TicketSwap Thursday - Pt 3: Phil Simpson, Super Fan & Consumer

Welcome to Part 3 of this short series of podcasts brought to you by TicketSwap, the safest and fairest way to buy and sell tickets online.
In this episode, we speak with Phil Simpson, a passionate concert-goer and sports fan whose calendar is packed with gigs, festivals and football matches across Europe. From intimate club shows and forest festivals to major arena tours and international sporting events, Phil represents the modern event consumer: informed, enthusiastic and increasingly conscious of the challenges facing live entertainment.

Our conversation begins with the emotional side of live events and why music and sport continue to play such an important role in people's lives. Phil reflects on the unique connection that comes from experiencing artists live, the growth of concert tourism, and the sense of community that can emerge when thousands of strangers come together around a shared passion. Whether travelling to Madrid for a concert or attending matches closer to home, he explains why live experiences remain a central part of his lifestyle.

We also explore how rising ticket prices are changing consumer behaviour. Phil discusses becoming more selective about the events he attends, the growing cost of following favourite artists, and the difficult balance between affordability and the desire to experience live music. From arena tours and football matches to smaller independent shows, he shares how price increasingly shapes decisions about where, when and how often fans can attend events.

A major focus of the discussion is ticket resale. Having used TicketSwap for more than a decade, Phil explains why safety and trust matter so much to buyers, particularly when purchasing tickets for sold-out events. We discuss the risks of fraud, the value of verified resale platforms, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing a ticket is genuine before arriving at the venue.

The conversation also tackles the ethics of the resale market. Phil argues that tickets should not be treated as investment assets and shares his frustration with excessive mark-ups that put events out of reach for genuine fans. We discuss why capped resale models appeal to many consumers, whether tickets should be governed purely by supply and demand, and how organisers, artists and platforms can help keep events accessible.

Along the way, we examine some of the biggest frustrations facing ticket buyers today, from online queues and overwhelming demand to hidden fees and a lack of transparency around where ticket revenue ultimately ends up. Phil also reflects on what he would like to see change in the future, including fairer pricing, greater transparency, more opportunities for genuine fans to access tickets, and stronger support for community-driven events and independent artists.

For anyone who has ever sat in a virtual queue, searched desperately for a sold-out ticket, questioned why attending live events has become so expensive, or wondered what fair ticketing should look like, this episode offers an honest and relatable look at the ticketing ecosystem from the perspective that matters most: the fan. 

Get the "Inside The Future Of Live Events - Backstage With Gen Z"  report: https://www.ticketswap.com/magazine/article/ade-report

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Transcript

TicketSwap Thursday, Pt 3: Phil Simpson, Super Fan & Consumer

[00:00:00] Podcast Series Intro

Paul: Hello and welcome to this short series of podcasts, mainly talking about the event space and the ticketing of events. This series is brought to you by TicketSwap, the safest and fairest way to buy and sell tickets online. We're going to be talking to an event organiser. We're going to be talking to an event goer about their place and their role in this whole ecosystem.
We're also going to be talking to the lead of TicketSwap in the German speaking territories to find out a little bit more about the impact the platform is having on the resale market. So that's what we're talking about. Let's get on with it.

[00:00:47] Meet Phil Simpson

Paul: And we're here with another guest. We're here with Phil Simpson. How are you doing, Phil? 

Phil: I'm great. How are you?

Paul: You made it. I wanted to get you in, in particular, because you're not from the event business, you're not from the ticketing business either. You use these things a lot, but you are a regular event goer, would you say?

Phil: Absolutely, yes. 

Paul: And a typical ticket buyer?

Phil: Yeah, I would say so. 

Paul: What job do you have? What kind of branch are you in? 

Phil: I work in HR in the hospitality industry, 

Paul: Ok. So, there's some kind of connection to the entertainment business? 

Phil: Yes, travelling around, seeing different shows in different places, yeah.

Paul: Right. So, what kind of events do you like to go to? What are your favourite things? 

Phil: Mainly music, I would say music and sports actually. I go to a lot of concerts. I try to go to at least 10, 12 a year, one per month. And then some festivals in the summer, but then also lots of sports events. I'm a regular at Hertha BSC - shout out to Hertha - and other sports events as well in many cities, if I can. 

Paul: I'm a Union fan, I'm afraid. Sorry about that. 

Phil: Okay, that's all right. 

