Lindsey Buckingham is one of my favorite artists both solo and with Fleetwood Mac. So when I saw that he was going to release a new album and tour solo, I checked to see if he would be playing near me and was quite excited that he would be playing at the State Theater in Falls Church, Virginia on Oct. 9. Sure, it's my tennis night, but I'll go see Lindsey in such a great intimate venue, for sure!
We had to see some friends in Virginia last weekend anyway, which gave us the opportunity to swing by the theater and buy a pair of tickets (the box office is open weird hours, but typically from noon on a day of a show, and most days are show days). When I asked about buying tickets for the Buckingham show, though, the clerk said he couldn't see me any.
"What? You're sold out?" I asked, disappointed.
"No, I mean I can't actually sell you any. You have to buy them through Ticketmaster."
I glared at him, "I don't want to buy them through Ticketmaster--if I buy them through Ticketmaster, I have to pay an extra $10 per ticket, and even on a $60 ticket, that's a hefty extra markup."
"It's not that I don't want to sell them to you," he said. "I can't. We don't have any here. I've been working here for five years, and this is the first show we couldn't sell tickets at the door."
As I stormed away from the window, I marked that here is yet again another example of why I don't buy from Ticketmaster. Not only do they take money away from the consumer for a very limited convenience, they take money away from the venue and, in the end, do no real service for the artist. It's a nice gig if you can get it, being the middleman who can skim money off of everyone.
But it's also the reason why I won't see Lindsey Buckingham next month.
My Trusted MOGs
Hear hear! It sucks that you won't be able to see Lindsey Buckingham, but you did the right thing by not selling out.. or would it be buying out?
Either way, hopefully the next show you really want to see won't put you through such bullshit.
My Trusted MOGs
I hates TicketBastard too. That said, I saw Lindsey many years back and the show was breathtaking. So I suggest you do as I do in rebellion to TM and sneak in. There's will there's a way.
My Trusted MOGs
Damn the man. Really, I applaud the rebellion. It reminds me of my journalism class, and the naivete of the kids responding in discussion, 'you can't change the media. that's just the way they are. you just have to deal with it' (wtf, WHY are they in this class) But you CAN change policy. and it's always going to suck for the initiators of the change. but, hey, keep the greater good in view, and the boycott is worth it.