This story unravelled so quickly yesterday, I’m sure by now most of you have heard all about it, but it’s worth mentioning if only for the sheer balls audacity of those involved.
The rumour was that French house duo Daft Punk were going to play a secret gig this Friday in Shanghai as reported in various publications including Shanghaiist. Many fans flocked to a location near Xintiandi to hand over 500 rmb per ticket with the promise that the secret location would be texted to each ticket holder on the day.
Apparently thousands of tickets were sold before someone had the good sense to contact Daft Punk’s record label and discovered the whole thing to be an elaborate scam by two con artists, possibly of French or Swiss origin.
But what’s interesting is how this has now turned in to an online man hunt by angry fans to track down these two guys. There’s a Facebook group dedicated to finding the scam artists and the whole story is quite well covered here on Smart Shanghai.
I’m not sure what would be worse – these guys getting found by the angry (mostly) expat victims, or being caught by the Chinese public security bureau and made an example of. I’ll be following this story with interest!
February 11th, 2009 at 7:26 am
#1!!!!
i’m not familiar with the duo but will dedicate some time to figuring out who they are and about their music.
i’ll expect regular updates on this matter, woai!
February 11th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Er. . .anyone want to buy a ticket to a hidden Daft Punk Concert? Half price!
February 11th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Why would you hand over 500 RMB without a real ticket and some details? Can’t believe so many people fell for that.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:03 am
why would a band wanna be all secret anyway? That just doesn’t make sense. Or is this a new trend?
February 11th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Angie – Congratulations on being #1. You do have the advantage over people in China with the time difference though.
T – If you’d asked me yesterday morning I would have put you in touch with some friends who were disappointed the concert had “sold out”!
Heli82 – Let’s be fair it’s easy to say that with hindsight but if you read all the material on it, they did the whole thing very well.
Sue – Apparently in 2002 a very big DJ came over, people paid big money for tickets and the police shut down the concert about 3 minutes after it started. Does that help answer your question?
February 11th, 2009 at 10:19 am
You’re right. I hadn’t read the details of the set up but now I see that it was pretty thorough. They certainly did the work to make it look legitimate. This is a case where the human flesh search engine should be employed.
February 11th, 2009 at 11:10 am
HeLi82 – I have a real ticket. It’s also very in line with what something that Daft Punk might do. Besides, I got a bunch of ZOMG!!!!111!! DAFT PUNK IS PLAYING SHANGHAI!!!! texts and instant messages and so when all my friends got tickets, I went along.
February 11th, 2009 at 11:34 am
I fell for it, just didn’t get to the ticket office in time before it was declared “Sold out”.
Funny that they decided to do that- I guess they figured they didn’t want to push their luck.
Anyway the choice of Daft Punk was inspired- secretive, huge cult following, unmissable live, french.
The whole SMS message / secret gig location idea isn’t new- it’s been around since the M25 rave parties.
There’s no shame in falling for this one IMO.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Heli82 – Yes, it was a VERY well executed scam.
T – Wow I thought you were just joking. Sorry to hear you got caught. Let me buy you a consolation beer some time.
Swiss – Yes indeed. The whole thing was very typical of what Daft Punk would have done to distinguish themselves from other acts. I don’t think anyone can criticise with hindsight.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Rave parties i can understand….so ur trying to tell me rock concerts are banned? Or certain kind of rock/pop groups?
February 11th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Sue – You really ought to know that the Chinese government doesn’t like to corrupt its people with western culture. Loud music and suggestive lyrics are not really things that they want their people exposed to. Even the Rolling Stones were not allowed to do some of their songs because they were too suggestive. And some concerts are shut down simply because they’re too loud and disturbing the harmonious society!
February 11th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Daft Punk is electronica so much more like rave, much less like rock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGECJP3phyY
WoAi – yeah, well, its kind of funny in hindsight. I feel much worse for those on very limited salaries who bought tickets – sure I can’t afford to throw away 500 RMB either, but for a lot of people I know this may have represented a good percentage of their monthly salary. (Low level expats)
February 11th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
OIC so some things are restricted and some not…like the clubs u hang out. (or those are underground too?)
February 11th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
If I lived in Shanghai, I would probably be one of those angry expats. I love Daft Punk enough to do something stupid like that.
February 12th, 2009 at 5:55 am
Have you thought that this could represent an unprecedented change? Westerners selling fake stuff in China, i.e. THE place of fakes and counterfeits! Seriously, this is historical
February 12th, 2009 at 10:22 am
woai: why must you rain on my parade?
