Harvey Goldsmith's Blog

[Lee]

Who knew if the passcodes that were bought were going to honored... soo many true fans just relied on the ballot system and didnt even think of buying passcodes. I think it was more a question of -the proposed rules....as opposed to right/wrong way of going about it. I guess it just worked out the way it worked out. But ofcourse in hindsight... if we all only knew. Oh well.

This was the cause of all my anxiety. Although I became more confident as time went on, I really didn't know if things would work out for me until I arrived at the ticket desk and they slapped that wristband on. When I actually bought the passcode, I really felt like I was jumping into an abyss. My feeling at the time was that it was risk doing it this way or definitely miss the gig. I remember when it became apparent that cheats like me were going to get away with it, a few people posted on the 'old' board saying, should have ignored HG, should have bought a passcode. Believe me, it wasn't an easy decision...I feel very lucky I was able to gig into this gig.

I do have a guilt complex that I cheated another genuine fan out of the chance, but the bottom line is that a tout managed to get the passcode, so if I didn't get it, someone else would, anyway. Plus of course knowing that such big-time fans as er, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell just got in for being celebs helped justify my action. Plus of course I made bloody sure another deserving fan received my spare ticket at face value.

[The Baroness Von Zeppelin]

At least with the Ahmet ballot it was free and everybody could only enter once, meaning it was equal. Some people however got ppl they knew to enter for them and then the scalpers/touts putting 1000s of entries in to secure tickets to sell them on. And then people could sell the ticket on so that you could go as their 'guest' and nobody would know. The bottom line is the ballot was good natured, the people were not.

I'd say there was a lack of clear communication at the start, before the ballot - the rule stating that the purchaser must match the registrant and so on. Of course these rules ended up not being enforced - and often with good reason, as lots of people genuinely required someone else to register and/or pay in their stead - but no-one knew that at the time and if this had been made clear from the start, then it might have deterred those touts who put in 1,000s of entries, though of course you're going to get isolated people wanting or needing to sell their spares.

Unfortunately, this situation would have excluded people who needed someone else to enter for them because they didn't own a computer or credit card.

I like the box-office idea.

[The Baroness Von Zeppelin]

This was the cause of all my anxiety. Although I became more confident as time went on, I really didn't know if things would work out for me until I arrived at the ticket desk and they slapped that wristband on. When I actually bought the passcode, I really felt like I was jumping into an abyss. My feeling at the time was that it was risk doing it this way or definitely miss the gig. I remember when it became apparent that cheats like me were going to get away with it, a few people posted on the 'old' board saying, should have ignored HG, should have bought a passcode. Believe me, it wasn't an easy decision...I feel very lucky I was able to gig into this gig.

I do have a guilt complex that I cheated another genuine fan out of the chance, but the bottom line is that a tout managed to get the passcode, so if I didn't get it, someone else would, anyway. Plus of course knowing that such big-time fans as er, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell just got in for being celebs helped justify my action. Plus of course I made bloody sure another deserving fan received my spare ticket at face value.

I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. You didn't cheat anyone - the tout did, and you never know, it might not have been a tout who received your passcode originally anyway - it could have been another fan who wasn't able to attend for whatever reason and had to sell both tickets. At least by buying the passcode, you ensured two fans got to go instead of just one.

Confession time - I purchased a guest ticket but held out for a long time before succumbing because I wanted to play by the rules and see if I was successful in the second and third ballots (I wasn't). As the 10th approached, however, I started to get antsy; there was no promise of a tour or any more gigs and even if there was, there was no guarantee I'd get a ticket as they'd sell out in milliseconds. Who knows, I might not have had the cash to buy one through other channels anyway by then. Bidding on a guest ticket, as I saw it, was my last best chance of seeing Led Zeppelin live as nothing else was certain, and I had some cash to spare so I thought this was it.

