SS: High Concert Prices

[johnnymk]

A woman friend stopped over today and asked me if I wanted to see Bette Midler at a local concert. I said "Sure, if it's free". She said she figured I would say that. So I asked her how much and she said 65 bucks. I emphatically stated that no way would I spend that kind of money to see a has-been performer.

And furthermore, I am not going to waste 65 bucks so that she can add another Mercedes Benz to her collection.

Where do people get off thinking that 65 bucks is cheap to see a performer do their thing for a couple of hours?

I know a married couple who paid $180 per ticket to see the Eagles last year. Are they nuts or is it just me?

[Maarchk]

Thats where groups make their money. The RIAA rips them on albums sales, so only merchandise and concerts are where they make their money. But yeah, i only go to concerts within the 40 dollar range if i really enjoy the group. Usualy its people just getting started like Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Reel Big Fish, and so on.

[Nija]

I try not to pay more than $40 total per ticket.

[Yossarian]

I try not to pay more than $40 total per ticket.

[ufcrusher]

If memory serves there was a story about this in Rolling Stone a while back. It seems that this summer was one of the worst ever for concert attendance. The stated reasons were the outrageous prices being charged per ticket plus the medicore groups that were on tour. The article further continued that some groups were refusing to charge the $65+ amount and that these were the only artists to actually be selling tickets and/or selling out locations. I wish I had a link to the article but I dont recall when I read it and I think it was in print not online as well.

As for concerts, truthfully in the last several years my attendance has been few and far between. The only band that I saw with any regularity was Phish and the tickets were reasonable at that. When I was younger I used to see several concerts a year. Even while I was in college I would see several shows a year. I think the most I paid for a ticket was $50 back then even for floor/front row.

Currently, I refuse to go to any show whereby I have to pay more than $60 unless I am on the floor up front. Even then, I wont pay an arm and a leg. The last few concerts (except for Phish) that I have tried to go to, I ended up not going because they wanted $65+ for seats that were either on the side or lawn. I'm just not going to do it.

[GracieBayb]

I try not to pay more than $40 total per ticket.

Hahaha, I usually spend about 15 or less on the CD - then I turn it up real loud and look at the band's poster and imagine I'm reeeally there... no just kidding, there really is no comparison when you are able to see an artist perform live, but it really is ridiculous that we have to pay so much to feed THEIR egos... I mean seriously...

[redcolours]

well, i guess i dont follow convention here.

i PAY more than that to see the performers i wanna see. thing is, i KNOW im gonna enjoy myself when i go to see those gigs. its not like im buying tickets to see some group i dont particulary like. when it comes to having fun, if i need to spend the money and i can afford it, i dont flinch.

i only stop when i dont have money. even then i still find ways to have fun.

[usedillusion]

i just picked up some velvet revolver tickets today for a modest $40. that's pretty cheap for a bigger venue tour; some will charge that just to see them at a club.

i always go out to the box office to get them to avoid ticketbastard's service charges, which can amount to $15+ per ticket. it was particularly worth it today, since i got to be on the radio for 20 seconds. yay.

[donnar]

Hahaha, I usually spend about 15 or less on the CD - then I turn it up real loud and look at the band's poster and imagine I'm reeeally there... no just kidding, there really is no comparison when you are able to see an artist perform live, but it really is ridiculous that we have to pay so much to feed THEIR egos... I mean seriously...

Oh man I am going to have to remeber that when my kids or husband for that matter beg to go see a band that is good