February 12th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but they actually ARE coming!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8txG8gcs6PM
February 12th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
T – Thanks! That is the most hilarious thing I’ve seen on YouTube. I think it beats the original scam for creativity!
When you say “low level expats” are you talking about English teachers or financial consultants?
Angie – In England we say “piss on my parade”!
Wancestyle – Yes indeed, it makes a nice change and proves that not all scammers are Chinese!
Triofriend – Yep, lots of very upset fans, not just because of the money but also the disappointment.
February 12th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
and i thought the brits were proper . . .
February 12th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Just a lot of the folks I know that were going were not the high life living folks like you or Swiss James, but in fact those residing in the F-visa ghetto – or holding down jobs where a 500 RMB expenditure is something that they need to consider or sacrafice for. Even expats at large legit companies have salaries like 5000, 8000 or whatever per month.
I’m not saying I have enough money to drown in hookers and cocaine every weekend, but it means a lot more to some people than to people who may have been working for a decade or more.
February 12th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
The secret is to wear the hookers as a lifebelt.
February 12th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Angie – Only in the south!
T – Yes, you’re right, 500 rmb is a lot of money for most people (it’s fifty pounds!). Even on a decent income you don’t want to be throwing 50 quid down the drain too often.
I can’t say I’ve ever been drowned in hookers, although I was almost suffocated by one!
James – I don’t think those skinny ones will keep me afloat!
February 12th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
I think 50 pounds for a gig is quite a lot of money by any standard. To give you an example, Oasis will be playing their UK tour this summer with three supporting bands for 45 pounds. Block Party are currently touring UK and their ticket price is set at 22.50. I would probably pay 50 pounds only if some great bands, say Guns n’ Roses, Faith No More or Smashing Pumpkins reunite. Cheers~
February 12th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
However, this is China and there’s a lot more palms to grease. It’s unfair to use US or UK prices – when there aren’t first class airfares, a lot more logistic nightmares and a lot more bureaucracy to hurdle (and an entertainment infrastructure etc.
That same Oasis tour here in China? The cheapest tickets are $26 (sold out) and then $58, $117, $176 and $235 for the front section. I’ve paid $90 for front section at U2, Coldplay and (um) Linkin Park as recently as 3 years ago in the States – but there’s a much higher premium on major concert tours here. Just remember, groups are here for 1 or 2 dates ONLY – so its not like they can amortize those expenses of travel and roadies and security over lots of dates.
February 12th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
T – Totally agree. I was thinking just in general terms and not specifically in a Chinese context I guess. Every western import is premium priced in China for sure.
February 12th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
what digital camera do you use, brand and model please
thanks
February 12th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Shopgirl – You’ll have to tell me which photo you are referring to. I have quite a few cameras:
Canon 5D
Canon 30D
Canon 300D
Canon Ixus 960is
Canon G10
2 x Yashica Mat 124G
Rolleiflex 2.8F
Rolleiflex 3.5E
Rolleicord Vb
Zenza Bronica ETRS
T – All good points to explain the cost difference.
February 13th, 2009 at 6:31 am
cool
i am thinking of buying Canon Ixus 80
February 13th, 2009 at 7:47 am
shopgirl wins for best non-sequitur.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
hahaaa, im here, finally! inspired by last night’s talk, ashley’s officially landing ‘ilovechina’. add me up on FB if u like:)
February 13th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Shopgirl – As T points out, you may have confused this site with whatcamera.com!
Ashley, welcome to the “ilovechina” club. I am very particular about who I add on Facebook. Let’s take it slowly and see how it goes :-p
February 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I might start an “friday-nite.com appreciation society” group on Facebook.
Or I might do some work. Let’s see how it pans out.
February 13th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Do some work? That’d be a nice change for you James!
February 14th, 2009 at 3:02 am
Swiss: i’ll be the first to join.
February 16th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
[...] recap if you haven’t heard about the Shaft Punk scandal . There’s a top french dance act called Daft Punk, rumours flew that they were [...]
February 18th, 2009 at 3:14 am
“…some concerts are shut down simply because they’re too loud and disturbing the harmonious society!”
Firecrackers however, well that’s a different story. Please send me any Canon lenses you no longer use as I am a low level expat.
February 18th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Expatriate Games – Well, firecrackers are tradition, rock concerts, not so much!