What Would You Do For Sold-Out Coachella Tickets? Some Will Stop at Nothing

By Jason Newman Posted Feb 1st 2011 06:29PM

Last week, organizers of The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the popular annual concert held in Indio, Calif., announced that one week after going on sale, all 75,000 VIP and general admission tickets were sold out. According to Paul Tollett, promoter for festival organizer Goldenvoice, it was the fastest sellout in the festival's 12-year history.

The denizens of Craigslist, predictably, are not happy. Whether the quicker-than-expected sellout is due to unprecedented demand or an increase in ticket-purchasing technology by scalpers, the bottom line is that a lot of people are screwed and willing to put in the extra effort for a trip to Indio. Nonrefundable flights from England were already purchased. The previously unemployed are now working. And melodramatic pleas are now public.

We scoured the site over the weekend to see how desperate the situation is. It's not pretty. But if you are looking to get rid of tickets, the following offers are still available. ►►

Goats (?!): This person needs three goats, and you know they're serious because they included a picture of a goat.

Soul: Dude's giving you his soul. Remember that 'Simpsons' episode when Bart sold his soul and all the subsequent mental and existential anguish he went through? This guy's ready for that.

Your Own Child!: OK, admittedly we might have misread the headline, but a cautionary note to well-intentioned parents: Never promise your children concert tickets unless you've already bought them.

The "Sacred Piece of Paper": And then there's this person.

Xbox, BlackBerry, MacBook, etc.: There is no shortage of people looking to sell you slightly worn electronics in exchange for tickets, including this XBox with games or "barley used" BlackBerry.

Cars: You would think a car would be the last thing people in California would relinquish for tickets, but if you need a 1966 VW Bug or Subaru Outback, make a deal.

Surfboard and Mixing Board: Presumably, this guy just went into his garage, saw the box labeled "Boards" and said, "Screw it, I'll just sell everything."

Decorative Concrete: For the person who has it all but realized, only after buying Coachella tix, that he really should've used that money for decorative concrete, your wish is granted.

Skydiving Lessons: We would actually consider this offer. Coachella comes around every year, but a free chance for "two 9,000 feet tandem skydives" would be pretty sweet.

Music Video: This one is probably geared toward all those amateur rappers with more money than talent who put most of their resources toward a glossy video over a Rakim or Big Daddy Kane album.

Everything (Part 1): "Patrick" is desperate and willing to do anything to go to the festival, including writing you a song or poem, giving you free tea and providing a photoshoot session for you and your family. Oh, and he also babysits. Because the best babysitter referral is a random guy you find on Craigslist who is willing to do anything for concert tickets. But A for effort.

Everything (Part 2): Like Patrick, this person also offers up odd jobs such as painting, gardening and boot shining to get the job done, but genially throws in "general degradation" as a service he's willing to perform. Have fun sifting through the response e-mails on this one.

So despair not, ticket hunters. And if all else fails, the benevolent consumer-friendly folks at StubHub will gladly sell you one of their stash for a mere $10,000 per pass.

Tags: Coachella, craigslist

Comments

(12)

Tuesday 01 February

By chris

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Who's the singer/band in the photograph with the story?

By Jason Newman

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Hey Chris,

Alex Ebert, lead singer of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

By JR Jake

What Would You Do For Sold-Out Coachella Tickets?

Wait until next year...........

By Lenny

A Three Day Festival of Indie Bands (except for Lauryn Hill and Duran Duran) s**t I'd give tickets away if I had them.

Thanks Jason! going to explore their music now.

By Scraper

I hear cameron Diaz will let anyone use her face as sandpaper for tickets. SELLOUT

By early_exit

I would sit thru five consecutive episodes of Barbara Walters' the View. (cringing at the thought) To repeat: I will listen to 5 hours of insane chat by those coffee-table-bimbos discussing their estrogen-alert moments.
Now when should I expect those tickets!

By Rob

I will listen to the whole Justin Bieber cd for a ticket!Please help me.

By tom

Who/What the hell is Coachella???

By cali1086

ignorant

Wednesday 02 February

By ljsurf322

Read the article, putz. That's what it's there for.

I'm walking back my previous offer to watch 5 days of the views. While the lineup this year is great and some of my favorite bands are at the festival. There is no way I could listen to that obnoxious redhead for 5 hours. I have to get inline for next year.

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