California roots reggae outfit Stick Figure has adopted a new policy in hopes of changing fans’ concert ticket-buying experience for the better: refunds.
With narrow profit margins and significant monetary risk for bands and promoters in the modern touring market, “all sales final” has long been standard operating procedure for concert tickets. As the live music space has grown in recent years and tours have been announced and put on sale further and further in advance, that policy has increasingly posed a dilemma for fans: Do you buy your tickets when they go on sale months in advance and run the risk of being saddled with unused extras when the show comes around? Or do you hold out until your schedule comes together and risk getting shut out of the show entirely? Neither option provides much peace of mind for the buyer, and both increase the likelihood that fans will eventually buy/sell their tickets on the secondary market at inflated prices.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and in its immediate aftermath, the industry’s stance on ticket refunds softened somewhat out of necessity. As shows got canceled and rescheduled on the fly due to illness and the ever-developing pandemic picture, situational refunds became an increasingly common offering. Flexibility was more important than ever for concert producers, performers, and attendees alike as tours and events picked up again amid uncertain conditions, and the knowledge that ticket-buyers would be accommodated if the circumstances changed helped encourage fans to dive back in and get the live music industry moving again.
The new refund policy from Stick Figure will attempt to add some peace of mind to the concert ticket-buying experience in a post-pandemic world. As the band noted in a social media post when its 2024 summer tour tickets went on sale earlier this month, “We have some important news to share about our new ticketing policies. Traditionally, ticketing companies don’t offer refunds, and that’s not fair. We believe in looking out for our fans and understand that life can be unpredictable. That’s why, for this tour, we’re thrilled to announce that if you can’t go to the show for any reason, Stick Figure will refund your ticket up until ten days before the show at each of [the newly announced] headlining shows.”
The note from the band continued, “**The concert experience starts with a ticket purchase** This way, you can secure your spot at the show without the stress of unexpected bills or life interfering. We’re taking matters into our own hands to ensure you have the freedom to make plans, knowing that we’ve got your back.”
The band was also clear in explaining that the refund policy update was a new experiment and offered a disclaimer to fans about the new system. “We’re trying something new, so please bare with us,” Stick Figure explained. “Email family@stickfigure,com if you would like a refund or have a question. This offer is directly from the band, and only applies to tickets from primary ticket companies – always start at stick figure.com. … Any request made less than 10 days before the show happens will not be refunded. Festivals and non-headlining shows excluded.”
Stick Figure will also make an effort to keep scalpers from exploiting the group’s policy on ticket refunds. “We will be offering absolutely NO REFUNDS to scalpers. We do not support the concept of buying tickets with the sold purpose of taking advantage of fans by reselling those tickets at higher prices,” the band said in its disclaimer, adding that “tickets bought on resale sites, or … tickets that have previously been listed on third party sites” will not be eligible for refunds.
Could this move start a new, more accommodating trend for the concert experience? We’ll have to wait and see, but we’re tipping our hats to Stick Figure for giving this a shot.
Stick Figure’s 2024 summer tour is set to run from July 11th through August 12th. For a full list of the band’s upcoming tour dates and related ticketing information, head here. Read the full statement about ticket refunds for the summer 2024 Stick Figure tour below.
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