Fall 2017 Presale Eblast On It's Way

I got my blast at 4:30 central time yesterday. It's a good thing I know to look here or Facebook first. I wonder if it is time to re think the system.

I wish the codes were only posted here on the forum. The email blast hardly mattered since the codes were literally posted all over the internet. I think I saw them shared on facebook in at least 20 places both in groups and on people's own personal pages not to mention it was put out on twitter as well. Use to be that a presale with fan codes were a special thing to be kept somewhat secret from the entire world in order to give only the fans a better chance at scoring tickets. Now, it seems like there is no sense in even having codes if they are going to be put out the for the entire world to see.  Everyone these days has some type of device that allows them to access this site whether they are signed up to be a member or not. They all expect everything to be handed to them on a silver platter. For something like this it should require a little bit of effort. It's not like presale is the only way the entire world can get tickets. They do go on sale to the general public within a few days.

Even worse I went on Vivid and seats were available before the time of fan presale. Unfortunately no one is going to be able to coral this. People do this for a living taking advantage of others. Seems like someone has a in with someone buys all the first two or three rows then sells them for 2 to 3 times the value. This is going to be the norm unfortunately

Yes getting good close center seats is almost a thing of the past.
Right up there with meet n greet access.

Yes I believe that Ticketmaster holds into tickets for their own scalpers.

Plus Ticketmaster treats every device different ie pc vs phone vs tablet.

I had no choice but to use my tablet yesterday. I ended up in row 9 way stage right as that was the only choice it picked for  me. No choice on the map was taken away be Ticketmaster site.

Later in the day I checked with my phone and I could see better seats, but I'd already committed to the first purchase.
All this because the boss said I couldn't do it from work.

I'm with Natasha.
Post pre-sale codes here. 
Won't stop someone from clip and paste in to Facebook, but hey might slow some scalpers down

Tom Petty's Highway Companion Club has worked well for me.    It cost $60 to join the first time,  which I did in 2014 to see TP and the Heartbreakers in Tulsa.     Our seating was not that good,  wife was very disappointed,  it was to the side of the stage , one level up.

But I re-upped in Dec for $50 to get tickets for TP's show in OKC this month,  and I'm on the fourth row from the stage , on the floor.  Very happy with results.

Yeah, it seems like $60 more for tickets was a lot, but it was only $30 per ticket,  and IIRC ,   I could buy up to four tickets. 

And the tickets can only be picked up at will call on the day of the concert.

Evidently,  TP uses this to identify his fans and try to get around scalpers, and get his fans the best seats.    But really, if scalpers are a real concern to acts, then increasing supply by scheduling more than one night, is one answer.     Paul McCartney does this,  he will add another night and it really cuts the legs out from under those trying to profit on the secondary market.    Garth Brooks just keeps adding shows, as each one sells out,  I think he now has six nights in Kansas City.   But I realize less popular acts like Joe and others, can't do that.

This was Joe's original social network marketing in practice. Nobody knew it but in retrospect that is what this was. Most everybody and I believe even Joe have moved on tho other platforms where it is much less personal. Joe is involved in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram all with a broader audience and ability to reach more people than this forum does. He is involved in the Les Paul Forum and posts regularly there. I even mentioned to him that I thought this forum was on life support and he could save it.

It is a historical record and I believe it needs to remain a tool for building fan relationships but it needs to evolve a bit and more importantly I believe Joe needs to help it by getting back involved with it. He used to know the members and I'm not so sure that is true other than those that have been here a long time. By making it a perc of fan club membership might just be a way forward. I am approaching my 15th anniversary of my first live experience and having this forum to come to and connect with the few other fanatics was such a great thing. Of course Facebook is there for people too. Nothing like having Opie chime in from time to time.

Really I don't long for the good old days of small clubs and personal interaction as much as I realize you can incorporate some of that in today's current level of success. Here is a place that you can do that. It wouldn't be like starting something new it would just be an evolution. Maybe requiring something as simple as registering to see the content. Always has been a place for people to lurk and learn and at some point join in. Just not that many people joining in anymore. Forum membership was a badge of honor for awhile and it needs to be that once again.

I do not come on the forum very often but I do buy tickets to see Joe. I hate the pre-sales myself anymore. They use to be "only for true fans" here but you do not even have to sign in on this forum to see the content, which is self-defeating to me. All anyone needs to know is that they are here and with a small amount of searching , there the codes are. And as Natasha says, the codes were everywhere this time. Every Joe Facebook page had them posted, or shared everywhere. With social media like it is I see no way to keep the codes a secret for "only true fans". Plus Joe has millions of fans now so who would be considered "true fans"?
I would pay for more exclusive access to Joe and the pre-sale codes, myself.
I do think this forum is good for connecting with fellow fans but not for pre-sale codes anymore. And email is not an option since I do not always get the newsletter.
Just my 2 cents.

Nancy A.