The North American Tour & Presale for members

[16rg10]

I am longing to hear Leonard Cohen perform Love Itself live. How can I get the message to him? Why hasn't he done it at any of his concerts so far?

[Walsh75]

Wow! The cluster**** continues on Ticketmaster for here in Detroit.

As I write this, it's 2:15am. I checked back to see if I could get any info. in hopes of tickets.

The pre-sale options were all taken down.. However remaining was a shot at the VIP $ 550 deal. They wouldn't even let me get into that option before. I had to enter the password and pick a number of tickets for the $45- $250..

So sitting here at 2:15am, I figured I'd go for the big bucks. I clicked 1 ticket for the $550.. It started to process. Then I see the notice "Ticketmaster is closed at this hour due to routine maintenance".

[Walsh75]

And the bad just keeps getting worse!!

Ticketmaster.com is back up at 3:45am Detroit time.

Now I see there is NO option for just 1 VIP Ticket. It makes you choose from 2-4. They also give info. on this package deal. You get a prime seat, show program, the LC live DVD, and a collectable print.

However it tells you that you can ONLY buy these package deals in pairs!!

I'll tell you up front. For years my family and friends have hated LC when I play him or boast about him. They can't understand why I like him. They can't stand the sound of his voice and think he sucks as a singer.

I had planned to go by myself all along. But I couldn't even get 1 ticket during the pre-sale. And now it seems I'll have to buy 2 tickets at $ 550 each in hopes of going.

At this rate, the way I feel pushed around on the whole ticket deal, maybe I should avoid the stress and skip the Detroit show. Maybe the live CD and DVD is as good as it's gonna get for me. Let the "marks" buy all the tickets up like sheep thinking not going is the end of the world.

[Mikeaus]

No matter how much you have to pay in America for a Leonard Cohen concert ticket, it will be worth it. In Australia - we know.

[MarieM]

Walsh, in my ticket quest, I did the worst for the Detroit show. I was on at 10 a.m. and there were no $250 seats available. I believe these are seats in the pit. It appears that the presale had a small amount of tickets available in each category. That suggests that the sale to the general public might actually offer more opportunity for the higher priced tickets. So, don't give up. Try your hand at the general public sale on March 2.

[A Brick in the Wall]

Walsh, in my ticket quest, I did the worst for the Detroit show. I was on at 10 a.m. and there were no $250 seats available. I believe these are seats in the pit. It appears that the presale had a small amount of tickets available in each category. That suggests that the sale to the general public might actually offer more opportunity for the higher priced tickets. So, don't give up. Try your hand at the general public sale on March 2.

And if neccessary -- sell one of your friends or relatives to raise the $$$




Here's wishing you better luck on the next sale of tix.

[surfergirl]

Walsh,

Right now you CAN get Am Ex (no password necessary) and Am Ex preferred (password necessary) IF you have an Am Ex card.

[sky88]

Does anyone know about the internet presale, that is on Friday, February 27TH, for the show in Oakland, CA.

Thanks,
Sky

[Walsh75]

Thanks for the info. I know I still may have a slight shot again in the next couple days. I did see the AmEx deal today but I thankfully no longer have that card.

As you can see by the rants I posted in the "wee hours" of this morning, I was clearly outraged over this VIP deal. I'm a bit calmer now.

But $550 in this ecomony and esp. in my state is a big load of cash. Yet I was willing to pay it. It was as if the person that came up with these prices and plans said while laughing "your $550 isn't good enough. you have to give us $1,100 to get in the door and for a shot at front row". That's appalling!!

I'm not much for government control, but these concert prices have been getting out of hand for years. I'm no lawyer but I would have to think a case could be made for "price gouging" at some point.

When is enough not going to be enough? Is it going to get to a point where there's going to be "regular priced" main floor seats going for $600, but if you want VIP/front row, that's going to cost you $1,200 or more per ticket?

