SPEC recalls Marsalis tix from vendor

Tickets to see Branford Marsalis at the Penn Jazz and Blues Festival this Saturday have sold so fast that Social Planning and Events Committee has recalled some of the tickets designated for Ticketmaster. Penn Jazz and Blues Festival, which is funded by the Social Planning and Events Committee, had initially set aside 1000 seats of Irvine Auditorium's 1800 person capacity for University students. The remaining 800 were assigned to Ticketmaster for sale to the general public. 500 of the 800 Ticketmaster seats have been recalled because the committee has nearly sold out, according to Jeff Zarnow, Jazz and Blues Festiveal co-chairperson. University students have been able to purchase seats for $12, while Ticketmaster sold the seats for $25. Zarnow said the recalled Ticketmaster seats can be purchased for the student price. "They're selling like hotcakes" College sophomore Zarnow said. The recalled tickets will be on sale at the Annenberg Box Office until 6 p.m. today. They will also be available, if any remain, at Irvine Auditorium after 4 p.m. tomorrow. The show begins at 8 p.m. tomorrow. "We are not out to make money. Our priority is the Penn students and we are sucking up a loss on this," Zarnow said. Zarnow said the committee may not lose money, but will not earn as much as if they had allowed Ticketmaster to sell the seats. He said he was uncertain how much revenue would be decreased. Ticketmaster works as a sub-contractor for the festival organizers and charges a "couple of dollars" commission on the tickets they sell, Zarnow said. Co-chairperson of Penn Jazz and Blues Festival Jon Silver said he was also very enthusiastic about the students' response. "We've sold almost 1000 tickets so far but we want to have more people come," the College senior said. Marsalis' concert will be preceded by an opening act will be the Colonel Byrd Quartet with Juanita Holiday as the featured vocalist. The festival committee is also holding a student jam this afternoon in Houston Hall's Hall of Flags at noon. (CUT LINE) Please see BRANFORD, page 5 BRANFORD, from page 1