Concert Ticket Prices

[calexico]

Coming from a man that considers bacon grease as both hair treatment and toast condiment, I take that as a compliment.

Don't forget it's wonderful uses as a sexual lubricant.

[Linwood Thorpe]

You are elitist. Snob.

and you are eatist. Slob.

Coming from a man that considers bacon grease as both hair treatment and toast condiment, I take that as a compliment. Isn't there a pie-eating contest going on someplace around you?

[wrick]

The lesson is, check your local rag and go for the good "seats" at the great shows. By far the best rock and roll show I have seen this year cost me $7.00 for a spot about 10 feet from Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3 in San Francisco. Best show in recent memory was seeing Cary Hudson do an all night gig in Vicksburg, I think that "ticket" was $5.

Every now and then I get dragged to a big ticket show like Springsteen or Gilmour. OK, sure, the big guys can deliver a great show, but I don't think these really hold a candle to the cheap seats. I live in SF Bay Area and general rule of thumb - stay BELOW the Fillmore (where Ticketmaster et al kick in...).

[calexico]

You are elitist. Snob.

Thanks Mr. Hutz!

[trousersnakeandlarry]

You are elitist. Snob.

and you are eatist. Slob.

[Linwood Thorpe]

You are elitist. Snob.

[calexico]

I am with manshank here on the smaller bands. Most of which I actually prefer. You can hang out at the bar and listen to the music and maybe chat to the players a bit after.

The bigger a band gets the faster I lose interest in them. Must be an elitist thing.

[RobUA03]

" I thought you republicans liked free markets?"

What gave you the impression that I was a Republican? Because I'm from the South? Hmmmmm.

[manshank]

I skip the reunion type arena shows to avoid high price tix bullshit. I'd love to see CSN&Y again but screw that based on the prices. Besides lots of folks who go to those shows are the peeps that just want to say they were there and show up in Limo's with their fuzzy drinks in tow

I'm happy to pay $15-$20 to see the second tier type of bands which are my favorites now anywat (Gourds, Lambchop, Volt, RA, M ward, Jim White etc...)

So called ticket agency's suck

[flodman123]

that smiley face in there is supposed to be an 8

I wish I could find some $1 concerts.

[flodman123]

All the concerts I've ever gone to have been in the past nine months, all in Chicago.

Son Volt (The Vic, $25)
Midwest Ska Fest (The Metro, $15, don't make fun, I only went because a girl I liked asked me to go so I ditched work for it)
Rhett Miller (Park West, $18)
The Audition + 3 other crappy bands (Logan Square Auditorium, $10)

then, coming up in August

Foo Fighters (Chicago Auditorium Theater, $35)
Third Eye Blind (The Rave, Milwaukee, $22)

The Foo Fighters one being the most expensive because its their acoustic tour, and its in a smaller venue, and they're arguably the biggest band of 'em. Still, $35 bucks ain't bad, even though its the crappiest section of the theater. I've never had a problem with the prices. once the ones I go to start reaching $50, then I'll get upset.

[Linwood Thorpe]

Maybe Tweedy was right and "We've Been Had". Anyone care to comment?

Well, what that market will bear...thats what the capitalists say. I thought you republicans liked free markets?

Pearl Jam used to set a limit of $20.00 on their tickets, and even used to issue their own...but it got to be too much for the band. I remember Vedder saying something like "we are a rock & roll band, not ticket salesmen."

Maybe, just maybe, the problem is with the lack of competition for ticket vendors and the fact that 25% of the ticket price is usually assorted fees that ticketmaster charges. Factor in that Clear Channel owns many of the venues, so they have to get a cut...everybody gets paid.

A hundred bucks?!? What seats are you talking about? The front and center or the "workingman" section? I'll be willing to bet there are $100 seats at a Toby Keith concert too, but the majority of those seats are less than $40.00. If Bruce or anybody is playing at a limited seat venue, of course its going to be more. I paid $75.00 to see Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely and John Hiatt at a place that seats 300 people.


I paid $100 for ACL fest tickets, and 120 bands will be there, including Tom Petty. The Black Crowes/DBT/Robert Randolph shows are running around $25-30 for most seats. There are bargains galore. Pearl Jam just played in Pittsburgh, and they charged under $50.00 for over 10,000 tickets. Lollapalooza tickets were around $120 for a three day pass, and Bonnaroo was about the same.

Doesn't seem like much of an issue for me. If its too expensive, I don't go.

[Gamecock]

One word

Hypocrisy

[RobUA03]

Is it just me and my elementary understanding of the event industry or have concert ticket prices gotten absolutely ridiculous? I have a hard time reconciling the fact that I would have to shell out close to a $100 to see so called "working man" artists like Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, or Bruce Springsteen. I would dare say that this is more than a day's wages for a lot of music fans. To me, it cuts at the integrity of a band to charge such astronomical prices. Maybe Tweedy was right and "We've Been Had". Anyone care to comment?