I still felt conflicted about it, so I set myself some rules; I decided on a maximum amount I was willing to pay and stuck to it; I would only consider sellers with 100% positive feedback and whose backstories suggested they were genuine fans in a pickle rather than touts. Of course there was no way of knowing for sure, but some sellers seemed to be recycling the same stories and that made me suspicious. Luckily there was a guy whose username, feedback and story convinced me he was genuine and so I bid successfully from him, and all turned out very well indeed.

[Teedee]

I'm with Floyd on most of this.

I don't think the tickets were particularly aimed at fans as the information was announced globally and I don't know the answer although the Glastonbury method sounds the best so far.

If all of the members of this board were given exclusive details to buy tickets for an upcoming show but were told they had to keep it secret to prevent touts finding out, how many would be able to keep quiet?

And how many 'extras' would you buy to sell on?

Just playing devil's advocate!

[allthekingshorses]

I think giving a deal to the forum members is a nice idea. $30 is the usual price for online Pre-sale advantages, that might be nice. But as I have encountered in the recent past, scalpers have found ways of getting their foot in the door while keeping everyone else out.

Maybe a free pre-ballot for this website would be nice. With just a given amount of tickets for this site. We would all have to enter the same way as the other ballot, but say maybe 100 tickets for this site. Then for the regular sale, do the ballot again.

I like the idea of the Glastonbury show with the picture... that's sounds like one of the best ideas I've heard.

[040879]

With reference to what has become known as'the glastonbury method'.....why, exactly, do you need to have a photo on a ticket? What's wrong with simply bringing i.d with you on the day? Ticket purchaser has 3 months or however after purchase to date of show to get acceptable photo id and bring it with them. Same checking system-name on ticket-name on id-face on i.d-face of person with ticket. I feel I've missed something simple here that everyone else has realised,so please tell me exactly what a photo on the ticket adds in terms of security and validation/authenticity checks that bringing i.d can't provide. People carry documents with them anyway, or at least they are encouraged to at Glastonbury and various European festivals I've attended. This still leaves the 'second ticket' issue and 'change of user' problems but for a named user, pictures seem an unnecessary complication, beloved of the likes of Messrs Eavis and Goldsmith for 'eye-catching' security and p.r purposes...

[BelfastBoy]

So was it a charity benefit or the social event of the year? It sickens me to my stomach, reading about how many corporate VIPs and celebrities spurned the chance to actually watch LZ in action, instead opting to come and go to the many exclusive bars, or being so unfamiliar with the material that they simply left early (Mr Vic Reeves, fuck off and die, and take Naomi, Kate, and Chris Moyles with you!). How can it be a charity show when - I presume - the well connected celebrities and VIP guests didn't even have to pay for their tickets, whereas 'the general public' were expected to dig deep for the privilege of attending? How many tickets were actually allocated to the ballot, and how many were held back as freebies for the liggers and parasites?

Everyone concerned should be utterly ashamed of this organisational shambles. An empty seat in the 02 that night could've been filled by any number of genuine fans, and not simply gifted to a celebrity who wouldn't even be able to name any of the band members. I'm pleased that so many real fans did make it to the show, even though plenty seemed to have to jump through all sorts of financial and logistical hoops. I admire you all for your dedication.

[allthekingshorses]

So was it a charity benefit or the social event of the year? It sickens me to my stomach, reading about how many corporate VIPs and celebrities spurned the chance to actually watch LZ in action, instead opting to come and go to the many exclusive bars, or being so unfamiliar with the material that they simply left early (Mr Vic Reeves, fuck off and die, and take Naomi, Kate, and Chris Moyles with you!). How can it be a charity show when - I presume - the well connected celebrities and VIP guests didn't even have to pay for their tickets, whereas 'the general public' were expected to dig deep for the privilege of attending? How many tickets were actually allocated to the ballot, and how many were held back as freebies for the liggers and parasites?

Everyone concerned should be utterly ashamed of this organisational shambles. An empty seat in the 02 that night could've been filled by any number of genuine fans, and not simply gifted to a celebrity who wouldn't even be able to name any of the band members. I'm pleased that so many real fans did make it to the show, even though plenty seemed to have to jump through all sorts of financial and logistical hoops. I admire you all for your dedication.

