Concert ticket rant

[sam_gordon]

When my uncles were teenagers they used to go to a lot of concerts and they would save their allowances for the tickets and when the concert finally arrived my uncles would spend their allowances buying the concert tickets but when my mom and aunt used to attend concerts when they were teens they would always win tickets from the radio station contests and my aunt used to work for a radio station and she would always get free tickets all the time. I don't recall how much my uncles used to pay for their concert tickets but they would make it a huge hobby to go see rock concerts when they were teens. But back then going to concerts used to be a huge fad for people especially if a certain band or singer they like is on tour in their state and sometimes the concert is a huge success that tickets are sold out automatically. Take for instance back in the 80's my mom was going to see George Strait in concert and my dad who was just her best friend at the time kept promising tickets for her and her friends but by the time my dad tried desperately to score tickets they were sold out and Mom couldn't believe it but she got great tickets for Kenny Rogers concerts. But if you look at it from a whole new ball game the reason why concerts are now expensive to attend is because when looking from a different vision the pandemic affected concert venues very much due to artists postponing tours. But when you have artists such as Billy Joel and Elton John that are having comeback and farewell tours that means the tickets for those concerts will become higher priced and get raised even higher until the tickets finally sell out and all people have are the mediocre seating. But a little known secret that people don't know about is to check out county fairs for concerts which sometimes are free with admission which usually have famous bands and singers in their lineup such as the Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles which for years has had famous singers and bands perform free concerts with fair admission. But if you are thinking long and hard about attending a concert do a bit of research on ticket prices before you attend because you may find a better deal on tickets in the unexpected places

I don't think people are going to a concert just to go to a concert. They're going to a concert because they want to see a certain performer. As such, they're not going to be able to go to a county fair and see Billy Joel, Elton John, or the Imagine Dragons.

 

[bcla]

I was thinking about this since I’m going to a free music festival today - Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park. I don’t know exactly how it works and how much the performers get paid, but this was endowed by a billionaire philanthropist who loved bluegrass but then expanded it. Emmylou Harris is here every year. I’ve gone a few times and saw Mavis Staple, Chris Isaak, Cyndi Lauper, and Jackson Browne.

Today the headliners are Elvis Costello (saw him in Berkeley in 2002) and Jerry Harrison (of Talking Heads) plus Adrian Belew (of King Crimson). I hear the latter mostly plays Talking Heads dongs, although I remember Jerry Harrison’s Casual Gods project.

 

[prairie_girl]

Timely thread. I have a concert I want to go to in December but I’m hemming and hawing on buying tickets. It’s my favourite band, but it’s going to be their holiday songs (mostly), which I’m not really familiar with.

Tickets are $75 each, and are going to be almost front row because they are wheelchair seating and a companion seat. Including all fees and taxes, the tickets are $190. So, basically $20 for each ticket.

That doesn’t feel excessive to me, but maybe I’d feel differently if it was someone I was going to see for my husband.

 

[scrapquitler]

I hate the fees so much that I just won't go to any concerts.

The last concert we went to (Toby Keith) the tickets were like $28, but by the time the fees were added on, we paid about $50 each. Its ridiculous and shouldn't be allowed.

 

[DLgal]

Does anyone know how these resellers obtain tickets so quickly?

Pre-sales.

Most Ticketmaster concert sales have a pre sale opportunity for specific credit cards (usually Citi cards). Those go on sale 3-4 days before they go on sale to the general public. During a pre-sale, there is a limit of 8 tickets per transaction, but no limit to the number of transactions you can make, so it's possible for one person to buy up batches of tickets over the first few pre-sale days. The tickets are also cheaper on pre-sales than they are later. Ticketmaster uses price yielding and prices fluctuate based on demand. You can usually score cheap tickets a couple days out as the venue releases previously held back seats.

I have started buying twice as many tickets as I need during pre-sales. I always pick good, high value seats (both for me and because those sell easily). My last 2 concerts were "free" because I sold the tickets for 2x face value. You don't get paid by Ticketmaster until a week after the show.

At the end of the day, people have a limit on what they are willing to pay, and Ticketmaster is a game. I play the game. I take a risk doing this, obviously, but it's paid off so far.

 

[mikehn]

These fees are nothing compared to rental car fees. Ridiculous

 

[sam_gordon]

I hate the fees so much that I just won't go to any concerts.

The last concert we went to (Toby Keith) the tickets were like $28, but by the time the fees were added on, we paid about $50 each. Its ridiculous and shouldn't be allowed.

