Has the cost of concert tickets kept you away...

[Hillbeans]

From seeing your favorite performers?

They are having a Jessica Simpson concert here at the minor league ballpark near my house. The tickets are going for $75 and $55. I think $55 is a lot to spend to see a show and I've decided to save the $$$ and not go. Granted, earlier last month I went to see TimMcGraw, but that cost around $70. The tickets in the first 20-30 rows could have been bought for around $250. YIKES.

Whatever happened to the days of $25 lawn tickets?

 

[Saffron]

No. I only like outdoor concerts anymore and we can get great lawn seats at the Tweeter Center in Camden for about $35.00. The only time I spend money for an inside concert is if it's someone I really, really want to see, like Eric Clapton or Bruce Springsteen. Then I don't care how much it costs, even if I can only afford the "nose bleed" seats.

I won't spend money to see the Eagles ever again though, not even at an outside concert. I think they started the whole outrageous ticket price thing and I'm boycotting them. LOL!

 

[Deb in IA]

DH paid $130 to see the Stones a few years ago in Chicago.

I just blew $188 for 2 tickets to see Rod Stewart.

Sigh. I remember the days of $40 tickets . . .

 

[Tiziminchac]

I haven't been to a concert since Metallica in 1992. Personally, I'd rather buy the concert dvd and/or cd and a pizza and save myself a ton of cash. All the bands I like are gone anyways.

 

[catsrule]

Yes, I'd rather spend the money on a vacation. I only go if I get free tickets.

 

[birdiesunshine]

I'll only go to see Bon Jovi and I usually pay $85.00 per show. I saw them 3 times last year. Can't wait til 2005!!

 

[KristaTX]

I think concerts cost way too much these days. I'll spend whatever it takes to see David Bowie, but I won't see anyone else if it's going to cost me more than $30 or $40. I don't want to see anyone that badly.

 

[FranP]

$25 lawn seats still exist in places like the PNC Arts Center which isn't too far from you, Hillbeans!!!!! DS just saw Alanis Morisette and Bare Naked Ladies on Saturday with $25 lawn seats - however, you cannot bring your own chairs, you can either sit on a blanket or pay PNC to rent their chairs!!!!!! So I guess it ends up costing more anyway. We are seeing Josh Groban at PNC soon and it cost more than $300 for 4 tickets - so I feel your pain!!!

 

[Hillbeans]

Originally posted by FranP
$25 lawn seats still exist in places like the PNC Arts Center which isn't too far from you, Hillbeans!!!!! DS just saw Alanis Morisette and Bare Naked Ladies on Saturday with $25 lawn seats - however, you cannot bring your own chairs, you can either sit on a blanket or pay PNC to rent their chairs!!!!!! So I guess it ends up costing more anyway. We are seeing Josh Groban at PNC soon and it cost more than $300 for 4 tickets - so I feel your pain!!!

Fran, you're right...PNC used to be the place to go for $25 concerts, but now most lawn seats are much more expensive. I love going to PNC...and I saw so many concerts there years ago.

 

[orvilleair]

It's more about the venue than the price. Shelled out over $60 bucks a ticket to see Elton John at Rupp Arena in Lexington more than five years ago. Nose bleed seats all the way. Plus a three hour drive to and from.

We have an outdoor theatre that will charge $25 for lawn seats for Randy Travis with Patty Loveless. Of course, you can't bring your own chairs, but I'd be close to the stage.

 

[inaminute]

It's so funny that this thread showed up today! My friend just brought over some things she found from our earlier days--high school notes and an old concert ticket. We saw Queen in the mid 70's. The ticket price was $9.50!!!

My DH and I just spent $77 per ticket to the NE Country Music Festival (Toby Keith, Jo Dee Messina, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson, and Scotty Emerick).

Can't wait for Saturday!!!

 

[ducklite]

Yes and no.

For me it depends on how much I want to see the band.

This past week I saw Nickelback/3 Doors Down/Puddle of Mudd twice, the tickets for the one show were $45/each, for the other they were $60/each. I could have probably gotten on the guest list for one or both shows, but there was no guarantees, and I really wanted to see them, so I bought the tickets.

