The Taylor Swift Lead Booker Debacle

photome

Aylesbury_Duck said:

photome said:

Will they check ?

I have been to hundreds of gigs and never had ID checked to match name on ticket , It would take security ages to do it

The trouble is, with several people spending probably a lot of money on travel and possibly accommodation, on top of tickets that are well over £100 each, would you take the risk of not being admitted?

I hear what you are saying and yes it’s a risk

photome

screech_78 said:

Are you sure this was changed? 

I’m fairly sure it was always sold as a lead booker event. It’s only became more publicised now that people know about it and have been sharing it. 

In any event, I’ll be amazed if it’s actually enforced.

I am also doubtful it has changed, Ticketmaster generally know what they’d re doing

like you I will also be amazed if it’s enforced

screech_78

photome said:

screech_78 said:

Are you sure this was changed? 

I’m fairly sure it was always sold as a lead booker event. It’s only became more publicised now that people know about it and have been sharing it. 

In any event, I’ll be amazed if it’s actually enforced.

I am also doubtful it has changed, Ticketmaster generally know what they’d re doing

like you I will also be amazed if it’s enforced

I had a look on the Ticketmaster website and it states that the event organiser decides if an event will be Lead Booker event and if so, it will be made clear on the website before booking. My feeling is that people have been so desperate to get tickets and aware of how popular they are, that they have flew through the checkout and not paid enough attention. 

Having attended a few concerts recently though with tickets purchased through Ticketmaster, all I’ve had is a barcode on the app and that is scanned before entry. No name is on the tickets I’ve had through the app. 

sheramber

screech_78 said:

photome said:

screech_78 said:

Are you sure this was changed? 

I’m fairly sure it was always sold as a lead booker event. It’s only became more publicised now that people know about it and have been sharing it. 

In any event, I’ll be amazed if it’s actually enforced.

I am also doubtful it has changed, Ticketmaster generally know what they’d re doing

like you I will also be amazed if it’s enforced

I had a look on the Ticketmaster website and it states that the event organiser decides if an event will be Lead Booker event and if so, it will be made clear on the website before booking. My feeling is that people have been so desperate to get tickets and aware of how popular they are, that they have flew through the checkout and not paid enough attention. 

Having attended a few concerts recently though with tickets purchased through Ticketmaster, all I’ve had is a barcode on the app and that is scanned before entry. No name is on the tickets I’ve had through the app. 

Were they lead booker events?  That may be the only one they check

phillw

So if you booked the tickets and you are ill, then nobody can go? Seems kinda harsh. There must be some way round it for that.

screech_78

sheramber said:

screech_78 said:

photome said:

screech_78 said:

Are you sure this was changed? 

I’m fairly sure it was always sold as a lead booker event. It’s only became more publicised now that people know about it and have been sharing it. 

In any event, I’ll be amazed if it’s actually enforced.

I am also doubtful it has changed, Ticketmaster generally know what they’d re doing

like you I will also be amazed if it’s enforced

I had a look on the Ticketmaster website and it states that the event organiser decides if an event will be Lead Booker event and if so, it will be made clear on the website before booking. My feeling is that people have been so desperate to get tickets and aware of how popular they are, that they have flew through the checkout and not paid enough attention. 

Having attended a few concerts recently though with tickets purchased through Ticketmaster, all I’ve had is a barcode on the app and that is scanned before entry. No name is on the tickets I’ve had through the app. 

Were they lead booker events?  That may be the only one they check

I honestly don’t know. As I was going to them all, it wouldn’t have mattered. Ticketmaster say it’s clear during the booking process but who knows. 

JReacher1

It’s not a problem really. It’s just normal press nonsense to make everyone scared. Give your daughter the credit card you used to book it and if they are asked for lead booker details they can show the card as proof of lead booker. 

The whole point of this is to stop touts selling tickets online for high fees. Which to be honest is a good thing. 

Aylesbury_Duck

Taylor Swift sounds like a law firm, to be honest.

RefluentBeans

OP - have you clarified this with Ticketmaster? I agree, I can’t imagine the security staff at the gates actually caring that much, but also get not wanting to take a risk. I also get not wanting to cancel the tickets hoping to rebuy them (after all, this policy is done because the tickets are hard to get!). 

I would call them up, say you bought them for your daughter, and ask if you need to be physically there. If the lead booker does need to be there, and they’re instructing staff to check, then you can ask if you can put your daughter as the lead booker? I guarantee that you won’t be the first person with this concern and I guarantee you certainly won’t be the last. 

Just be sure to ask for an email transcript or confirmation of what was spoken about in the call and confirming either way. Then you can print it off, give it to your daughter just in case. 

Tl;dr - speak to Ticketmaster before cancelling the tickets. If they say it should be fine, ask them to email you that in writing; and if the lead booker 100% needs to be there then ask to transfer the lead booker to your daughter. If that doesn’t work, come back and get more advice then! Hope your daughter and her friends enjoy Taylor Swift! 

tightauldgit

RefluentBeans said:

OP - have you clarified this with Ticketmaster? I agree, I can’t imagine the security staff at the gates actually caring that much, but also get not wanting to take a risk. I also get not wanting to cancel the tickets hoping to rebuy them (after all, this policy is done because the tickets are hard to get!). 

I would call them up, say you bought them for your daughter, and ask if you need to be physically there. If the lead booker does need to be there, and they’re instructing staff to check, then you can ask if you can put your daughter as the lead booker? I guarantee that you won’t be the first person with this concern and I guarantee you certainly won’t be the last. 

Just be sure to ask for an email transcript or confirmation of what was spoken about in the call and confirming either way. Then you can print it off, give it to your daughter just in case. 

Tl;dr - speak to Ticketmaster before cancelling the tickets. If they say it should be fine, ask them to email you that in writing; and if the lead booker 100% needs to be there then ask to transfer the lead booker to your daughter. If that doesn’t work, come back and get more advice then! Hope your daughter and her friends enjoy Taylor Swift! 

In all honesty Ticketmaster will just quote you the terms of the ticket - they have no control over what the venue chooses to do on the day with respect to security or checking. 

In my personal experience I've never been to a gig where anyone checked any ID to see if names match the ticket but that's not to say it doesn't happen.