Vaccine Passports

I’ll take two tickets to Bonnaroo? Along with the camping pass as well.

“Great sir, you will need to pay directly through your phone via the vaccine passport app?”

Um, well. I don’t have my shots. And I don’t have the app….this goes against my religious beliefs?

“ I am sorry, we are unable to accommodate any attendees without a vaccine passport. You can only buy tickets via the app.”

At the beginning of March. Rumors started circulating. Companies such as AEG, Live Nation, and Ticketmaster will require you to have a vaccine passport to attend concerts. I have searched the internet and did not find any solid evidence of this statement. Yet, Bob Lefsetz the outspoken music industry critic covered this in his email at the beginning of March.

Is this an impingement on our personal freedom? Or is this the same scenario as your child having to show proof of measles vaccination to attend school?

Or as one angry fan responded “instead of a star on your arm you get an app on your phone.

Welcome to 2021. Where the population is completely divided.

There are a ton of scenarios to consider inside the new music and event industry. If you buy two tickets to see Chris Stapleton and you are unable to attend, how do you sell them? Can you sell them to a person without a vaccine passport or an app? Is it your responsibility to see the proof?

The next question has been sitting with me since I first heard of the Vaccine passport. Will the government and companies such as AEG & Live Nation have access to your smartphone if an app is required for ticket purchase? I don’t want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but almost everything I search on my smartphone and computer is tracked. My search results show up in the form of advertisements. At some point, you have to stop downloading invasive apps or your brain will not upload.

Will Congress approve this? Or is it anti-trust? As of now, all the companies mentioned ( Live Nation, AEG & Ticketmaster ) control over 400 music venues. Remember the time Pearl Jam took a stand and tried to play venues outside of Ticketmaster? The tour didn’t last too long.

The question we all should focus on….is. How will this affect our local music and event industry?

My theory. It will make us stronger. More folks will migrate towards smaller events that don’t require a passport. Or charge an arm and a leg for concert tickets.

Here is what you can do.

Write down your thoughts on the vaccine passport
Reflect on your words
Conduct market research on ticket prices for events and shows
Research new safety protocols
Create your own safe underground event that preserves privacy and promotes culture and entertainment.