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11:26 GMT, Friday, 25 July 2008 12:26 UK

Tom Waits takes on ticket touts

Tom Waits

Thousands of concert-goers in Edinburgh are to be asked to show photo ID in a new bid to tackle ticket touts.

Promoters will try out the idea for the first time when legendary American songwriter Tom Waits takes the stage of the city's Playhouse at the weekend.

Waits is performing in the city for the first time since 1987.

The names printed on the tickets will be checked against the photo ID, such as passports, to ensure they have not been bought via internet auction sites.

Waits is playing sold-out dates at the Edinburgh Playhouse on Sunday and Monday, which are his only UK dates in the European leg of his Doom and Glitter tour.

Fans were only allowed to buy two tickets each for the concert - and had to name themselves and their guests.

Tickets, with the names printed on them, were sent out to home addresses only a week ago and concert-goers will have to show their passport alongside their named tickets to gain entry to the concert.

It is the first time such stringent measures have been applied in Scotland and Regular Music, who are promoting the concert, said it was a necessary move to combat ticket touting.

"You're entitled to sell other goods you purchase, so I have some difficulty with a blanket ban on reselling of tickets at face value"
Marco Rinaldi
Concert-goer


They said it may take slightly longer than normal to get fans into the theatre but hoped they would be patient.

Marco Rinaldi, 30, from Edinburgh, who is going to Sunday's concert, said: "I have conflicting views about this. Whilst I can see that widespread touting is harmful and can rip genuine fans off, I do wonder about genuine people who may have bought a ticket or two they can no longer use.

"These tickets aren't cheap, so why should they be prevented from selling something on, at face value, that they have already paid for?

"You're entitled to sell other goods you purchase, so I have some difficulty with a blanket ban on reselling of tickets at face value."

'Huge issue'

Internet analyst Gary Marshall believed the company had to be careful the measures do not discriminate against ordinary fans.

"Ticket touting is a huge issue for promoters, especially with ebay, and I can understand why they might feel the need to take such measures," he said.

"But what happens if you're ill, or your child is sick, or you discover it clashes with your holidays? Why shouldn't you be able to pass your ticket onto someone else?"

Meanwhile, organisers admit a number of tickets have been sent out with only the buyer's name on.

They said it should affect only a small number of fans, who should have been informed, and should exchange their tickets at the Box Office on arrival.



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Related to this story:
Leader calls for ticket tout ban (13 Jul 07 |  Edinburgh, East and Fife )
Tattoo ticket touts ban on eBay (15 Jan 07 |  Edinburgh, East and Fife )

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Tom Waits
The Edinburgh Playhouse
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