Mammoth Blog

•  Fewer places to list your tickets.
•  Little to no access to other brokers to work trades.
• Fee after fee after fee after fee piled up on top of you.
• Policy changes, sometimes daily.

•  Control costs for brokers and consumers.
•  Keep it simple and effective, a la Google.  Read More

FlipATicket.com today announced that it is leading the charge of brokers who have united and said, "Enough is enough!". Over the course of the last several years, brokers have witnessed drastic changes the ticket industry has undergone; so drastic, in fact, that it is difficult to fully grasp.

If you were told five years ago that EI would be purchased by Ticketmaster, or that StubHub would be purchased by eBay, or that TN would morph into a gargantuan network of thousands of brokers, or that Ticket Technology would be bought by StubHub/eBay, or that LiveNation would buy every venue under the sun and ditch Ticketmaster for their own ticketing service, only to merge with Ticketmaster a few months later, would you have believed any of it? Who could have imagined that all of those things would take place in five short years?

Perhaps a better question would be: How have these changes helped your business? Let's see...

* Fewer places to list your tickets.
* Little to no access to other brokers to work trades.
* Fee after fee after fee after fee piled up on top of you.
* Policy changes, sometimes daily.

And what is the result of these changes that we have all witnessed? You, the broker, are left holding the short end of the stick, working harder to earn less. Your choice of places to buy, sell, and trade tickets has been boiled down to making a decision between the lesser of all that is evil. That's how you grow a business, right? No, we didn't think so either.

A number of months back, the folks behind BlueBucs.com sat down and started working on ideas of how to counteract the absurdity that has transpired in our industry, and to help brokers regain control over their business and costs. They poured over so many ideas and options that it is impossible to enumerate, but their brainstorming team always came back to two primary "must do" points:

* Control costs for brokers and consumers.
* Keep it simple and effective, a la Google.

Brokers need to be able to effectively communicate with one another, and consumers need to be able to do a simple search, find the tickets they want, and make a purchase. Neither the broker nor the consumer should be gouged with a litany of fees. Folks are tired of the nickel-and-dime games!

Imagine, if you will..

* No more throwing away thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars in fees each year.
* No more ridiculous "rules" and policy changes each week that are impossible for anyone (including those imposing them) to keep up with.
* No more bowing to your "master", the ticket exchange. They should work for you, not the other way around!

The solution is FlipATicket.com, a brand new, back-to-basics site for brokers to buy and sell tickets, and retail outlet for consumer sales.

Will FlipATicket be the next StubHub, or EI, or TN? Absolutely not. And we don't want to be! Those guys define "ticket exchange", and "ticket exchange" is the problem that FlipATicket is designed to solve! Rather, the goal is to build a platform designed by, run by, and geared for ticket brokers. A platform that offers you an affordable and effective alternative for listing, buying, and selling tickets. A platform with a simple fee structure so that you don't need to hire an IRS agent to help you figure out how much revenue you just lost.

FlipATicket.com will attract customers who are just as tired as you are of dealing with a "ticket exchange". Customers that will appreciate never having to call the horrendous customer service line of a "ticket exchange", because they can now contact you, the seller, directly. The bottom line is, FlipATicket.com will provide you with more opportunities for sales to customers who are *yours*, and both you and your customer will be paying less fees!

We are currently operating in a beta test, which will run until Monday, February 28, 2011. During the beta test period, all ticket brokers will be able to buy, sell, and trade tickets - free of charge, our way of saying "Thank you!" for helping us work out any bugs and for providing feedback on features and future development ideas. As a special added bonus, during the beta test period, registered brokers will have free limited access to our flagship website, BlueBucs.com (the #1 source of presale and onsale information).

On Tuesday, March 1, 2011, all beta test accounts will be disabled, and broker accounts will be available for a nominal fee. A monthly subscription will be available for $39, or you can save 5% by choosing the annual subscription at a rate of just $444. There will be no additional fees to buy, sell, and trade your tickets on FlipATicket.com.

