So, just as a comparison...

[silverthorne]

(ETA: Had to correct my math!)

A breakdown of my ticket adventure...

First of all, joining the fanclub? Really, really does help. Jon/his people really do seem to understand that a lot of his fans are blue collar, which is good. And yes, I feel confident saying that after I remembered about the club last night and seeing their ticket prices verses ticketmaster.

Now, mind you, this is for the same 'class' ticket(s), which is, to wit:

A seat in the first 20 rows facing the stage/the pit/floor area.
Getting to sit on the side seats up on stage for three songs,
A program autographed by the band.

Now, Differences:

Ticketmaster
Has one or two extras, but considering I can't even remember what they are, that tells me in the big scheme of things that it would be stuff I wouldn't give a flying fark about once the concert was over with.

For 2 tickets, you shell out $2,000 plus tax. And no, you cannot buy just one. It's a package deal. Buy them both, or GTFO. So make sure you have a fellow fan to go with or expect to have to raffle/give away your other ticket and be stuck with whoever gets it. As a reference, if there was just you going and you could opt for one ticket, that's $1,000 plus tax.

It's Willcall--which means, if I'm remembering right, that there's actually no guarentee that you'll actually get the ticket/seat if they over-sell. Kinda like airplane tickets. Which sucks. I suspect those who lose out probably get the next best seats, but still...that's pretty shitty.

At least on pre-sale, you absolutely MUST be an American Express card holder. Don't have one? Sorry guys, you're S.O.L. Now whether they stick to that on today's general sale, I don't know. I'm half interested enough to go see, but probably not THAT interested by the time ten rolls around.

Oh, yeah, and on pre-sales? At least on the net, you have to be done with each screen within a certain amount of time or else you default, lose the tickets, and have to start over. No offence, guys, but I'm trying to get tickets here, not play Resident Evil.


Backstage with JBJ fansite

You do already have to be an actual member. The good news is that $50 dollars gets you access not only to the tickets and other special events (that they will actually email you about), but anything else they feel like selling, and a lot of it is rare, for charity benefits, or just not found anywhere else. The membership is for a full year.

The ticket section is easy to get to, and they spell it all out there before you even get to the clicky part. They also only list what's still available, so you don't have to spend time on guessing games. The site is also MUCH easier to read.

No 'special codes' or password needed. If you're a fanclub member and signed in, that's all you need to do to be allowed access to the tickets.

You can buy either packages or singles if they're still available.

One ticket for the same package, more or less, as ticketmaster's is $350 plus tax. If you add on the $50 for membership fees, that's still $600 less than you would have paid ticketmaster per ticket. That'll add up if you're getting a lot of tickets. Also--you can buy JUST ONE, which is good for those of us who really are still blue collar and don't have a date for the show. :)

The ticket is guaranteed. You pay for it, it goes in the system, the ticket gets a number and your name attached to it and set aside, and you get a nice little email telling you all this, along with instructions such as 'you must have you photo ID with you' and 'no guests can pick up your ticket'. In other words, you show up at the concert hall, show them your email and your ID and they give you your little ticket envelope and away you go. Much better than the Willcall 'maaaaaybeeee this might end up like being bumped off your flight'. Thanks, bud, but I want the seat I paid for.

As long as you have a valid method of card payment, they'll accept it. Yes, even for specials and presales.

No stupid time limit while you fill out information. I know that made me a whole lot calmer and saner about the whole process.

So, in short--the fanclub is the way to go...and since that's run by Jon's people, a little of my confidence in his understanding of the whole 'hey a good portion of your fans are not super rich special snowflakes' concept is back.

:)