Free Jazz in the Beaches - Beaches Jazz Festival

Well with the end of July brings the Toronto Jazz Festival in the Beaches. A great event and walk through the Beaches will give you access to some of the best talent in the city and north america. This event has grown in size every year. Not at the level of the Montreal Jazz Festival, but definitely close in terms of talent. If you're town this weekend - head over and check out some of the action.

Beachesjazz.com

www.torontoticketbrokers.com

Great Sources to see free shows in Toronto

So not everything requires that you buy a ticket. Toronto has some great free or nearly free shows. I have compiled a short list to help you find some terrific activities that won't hurt your pocket.

The Toronto Harbourfront Centre is a great place to be in the summer. They have some great eats and cool shows that are FREE. Yes, that is correct.

HarbourFront Centre - Free Events - Whats On

If you are close to High Park - than check out the CanStage for some Shakespeare in the Park. There is a nominal donation, but its a very reasonable.

Downsview Park is full of great fun and plenty of stuff to keep your weekend having fun. Not really about shows - more about great family fun in the sun.

Toronto Ticket Brokers Saves People Money

Yes this is self serving - but I just received an email from a customer and thought I would share it with everyone.

Dear Ticket Brokers,

Thank you for giving me access to so many online ticket brokers. I called some local services out of the Yellow Pages - I thought the prices they quoted for the upcoming Cold Play concert was a bit much. After finding your site I was able to find great selection on StubHub.ca through your site. I would have not known of StubHub if not for your site.

Thank you -

Name Removed

Stars begin taking back control of the events

Madonna recently worked out a deal that makes her the sole source of all the tickets to her venues. She entered into an agreement with Stubhub - that she will sell the tickets through Stubhub at an increased price. This has angered many fans, who feel that it is a right of passage - if you camp out - great tickets should be a given. Not any more. All the best tickets are sold online for greatly increased rates. Recent preselling for Madonna tickets has seen tickets sell for as much as $7500.00.

Is this fair market? Or is it gauging? In my opinion it's fair market - if this were a fixed good, something that people truly need to live. My opinion would be different. If you don't want to pay the going rate, you have the option of staying home. Madonna is just trying to keep the middle men to a minimum. Currently there are alot sticky fingers taking their percentages before a ticket makes its way into the hands of the average consumer. As Superstars feel the pain of lower album/cd sales - habits like this will be come more common.

Is the ticket market fair for Fans?

We all love to go to a great concert! And with so few touring Bands now, it is getting harder and harder to find tickets, passes for these great shows. Ticket Brokers have automated the entire process - so it is next to impossible to get the best tickets available for your show through TicketMaster.com - you are required to go through a third party, just for the opportunity to buy tickets. And you will be paying a nice increase on the list cost of the tickets.

Ticket Brokers are now just like any other industry - they buy it at one price and sell it for a nice profit. Sometimes they get caught with the tickets. But for the most part they are doing very well see positive margins, or there wouldn't be so many people trying to do it. This practice up until recently was pretty illegal, not anymore! MLB has embraced the entire process, as has TicketMaster who purchased the site TicketsNow.com just to provide ticket purchasers another way to get their tickets. This raises the question, is a system that is setup that handicaps the consumer and helps the ticket broker, a fair means of giving consumers(everyday fans) a way to get tickets??

I think there is a bit of muddy water - when the original source is also involved in the after market. Ultimately, it is an oligopoly - close to a Monopoly.

Where to find cheap tickets !?

I get asked often where the best place to find tickets is at the last minute. Ebay is a great place to find passes the day of a big show. Often the seller is going to the show as well and you can meet them there. If you have a few days before the show. Use the links we have provided. You will get the best service and the best deals. Trying to chase down an individual for tickets you have purchased is never fun - use an individual that has sold alot of tickets and has a quality rating in Ebay.

E60 Piece on Ticket Brokers

I recently watch an interesting Documentary on the industry of Resale Tickets. Done very well by E60, which is an ESPN show from the States. It covered the switch amongst US ticket sellers from illegal to accepting of selling marked up tickets on the web and in person. This is a refreshing change from my youth. When if you bought tickets from a guy on the street - you commiting a crime. Now more than 40 states have legalized the practice of marking up tickets for resale.

Personally, I obviously never had an issue. It is just like a grosser providing me with fruits and vegetables. Do I really want to go all the way to wholesaler everytime i need some pears?? No.

How is this any different.