NC Lawmakers Push Bill to Combat Ticket Bots, Concert Fraud
NC venue owners and musicians rally behind legislation targeting ticket bots that are snatching up concert seats and leaving empty venues despite sold-out shows.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — North Carolina musicians, concert venue owners, and lawmakers gathered Wednesday to support legislation aimed at addressing ticket reseller bots and fraudulent sales that are affecting both fans and the live music industry.
Senate Bill 849, known as the “Real Tickets, Real Fans Act,” would impose stricter regulations on second- and third-party ticket sellers while targeting price gouging and fraudulent concert ticket sales across the state.
Venue Owner Details Bot Impact
Heather LaGarde, who owns the 750-capacity Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, shared her recent experience with the ticket bot problem during a news conference in Raleigh. When folk duo Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings returned to her venue for a special two-night run, both shows sold out in just four minutes.
“They were doing it in 6,000-person theaters across the nation, but they chose North Carolina. They chose little Saxapahaw to do a special two-night run, which is incredible,” LaGarde told reporters. “It’s life-saving for little venues like ours, and we love them dearly, and everyone wants to get into that show.”
LaGarde estimates that reseller bots purchased at least 100 tickets from each night of the sold-out shows. Despite the sellout status, empty seats remained visible during the performances, which she attributes to bot purchases.
Financial Impact on Venues and Artists
The bot problem created a ripple effect that hurt both the venue and the performing artists financially. LaGarde reported significantly reduced bar sales due to the lower actual attendance, noting that venues rely heavily on concession revenue when operating at full capacity.
“We had really reduced bar sales, which hits your venues very hard because you don’t have your full capacity,” LaGarde said. “The bands had really reduced merch sales, which they rely on so much for their bottom line.”
Meanwhile, legitimate fans were left disappointed, with many calling the ballroom after being unable to secure tickets during the rapid sellout. Some hopeful attendees even lined up outside the venue during the shows but couldn’t gain entry without valid tickets.
Proposed Legislative Solutions
The proposed legislation would require resellers to clearly identify themselves as third-party sellers rather than misrepresenting themselves as the official box office, artists, or venue partners. The bill specifically targets impersonators who deceive fans into believing they’re purchasing directly from the primary source.
Under the new regulations, resellers would be required to provide an active link directly to the primary seller, giving consumers the option to view original ticket listings for comparison. The measure would also ban certain deceptive sales practices that have become common in the secondary ticket market.
The “Real Tickets, Real Fans Act” represents an effort to protect both consumers and the live music industry from the growing problem of automated ticket purchasing that has affected concert venues of all sizes across North Carolina and the nation.