I find it hard to believe that the celebrity folk that were there got in for free. I'm sure some people did, but I'm guessing the bulk of those people contributed financially, and more than $250. Yes, it would have been nice to have all tickets sold the normal way but you could also look at it as we were lucky to even have the chance... it could have been an exclusive show altogether.

As for any empty seats, people leaving early or better yet those 2 guys who were sleeping yeah, that's a little hard to stomach isn't it.

[AllisonAdler]

From The Guardian today:

Led Zep tickets fetch £7,425 as online 'touts' strike gold in £200m bonanza

Owen Gibson, media correspondent

The Guardian,

Tuesday January 8 2008

The loud and proud return of Led Zeppelin was the most lucrative event of the year for the touts and fans at the centre of a heated row over the resale of tickets online, according to figures published yesterday.

One of the leading online ticket resellers, Seatwave, said the average price for tickets sold through the site for Led Zeppelin's comeback gig at London's O2 arena was £7,425.

Online resellers have effectively created a rolling market for high-profile gigs and sporting events.

There is no legislation covering the resale of concert tickets and sporting events other than football matches but the culture, media and sport select committee will this week release a hotly anticipated report on the matter.

Desperate Led Zeppelin fans were willing to risk thousands on tickets sold through sites such as Seatwave. The tickets had a face value of £125.

The figures reveal that boxer Ricky Hatton's much-hyped bout with Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas was the second most popular event for users of the site, with tickets going for up to £3,050.

Dedicated resale sites such as Seatwave and Viagogo, as well as established online retailers such as eBay, have angered artists, managers and promoters who say they are profiting from online touting. But those behind the sites say the vast majority of their customers are legitimate fans.

The live music market is now worth more than £743m a year, and the online ticket resale market alone is worth an estimated £200m a year.

[Knebby]

So was it a charity benefit or the social event of the year? It sickens me to my stomach, reading about how many corporate VIPs and celebrities spurned the chance to actually watch LZ in action, instead opting to come and go to the many exclusive bars, or being so unfamiliar with the material that they simply left early (Mr Vic Reeves, fuck off and die, and take Naomi, Kate, and Chris Moyles with you!). How can it be a charity show when - I presume - the well connected celebrities and VIP guests didn't even have to pay for their tickets, whereas 'the general public' were expected to dig deep for the privilege of attending? How many tickets were actually allocated to the ballot, and how many were held back as freebies for the liggers and parasites?

Everyone concerned should be utterly ashamed of this organisational shambles. An empty seat in the 02 that night could've been filled by any number of genuine fans, and not simply gifted to a celebrity who wouldn't even be able to name any of the band members. I'm pleased that so many real fans did make it to the show, even though plenty seemed to have to jump through all sorts of financial and logistical hoops. I admire you all for your dedication.

Hi Belfast Boy

The band had only around 20 free tickets each. Every other ticket in the venue was paid for. If friends or family were given their tickets free, the band themselves had paid for them. Any celeb or so-called celeb who got a free ticket got it from someone who had paid for it beforehand - whether it be record company, agent or media company (ie Sky TV). You can rest assured that the charity didn't lose out, even if many fans did.

FWIW I didn't see any celebs leave their seats during the show and in fact all near me (except for the permanently dour Martin O Neill and Bob Geldof) were wildly enthusiastic, clapping singing and dancing with the rest of us . I hope this eases your worries a mite.

KB

[Knebby]

Plus of course knowing that such big-time fans as er, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell just got in for being celebs helped justify my action.

Hey there Lee - if it helps at all, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell apparently ARE fans, and attended a New Jersey 'Page and Plant 'show in 1995 along with Linda Evangelista. For those of you who find this disturbing, you'll be glad to know that they were refused entry to the backstage area and eventually escorted from the buiding by security with Naomi spouting the old classic "Don't you know who I am?"

