An engaging discussion with Dayna Frank, CEO of First Avenue Productions, on her role in passing the Save Our Stages Act and the new TICKET Act. They delve into advocacy efforts, fair ticketing practices, lobbying in Congress, battling ticket scalping, and navigating the live music industry landscape. Touching on the effects of decreased alcohol consumption, merch revenue sharing, and the legacy of First Avenue Rock Club
The proposed legislation aims to ensure fair pricing, address deceptive practices, and enhance transparency in ticket sales, benefiting consumers.
Collaborative efforts within the entertainment industry, like the Fix the Ticks Coalition, advance solutions to combat secondary market abuses for fair access to live performances.
Lobbyists and advocacy groups play a critical role in shaping ticketing legislation to protect consumers and promote industry integrity through meaningful reforms.
Ticketing technology complexity and the rise of ticket resale platforms require continuous innovation to enhance security, improve customer experiences, and mitigate scalping practices.
Deep dives
Legislation to Protect Ticket Buyers from Brokers' Predatory Practices
The podcast episode delves into the proposed legislation, namely the Fans First Act, aimed at curbing predatory practices by ticket brokers in the secondary market. The act focuses on ensuring fair pricing, addressing deceptive practices, and enhancing transparency in ticket sales. It introduces measures like all-in pricing to educate consumers on total costs upfront and safeguards against deceptive websites misrepresenting themselves as official sellers. The act also proposes penalties for unauthorized use of IP to prevent misleading advertising by secondary market entities.
Impacts of Legislation on Ticket Buying Experience
The discussion highlights the potential impact of the legislation on ticket buyers' experiences and the challenges faced by the live entertainment industry. It outlines how customers often fall victim to inflated secondary market prices, affecting their access to live events. The proposed legislation aims to empower consumers with fair pricing and transparency, protecting them from deceptive sales tactics and ensuring that tickets reach genuine fans at reasonable rates.
Industry Efforts and Collaboration to Address Ticketing Challenges
The episode elaborates on the collaborative efforts within the entertainment industry to address ticketing challenges. It showcases initiatives like the Fix the Ticks Coalition, comprising various industry players, advancing solutions to combat secondary market abuses. The industry's push for legislative reforms reflects a concerted endeavor to enhance customer trust, prevent inflated ticket costs, and promote fair access to live performances.
Role of Lobbyists and Advocacy in Shaping Ticketing Legislation
The conversation sheds light on the role of lobbyists and advocacy groups in shaping ticketing legislation to protect consumers and promote industry integrity. It underscores the importance of legislative advocacy in combating deceptive ticketing practices and ensuring a fair marketplace for live entertainment. Through strategic advocacy efforts and collaborative engagement with policymakers, the industry aims to enact meaningful reforms that benefit both customers and stakeholders.
Challenges and Innovations in Ticketing Technology
The podcast explores the complexities of ticketing technology and the evolving landscape of ticket resale platforms. It discusses the sophisticated tools used by brokers to access and resell tickets, often leading to inflated prices and consumer frustrations. The episode navigates the challenges faced by ticketing companies in combating secondary market activities and highlights ongoing technological innovations aimed at enhancing ticketing security, improving customer experiences, and mitigating scalping practices.
Impact of Industrial Scalpers on Ticket Sales
Industrial scalpers using sophisticated tools to resell tickets in bulk pose a significant concern for venues. The podcast highlights the challenges faced by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) in addressing this issue and differentiates between individual ticket resellers and large-scale scalping operations.
Economic Challenges for Small Venues and Live Music Industry
The podcast delves into the economic struggles faced by small music venues like First Avenue, discussing the impact of rising costs, inflation, and the changing landscape of club business. The speaker emphasizes the difficulties of running a small venue, citing increasing costs and the need to adapt to changes in the live music landscape.
Strategies for Success in the Music Industry
The episode highlights the importance of creating exceptional live music experiences for both artists and audiences. By focusing on high-quality venues, exceptional customer service, and nurturing local music scenes, the speaker expresses confidence in the future of small venues and emphasizes the transformative power of live music experiences.
Dayna Frank is CEO of First Avenue Productions. She's also the co-founder and first President of the Board of the National Independent Venue Association. We discuss her involvement in the passage of the Save Our Stages Act and the formulation of the new TICKET Act and the ins and outs of getting things accomplished in D.C. as well as concert promotion in the Twin Cities. Dayna is a powerhouse, she gets things done!
