Selling tickets to Phish concerts can be a tricky endeavor. Phish, the legendary jam band fronted by guitarist Trey Anastasio, is one of the most popular live acts in the world and their shows routinely sell out in minutes. However, Phish has strict policies against ticket scalping that fans must follow if they want to sell extra tickets. This article will explore Phish’s ticketing policies, examine whether selling Phish tickets is allowed, and provide tips for safely selling tickets to Phish shows within the band’s guidelines.
Can You Legally Resell Phish Tickets?
Phish does not allow tickets to their concerts to be resold above face value. The band pioneered the use of paperless mobile tickets in 2009 to combat rampant scalping of their shows. With paperless tickets, customers must show ID matching the name on the ticket for admission into a show. This makes it very difficult for scalpers to resell tickets at inflated prices.
Technically speaking, it is not illegal to resell Phish tickets, as long as it is done in accordance with state laws. However, Phish tickets are revocable licenses and customers agree to not resell tickets when purchasing. If Phish finds out tickets have been resold against their policies, they can cancel those tickets and deny entry. Fans run the risk of having their tickets revoked if they resell them through unofficial means.
Phish’s Official Ticket Policy
Here are the key points from Phish’s Ticketing Policy regarding reselling tickets:
- Tickets may NOT be resold above face value under any circumstances.
- Tickets are fully revocable and may be rendered invalid at any time without notice.
- Any tickets suspected of being purchased for the sole purpose of reselling will be canceled immediately.
- Tickets may NOT be resold through any site other than the authorized ticket exchange.
- Tickets purchased from unauthorized sources may be denied admission.
So while selling Phish tickets is not technically illegal, it is strictly prohibited by the band unless done through authorized channels. Fans must follow Phish’s policies if they want to avoid having their tickets canceled.
Selling Phish Tickets on Authorized Exchanges
While individual ticket resale is restricted, Phish does allow tickets to be resold through their authorized exchange partner, Lyte. Lyte is an official ticket exchange platform integrated directly with the band’s ticketing system.
Fans can resell Phish tickets they can no longer use on Lyte for face value. The process involves:
- Listing the ticket for sale on Lyte’s exchange
- The ticket is purchased by another fan
- Payment is deposited to the seller’s account
- The ticket is electronically transferred to the buyer
Lyte handles the transactions and keeps the tickets within Phish’s system. This allows tickets to be exchanged securely at face value. Sellers are limited to recouping what they paid for their tickets – no marked up prices allowed.
Using Lyte to sell Phish tickets is the only way to do so that follows the band’s policies. Fans must have a Lyte account connected to their ticket purchase in order to list them for sale. Tickets can be listed for as many shows as needed throughout the tour.
Tips for Selling Phish Tickets on Lyte
For fans looking to sell extra Phish tickets through Lyte’s exchange, here are some tips:
- List tickets as early as possible – Exchange activity increases leading up to shows.
- Price tickets at exactly face value – Don’t try to markup the price.
- List together if you have multiple seats – It’s easier to sell pairs or groups.
- Describe ticket locations accurately – Be transparent about potential obstructions.
- Respond to inquiries in a timely manner – Buyers will move on if you don’t.
- Follow up if tickets aren’t selling – Consider dropping the price as the show nears.
- Withdraw any unsold tickets – Don’t let them go unused.
Following these tips will maximize the chances of successfully exchanging Phish tickets through Lyte. The key things to remember are pricing tickets at exactly face value, being responsive to buyer inquiries, and withdrawing unsold tickets with enough time to still attend the show.
Can You Give Away or Gift Phish Tickets?
Gifting and giving away Phish tickets is generally allowed, as long as no money changes hands. The easiest way to securely transfer a ticket to someone else is via Lyte. You can directly send the ticket to another Lyte user by entering their email address.
If giving tickets to someone without a Lyte account, you will need to fully change the name on the ticket via Ticketmaster. This requires filling out a ticket transfer form and providing the recipient’s full name, email address, and credit card number.
The risk with gifting or giving away tickets outside of Lyte is there is no way to revoke the transfer if the new ticket holder does not use or misuses the tickets. Only give tickets directly to someone you know and trust. Make sure they are aware of Phish’s policies too.
Dangers of Selling Phish Tickets Against Policy
Although tempting to sell for a profit, reselling Phish tickets illegally through scalpers or online resale sites like StubHub comes with serious risks:
- Ticket cancellation – Phish frequently cancels tickets listed for resale on secondary markets.
- Denial at the door – Even if a scalped ticket works initially, you may still be denied entry.
- Scams – Fake or duplicated tickets are common on reseller sites.
- Legal action – Phish has sued ticket resellers who violate their policies.
- Lifetime ban – Getting caught scalping Phish tickets can result in a permanent ban from shows.
These severe consequences are why it is not worth trying to circumvent Phish’s policies. Any short term financial gain of reselling is outweighed by the risks.
Ethical Considerations of Reselling Phish Tickets
Beyond just the rules, there is an ethical question around reselling tickets to in-demand shows like Phish. Tickets immediately selling out shuts some fans out of the chance to attend. Reselling tickets for profit often makes this problem worse. Some ethical points to consider:
- Scalping keeps tickets out of hands of real fans who want to see the band play.
- Marking up prices is unfair to fans on a budget.
- Hoarding tickets to resell prevents a wider distribution.
- Scalpers do not care about the music, just profit.
These factors explain why many bands like Phish oppose scalping culture. Beyond rules, true fans tend to agree that reselling tickets goes against the community spirit and values of live music. If possible, unused tickets are best given back to the band’s lottery or fan community at face value.
Is it Ever Okay to Resell Phish Tickets?
There are certain limited cases where reselling Phish tickets above face value through unofficial channels could be considered acceptable:
- Emergency situations – Health issues, family emergencies, etc.
- Recovering costs – When substantial travel costs are lost.
- Charity auctions – Donating tickets where proceeds go to a good cause.
However, even in these sympathetic situations, ticket transfers should ideally happen through Lyte first. Selling through unauthorized resellers should be an absolute last resort. And the consequences of policy violations would still apply if caught.
Conclusion
Reselling Phish tickets can be risky and goes against the band’s wishes. While not illegal per se, it violates the ticketing policies that fans agree to. Phish tickets should only be resold for face value through Lyte’s official exchange. Transferring tickets to friends as gifts is also okay. But under no circumstances should Phish tickets be scalped or resold through unauthorized channels for profit. Doing so risks cancellation, denial at the venue, or even legal action being brought by the band. For true fans who respect the community, the ethical and appropriate choice is to only use Lyte to exchange unused Phish tickets at face value.