However, we are offering special discount pricing for those who choose to partner with us during the beta launch period. We have allotted a limited number of FlipATicket memberships at deeply discounted prices. As of this posting, only 25 of these spots are available. They are available only while they last, or until the beta test ends, whichever occurs first. Choose from one of the following:

* Founding Member Lifetime Membership - A one-time fee of $999. Never pay another penny to buy, sell, and trade your tickets on FlipATicket.com.
* Charter Membership - Annual subscription rate of just $365. Yes, you read correctly. Just $1 a day to buy, sell, and trade your tickets on FlipATicket.com, with no additional fees.

Again, these are being offered on a first come, first served basis. They are going fast, and will never again be offered.

Can we compete on sheer volume of sales from day one? No, we can't. But by partnering with FlipATicket.com, we can all work together and slowly but surely take back our industry, one-by-one as brokers decide for themselves: "Enough is enough!"

Register today at http://www.flipaticket.com/register

Lance Smith, host of CMT's Top 20 Countdown, will be pursuing an acting career and other opportunities when his contract with the network expires in December. He says he reached the decision following several months of analyzing his long-term career goals. Before coming to CMT in 2001, Smith had already spent time in L.A. to concentrate on his acting career. "I'll continue to pursue a place in front of a mike or camera, but it will be under a different set of lights," Smith said of his departure from the network. "Once upon a time, before my decade-long stint as a host, I was an actor, and it's time to wear that hat once again. I will forever be grateful for every chance and opportunity given to me by CMT and country music. There's not a better fan base in the world. But most of all I will miss the crews -- my friends behind the scenes. It's the show behind the curtain that I was most fortunate to see." He is already working on the production of an independent feature film. A search is underway to find a new host for Top 20 Countdown.

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A Nashville judge has dismissed assault and harassment charges against John Rich in connection with an altercation involving former Nashville Star contestant Jared Ashley. Following testimony Friday (Nov. 20), General Sessions Judge John Aaron Holt dismissed the criminal charges that were filed after Ashley claimed Rich "sucker punched" him in the jaw in March at the Big & Rich member's private club, the Spot, in downtown Nashville. Rich said Ashley entered the club without permission and refused to cooperate when security guards asked him to leave. During Friday's hearing, Rich acknowledged he pushed Ashley but denied that he punched him. He testified, "In one motion, I took his drink out of his hand and pushed him back out of my space." In dismissing the charges, the judge noted that the Spot is a private club and that there was no evidence that Ashley sustained any injuries. Friday's hearing was in connection with the criminal charges, but Rich and Ashley's civil suits against each other are still pending.

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Taylor Swift won in five categories -- including overall artist of the year -- at the 2009 American Music Awards presented Sunday (Nov. 22) at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. Swift was in London for rehearsals for Monday's (Nov. 23) concert at Wembley Arena and accepted three of the fan-voted awards via satellite.

The other artist of the year nominees were Kings of Leon, Lady Gaga, Eminem and the late Michael Jackson.

"Music has never been, ultimately, about competition," Swift said in accepting the night's top honor. "To even be mentioned in a category with Michael Jackson -- who we'll miss and love forever -- is an unimaginable honor. I just want to say I'm sending my love to the Jackson family and Janet for reaching out to me the way that you have.

"And to the fans, you have given me so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, and I hope you guys have an awesome Thanksgiving. I miss and I love you."

Swift also won the favorite female artist award in the pop/rock and country categories, and she was named favorite adult contemporary artist in a field that included Daughtry and Jason Mraz. Her Fearless album was voted favorite country album.

In the country category, Keith Urban was named favorite male artist, and Rascal Flatts received their fourth consecutive award as favorite band, duo or group.

In one of the more interesting turns of the evening, Gloriana received the breakthrough artist of the year award. Fans voted via cell phone in the category sponsored by T-Mobile. The other contenders were Lady Gaga, Keri Hilson and Kid Cudi. Most media observers predicted Lady Gaga as the most likely winner.

Gloriana member Tom Gossin openly acknowledged the surprise factor of their win.

"We're Gloriana from Nashville, Tenn.," he said. "We're a country group. Could we get a show of hands of everybody that just said, 'Who the heck is Gloriana?' Well, you're not alone." He continued, "We've got so many people to thank ... starting with Miss Taylor Swift. She believed in us and took us out on tour this year before anybody knew who we were, so thank you, Taylor."

