Loyalty Scheme or over the counter tickets

[ICGenie]

you should see the state of my broadband (and some people, believe it or not, dont have broadband and im on the verge of cancelling mine - (which puts me at further disadvantage) infact at home efestivals just freezes on me and thus im at work right now - ive noticed recently, that whatever computer I go on facebook for example is taking ages to work funnily enough, the point being that the internet, wonderful as it is, should not be the only avenue. The people calling for alternatives are not asking for the reconstruction of the modern world just a few tweaks, like a few more phone lines.... idea...man the phone lines with volunteers who get a ticket!! therefore getting by the cost implications that is normally thrown up by those fierce F5 supporters

[Pilgrim S]

Both London and Berlin Marathon have a similar problem where demand outstrips supply each year. They just do a lottery. I was against that at first for Glastonbury, but I'm more in favour now.

You enter the lottery, which is open for a few weeks, and then you get an email, if you're successful, giving you the chance to buy a ticket. None of this sitting around with 6 computers switched on for 4 hours, trying to get through to a ticket line. No worries that you're disadvantaged by a slow connection.

Biggest hurdle would be block bookings for families, groups etc. Of course you could just say everyone can book a maximum of 2 tickets, and if your group doesn't get enough tickets between you, then you've got a decision to make. A similar thing could still happen under the current system, which is still a lottery really.

[daveinafield]

Both London and Berlin Marathon have a similar problem where demand outstrips supply each year. They just do a lottery. I was against that at first for Glastonbury, but I'm more in favour now.

You enter the lottery, which is open for a few weeks, and then you get an email, if you're successful, giving you the chance to buy a ticket. None of this sitting around with 6 computers switched on for 4 hours, trying to get through to a ticket line. No worries that you're disadvantaged by a slow connection.

Biggest hurdle would be block bookings for families, groups etc. Of course you could just say everyone can book a maximum of 2 tickets, and if your group doesn't get enough tickets between you, then you've got a decision to make. A similar thing could still happen under the current system, which is still a lottery really.

[daveinafield]

So you think that decreasing the number of tickets available (because those "giveaway" tickets come from somewhere) is going to increase your chances? And you think you'll not have to be hammering redial on your phone at 9am on T-day instead of F5?

And for those asking for a lottery - you would end up with MORE people going for tickets as it would be less effort. This actually DECREASES your chance of getting a ticket.

The problem is not "the internet". It is popularity.

[frostypaw]

i see no problem why this could not work and I think its the fairest way

[daveinafield]

not really, I would be saying this if i had got tickets as ive been saying it since about 2005. Also frosty why did you not reply to the other user who suggested it?

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

in a weird way tho its too easy now, only takes 87 minutes out of your morning these days....I think the lottery may decrease demand as people may think not having an active part in it may reduce their chance of getting a ticket, I feel I would stand more of a chance in an olympic style lottery

[ICGenie]

in a weird way tho its too easy now, only takes 87 minutes out of your morning these days....I think the lottery may decrease demand as people may think not having an active part in it may reduce their chance of getting a ticket, I feel I would stand more of a chance in an olympic style lottery

[frostypaw]

not really, I would be saying this if i had got tickets as ive been saying it since about 2005. Also frosty why did you not reply to the other user who suggested it?

[daveinafield]

a collapsable ladder? lol I dont know the answer, just no harm in looking into alternatives. Glastonbury itself changed it a bit this year with the early coach sale, maybe they could do something similar with other groups such as famalies or first timers or something?

[daveinafield]

I thought the early sale was a brilliant idea this year, unfortunately we did not even try cos not really condusive to family travelling....pity they cant do it with trains....still think there could be more phone lines but I guess they have to make profit somewhere and the ticket buying process is a major part of that, keep it as cheap as possible, wahey - im just a dreamer, nowt wrong with that at glasto eh?

[snoopyhill]

You're contradicting yourself. You say you can't get tickets because it's too easy and then propose to make it easier.. A lottery IS NOT fairer. A lottery means people who aren't really bothered but registered on a drunken night in six months ago and then forgot about it could get tickets. How is that fairer than now?

[daveinafield]

If the exam question is: How do you make allocation of tickets fairer? Then a lottery does make it fairer not easier but fairer.