[00:01:50] What Events Mean To You

Paul: I wanted to ask you a question that I'm asking every guest to start with. Tell me from an emotional, personal point of view, what events mean to you. 

Phil: Yeah, music is something that's always fascinated me, always got me emotional that I have certain connections, memories with, with certain songs that just put me in a special mood. So, seeing, hearing, listening to music live is, of course, the highest emotion that I can feel. I mean, just a couple of weeks ago I saw Rosalia in Madrid and I cried there. It was so touching. It was so amazing and, I loved the album already, but it's a different feeling that you get when you see them live. You see the show, you see the people that come there. So that's what really gives me the edge on top of just listening to the music. And then the same goes for sports. All kinds of emotions can be felt there, especially as a Hertha fan. 

Paul: Will we get relegated or not?

Phil: Exactly. Exactly. So yeah, those emotions that my free time, you know, after a long week of work, it's just amazing to relax with a couple of friends at a concert or a ticket event. Yeah. 

Paul: So very much part of your lifestyle. 

Phil: Absolutely. For sure. 

[00:03:01] Concert Tourism Choices

Paul: Interesting you said you saw Rosalie in Madrid. Did you go for the concert or did you happen to be there? 

Phil: Both. Kind of chicken and egg problem, I would say. 

Paul: It's amazing how this has developed, isn't it, this concert tourism and festival tourism and going to different countries to attend the events. It's great growth, isn't it? 

Phil: Yeah. Especially 'cause she had five shows, I think, in Madrid and only one in Berlin. So even just the chance of getting tickets there was higher.

Paul: Yeah. It's sometimes great to be amongst a different crowd. 

Phil: Yeah, true. 

Paul: Other than depending which city an event is, then what are the other key factors that make you decide on going to a particular event, when you have so much choice?

Phil: Mm-hmm. I mean one big one is variability. So, I do enjoy those big arena concerts -
I'm seeing Bad Bunny in July - but I also really enjoy those tiny, intimate concerts. For example, I saw Doechii a couple years ago - through the help of TicketSwap - 'cause I got two tickets the same day. That was one of the best experiences and that was a super tiny intimate show, her first show in Europe ever, she said. So, I do like a mix between those both. Apart from that, of course price plays a role and we've seen it over the last years, how ticket prices increase. So yeah, that's something I look out for as well. 

[00:04:19] Ticket Prices Reality

Paul: As a consumer, someone buying so many tickets, how bad does it make you feel when ticket prices are becoming so expensive?

Phil: Yeah, it's wild. I mean, paying upwards of a hundred euros is the new normal, basically, you could say. So,  of course I also look for more niche artists. That's also a factor. They don't cost as much or they play in smaller venues, but it's a shame 'cause if you go to Madrid, you pay for flights, hotel potentially, you can easily have like high three figures. So yeah, it plays a big factor. 

Paul: Mm. So you've changed your buying behaviour in a way? Simply going for more things you can afford. 

Phil: Yeah. 

Paul: So you can continue seeing as many events as you can. 

Phil: Yeah. Either that or just more selective. Yeah. 

[00:05:02] Going Solo Community

Paul: And how much does it impact your decision on what your friends want to see? Do you have many arguments over which festival you want to go to this summer? 

Phil: Well, because I'm such a big lover, I don't mind going alone to concerts. I've done that in the past. When friends say, no, it's too expensive, or I don't know the artist well enough, it's not worth spending that much money. I did go alone, which is also a fun experience. You always meet people, you’re never alone at a concert, but of course I prefer going with my friends as well. 

Paul: Well, more and more artists, and events as well, they're creating these very big feelings around community, aren't they?

Phil: Mm-hmm. 

Paul: That is something that's become more and more noticeable that people can go alone to events these days. So interesting that you don't seem to get into any problems with your friends then. 

Phil: Not yet. 

[00:05:49] Using TicketSwap Safely

Paul: So, great that you are a customer of TicketSwap. When did you become aware of the platform and when did you start to use it? 

Phil: Must have been 2013/14, a while ago. I studied in the Netherlands and TicketSwap is Dutch so that's how I learned about it. 

Paul: What was the thing that you liked most about it? 

Phil: The ease. It's an app. You upload your ticket and it's there. And also how fast it goes usually. So I mean, I use TicketSwap more for when the show is already sold out and I can't get any tickets anymore. And then, yeah, you just need to react quickly and then you get your ticket and it's there, it's safe. That's also a really big factor. I'm fortunate enough to not have been scammed in the past. 

