{"id":68,"date":"2025-12-11T22:08:35","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T22:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/?p=68"},"modified":"2025-12-11T22:36:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T22:36:19","slug":"my-opposition-to-nj-a5611","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/?p=68","title":{"rendered":"My opposition to NJ A5611"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chair Sampson, Vice-Chair Quijano, members of the Committee \u2014 thank you for the opportunity to testify.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My name is Jonathan Peirce. I own The Newton Theatre in Sussex county NJ, and I\u2019d like to begin my testimony by pointing out a basic truth about live events in New Jersey:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independent venues and the artists who perform in them do all the work, take all the risk, all to make a small pro\ufb01t\u2014 while scalpers, who contribute nothing, make the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is the core problem with this bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The artist creates the show. They travel on buses for months, write the music, rehearse the band, and deliver the art people come to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The venue takes on enormous \ufb01nancial and operational responsibility \u2014 mortgages, staff, insurance, utilities, security, ticketing systems, marketing and more \u2014 to bring that show to our patrons safely and affordably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then there are the scalpers\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Scalpers, I\u2019m sorry, \u2018resellers\u2019 will tell you they\u2019re just helping fans who can\u2019t attend the show. That is BS. 90% of resale on Stubhub, Vividtix, Seatgeek and others\u2026 are listed by professional companies\u2026NOT fans who got sick or can\u2019t attend a show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of scalpers\u2026 and both create serious harm.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Traditional Scalpers<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regular scalpers buy tickets to resell\u2026 but if they can\u2019t resell them at the markup they want, they simply \ufb01le a chargeback with the credit card company\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scalper gets their money back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I lose the revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the seat sits empty when it\u2019s too late to resell it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have fought hundreds of chargebacks in my career, and I have won one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Speculative Scalpers<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But even worse are the speculative scalpers\u2026They never buy a ticket in the \ufb01rst place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They list imaginary inventory online. If a fan buys it, the scalper then tries to \ufb01nd a real ticket but only if they can pro\ufb01t. And boy can they pro\ufb01t\u2026I have had customers come to the theatre with tickets they purchased for $400 that we were selling for $50. If they can\u2019t pro\ufb01t, they simply walk away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No cancellation. No refund process. No accountability. NO RISK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And this bill does not ban speculative listings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It effectively legalizes them with a disclosure checkbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A5611 Removes the Tools That Actually Protect Fans<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At The Newton Theatre, we use delayed delivery, ID matching, and barcode refresh \u2014 the tools that have cut fake tickets and scalping by over 90%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are not anti-consumer measures. They are pro-consumer safeguards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They ensure the ticket is real, that it came from us, and that the person entering is the rightful ticketholder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A5611 eliminates or weakens all of these tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It prohibits the exact systems that prevent fraud and keep audiences safe \u2014 all so scalpers can operate more freely, with fewer barriers and no veri\ufb01cation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is not consumer protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A5611 Makes Communication with Fans Worse, Not Bette<\/strong>r<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When shows are postponed, rescheduled, or canceled, we need to reach the actual ticket holders immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when tickets move through scalpers, we don\u2019t have the fan\u2019s name, email, or phone number. We only have the scalper\u2019s information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So fans show up for a canceled show, angry and confused, because they never got the message. And they blame us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A5611 guarantees that more tickets will \ufb02ow through scalpers, meaning more fans we cannot reach in emergenciesand more confusion at the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No airline, hotel, or transportation provider operates this way \u2014 because it is unsafe and unworkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Bill Will Raise Prices in New Jersey, Not Lower Them<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporters of A5611 claim it will reduce costs for consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The real-world outcome is the opposite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By mandating full transferability, eliminating anti-fraud controls, and allowing speculative listings, the bill hands control of the marketplace to scalpers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what will happen:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Scalpers will buy more tickets instantly \u2014 automated or coordinated buying becomes easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Those tickets will immediately move to secondary platforms, where artists and venues no longer control the price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. The bill\u2019s \u201cprice cap\u201d is meaningless \u2014 it does not apply to tickets resold on the internet, which is where almost all resale occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. New Jersey families will pay higher prices, not lower ones. This bill does not shift power to consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It shifts power to scalpers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tickets Are Licenses, Not Property<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a misconception that tickets should be freely tradeable because people \u201cown\u201d them. But a ticket is not a baseball card or a pair of shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a revocable license, identical in structure to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 an airline seat,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 a hotel reservation,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 a train ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in every one of those industries, scalping is prohibited because it causes safety risks, operational chaos, and skyrocketing prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If New Jersey would not allow me to scalp my airline ticket, why should it allow someone else to scalp my concert ticket? We are not asking for special treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are asking for the same common-sense protections used everywhere else licensed access is sold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CLOSING<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A5611 solves the wrong problem and creates a much bigger one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It empowers scalpers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It weakens safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It legalizes deceptive practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It raises prices for New Jersey families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it destabilizes the independent venues and nonpro\ufb01t arts organizations that anchor communities across this state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independent venues are cultural infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We take the risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We create the experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We keep ticket prices affordable so families can attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A5611 hands the \ufb01nancial upside to the people who contribute nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For all these reasons, I respectfully urge you to oppose this bill and work with venues, artists, and fan advocates to build real consumer protections.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you, and I\u2019m happy to answer any questions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chair Sampson, Vice-Chair Quijano, members of the Committee \u2014 thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Jonathan Peirce. I own The Newton Theatre in Sussex county NJ, and I\u2019d like to begin my testimony by pointing out a basic truth about live events in New Jersey: Independent venues and the artists who […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":75,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Unknown.jpeg",215,235,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Unknown-150x150.jpeg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Unknown.jpeg",215,235,false],"medium_large":["https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Unknown.jpeg",215,235,false],"large":["https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Unknown.jpeg",215,235,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Unknown.jpeg",215,235,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Unknown.jpeg",215,235,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"jpeirce","author_link":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/?author=1"},"uagb_comment_info":153,"uagb_excerpt":"Chair Sampson, Vice-Chair Quijano, members of the Committee \u2014 thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Jonathan Peirce. I own The Newton Theatre in Sussex county NJ, and I\u2019d like to begin my testimony by pointing out a basic truth about live events in New Jersey: Independent venues and the artists who…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=68"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74,"href":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68\/revisions\/74"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/75"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=68"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=68"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonathanpeirce.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=68"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}