[BelfastBoy]

Hi Belfast Boy

The band had only around 20 free tickets each. Every other ticket in the venue was paid for. If friends or family were given their tickets free, the band themselves had paid for them. Any celeb or so-called celeb who got a free ticket got it from someone who had paid for it beforehand - whether it be record company, agent or media company (ie Sky TV). You can rest assured that the charity didn't lose out, even if many fans did.

FWIW I didn't see any celebs leave their seats during the show and in fact all near me (except for the permanently dour Martin O Neill and Bob Geldof) were wildly enthusiastic, clapping singing and dancing with the rest of us . I hope this eases your worries a mite.

KB

Hi Knebby,

Thanks for the info. It's good to know that, one way or the other, all the tickets were paid for in some way. I certainly wouldn't begrudge anyone in the band, or closely connected to them, some free tickets. But I think my basic point about celebrities and VIPs not paying directly for their own tickets is probably still valid, by and large - why bother taking your chances in the ballot when you can just call in a favour instead? Unfortunately many other members of the general public were not so lucky!

[ledded1]

For those of you who find this disturbing, you'll be glad to know that they were refused entry to the backstage area and eventually escorted from the buiding by security with Naomi spouting the old classic "Don't you know who I am?"

That would have been worth seeing on youtube

[Lee]

Hey there Lee - if it helps at all, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell apparently ARE fans, and attended a New Jersey 'Page and Plant 'show in 1995 along with Linda Evangelista. For those of you who find this disturbing, you'll be glad to know that they were refused entry to the backstage area and eventually escorted from the buiding by security with Naomi spouting the old classic "Don't you know who I am?"

Hiya Knebby....hmm, OK, I'll accept this....people like Clarkson, the various Oasis members, Dave Grohl, McCartney, I'm quite happy to believe these are all proper fans. Just never really associated Kate or Naomi. I just have a bit of a bee in my bonnet that there were literally a million people that wanted to be at the gig, and some couldn't get in while others who know sod all about LZ were in there because it was 'the place to be' on December 10th.

BTW, we could see where you were sitting in the O2 - I bet you had a better view than us!

We were of course down on the floor, behind all the tall people!

[Hotplant]

Hiya Knebby....hmm, OK, I'll accept this....people like Clarkson, the various Oasis members, Dave Grohl, McCartney, I'm quite happy to believe these are all proper fans. Just never really associated Kate or Naomi. I just have a bit of a bee in my bonnet that there were literally a million people that wanted to be at the gig, and some couldn't get in while others who know sod all about LZ were in there because it was 'the place to be' on December 10th.

BTW, we could see where you were sitting in the O2 - I bet you had a better view than us!

We were of course down on the floor, behind all the tall people!

Peasants ! Mere peasants.

J/K !!!!!!!

[Lee]

Peasants ! Mere peasants.

J/K !!!!!!!

Well, I can't speak for my guest, but that's me, you hit the nail on the head!

[Aquamarine]

^^ And we were behind you, Lee!

you'll be glad to know that they were refused entry to the backstage area and eventually escorted from the buiding by security with Naomi spouting the old classic "Don't you know who I am?"

Always a risky line. Picture the scene--

Me (being chucked out of O2): "But I must see Robert Plant! Don't you know who I am?!"

Them (stopping in mid-chuck): "Who are you, then?"

Me: "I'm Aquamarine, of ledzeppelin.c"-- *finds self in gutter, picking bits of boot out of face*

[brspled]

^^ And we were behind you, Lee!

No I guess we weren't...judging by Chicken's pics, we were waaaaaaay closer to the stage.

And this mere peasant had a great view of the concert.

[Aquamarine]

No I guess we weren't...judging by Chicken's pics, we were waaaaaaay closer to the stage.

And this mere peasant had a great view of the concert.

I was led astray by the part about being behind all the tall people.

[PotBound]

1) Happy to be there, not gonna gripe about talkers!

2) Harvey: Just a thought.... whole point of AhmetTribute.com site was to register for the chance to receive a passcode. ZERO rules about passcodes! There was about ring-tones, though. Seems a *cough* glaring omission?

3) Naomi: Good thing a cell phone wasn't at hand. One of the guards might have been beaned on the head with it!