Wanna Be Saving Something?

One thing I didn't expect to be doing while on the current UlloaSullivan Adventure was staying up to date the media circus surrounding Michael Jackson's death last week. However, it becomes clear just how global an icon he was when you see newsstands from Fresno to London to Paris and (as of this morning) Madrid each displaying dozens of publications that feature the latest news about his passing. And, of course, every time I log on to the internet there's some update or other around the autopsy, comments from one of his family members, photos from the last dress rehearsal performance and the latest on what the promoters of the London shows are doing.

I was particularly interested in the update on the tickets and how they are offering ticket holders the option of receiving them as souvenirs in lieu of a refund of the ticket price. Now, I'm usually dubious about anything that the big concert promoters and ticket companies do - their 'convenience' and other exorbitant fees that they charge for their services (particularly when they don't necessarily issue the best tickets to those that pay them) don't endear them to me - and, of course, this is a savvy cost-cutting move by them. In this particular case, however, I think it could actually be a good deal for everyone*.

The way I see it, this is a way for true fans to actually receive something tangible in return for their support for their idol - the 50 night sellout run was historic in and of itself but the tragedy that means the shows will never actually happen makes any memorabilia associated with it that much more sentimental in value. That it's also one of the safest ways getting something legitimate as a keep-sake in light of the boom of memorabilia being hawked on eBay and other venues is an added bonus.

And anyway, they're pretty darned cool too. I know what I would do. And yes, I will also be following the trend of the past week and topping up my music collection with a couple of those timeless CDs that everyone should have in their collections.

* - Everyone except those that paid over the odds for the tickets from eBay or, dare I say it, scalpers.