Any/All suggestions/solutions for Pass Sales

[TRL]

aww and I was looking forward to the tattoo idea catchin on.... sorry Sharky

[ShatteredArm]

I agree with FaceOnMars... No need for even more institutional bias. 

I'm in the "seeing as everybody had a good three weeks to purchase, I don't really see the problem" camp.  It's not like tickets sold out in two hours, and you simply didn't have an opportunity to get tickets.  It seems to me we're in search of a solution in need of a problem.

[TRL]

- SMITE ALERT - 
Well apparently some are grateful for their personal punctuality as well as supply of funds at the time of sale.
I SAY KUDO's to all of those who are in the  "we got passes the first 3 weeks camp"
... and shame on those who are in the" We got passes  nannie nannie boo boo, sucks to be you camp"
It seems that the mentally of some people does change a bit once they "know they are safe" because they have passes... but many are left without and it is a completely different mindset.  It's a sad depressing place some find themselves when they realize they are going to miss out on one of the greatest festivals around.
I'm an energy auditor and spend most of my year in various countries with a schedule dependant on production, I've come close to missing a few times but I've fortunately made it.. Being a repeat offender I can appreciate those who just don't know if they can make it due to personal lives, children, work schedules, surgeries, recoveries, ect..... there are many who wait and purchase passes after the Christmas crunch and for some after tax time....   Solution... buy them for Christmas LOL.
One may suggest just buy passes and sell them later if you can't make it....   works for some I guess
Personally never had an issue getting passes up until last April.  When, after an attempted scalping, CL scamming -$ , and a nice long 650mile drive to physically pick up a pair of tickets. I learned to be a bit more proactive as well  (got my passes) but I recall 3 yrs ago  purchasing them at the end of May with NO issues. 
Last yr sucked having to watch people standing outside willc all with fingers in the air begging for tickets when I know there were listings on stub hub and ebay for 1500 halfway into the show. 
They missed out for whatever reason... Empathy for blatant ignorance is not what I'm asking for  but instead a little consideration for those who for whatever reason couldn't purchase tickets and are still hunting....
There are many...
But duly noted....... Lesson for all, Start earlier... and don't expect understanding from some camps.
On another note I am in agreeance with the idea of an elitist group seeming unfair however the suggestion of selling tickets in phases does sounds pretty good.

[BillyBeru]

- APPLAUSE ALERT - 

  Right on, TRL.

[landshark]

I just love this lively thread. Bummer no tat ? Are you sure. How bout a bar code. 

[landshark]

I'll leave you one of my kids as a deposit for the next fest....LOL

 

[Debbiefromtucson]

Actually, didn't Warners and 4 days holiday price sell out in something like 47 min.....? SO, even those of us who tried to stay on top of things were still shut out.....so, no there was no 3 week warning etc....

That was a great post TRL... Yup, like it or not, some of us have lives outside Bluegrass...     Then, there are some of us who would go for our annual family reunion even if there was no music and it's almost as vital as blood that we be there...

[ShatteredArm]

- SMITE ALERT - 
Well apparently some are grateful for their personal punctuality as well as supply of funds at the time of sale.
I SAY KUDO's to all of those who are in the  "we got passes the first 3 weeks camp"
... and shame on those who are in the" We got passes  nannie nannie boo boo, sucks to be you camp"...

Regardless of how tickets are divvied out, some people are going to get left out.  If they're apportioned in some what that makes it easier for you to get your tickets when you want them, it will necessarily make it more difficult for someone else to get them.  Tickets are a commodity; there aren't unlimited numbers of them.  There is competition for them.

So, again... Which way is more fair than "first come, first served?"  If there is some secret club that gets first dibs, is it fair that there are fewer tickets available for people outside of that club (regardless of whether that club is a "veterans" club)?  If they do sales in phases, is it fair for someone who has money available only during the first phase, but couldn't get in because the first phase ran out of tickets too soon, as a result of some being held back for a later phase?

No matter what, people are going to get left out.  Yes, it sucks (don't confuse my appeal to justice with insensitivity).  But seriously, any solution that is specially tailored for your situation will make it more difficult for someone else to get their tickets.  The important thing is not who gets in, but that the process allowed everyone an equal shot; and considering there was a three week period in which anyone could buy tickets, I don't know how anyone could argue that it wasn't fair.

[TRL]

Well the name of the post is : Any/All suggestions/solutions for Pass Sales;

So I guess that's a  suggestion  that no changes need to take place.

Fair enough thanks for your comment.

Who else.

[Mr.T]

As a younger member of the TBF Family I would be opposed to any sort of "special" treatment for vets. Part of what I enjoy about Telluride is exposing new people to the best music festival in the world. I understand that I am lucky to have tickets. I understand that some people who have attended for years don't have tickets. I understand that next year I might be the person who wont have tickets. I accept that its a lottery and will continue to enter as long as I have just as much of a chance as hitting the jackpot as everyone else.

