Las Vegas Weekly

July 15, 2009 · 12:18 PM

Celebrities go to war against high-priced ticket scalpers

By Robin Leach

Diana Krall.

Photo: Courtesy

The stars themselves have declared war against high-priced ticket scalpers running rampant at high-demand events not only in Las Vegas but also at arenas across the country! The first three shows here to benefit from the battle are Sugarland at Star of the Desert Arena in Primm on July 24, followed by Diana Krall at The Pearl in the Palms on Aug. 8 and Creed at The Rogue Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel on Sept. 27. Joint resident Carlos Santana also has joined the fray!

Tickets-for-Charity is an organization that provides high-demand seats at reasonable prices with the added benefit of a built-in donation to a charity of your choice. The group’s line: “Line a scalper’s pocket or feed a hungry child.” The platform has already raised $3 million for charity thanks to the tour dates of James Taylor, Billy Joel & Elton John, Brad Paisley, Coldplay, Dane Cook and Kenny Chesney, many of whom will play here this year and next.

Supported by the artists themselves, Tickets-for-Charity offers music fans the first socially positive alternative to unauthorized ticket resellers in the multibillion-dollar concert ticket industry. Tickets-for-Charity provides fans with an easy way to access seats at often the same or better price they pay elsewhere, while supporting important causes from children’s cancer to hunger relief.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Kenny Chesney at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel on April 25.

James Taylor is at the forefront of artists partnering with and supporting Tickets-for-Charity. “I am deeply impressed by the enterprise. Tickets-for-Charity gives fans the opportunity to support charity in a unique way by letting them combine their passion for music with a desire to help causes that we all care about,” he said.

“We are honored to work with amazing artists like James Taylor who have such a strong commitment to their fans, the music industry and philanthropy,” said Jord Poster, CEO of Tickets-for-Charity. “The beauty of our platform is that it raises millions of dollars for charity without asking anyone to ‘give’ to charity. At Tickets-for-Charity, donations are captured from the ticket premiums that consumers are currently paying ticket brokers and scalpers, but given the option would much rather direct to charity.”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

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