In Durango, we are fortunate to have a wide range and variety of entertainment options. When you use a search engine to find tickets, whether you realize it or not, thousands, if not millions, of “bots” are working behind the scenes to guide you to a website that offers tickets at prices significantly higher than the original. This is known as the secondary ticket market, where resellers can purchase thousands of tickets in just minutes.
Not exactly a robot, a ticket bot (bot stands for “build-operate-transfer”) is an automated program that can buy concert tickets online at a much higher speed than humans and then populate websites that mimic the website where the actual concert is taking place. These websites work hard to fool ticket buyers into assuming they are buying tickets from the venue by copying the website’s look, showing the seating layout, displaying photos of concerts, and even directly copying logos and website design. Sometimes, ticket resellers sell fake tickets to unsuspecting or technologically inexperienced consumers.
When tickets went on sale for the U.S. leg of Taylor Swift’s 2023 Eras Tour, the entire sales website crashed, locking many fans out of purchasing tickets. However, tickets appeared on resale sites within seconds at prices up to 40 times the original. In Senate testimony addressing the sales debacle, one of the largest concert promoters in the world was quoted by news outlets, saying there is “an arms race escalating between primary ticket sellers and cybercriminals using bots to obtain tickets illegally.”
Unfortunately, venues in Durango and the surrounding communities are not exempt. We have seen tickets listed on secondary ticket sites even before official sales began for a show. Additionally, we have been contacted by people who purchased tickets at up to four or five times their original price through websites intended to deceive them into believing they are buying from our concert venue. In a few instances, guests have shown up to enjoy a performance with what they thought was a legitimate ticket, only to discover it was fake.
Misleading and fraudulent ticket sales are significant issues for independent venues like the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College and similar venues across the country. While some states are attempting to regulate predatory ticketing practices, the National Independent Venue Association, which includes the Community Concert Hall at FLC and Animas City Theatre, is leading a national coalition of independent and nonprofit venues to advocate for fair and transparent ticket sales practices.
So, how do I avoid getting fooled?
When purchasing tickets, go directly to the venue or theater website where the performance takes place instead of using a search engine. If you find yourself on a website and the ticket prices seem much higher than expected, look up the venue’s phone number and address and give them a call to confirm the price. All of us who produce live events want everyone to have access to our shows and enjoy a great experience. We will stay vigilant and work to ensure the ticket-buying experience is fair and accessible to all.
Charles Leslie is director of the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
