Suck and Blow: the Ticketmaster/Camel connection
I could go into a long convoluted story about why I don't like Ticketmaster, but I've done it so many times it's even boring me a bit. As far as smokers go, I have many friends in this category. I think smokers are better kissers than non-smokers on the whole. As long as they don't light up in my house, I have no quarrel with them (except when they exhale in my face, that bites). But the way cigarrette companies (and most domestic beer companies for that matter) appeal to young people is almost criminal. To participate in this pandering means to accept it.
A few years ago many local Ticketmaster affiliates (they are, for the most part, like McDonalds‹a franchise) gave away tickets to persons who turned in their guns‹no questions asked. The usual giveaway was two tickets a gun. It wasn't a bad thought‹the idea was to get guns out of the hands of young people. They weren't aiming at adults, they were specifically wanting young kids to give up the guns. While the gesture didn't deserve the amazing round of applause that was heard in some areas of the country, it wasn't without merit. Ticketmaster realized that the greatest number of its customers were young and used this to do a small part towards better gun control. Now Camel cigarettes is giving away Ticketmaster gift certificates in an effort to push its product. So now Ticketmaster has older customers (the order forms‹found in many weekly newspapers, magazines and other very accessible places‹say you must be 21 to order) than they did a few years ago? Has the market suddenly changed? Not likely.
So now the company that charges from $1.50 to sometimes $10 or more for the privalidge of using an automated ticket system (per ticket, no refunds for surcharge, other surcharges may apply including parking, venue or franchise charges) is promoting cigarette smoking. They are using the same ploy used to get guns out of the hands of young people to put cigarettes in their place. While there are many areas of the country that this is not valid (I would assume because of the objection of local Ticketmaster owners in those areas), this is a nationwide campaign. The saturation of the campaign has put two or three information packets into my hands‹and I'm a non-smoker. So maybe you don't have a problem with paying a few extra bucks for a concert, but this is different. It's not price gauging, it's a blatent attempt to addict young kids. Somewhere the line between what is responsible and what is exploitive has been crossed.