Yup Life director Shadeed Abdullah says he has no problem with ticket scalpers and believes they can actually help the events industry.
Speaking during a recent appearance on the Dai Good Talk podcast alongside Yup Life CEO Kareem Wylie, Abdullah was asked about scalpers and their role in Trinidad and Tobago’s fête industry.
“I don’t have a problem with scalpers at all,” Abdullah said.
He argued that scalpers can contribute to ticket sales because many purchase tickets well in advance, particularly when tickets are available at their cheapest prices.
According to Abdullah, those tickets can later become another avenue for patrons who decide at the last minute that they want to attend an event but can no longer purchase tickets through the regular channels.
He said the presence of scalpers outside an event can also be an indication of demand.
“If it is there’s no scalpers outside the event, the event ain’t saying nothing,” Abdullah said.
He explained that scalpers are not necessarily purchasing all of their tickets immediately before an event. Some buy tickets early because obtaining them at lower prices gives them an opportunity to resell later as demand increases.
Abdullah said this can ultimately help promoters by generating earlier ticket sales while also providing late patrons with another way to access sold-out or difficult-to-find tickets.
Rather than condemning the practice, he said he respects the hustle of people trying to earn an income.
“I respect everybody hustle. That is somebody trying to put food in the family mouth the same way,” he said.
“Scalpers help us.”
Ticket scalping has long formed an unofficial part of Trinidad and Tobago’s entertainment landscape, particularly around highly anticipated fêtes and major events where demand can increase as the event approaches.
Abdullah’s comments provide a different perspective on the practice, suggesting that at least from Yup Life’s standpoint, scalpers can form part of the wider ticket ecosystem rather than simply being viewed as a problem for promoters.