I'll bite. What exactly "shouldn't be allowed"? Shouldn't a company be allowed to charge whatever it wants for a product? If enough people don't buy, they lower the prices.

 

[bcla]

I'll bite. What exactly "shouldn't be allowed"? Shouldn't a company be allowed to charge whatever it wants for a product? If enough people don't buy, they lower the prices.

There are all sorts of fees. I've saved on TicketMaster fees by purchasing at the venue, but that wasn't for a high-profile concert. For those, one really needs to buy online these days - especially with presales.

The fees I've seen include arena or seat license fees (or "facility charges"), on top of TicketMaster fees. Not all of it is going to TicketMaster. I found this for 4 $16 lawn seats to some event. Altogether it's more than double the $64 base ticket price.

I think what many would like would be competition, where TicketMaster or Tickets.com. However, TicketMaster is owned by LiveNation, which is the largest event producer in the US.

 

[Praying Colonel]

(Jerry is trying to finalize the deal for his new car with Puddy just after Puddy and Elaine break up again)
Jerry: Did you two break up?
Puddy: That chick's whacked, we're history. I just left out a couple of things. Rust-proofing...
Jerry: Rust-proofing?
Puddy: Transport charge, storage surcharge, additional overcharge, finder's fee...
Jerry: Finder's fee!? It was on the lot!
Puddy: Yeah, that's right. Floor mats, keys...
Jerry: Keys!?
Puddy: How ya gonna start it?

https://seinfeldism.com/seinfeld-quote.php?id=2188

 

[sam_gordon]

There are all sorts of fees. I've saved on TicketMaster fees by purchasing at the venue, but that wasn't for a high-profile concert. For those, one really needs to buy online these days - especially with presales.

The fees I've seen include arena or seat license fees (or "facility charges"), on top of TicketMaster fees. Not all of it is going to TicketMaster. I found this for 4 $16 lawn seats to some event. Altogether it's more than double the $64 base ticket price.

I think what many would like would be competition, where TicketMaster or Tickets.com. However, TicketMaster is owned by LiveNation, which is the largest event producer in the US.

I wasn't doubting there were fees. But my point was "what shouldn't be allowed"? Are businesses not allowed to charge what they'd like (if they charge too much, they don't make enough sales and go out of business)?

 

[Colleen27]

I'll bite. What exactly "shouldn't be allowed"? Shouldn't a company be allowed to charge whatever it wants for a product? If enough people don't buy, they lower the prices.

Monopolies shouldn't be allowed. Ticketmaster can only charge the fees they do because they not only function as essentially the only ticketing agency for the entire US but also own or have (demand) exclusive contracts with venues *and* function as the largest event booker/promoter in the country. Artists and venues that have tried to use competitors have reported retaliation in the form of exclusion from other elements of TM's business; if an artist doesn't sell his tickets via TM, he won't be able to play at venues they own or control, if a venue uses a different ticketing system they won't be able to book artists that TM promotes, etc. They are a textbook definition of a monopoly.

 

[sam_gordon]

Monopolies shouldn't be allowed. Ticketmaster can only charge the fees they do because they not only function as essentially the only ticketing agency for the entire US but also own or have (demand) exclusive contracts with venues *and* function as the largest event booker/promoter in the country. Artists and venues that have tried to use competitors have reported retaliation in the form of exclusion from other elements of TM's business; if an artist doesn't sell his tickets via TM, he won't be able to play at venues they own or control, if a venue uses a different ticketing system they won't be able to book artists that TM promotes, etc. They are a textbook definition of a monopoly.

Then that's a court case, right? Someone start a class action suit against TM. It won't even cost a dime... just call one of the "no fee" lawyers that advertise all over the place.

 

[bcla]

I wasn't doubting there were fees. But my point was "what shouldn't be allowed"? Are businesses not allowed to charge what they'd like (if they charge too much, they don't make enough sales and go out of business)?

There would seem to be a potential antitrust case, especially with LiveNation owning TicketMaster. Think maybe like airline tickets can be purchased through multiple travel agents.