On the otherhand, Seether, Evanescence, Three Days Grace, and Breaking Benjamin are playing at Penn's Landing Friday night. I would like to see the show, but I just saw Breaking Benjamin a few months ago, I've seen Three Days Grace five or six times already this year, and I've some pretty poor reports on Evanescence's live show, and Seether--whatever. So if I can't get on the guest list for the show, I won't go.

I go to a lot of shows, but I have a lot of friends in the music industry (spent about 15 years of my life there) so often I'm going to see old friends more than the bands they are working for.

I do agree, the price of tickets has gotten out of control. I passed on Velvet Revolver for $75 a pop at Starland. By the time I bought three tickets, paid to park, and we each had a couple bottles of water it's over $300. And with Scott Weilands current legal problems, will the show even happen?

Anne

 

[Christine]

I just went to see Madonna this past June. Each ticket was $150 (not including about $16 worth of service charges for each ticket). I had seen Madonna about 14 years ago. Even though she is not my favorite artist, I knew that she was a brilliant performer. As good as the show was, this past June, I still *wince* at the money I put out and probably won't do so again. For the $658 I spent for a 1.5 hours concert, I could've gone to the beach for the weekend.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

yes, especially since there's 4 of us.

 

[faithinkarma]

The only time I spend money for an inside concert is if it's someone I really, really want to see, like Eric Clapton or Bruce Springsteen. Then I don't care how much it costs, even if I can only afford the "nose bleed" seats.

I agree. I paid a lot for nosebleed seats to see Simon and Garfunkel with the Everly Brothers. I went for the experience, not to hear the music...just as well, because the acoustics were awful. Someone should start a thread about "who would you pay a lot to see?"

 

[crazelion]

Concert tickets is so high that I can't afford to go anymore. Lucky here in Chattanooga that have severval music festival a year. Examples Riverbend Festival 9 day concert for 35.00 dollars.

Summer Jam is 15.00 dollars in advance day of show 20.00 dollars. I going to see 8 ball and MOG, Ray J, and O'Maion from BTK.

Family Fair is 25.00 Mint Condition, Maze and bunch other oldies. I might not go to family fair because they is bring to many oldies this year.

 

[noodles]

It really depends on who it is. For example Randy Travis will be here in October and its not going to matter how much the tickets cost I'm going! There are plenty of Bands/performers out there that I would like to see, but the price of the tickets keeps me away. These groups still sell their shows out though so someone is buying them!

 

[Hillbeans]

And that's just it...if I really wanted to see the person and I was getting great seats, i'd have no problem spending $100....When we saw Tim McGraw at the Tweeter center in June, I know he had lawn seats for $30, which I think is great. I wince at the nosebleed seats that cost $60. It's just a lot of money for 2 hours of singing.

Can you believe that I actually saw Milli Vanilli in concert in 1991?? OMG

What's funny is that i've seen probably 50 concerts and my Husband hasn't seen any....I told him i'd take him to one and the only one he'd want to see is Simon and Garfunkel.

 

[Serena]

I don't have the extra money to use for concerts, not at most of those prices. My sister owed me some money and paid me back with a concert ticket last month or so. I would love, love to see more though.

 

[Kristi1357]

The concert prices are getting a bit out of control, IMO anyway.

I remember paying $15.50 to see Power Station (how embarrassing is that?) when I was in Jr. High. Big Duran Duran fan, so I just HAD to see John Taylor. I couldn't drive yet, so I had to buy Mom and Mom's friend's ticket so they would take me and a friend to the show. I was only about 14 and I came up with the $50+ to go. I doubt many 14 year olds could raise enough money for 3 concert tix on their own nowadays. They might, but I bet it would be alot harder than it was for me back in the day.

On the other hand, if I had the extra cash, I'd pay about anything to see the Goo Goo Dolls! I'd do almost anything to see Johnny Reznik. Good thing DH doesn't mind my crush. DH even surprised me with tix to see them last summer at Hampton Beach. I didn't get tix since money was tight while I was on maternity leave. But he thought I should go since I had a nightmare delivery, followed by many complications, then gall bladder surgery! What a guy!