In accepting Rascal Flatts' latest AMA honor, Gary LeVox told the crowd, "You guys have been amazing employers this year. Thank you. Keep employing us." He went on to thank several of their business associates, including "all the accountants that take out taxes on every single thing we do."

When Swift accepted the favorite female country artist award, she said, "I want to say thank you to country radio for giving fans a chance to hear my music. Thank you to everybody who came out to see my Fearless tour this summer and this year. Thank you to everybody who follows me on Twitter and goes to my Web site and fan sites. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This means the world to me."

In a three-hour show that leaned heavily toward pop, R&B and hip-hop, Keith Urban performed "Kiss a Girl," and Carrie Underwood sang her latest No. 1 single, "Cowboy Casanova."

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The Dam Letter This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries

Most people think it improper to spank children, so I have tried other
methods to control my kids when they have one of 'those moments.'

Tough Love vs. Spanking - Good Argument

Tickets will go on sale Friday,
October 30th for the 3rd annual Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music & Arts
Festival, slated for Thursday, June 3 through Saturday, June 5, 2010 in
Enterprise.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091027/CL99873 )

The Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music & Arts Festival is one of the world's
grandest outdoor entertainment extravaganzas. Fans have come from more than 47
states and 8 countries to enjoy the 3-day festival which includes music and
activities for the whole family. At BamaJam, the music never stops and the fun
goes on 'til the sun comes up ... and then it starts all over again with food,
booths, activities and music, music, music.

Tickets are on sale for $99 for a 3-day ticket and $49.00 for a 1-Day Flex
Ticket, which may be used on any 1 of the 3 days. Service charges and taxes
are included in this low price.

These introductory prices will not last long, and are available in very
limited quantities, so act fast!

Tickets are for General Admission, which means, the earlier you arrive, the
better your seat!

The Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music & Arts Festival offers 3 jam-packed days of
music and entertainment with performances by more than 30 of today's' most
popular and compelling acts. With more than 600 acres, fans will find the
perfect site to set up camp for the 2010 festival.

RV and tent campsites will be available for purchase on a first-come,
first-serve basis. A par 3 golf course on the festival grounds will be
available to campers. Shoes and shirts are not required!

Verizon and Ronnie Gilley Entertainment have announced 4-time and current CMA,
and 4-consecutive ACM Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney will headline the
event. This will be one of Chesney's only 2010 concert appearances.

Chesney, who's had 19 #1 songs, is known for the hits "Out Last Night," "When
The Sun Goes Down," "Beer In Mexico," "Living In Fast Forward," "Never Wanted
Nothing More," and the ACM Single of the Year, "The Good Stuff."

The Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music & Arts Festival has become synonymous with
the best names in music entertainment. The festival boasts dozens of Grammy
award-winning, platinum-selling artists; all in one place, all at one
music-filled 3-day event. Past performers have included Taylor Swift, Alan
Jackson, Kid Rock, Brooks & Dunn, Jamey Johnson, Jason Aldean and a slate of
other top artists.

Tickets will go on sale Saturday morning for the return of Garth Brooks.

Brooks announced that he was coming out of retirement for a five-year run of shows at the Encore/Wynn Theatre in Las Vegas. He'll do 15 weekends a year for five years.

The tickets that go on sale Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. are for the shows for the weekends of December 11th, January 1st, January 22nd, February 12th and February

All tickets are the same base price of $125, plus a five-dollar service charge and 13 dollars in tax, bringing the total price of each ticket to $143.

You can buy tickets by visiting www.wynnlasvegas.com/boxoffice or by calling (702)-770-7469. One note -- the person whose name is on the credit card used to purchase the tickets must be the person who picks up the tickets at the theatre. source>>>

- Call it the non-druggy drug: Music can promote memory, social behavior and communication in patients with severe brain disorders, but researchers don't understand how music works in the human brain to improve mental powers and the ability to interact with others.

Now, new research in monkeys suggests that humans' ability to perceive music may have been developed through the ability of animals to communicate with one another using vocalizations. After all, the researchers noted, the sounds of human speech have much in common with the sounds made by animals. For example, human speech and animal vocalizations contain the same kinds of tones, which are known as "complex tones."

Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center studied brain activity in the auditory cortex of monkeys. They found that the brain cells known as neurons were tuned to certain frequencies and harmonic sounds.