Paul: But you've heard of people that have been. 

Phil: Yeah. And you see those people outside of the football arena selling tickets and you don't know until you enter whether it works or not. So it's a big mental load that just gets taken away.

Paul: When you say safe, you mean that it's reliable, you know what you're buying, you know the ticket that you're buying is actually there?

Phil: Exactly. It was checked before. It can't be used again, so, yeah. 

[00:06:55] Finding Shows Fast

Paul: And where do you find out about the events you want to go to? Do you find out on TicketSwap itself? Are you kept informed about events and tickets that might be available?

Phil: Yeah, different channels. I do use TicketSwap as well. I check it every now and then. Also for inspiration for things or artists I'm not aware of, or events. But also newsletters. I get a bunch of newsletters. I have an app, I forgot the name, but it scans my Spotify basically, and tells me which artist is coming to town. And social media of course, as well. Yeah, 

Paul: You're the real deal, aren't you? 

Phil: Yeah, I'm serious about it. 

Paul: Wow. I'm impressed. Okay. What do you think matters the most when it comes to ticket buying? 

Phil: Price and safety. Yeah. I want to know what I'm buying. I know that it's a real deal. But yeah, I also don't wanna spend a fortune, especially if I want to go to several concerts. Yeah. 

[00:07:48] Resale Ethics Anger

Paul: What attitude do you have towards reselling when you see prices that are astronomical and unaffordable? What's it make you feel? 

Phil: Yeah, definitely offended, angry. I don't think tickets should be like stocks. It's not an investment. It's something that's for the people in the end, right? And I mean, I complain about that for football matches. Football is also for the people, but you can't really afford it anymore. When I went to Madrid, I also went to Real Madrid to see a game there, and ticket prices were insanely high. So if ticket resellers just put a lot of surcharge on top, it's just not fair, I believe. I'm also glad that TicketSwap lowers that or caps the money that you can make off reselling.

Paul: Of course, there's the other argument that it should just be a free market and supply and demand, and people should be able to sell for what they want. 

Phil: Yeah. 

Paul: Do you think there's any kind of justification for that? 

Phil: Honestly, no. It's about the fans, right? It should be the people who enjoy the music, the events, who care about the artists, about the team.
They should go attend those tickets. Of course, every now and then, people can also come who are just there for the event, for the crowd, whatever. But ultimately, the experience is so much more authentic and enhanced when people who actually care about the artists and the performers attend versus people who don't really know anything about it and just have a lot of money to buy overpriced tickets.

Paul: What about the artists? How much does it guide you on buying tickets for artists if you see that they care about prices? Does that make you closer to the artists? Are you more likely to support them? 

Phil: Definitely. Definitely. At the same time, I know that it's also often the venues who increase prices. I mean, it depends on the stage design too. How many truckloads you need to carry from city to city that increases prices. So I do enjoy, for example, what Shakira was doing now, she was doing free concerts, 2 million people at Copa Cabana. That's really cool. I think that captures the essence of music is for everyone, regardless of how big your wallet is and so I'll always prefer artists who think about that and are conscious about it. 

[00:09:55] Who Gets The Money

Paul: It sounds like you are quite aware of why tickets are becoming expensive, the rising costs of putting on tours, you know, artists wanting bigger guarantees and fees, venues upping their prices. 

Phil: Mm-hmm. 

Paul: And there are a lot of stakeholders in a concert. Some people just see the ticket price and think it's the artist so how do you see where that money is going? What's your perception of this? 

Phil: Mm. In percentage, I'm not sure, but I'm sure there's the venue, there's the reseller or the agency through which the tickets are sold. There's the artists themselves, but there's the team. There's so many different factors. So I think in the end, this relatively small share arrives in the artist's pocket. Yeah. 

Paul: And knowing that, does that put you off going to certain venues? Is there any venues that you would avoid or companies or promoters that you would avoid whatever the show was?

Phil: Honestly, no. I still prefer selecting by which artists I want to see over the venue, but of course I have certain venues where I don't like how the pillars are set up, for example, 'cause it blocks my view or sitting in this specific area in this arena is definitely a no-go. So it's rather those factors where it influences my experience of the show that I choose to go to or not to go to.

[00:11:15] Ticket Buying Frustrations

Paul: It sounds like you have a pretty good, well-practiced process lined up already, but what are the things that still frustrate you in the process when you're buying and selling tickets? 

