I’m not one to use my platform to publicly shame an organization or business, but today I’m turning up the mic to blast the universe with a dire warning.
Do Not Use Brown Paper Tickets! Do not list your events with them. Do not purchase tickets through them. And tell your friends the same.
I’m incredibly sad and angry to say that I got stiffed by Brown Paper Tickets for close to $500 in ticket revenue.
BrownPaperTickets.com is an online ticketing platform used by many non-profit organizations and independent artists, and has not paid me for the two recent Songwriters In-the-Round shows that I produced at the Ice House in Bethlehem–in June and September.
I’ve successfully used the service several times in past years with no issues, but follow-up to track payment now is a dead end. Emails to Support are met with automated replies, and all phone calls go to an automated message.
Not one to sit idly by, I’ve been in touch with PA Congresswoman Susan Wild’s office, and also reported this to the Federal Trade Commission.
If you’re interested, a quick internet search shows that this is happening to hundreds of others just like me. How is it that this company is able to continue to do business when they clearly are defrauding customers? BPT has been involved in a lawsuit (I don’t know the details), and if this is indeed a ongoing scam, the public should know about it, so please spread the word.
I’m trying to find a bright side to all of this, and the only consolation I have is that I already paid each of the artists–quite literally from my grownup piggy bank. So, at least I don’t have that guilt keeping me up at night. Sleeplessness comes from plenty of other places, like how long is it gonna take to replace that $500? Sheesh!
Thank you for spreading the word,
DH
DINA HALL 