News and Reviews: 18th January 2003

WATCH OUT THERE ARE FAKE TICKETS ABOUT . Last night for Audioslave at The Astoria there were about 100 fake/forged tickets sold outside. The sight of 2 teenagers crying their eyes out after paying £60 each for fakes has prompted me to say a few words on buying tickets from "strangers" It is bad enough paying £60 for a genuine ticket to see your fave band but to pay £60 for one that will not get you in is something else. If you present a forgery the door security will not feel sorry for you and let you in . They will take the ticket off you and escort you off the premises .How can you avoid buying forged tickets? The forged tickets usually only turn when there is massive demand for downstairs standing tickets. In London forgeries were at Astoria (David Bowie) Shepherds Bush Empire ( Oasis) and Brixton Academy ( Jamiroquai ) and Bruce Springsteen (Wembley) and others . Because of computers the forged tickets can be of high quality but the counterfoil security strip is not as prominent as a genuine ticket.This is the real difference. 1.Most fake tickets are sold before the doors are open to the public so what happens is fan buys ticket at 6pm gets in the queue to get near stage then doors open at 7pm the door security spot the fake and you are put outside in the street , by which time the person that has sold you the ticket is long gone . 2.If you have to buy a ticket before 7pm all you have to do is compare it closely with a fan in the queue with a genuine ticket . 3.If you are buying a ticket from a stranger when the doors are open just ask a door security guard to verify it is real .Someone who is selling a real ticket will not mind you doing this .I know how hard it is when you really want a ticket for a sold out event to just shell out the dosh but stick to the above and avoid being ripped off. You have been warned .

Posted 18th January 2003