Phil: The queues, the amounts of people who try to get tickets. Yeah. I don't believe that all of them authentically buy them just for themselves or their friends. Probably people buy like five and end up going only two people and then reselling three others. So the limitation could be one factor. 

Paul: But when it comes to an event that you want to go to, do you buy a ticket immediately or do you now feel like, oh, I can always buy something later if I have to? 

Phil: Depends on the artist, I guess. So most of the time what I do, I set a reminder in my calendar at 10:00 AM tickets released. I'll be in the queue a couple minutes before trying to get a deal. Also, I put some of my friends on and we're like texting or live calling just to make sure we get some tickets. That's how we got Rosalia or Bad Bunny tickets. But yeah, of course it impacts my work. I need to take some time off or some minutes, no call. So it's always a bit of a hassle for sure. For those bigger shows, 

Paul: As a typical ticket buyer, what additional developments would you like to see? 

Phil: Obviously, I would like to see somehow where does the money in reselling go, for example? Can it go back somehow that the end consumer actually profits from it, not the reseller, but in general the concert prices get lower just to make it more affordable again, to go to concerts? I think that would be a big one. I do kind of like the idea of having several dates for the same venue just 'cause I live in Berlin and it's rather easy to come here. Berlin is usually always on the tour for most tours, so that makes it a bit easier for people living in bigger cities. Yeah. 

[00:13:07] Future Of Live Shows

Paul: What would have to happen for you to stop going to events altogether? 

Phil: If concerts become impersonal? I do notice that with certain artists, they don't really interact anymore. They focus more on light shows or on fancy gadgets and so on. But it doesn't really feel authentic anymore, especially in bigger arenas. So yeah, a loss of connection between artists and fan would definitely be something. Price, of course, if it keeps climbing like that, I'll have to limit more where I go. What I do like more, also in regards to the first point, for example, concerts where they have a certain clothing guide that they release in advance. So at Rosalia you saw people who had like the halo in their hair and they dressed like a wedding gown and so on. Doechii also had that. That really brings this connection with the artists to the forefront. 

Paul: Yeah, very much a community feel. I used to do a lot of K-pop concerts. I've never experienced anything as passionate, let's say. So I guess all those things you're talking about, they also would make you go to more events if things could be kept more affordable and an artist didn't use as many big lights on their show and probably more concerts in the same venue, multiple dates. 

Phil: Yeah, perhaps. Or same city at least.

Paul: Yeah. Do you think that's ever coming back? 'cause that's something that's changed quite a lot that people went from playing lots of shows to playing just bigger shows or you have things like Adele doing residential. What do you think to that idea? It sounds like something you might like if you're prepared to go to Madrid to watch a concert.

Phil: Yeah, I mean, again, I'm lucky to live in Berlin where most people come. I know Harry Styles has like a 30-day residency in Madison Square Garden, which is wild as well. I think if it helps them cut costs 'cause you don't move around all the gear and maybe you just rent the arena for all that time. You get a good deal. And if that then translates onto the ticket prices, I'm all for it. I really think it's a good idea. Of course, then the end consumer who doesn't live in that city needs to buy accommodation and needs to travel there. So I can only speak for myself living in Berlin. That for me, that would probably be a good idea.

[00:15:19] Fans Changing The Industry

Paul: Are you aware of the demands that you have as a collective of consumers in joining forces? How you can change the industry, how you can get platforms to adapt different policies? How audiences and the venues and artists can all change their approach because of people like you that come up with ideas and show what behaviours you prefer and what platforms you prefer?

Phil: Not really. I have to say, I think boycotting would be the no-brainer and not going to the concerts anymore, but it seems like there's enough people who will still go at this stage at least. So probably something bigger is needed. But also supporting the small concerts, artists, festivals, and the ones that you really care about that do good work for the community. You can help them out as well by volunteering in exchange for a free ticket or something like that. That's something some friends have done a lot and keep doing. Yeah. 

Paul: What's the event that you haven't been to that you would really jump at the chance of going to? 

Phil: I mean, there's a couple. I have a list of concerts that I still need to go to. There's also some dead or live, you know. That would be amazing. I've seen a lot of great shows, so there's not much left there. 

Paul: So are there artists that are not around anymore that you would've loved to have seen? 

Phil: Yeah, probably Prince. Prince would've been amazing.

Paul: I was thinking of Prince when you talked about Harry Styles doing the residency.