[pizmo]

Not sure where this post goes (here or in Tickmaster Sucks) so forgive me and my rant:

For the Chicago concert, my friend and I were each able to purchase two tickets during the presale, the conditions for which require a visit to the Will-Call booth on the night of the show--which means waiting on yet another queue. I just visited Stub-Hub, which is facilitating the sale of quite a few tickets, many of which are for good seats. Stub-Hub, which doesn't allow contact between the buyer and seller, and which is very reputable, is verifying that the sellers have tickets in hand for delivery overnight. Now how can that be if all pre-sale purchases are subject to the will-call condition? Yet another screwing by Ticketmaster.

Jarkko, before I make yet another complaint to our overworked Attorney General as to our despicable ticket monopoly, please confirm that tickets to this point are only available to the conditions cited above...

[t1md]

Hi, Walsh75.

We spoke yesterday regarding how the tix were hard to secure on the 1st presale. Well I do have an amex, and got some seats for oakland today. They are not great seats but I got something. Its tough, and indeed kinda depressing trying to get tix in an environment such as this. I can only hope that the portion of tix for internet presales helps you out. I am not sure if that will require a password or not. Maybe one reason why the shows are so expensive is because, of Mr Cohens financial probs. I guess his old accountant stole a lot of his money and that was why he decided to tour again. I just read that. Its sad but, in a weird way, helps justify such high prices. I am thinking it will be a long shot to see another tour, so maybe aiming high for tix is going to be your best bet. Either way. I do wish you the best of luck, with your purchase. BTW, ticketmaster are still a worthless operation, in my opinion. Pure greed.

[Walsh75]

Thanks.

Yes, for several months now I was aware of his money trouble. He says this is the reason why he's basically forced into going back on the road being near broke.

I wouldn't mind paying the $550 price tag. But it's so outrageous that they are putting a two seat min. requirement on it! As long as they sell at those prices, I can't see why they would care about not wanting to let them go single.

[KaimiK]

About the VIP doubles requirement... I called the number that was listed a few days ago on the VIP page on Ticketmaster. Turns out the number was the direct number for AEG, the management company who is handling the tour. I was put through to a guy (I'll leave his name out) who was clearly irritated that common people were being routed to him and immediately forwarded me to an assistant who explained that they only sell the VIP tickets in pairs because "most" people go to concerts in pairs, and they don't want any vacant seats up front - as though that would really happen since they could re-release the seats to the rest of us clamoring for close up seats. She was very nice, but it was clear she was used to handling people to make us go away! She also said the guy I was put through to immediately made it known that their number was to be taken off the website ASAP! But, I saved it just in case - you never know when that kind of thing might be useful.

Anyway, it stinks - I'd love a single VIP ticket. I could care less about the VIP part, but to have a seat in the first few row would be glorious. And if it means not having to stand in line at will call - even better since I'll be over 6 months pregnant when I go. But, it is what it is. I have a ticket and I'm happier than Charlie with his Golden Ticket. I'll hear the Golden Voice, even if I'll only get to see him from the 23rd row.

[tashi]

Not sure where this post goes (here or in Tickmaster Sucks) so forgive me and my rant:

For the Chicago concert, my friend and I were each able to purchase two tickets during the presale, the conditions for which require a visit to the Will-Call booth on the night of the show--which means waiting on yet another queue. I just visited Stub-Hub, which is facilitating the sale of quite a few tickets, many of which are for good seats. Stub-Hub, which doesn't allow contact between the buyer and seller, and which is very reputable, is verifying that the sellers have tickets in hand for delivery overnight. Now how can that be if all pre-sale purchases are subject to the will-call condition? Yet another screwing by Ticketmaster.

Jarkko, before I make yet another complaint to our overworked Attorney General as to our despicable ticket monopoly, please confirm that tickets to this point are only available to the conditions cited above...

I would also like to know if, in fact, this is true. Although I thought it was for ALL tix sold, not just presale.

[KaimiK]

I have one ticket, but thought I'd try for another through the Amex presale this morning. No dice - the closest I could get was far left orchestra, 28th row. But, there was no will call requirement on those tickets - they had all the normal options for delivery - mail or printing yourself, etc. Too bad, it really opens it up to scalpers, I don't have much hope of getting a better ticket now.