{"id":80,"date":"2026-05-14T15:35:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T15:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northcarolinamovingjournal.com\/?p=80"},"modified":"2026-05-14T15:35:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T15:35:21","slug":"nc-musicians-concert-venues-join-lawmakers-in-push-to-ban-reseller-bots-ticket-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northcarolinamovingjournal.com\/?p=80","title":{"rendered":"NC musicians, concert venues join lawmakers in push to ban reseller bots, ticket fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Heather LaGarde owns Haw River Ballroom, a venue with a capacity of 750 in Saxapahaw, North Carolina.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Risk low of hantavirus spread, CDC officials say<\/a><\/p>\n

Fifteen years ago, Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings were the first band to ever perform at Haw River Ballroom. The group came back recently on tour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey 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,\u201d LaGarde told reporters Wednesday. \u201cIt\u2019s life-saving for little venues like ours, and we love them dearly, and everyone wants to get into that show.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Both nights of the show sold out in four minutes, leaving upset would-be concertgoers calling the ballroom. LaGarde estimates reseller bots snatched up least 100 tickets from each night.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the show, people lined up outside but couldn\u2019t get in without a valid ticket. But there were still empty spots inside that she thinks were purchased by bots.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had really reduced bar sales, which hits your venues very hard because you don\u2019t have your full capacity,\u201d LaGarde said. \u201cThe bands had really reduced merch sales, which they rely on so much for their bottom line.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

LaGarde is one of the venue owners and musicians joining lawmakers to support legislation that would impose tougher penalties for fraudulent concert ticket sales in North Carolina and limit the number that can be bought by reseller bots.<\/span><\/p>\n

Senate Bill 849<\/span>, \u201cReal Tickets, Real Fans Act,\u201d would implement more regulations for second- and third-party sellers, targeting price gouging and fraudulent sales of concert tickets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Under the legislation, resellers would need to clearly identify themselves as resellers, not the box office, official artists or venue partner. The bill would also ban impersonators fooling fans into thinking they\u2019re buying directly from the source.<\/span><\/p>\n

Resellers would need to provide an active link directly to the primary seller, giving fans a choice to view the original listing. Additionally, the measure would ban the sale of speculative tickets, which aren\u2019t in the possession of a reseller at the time of listing, sale or advertisement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Beware UNC-Duke basketball ticket scams, NC AG Jeff Jackson says<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n