"The understanding of neural mechanism of 'innate' music features in non-human primates will facilitate an improved understanding of music perception in the human nervous system," study co-author Yuki Kikuchi, research associate in the department of physiology and biophysics, said in a university news release. "This will allow a neurobiological framework from which to understand the basis of the effectiveness of music therapeutic interventions."

The study authors were scheduled to present their findings at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, held Oct. 17 to 21 in Chicago. The study was funded by grants from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. source>>>

A woman who lives in the same building as Madonna has complained of loud music coming from her apartment.

Karen George, who lives above the singer, is suing the management company that looks after their Manhattan block.

She alleges Madonna, 51, and her pals rehearse to 'unreasonable high decibel amplified music'.

In papers filed at New York State Supreme Court, Karen claims nothing has been done since she first complained in 2008.

Madonna moved into the seventh-floor apartment following her divorce from Guy Ritchie, 41.

Her rep declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for the management company.

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Beyonce has postponed a planned concert in Malaysia for October 25th, after the country's opposition Islamist party critiqued her performance, quoting moral issues, concert organizers said. The Pan Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) forced Beyonce to cancel her concert in primarily Muslim nations.

"The postponement is solely (the) decision of the artiste and has nothing to do with other external reasons," the concert organizers said. "The Organisers sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused."

The PAS did not approve of Beyonce choice of dressing. "We oppose the holding of such concerts and we will take action to prevent it," a spokesman from the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party said.

Earlier this month, Malaysia banned Muslims from attending a concert by U.S. hip-hop band The Black Eyed Peas, which was sponsored by Guinness, one of the brands owned by the world's biggest spirits group, Diageo, According to ABC News.

Beyonce and her management team will offer a statement later in time. source>>>

Reggae music is all about the good vibes. Unless you're Buju Banton.

In his case, the vibes being sent his way by the LGBT community? They're are quite bad.

The reggae star has been inciting the ire of the gay community for decades--ever since the release of "Boom Bye Bye," which he has since promised to remove from his set list. Only, even that much isn't calming the storm.

As recently as last month, Banton was booked to play a gig at Victory Park's House of Blues--until, apparently due to pressure from the gay rights organizations across the country, the club canceled the show.

But the ban on Banton in Dallas hasn't held: Deep Ellum club Trin-City/ Palm Beach Club picked up the gig and scheduled it for tomorrow night. And the Dallas gay community is outraged.

In short: "Buju Banton is a jerk," Daniel Cates, co-founder of Equality March Texas, told DC9.

Resource Center Dallas, in partnership with Equality March Texas, has organized a protest for tomorrow evening from 7 to 9 p.m. across the street from the night club. In turn, the club appears to be using the protest as part of its marketing efforts.

According to reports, at least a dozen of Banton's concerts have been canceled on his nationwide tour. source>>>

country star Garth Brooks announced a musical comeback in Nashville on Thursday.

Brooks, 47, confirmed at a news conference the long-simmering rumour that he is officially ending his self-imposed retirement.

"We're going to take the retirement roof off over our head, and I already feel taller," Brooks told reporters.

The popular singer said he has no immediate plans and will take things as they come.

The top-selling country star released his last studio album, Scarecrow, in 2001, a year after he decided to retire to spend more time with his three daughters, all now teens. He also divorced his wife, Sandy Mahl, in 2001 and married country singer Trisha Yearwood in 2005.

He emerged from retirement to promote his three-disc compilation album of greatest hits -- including four new songs -- in 2008. The album finished 10th on Billboard's year-end list of top-selling albums.

In a 2008 interview, Brooks mentioned he would like to return to the music industry once his children had grown.

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Don't expect to spot Carly Simon in a Starbucks anytime soon, even if you go to New York or L.A.

She's suing the company, after their exclusive-distribution deal went sour. Simon says her 2008 album This Kind of Love, sold in Starbucks stores, wasn't promoted enough, which is why it tanked and had to be discounted. By skimping on ads, her lawsuit says, "Starbucks stigmatized Ms. Simon's album as an album that could not be sold at full price," which makes her look bad.

The company responds, with an almost-audible sniff of derision, that even after they stepped up promotion in Boston and New York, "sales continued to lag as the title received tepid response from music consumers

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