Queueing system

[LHC]

I daresay it might, but it wouldn't deal with the problem highlighted in the article linked to, which is tickets being re-sold at grossly inflated prices. I assume that the touts manage to get hold of a large number of tickets by paying lots of people to go online (or queue at the box office) to buy tickets for them.

(I'm not sure why the people booking tickets for the Dr Who prom/s aren't 'ordinary' punters, or how they might differ from 'ordinary' punters?)

A further complication with RAH tickets is that many seats are owned by debenture holders and not released for public sale. I understand that they are supposed to release them back to the box office for sale if they don't want to use them, but debenture seats often find their way into expensive corporate hospitality packages and onto resale sights. It is possible (and hinted at in the article) that some of the Dr Who tickets being sold at inflated prices are debentures rather than tickets sold on the website.

[Flosshilde]

I'd forgotten about those. Are they obliged to release them back to the box office in the terms of the debenture, or is an understanding? If the former then it is presumably possible to impose some sort of penalty?

Reselling tickets at inflated prices (by touts or individuals) is, I think, obnoxious, but even more so in the case of the Dr Who Proms, as the prices were kept low presumably so that it wouldn't be too expensive for a family to go.

[Nick Armstrong]

Blimey, I bet you needed a day off after that , Cal !! sounds very stressful .

Not at all, took about 10 minutes

[Simon B]

Are they obliged to release them back to the box office in the terms of the debenture... ...?

No, with exceptions for certain events ("Exclusive Lets") including some Proms (e.g. the Last Night IIRC).

To answer another question upthread, it is only possible to book 9 tickets per event via the normal route. Therefore, for touts to hoover up vast numbers would require a fair degree of organisation and infrastructure (multiple people and computers essentially). The potential profit presumably justifies the effort.

In years past it was not unknown for attendees of multiple "proper" Proms to take advantage of the 5+/6+ (whatever it is) rule to buy their entitlement of LNOP tickets and then sell these to friends at a price which covered the cost of all their other tickets for the season in an arrangement with which both parties were happy.

If you've ever been to a LNOP, it'll have been plainly obvious that vast swathes of the audience haven't been near the RAH for the rest of the season, despite the nominal 6 concert rule or whatever it is.

[PhilipT]

The basic rule is that Members of the Corporation can do what they like with their tickets for Ordinary Lets provided they do not re-sell them in the vicinity of the Hall. I think it's well known that Her Majesty gives away tickets for her box to members of the Royal Household (though they pay a token amount to cover admin costs). It's a perk of the job.

As with all leaseholds there's an annual service charge which runs to several hundred pounds a seat. It's not unreasonable for Members to recoup that cost by selling their tickets. The Hall runs an efficient ticket return scheme but Members aren't obliged to use it.

[LHC]

It's not unreasonable for Members to recoup that cost by selling their tickets.

For some of the members, the resale of tickets does rather more than 'recoup' their costs. An article in the Telegraph last year (link below) suggested that the families with the largest debenture holdings (respectively 50 and 29 seats) stood to make about £100,000 a year from the resale of tickets. Debentures are much sought after because they are seen as a very good investment, guaranteeing a healthy return from the resale of tickets.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/9168749/Royal-Albert-Hall-trustees-touting-charity-tickets-for-profit.html

[Cavaradossi]

Roger Wright was interviewed about this yesterday lunchtime (Mon 20th May) on Radio 4 You & Yours. Not that he really answered the question of tickets touts.

It was about 20 mins into the programme, if you want to listen again.

[Ferretfancy]

Just taken a look Ferret - what a wonderful place!

I hope your break goes terribly well

I'm back, if damp! A few great days in a very late spring, bluebells only just beginning to appear.

[Ferretfancy]

One irate person who wanted Doctor Who tickets and had made a careful Proms Plan, still lost out on the day. Surely if you are asked to submit a plan in advance, this should be honoured, and numbers set aside for those who took the trouble to organise their needs in advance, otherwise why ask for a plan in the first place?

Luckily I only wanted a Season Pass for the Arena, and submitted the plan weeks ahead, but even then the system tied itself in knots and failed to recognise my RAH account details and password, and it was nearly noon by the time I'd finished. I notice that they were quick enough in processing my credit card!

[PhilipT]

Surely if you are asked to submit a plan in advance, this should be honoured, and numbers set aside for those who took the trouble to organise their needs in advance, otherwise why ask for a plan in the first place?

I don't agree. This would disadvantage those without Internet access who choose to book in person. They could be at the front of the queue and still be told "Sorry, we're keeping all of those tickets for people who have registered plans online but haven't logged in yet."

The advantage of registering plans is, or should be, that it makes it possible to process each application more quickly. There will be a limit to the number of people actually booking at the same time.

Anyone who failed to get tickets for a specific Prom should keep trying the Hall (in case of returns from Members), and has in any case the option of queuing for a day promming ticket.