And LiveNation has been sued. Apparently the venue gets to select the ticket services, but LiveNation has allegedly treated to block venues if they don't choose TicketMaster.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/b...-nation-ticketmaster-class-action-1235070131/​

The complaint details an allegedly illegal business arrangement under which Live Nation, the largest concert promoter in the U.S., threatens to withhold shows from major venues if they do not select Ticketmaster as their primary ticketing service provider.​

​

“Defendants have continued to flourish by engaging in anticompetitive exclusive dealing with major concert venue operators (which are bolstered by Ticketmaster’s relationship with Live Nation Entertainment), as well as numerous other unfair and anticompetitive acts discussed herein that are aimed at eliminating and/or minimizing all competition, both in primary ticketing services and, more recently, secondary ticketing services,” the lawsuit states.​

​

Ticketmaster has a market share exceeding 70 percent of primary ticketing services for major concert venues, according to the complaint, and in 2015 was the platform used for 85 percent of Taylor Swift tickets.​

 

[DLgal]

if an artist doesn't sell his tickets via TM, he won't be able to play at venues they own or control, if a venue uses a different ticketing system they won't be able to book artists that TM promotes, etc. They are a textbook definition of a monopoly.

None of this is true. I went to a concert tour this summer for a big name artist who was selling both on Tickemaster and through MLB Ballpark ticketing. TM was advertising all the dates and even provided a link to the dates being sold through MLB directly. I went to 2 shows. One, I had to buy the tickets through MLB Ballpark, the other I bought through TM.

 

[_19disnA]

Used to enjoy going to concerts from various big name artists in the past. Now the price they charge for tickets + plus all of those dubious 'fees' means we have zero interest in seeing anyone live. When the top performers are already millionaires multiple times over, I have no plans to make them richer by paying $200+ per person to see them live. I don't think any live performance is worth that kind of money.

 

[sasywtch]

Well, I just got an email today for advance ticket sales for Thunder Valley Casino's new venue. February, The Eagles, Santana and Bruno Mars is coming. Oh good, love to see the Eagles and maybe Santana but....................nose bleed tickets start at $300 plus fees, floor is $600 plus fees. By the time you are done, it's $800 for 2 people to see one show.

 

[bcla]

Well, I just got an email today for advance ticket sales for Thunder Valley Casino's new venue. February, The Eagles, Santana and Bruno Mars is coming. Oh good, love to see the Eagles and maybe Santana but....................nose bleed tickets start at $300 plus fees, floor is $600 plus fees. By the time you are done, it's $800 for 2 people to see one show.

Really? I've been there before and saw a stage set up in the parking lot, although it wasn't big acts (I remember seeing lists that included a lot of cover bands) but seemed to be something that was left there long term.

I'm not sure what they would have over Golden 1 Center other than maybe it's smaller for acts that can't fill up an NBA arena.

 

[sasywtch]

Really? I've been there before and saw a stage set up in the parking lot, although it wasn't big acts (I remember seeing lists that included a lot of cover bands) but seemed to be something that was left there long term.

I'm not sure what they would have over Golden 1 Center other than maybe it's smaller for acts that can't fill up an NBA arena.

They just built an inside venue on the east side which looks pretty large. Sammy Hager was the last act for the outside venue last weekend. I got an email to come into the casino tomorrow for pre-sale tickets before they go through ticket master. I'm guessing my days of free tickets are gone. The outdoor venue was a mixture...Chicago, Marie Osmond, Sammy Hager, dr guy on the masked singer, etc. Thunder Valley's new venue is a lot larger than Hard Rocks. I was extremely surprised how small it was last weekend when I saw the Doobie Bros.

 

[shh]

I hate the fees so much that I just won't go to any concerts.

The last concert we went to (Toby Keith) the tickets were like $28, but by the time the fees were added on, we paid about $50 each. Its ridiculous and shouldn't be allowed.

100% agreed. I just don't enjoy an experience when I feel resentful - and these fees (same goes for ridiculous hotel resort fees) make me feel that way. Also applies to theme parks and other discretionary vacation-type places jacking up their rates by 50-200% the past 12 months when my own income stays stagnant. I'll suck up inflationary costs on groceries, insurance, etc, because I have no choice, but it actually makes me feel great to just "nope" out of all this other stuff. I'd rather have the $$$ in my account and listen to a band on Spotify or visit a destination virtually than feel ripped off.

 

[_19disnA]

I will occasionally see some of those bands who had their last hit record 20-30 years ago do a TV special or appear as part of some awards show. Seems like the vocalists don't have the harmony they had when popular and most of the original band members have been retired for several years and their replacements have turned over multiple times. Think most would be hugely disappointed seeing them in a live concert when the popular songs are now sung by other people and don't sound anything like what we remember. Paying top dollar for those groups would be a huge waste of money.