The Ticket Resale Industry: Force for Good or Scourge of the Earth?
Is selling tickets for a profit a business you can feel good about doing? When it comes to the profession of buying and selling tickets for a profit, or the ticket resale business, there are lots of strong feelings - mostly negative - about the people make a living this way. When we hear the term "ticket scalpers", it conjures up images of shady looking characters who are trying to rip you off. Those in the ticket reselling business have adopted the term "ticket brokers" to give credibility and a sense of professionalism to the industry. But are "ticket brokers" merely "tickets scalpers" with an image makeover? Are ticket brokers adding something of value to the ticketing industry or are they merely bloodsucking leaches? Most of us want to feel good about what we're doing...maybe even feel like that we're making a positive contribution. Do ticket brokers have the right to feel good about their line of work? The evidence suggests that ticket brokers by and large DO add something of value to the economy. Legal Issues: First of all, is it even legal? Each state has the ability to regulate how tickets can be sold. A number of states have restrictions on the distance tickets can be bought and sold from the venue itself. This is what we normally think of as "ticket scalping". But this isn't what we're talking about. The question is... are there any legal restrictions on buying and selling tickets from your home or office? The answer is a moving target, but in most states there are no restrictions on ticket reselling. As of March 2011, there were only 5 states with major restrictions on reselling tickets from one's home or office. These restrictions typically limit how much an individual can resell a ticket for over face value. If you don't live in one of those states, you're free to buy and sell tickets as you please. If there's a willing buyer, there's nothing to stop you. Economics: Is the ticket broker profession good for the economy? I recently discovered an academic paper published by Stanford University on the benefit of the secondary ticket market on the economy. Without getting technical, they found that the overall effect on the economy was to create a net economic benefit. Individually, there are some gains and loses, but the overall economic effect was positive. As the paper pointed out, people used to complain that they couldn't get tickets to certain events at all; now people complain about ticket prices, but they CAN get tickets to these events, - at a cost determined by market forces. The growth of the secondary ticket market allows for a redistribution of tickets and profits so that more people get a piece of the revenue pie from ticket sales other than just the promoters, the artists, and the venue. In the end, the people who are most able to afford concerts pay the fair market value of tickets, not the face value. Often times, there's a big difference. A "feel good" model of ticker brokering: A good book on this subject is "Ticket to the Limit" by Randy Cohen, owner and founder of "Ticketcity". Randy is a long time ticket broker who is recognized as a top employer, has a reputation for excellent customer service and is passionate about his work and employees. His ticket broker company makes it possible for people to attend events that have such high demand that very few people get access to these tickets. "Ticketcity" has over the years acquired a large collection of tickets to many entertainment and sports events. It has long-time, loyal customers who came back year after year for their services. A big value added is the customer service for individuals who are not, perhaps, technologically savvy enough to buy hot tickets when the first go on sale, or for events that season ticket holders have removed large blocks of tickets from the market. After reading this book, it's easy to see the value his business adds to the economy and to the entertainment community in general. As Randy and others have said, the most important element of any job is what we bring to it -- is it something we love and are committed to doing well; does it draw on our strengths; is it something that others will want to follow as a model? If this is the criteria, then Randy is a true success and someone I want to emulate. As a ticket broker, if you're honest and responsive and follow through on your promises, if you love what you're doing and share your enthusiasm with others, and if you are causing no harm in the process, then your on the right track. If you're considering entering the ticket resale business, you don't have to hang your head in shame. You can be a positive force for your family, your friends, the ticket industry and the economy as a whole.Lisa Baldwin http://ticketsellerstoolkit.com The best resources on how to sell tickets for profit. Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Ticket-Resale-Industry:-Force-for-Good-or-Scourge-of-the-Earth?&id=6042609] The Ticket Resale Industry: Force for Good or Scourge of the Earth?Comments [0]