Just my opinion please keep the Smites to a minimum Im new here.

[TRL]

  to the festivities Mr.T
First OFF  I must say.. Nice boots... 

Just curious Are you on individual days or 4 day passes, and which day did you enter the lottery.

Either way Glad to hear you got your passes!!  Sounds like the lottery worked for you.
I appreciate your comments and especially your willingness to be an understanding festivarian.

[captain pete]

Seems to me we all need to remember that PB is a for profit business... Yeah its a drag hunting for tickets.  We got shut out of Warner this year but some friends came through for us, so we consider ourselves fortunate.

But when I talk to non-TBF friends about ticket sales, sell-outs, etc, the most common response is "guess ticket prices will be going up next year, huh?"  But guess what... they most likely will not.  Which brings me back to my original point.  PB could probably stem some of this by raising ticket prices.  I don't know about you, but 4 days of kick ass music and camping for less than $300 seems like a steal to me. 

Would increased ticket prices lead do decreased demand?  How much would the price need to increase before any of us would consider not going?

I for one appreciate PB's commitment to keeping prices reasonable while at the same time providing maximum fun-ness.  My guess is this ticket situation is something we're all going to have to learn to deal with.  My vote is for a 100% democratic lottery for all tickets.

And having just seen WSP at the Fillmore w/ flash tix, I have to say that system seemed to keep the scalpers to a minimum.

Finally, I must say that a preference points based system just seems extremely un-festivarian.

[FaceOnMars]

Seems to me we all need to remember that PB is a for profit business... Yeah its a drag hunting for tickets.  We got shut out of Warner this year but some friends came through for us, so we consider ourselves fortunate.

But when I talk to non-TBF friends about ticket sales, sell-outs, etc, the most common response is "guess ticket prices will be going up next year, huh?"  But guess what... they most likely will not.  Which brings me back to my original point.  PB could probably stem some of this by raising ticket prices.  I don't know about you, but 4 days of kick ass music and camping for less than $300 seems like a steal to me. 

Would increased ticket prices lead do decreased demand?  How much would the price need to increase before any of us would consider not going?

I for one appreciate PB's commitment to keeping prices reasonable while at the same time providing maximum fun-ness.  My guess is this ticket situation is something we're all going to have to learn to deal with.  My vote is for a 100% democratic lottery for all tickets.

And having just seen WSP at the Fillmore w/ flash tix, I have to say that system seemed to keep the scalpers to a minimum.

Finally, I must say that a preference points based system just seems extremely un-festivarian.

I'm not sure exactly how the demographics of this new surge of demand could theoretically absorb a raise in ticket prices, although my suspicion is that there's a bit of affluency on average which could allow a decent  sized uptick without affecting demand.  In other words, we might see the same demand scenario play out if 4-day pass were priced at $285; however, this would just make it harder on people who don't necessarily have the wherewithall and who've been dedicated followers of PB events for a number of years.  I think PB has made what seem to be only necessary small incremental increases in pricing to cover their costs and remain economically viable.

I'd be cautious to look for a substantial increase in pricing as a "solution" to a perceived "problem" ... as it may have many unintended consequences.   One of my least favorite weekends in Telluride is that of Film Fest, I don't begrudge the festival or any individual, but there definitely seems to be a certain attitude in the air which is a bit abrasive.   Perhaps there's a correlation with their pricing:

http://telluridefilmfestival.org/show/passes

[Mr.T]

TRL, I was very lucky and got 4 day TP passes. I was also on my computer ready to go the second the ticket lottery opened. My wife also entered the lottery but she was not selected. Last year I was shut out completely and only got tickets about 2 weeks before the fest. I guess the mad scrabble last year put me on high alert to enter the lottery ASAP the following year.

I think that being somewhat new to the festival (only 3 times) it's pretty hard  to find tickets if you are shut out due to the fact that I'm not connected to a large group or camp that might have extra tickets.Without that network of long time festi-friends I was kind of on my own in terms of searching out tickets. Lucky for me my constant emails to complete strangers on this board helped secure me a ticket (thanks swanders  ) which I think is a great example of how awesome this community can be to each other.

[swander99]

 

TRL, I was very lucky and got 4 day TP passes.  Very nice T!
.......complete strangers on this board helped secure me a ticket (thanks swanders  ) which I think is a great example of how awesome this community can be to each other.

We're not really that strange, are we? (besides Hooch, of course) 
Yes, the FestiTicketFairy works in mysterious ways. Faith & patience are a tough sell sometimes.
T, looks as if you really do have shorter shorts!  Didn't think it was possible... 

 Listening to: wdvx online in heart(flat)land office