Phil: Yeah, yeah, 

Paul: Yeah. He did the famous run at the O2, didn't he? 

Phil: Yeah, exactly. 

Paul: It's not a bad choice. 

Phil: Yeah. 

[00:16:47] Festival Habits Shift

Paul: So we talked about the concerts and you travelling all over Europe to watch concerts. What about other events? What about festivals, for example? Are you loyal to any particular festivals or do you like to mix it up?

Phil: Mm-hmm. 

Paul: What happens when it comes to buying tickets for festivals? 

Phil: Festivals? I have to say I shifted a bit over the years. I used to go to more festivals back in the days. Now I prefer concerts where you know, you go and then you can sleep at home. I guess I got a bit older. The last festival I went to was, I think, two years ago in Amsterdam, which was a day festival. So that worked out well for me.

Paul: They have this amazing Glamping these days.

Phil: Exactly, yeah. 

Paul: That is fantastic. 

Phil: Yeah. Then you talk about prices. 

Paul: Yeah, that's true. They come as add-ons, don't they? 

Phil: Yeah. 

Paul: You have to pay for the luxury, I guess. 

Phil: Yeah. But I do enjoy a really good festival. It's amazing, especially what festivals in around the Berlin area do. They have these magic forests and they have all these cool workshops and the engagement with the community that I was talking about before. That just makes it a whole experience. That's unforgettable. Definitely something I still enjoy, and I'm looking for some this summer as well. I haven't decided with my friends yet which one though? 

Paul: What would be the key attraction? Would it be the lineup or would you go to a festival even without caring what the lineup is? Events like Glastonbury sell out before they even announce. 

Phil: Yeah. Glastonbury is of course super different to a small techno rave somewhere in the forest outside of Berlin. I would say I enjoy both 'cause I've been to both. But the freedom that you have at those smaller techno festivals around Berlin, again, the love in the detail, the DIY approach and so on, just make it a completely different and more relaxing at the same time, more exciting atmosphere than a big commercial festival where you walk half an hour from stage to stage and it's full of people. Yeah. 

[00:18:39] Sports Tickets Atmosphere

Paul: You've said about how you love music events, but you also say you love sports events as well. Is there any difference as a consumer of sporting event tickets, or events themselves, as opposed to the music events? 

Phil: First one I can think of is fans. So yeah, going to mostly football games the fan culture is interesting.

Paul: It’s more tribal, isn't it?

Phil: Yeah. I mean it's mostly men, which is a shame. It's a lot of this drunk, aggressive energy in the air. Whereas of course it depends what concert you go to or what festival, but mostly you have a more mixed, diverse crowd and you have people who are there to sing and enjoy the artist and feel the emotions. You could argue that it's the same for football games, but it is a different atmosphere in the air. So yeah, that would be the main one I would say. 

[00:19:32] World Cup Dilemma

Paul: And how about the football World Cup that's coming up? Is that something that would be attractive to you? 

Phil: Yeah, a difficult topic. I am Canadian, so I was thinking about going in Vancouver. Now my dad doesn't live in Vancouver anymore, so accommodation is a factor that gets added on. I saw a European Championship game two years ago in Germany actually, and it was a fantastic atmosphere. It was Austria against the Netherlands. Everyone was really happy to represent their country. You saw fans from both teams interacting with each other. I also saw World Cup game in 2006 in Germany as well. So I'm aware that there were changes since then. Political changes, definitely a lot of things that FIFA does that aren't good and I wouldn't want to support. At the same time, it's kind of two hearts beating in one chest. One that knows what's right, but the other one that's still emotional about these games and that feels like a little child when all of the players are out on the pitch and all the fans are cheering around.

Paul: But even from a cost point of view, it's kind of the opposite of what you're talking about, wanting and needing as a ticket buyer. As a fan of something, there's a markup on everything. 

Phil: Yeah. 

Paul: And that feels a little bit like people being taken advantage of. 

Phil: Absolutely. 

Paul: I read about people selling their houses so they can go to the World Cup.
You wouldn't do that, would you? 

Phil: I don't have a house, so not a question

Paul: Good to know. But hey, great that you came and told us about this. It sounds like you've got a great lifestyle, going off to lots of events like that, and you're keeping lots of artists going so thanks for that. And you're using all the right platforms to do it. Nice. 

Phil: I try. Yes. 

Paul: Lovely. Thank you.