell in a hole.

Suckers who pay $200 to see Elton John are paying some kind of weird identity tax.  I can see a talented local in a nice place, close up, for less than $20.

They could make it illegal.

So you want government to "shut down Ticketmaster" for doing something that isn't illegal?

The people could wake up and shut it down, the government doesn't need to be involved.

Scalpers exist because legal concert tickets do not respond to shifting demand. This makes scalpers an essential part of the system.

Concert tickets do not respond properly to market demand because:

1) Performers are often concerned about seeming too greedy or they want tickets set at a price their fans can afford;
2) If demand is underwhelming promoters don't like to cut prices because of the optics (scalpers, OTOH, have no problems doing this).

There is no easy way to fix those issues so scalpers are inevitable.
There is nothing immoral about selling a ticket to a willing buyer at a high price. That is the essence of our free market.
It is not as if concert tickets are essential.

The only problematic issue is if scalpers prevent people from buying tickets because they are able to game the system.
Ticketmaster needs to prevent that.

Venues should market their own tickets. They can set their own policies regarding scalping. Going to see Jesse Cook at the Chilliwack Arts Centre on the 1st. Got the tickets on their website.

I'm jealous.  I love Jesse Cook.  Last time I saw him he had a flamenco dancer out for a couple of songs. 

Enjoy!

I'm jealous.  I love Jesse Cook.  Last time I saw him he had a flamenco dancer out for a couple of songs. 

Enjoy!

No flamenco dancer but a great concert. Wonderful musicians and they played for a solid two hours, excluding the intermission. Chris Church should have a band of his own He almost is a band on his own. I also love concerts that start on time and this one did.