It doesn't matter what state you are in when you register fairness is about everyone having an equal chance not about who deserves it more.

[daveinafield]

the difference between easier and fairer is probably the key in this debate droopy. Personally tho id find a lottery easier and fairer - it would also get rid of the ticket day snobbery that has developed - 'ooo we had a trillion phones and a trillion laptops on the go with a trillion friends all helping one another' As people are trying non stop for an hour and not even getting into the system and other people are getting in numerous times!! At least in a lottery you would all be in the hat! I still like the idea of a little gnome selling paper tickets atop of Glastonbury Tor on a rainy Wednesday listening to Hawkwind...Chumbawamba...New model Army and Christy Moore....ah they were the days lol

[frostypaw]

But do we, or they, entirely want that flavour of fair?

Fair - every person who ever thought 'glasto might be nice' in a year gets a chance, whether they think about it ever again that year or not

Fair - every person gets a chance to register who thinks about it and those who care enough remember and get up and prepare have a little more chance

It's massively publicised and it's open to everyone and entirely a lottery whether your computer gets through so... so be it. For all the folk getting through multiple times there are folk like me who got in only once - that's the nature of random - look at your friend's lottery wins. It doesn't take turns.

And in the end I think even the Eavis's would admit the festival works better full of people who really care about it rather than those who only thought about it once.

Edited October 31, 2013 by frostypaw

[daveinafield]

But do we, or they, entirely want that flavour of fair?

Fair - every person who ever thought 'glasto might be nice' in a year gets a chance, whether they think about it ever again that year or not

Fair - every person gets a chance to register who thinks about it and those who care enough remember and get up and prepare have a little more chance

It's massively publicised and it's open to everyone and entirely a lottery whether your computer gets through so... so be it. For all the folk getting through multiple times there are folk like me who got in only once - that's the nature of random - look at your friend's lottery wins. It doesn't take turns.

And in the end I think even the Eavis's would admit the festival works better full of people who really care about it rather than those who only thought about it once.

[ICGenie]

If the exam question is: How do you make allocation of tickets fairer? Then a lottery does make it fairer not easier but fairer.

It doesn't matter what state you are in when you register fairness is about everyone having an equal chance not about who deserves it more.

[daveinafield]

Depends on your definition of "fair". As frostypaw says, surely fair in this instance would be where those who put the most effort in to get tickets have the best chance.

[ICGenie]

but not as much effort as actually doing something physical rather than just hitting a key on a keyboard - its the conundrum here, do you really think refreshing occassionally is putting the most effort in when there are people prepared to do all sorts of things to get a ticket..........

[LondonTom]

I'm confused, so what is your actual alternative suggestion? You suggested more phone lines which isn't really any more effort and would actually work out more expensive for most people.

Edited November 1, 2013 by LondonTom

[daveinafield]

if you think ticket day is simply 87 minutes long, perhaps that's where you're going wrong. my ticket day started unofficially as soon as i returned from 2013, and properly, it started about two weeks before ticket day. If you think it's simply waking up at 9 and pressing f5, you're mistaken.

[DeanoL]

Depends on your definition of "fair". As frostypaw says, surely fair in this instance would be where those who put the most effort in to get tickets have the best chance.

[DeanoL]

OTT, that would never happen - my point of view is that many would not be arsed....if it does not involve sitting infront of a computer i dont think people give a crap anymore

[ICGenie]

Fair means 'everyone has an equal chance'.

If you try and define it any other way it just re-inforces someone's bias:

1) surely fair means those who try harder have the best chance?

2) surely fair means those who haven't gone before have the best chance?

3) surely fair means those who have gone before have the best chance?

4) surely fair means those who volunteer for charities during the year have the best chance?

etc.

[daveinafield]

this is probably not directly related but can anyone born after say 1998 (when this site was founded I believe) imagine the world before the internet and just how different going to festivals was, and music in general, because of the technology? In a few years this thread would probably be viewed even more sceptically than some do now, you did what? you bought things that were not online? Even people who were there at the start like me I bet would have had no idea when were all mucking about in chat rooms 97/98/99 where it would all lead. My first experience of the internet was 95 when at work I saw a computer Engineer talking to me through my screen trying to solve a tech problem,Id never seen anything like it. Now my kids play cbeebies games (when our connection works) and think its always been like that