Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

[OnlineStageGear]

Went to the Circus over the weekend. Saw what you want, but I took my mom who begged me to take her. You know how it is. It was the Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey.

Paid $17.50 a ticket and it got me thinking about Rock Stars charging what they do for tickets. They bring a hell of a lot more vehicles on the road. They had probably 3 times as many vehicles you usually see at a rock concert. They have a boat load more people on the road too who all have to be paid and you have to assume their liability insurance has to be higher due to their audience being a higher percentage of kids and with the animals and tricks they do. They also had their own live band playing music, they had their own lights and people running them.

Just remember all this the next time you hear a Rock star spouting off about how the Rich take advantage of the little guy and how they are on your side, then charge you $80 a ticket for a frekin 2 hour show. Huh ?? Bruce Springstein, you complain about Haliburton charging $2 a gallon for gas in Iraq, but you $150 and more for what used to cost $17 twenty years ago.

Just my 2 cents...

Matt

[Guest]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

Agreed Matt! Nice post!

Pat

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

I agree with you. I think it's funny how the rich bands charge so much more than bands who have nothing. Example-Metallica and Godsmack here in Charlotte was like, $85 on average (prices went up from there, and down to about $55 for lawn seats). Now I've been to 2 shows in the past three weeks (Norma Jean, Throwdown, Fear Before the March of Flames, and Bleeding Through, Walls of Jericho, Martyr AD, and It Dies Today). I didn't pay over $15 for a ticket for either (I bought both at the door), and I didn't pay over $10 for a piece of merch, and these guys are driving from venue to venue in vans and eating fast food to survive, and I know from experience that the places they play don't pay very well. Maybe the older guys have forgotten where they came from.

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

I agree too..

I don't have a problem with artists being active in trying to get people register and out to vote but I do have a problem with them trying to cram their opinions or the their political beliefs down the throats of the uninformed. Dixie Chicks, Springsteen, Eminme and the likes all can kiss my ass [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Just STFU and do you thang and keep politics out of it [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[OnlineStageGear]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

Don't get me wrong, I am all for a Free Market and the bility to charge what you want for something if the demand is there. That's what America is all about. It's just these F-IN rock stars who open thier mouths about how they care and how the rich are taking advantage of the little guy. Just pure hipocracy. I mean $30 and more for a fekin shirt ?? Ever been to a discount store ?? Those cost all of $3 to make and print.

Ok, I am done. I am going home......

Matt

[Ace]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

I never pay more than about $15 to see ANY band. Even if I didn't get into shows for free, I'd never pay $50 to see ANYONE(except Pink Floyd). Fortunately my favorite bands all cost about $15 or less to see. Too bad I may never see Mastodon live. I refuse to pay the price of admission to a Slayer show.

[mm2002]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

Quote Ace: "I'd never pay $50 to see ANYONE(except Pink Floyd)."

Yup, or maybe Black Sabbath.

[ApeDosMil]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

bah... most of my concert tickets cost under 20 bucks. its them pop bands that want more money.

[pro-fusion]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

I paid what seemed to me a pretty high price to see Yes/Dream Theater this summer (about $70)--but I definitely got my money's worth from both bands. I've also paid that much for orchestra concerts, where the right seat makes a huge difference in sound quality.

There aren't many shows I'd pay that much to see. Floyd, for sure. VH + Roth. Sabbath w/Dio on vox (already seen reunion w/Ozzy).

Normally, I consider anything over $25 overpriced.

[MetalGrasshopper]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

You forget that Metallica and these bigger bands play at huge stadiums/arenas whereas Children of Bodom and bands like that play at smaller club type venues... it can't be cheap to rent out a place like the Wachovia Center in addition to all of the adveristing bigger bands do.

[horns666]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

yeah dude ....your right!!

Hell it's 40 bones for Megadeth ...and it's a small venue...minimal equipment hauling and setup..

$40 is way too fukkin' high...

[YetAnotherOne]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

[ QUOTE ]
Quote Ace: "I'd never pay $50 to see ANYONE(except Pink Floyd)."

Yup, or maybe Black Sabbath.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, those are about the only two I'd pay much to see these days. I've pretty much given up on live shows, they're just no longer worth the asking price.

[Deneb]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

It's all about what you're willing to pay. I didn't go to the Metallica show for that reason. I don't like Godsmack, and Metallica is in the toilet for me, so 80 bucks...bleh. Ozzfest wasn't a dissapointment, but if it wasn't for Priest, or Sabbath, I wouldn't have been that excited (a fu..ing car wreck before us prevented me from seeing Lacuna Coil) and a few other bands, Super Joint sucks, you get the idea.

Quite honestly, Sabbath ain't learnin any new tricks, and the only reason I keep going to see Ozzy and Sabbath are because I've been to every Ozzfest since 95 or 96 can't recall which. To me it's just tradition now.

On the other hand...KMFDM 28 bucks hell yeah! I saw Queensryche with Dream Theatre and Fates Warning, and then I see them by themselves for 1/3 price, in a club...much better.

Matt you hit the nail on the head, America is a free market, and if someone is willing to pay it, more power to them.

[SEEGERMANY]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

I've paid $225 (Eagles - Hell Freezes Over Tour) and $185 (Elton John Solo Tour) and didn't regret a single penny spent. Great shows that were all about the music, not politics or their stinking views on world events. I don't care what Springsteen thinks, nor Nugent, Mustaine, Mellencamp, etc.

Yes, ticket prices are outrageous, but I don't mind paying for top notch, professional shows. I do get pissy when I pay $40 and the sound sucks, the equipment craps out, or the band seems they want to be anywhere except at the venue.

As for rock (musical) acts, their philosophy surrounds a "one night gig" and to fleece the masses for whatever they can get, then haul ass to the next town. On the other hand, when the circus comes to town, it's usually for several days. By reducing ticket prices, they hope to make up the difference by having decent crowds for more than just one night prior to packing up and heading down the road.

Great topic and it relates to so many things. Whether it's concert tickets, sports events, car prices, etc. If we as consumers continue to pay outrageous prices, expect prices to keep going up.

[GodOfRhythm]

Re: Ticket Prices - Just my thoughts...

I pay $40 for most good shows. Metallica was $40, I got there at 7 am in the morning, stood outside against the glass of the door for 12 hours, rushed in at doors open, got myself the best spot in the house: dead center frontrow, right in front of Jaymz's main mic and Kirk's effectsboard. Waited another hour, had to endure the horror that is Godsmack, waited another hour whilst checking out the soundcheck, and then finally had the best time of my life, I've been frontrow about 5 times at a Metallica show now, and everyone of them have been the best moments of my life well worth $40 and the crushed ribs and hemerages.