I just can't do it. $$ Concert tickets

[bellarella]

Consider it the subsidization for all the "free" music out there now.

Sales of albums used to be a major source of revenue. File sharing has just about killed that business model. Now the actual music is seen as a way of getting people to buy concert tickets and merchandise. Between that and increased audience expectations for what a show should include (i.e. heavily produced) ticket prices have gone way up and likely will continue to.

 

[joliesmom]

I follow Springsteen around and his best seats are $100 each. No warm up band and a 3 hour concert is well worth it to me.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Crazy isnt it. I paid $450 to see the Eagles in June. It was the second time I paid that much.My the Eagles are my splurge.

 

[JoiseyMom]

OP, I so agree with you. There are so many concerts I have wanted to go to, but I will not pay what they want. Even for the small local outside venues by me.

I won't pay it. The problem is others are willing to shell out the money an will. So as long as the tickets sell, they will charge what they want.

 

[BoogasMom]

That's insane. I wouldn't pay that for front row seats to see John Lennon come back from the dead.

Yep!!! What you said!!!

 

[sophie832]

DH and I just paid $80 for 2 tickets to see Weezer...those weren't even the cheapest seats! They had one cheaper level that was $25/ticket. Granted, we're not that close, but we're not terribly far away, either. I think their highest price tickets are over $100 each, but that's probably way down in front.

However, we paid ridiculous amounts (ridiculous to us being over $150/ticket) to go see Roger Waters this December (well, technically my parents are paying for that), and in the past for Paul McCartney and the Eagles. Those concerts are worth it.

I really wanted to go see Tom Petty w/ZZ Top this month, but the tickets are just too expensive. Even the nosebleeds start at $50/ticket. I guess it's just a matter of how much we're willing to pay for each artist.

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

Wow, that is outrageous! I thought paying $250 for 3 Star Wars in concert tickets was bad enough.

Wow! DH and I only paid like $75 for ours! The Most I've ever paid for concert tickets was For Paul McCartny and I think that was only $125/piece.

 

[CowboyCO]

Just saw a story that said Justin Bieber makes $300,000 for each concert. Keith Urban makes nearly $500,000. Rascal Flatts makes about $750,000. As long as people buy the $200 tickets they'll keep charging that.

I guess the economy must not be that bad if people are still paying the price of a 5-day parkhopper for a two-hour concert.

 

[budbeerlady]

Oh, and Ticketmaster is the devil.

 

[taymaesmom]

Wow we only paid $120 for 2 tickets to see Lady Gaga in Jan. She has really upped the price since then!

 

[Gr8t Fan]

That's insane. I wouldn't pay that for front row seats to see John Lennon come back from the dead.

That's exactly what I was thinking !

 

[jsksjs]

It depends on what the artist demands to get paid to perform unfortunately. I remember a couple of years ago, there was a popular band that only charged 25.00 for every seat for every show. They wanted their shows to be affordable. I know Lady Gaga would get what shes asking because shes the hottest performer right now. Madonna is the same, crazy ticket prices! They figure people will pay any amount to see them because they are so popular, so, they make a killing. We are going to see The Trans Siberian Orchestra In November and, I paid 65.00 for FRONT ROW tickets. They had the same price for tickets last year also. The Highest I would pay is 80.00 for a ticket, and, it would have to be FRONT ROW or 2nd. I would NEVER pay 200.00 a ticket to sit far away! If im not close, I dont buy them.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I haven't been to a concert in years because of the prices. I really miss going.

Besides the price, I am 5'2" and can't see anything if it is one level seating since most people stand the whole time.

 

[windycitymom]

I follow Springsteen around and his best seats are $100 each. No warm up band and a 3 hour concert is well worth it to me.

Amen sister! I follow Springsteen too. If a living legend can charge only $100 and make a fabulous living why can't others?

I'm a big McCartney fan too, but I can't justify spending $250 per ticket either. I bought the cheap seats and had just as good a time. For Springsteen, I always try for the pit!!

 

[Pigeon]

It depends on what the artist demands to get paid to perform unfortunately. I remember a couple of years ago, there was a popular band that only charged 25.00 for every seat for every show. They wanted their shows to be affordable. I know Lady Gaga would get what shes asking because shes the hottest performer right now. Madonna is the same, crazy ticket prices!

I think Lady Gaga is a result of human cloning of Madonna.

 

[sameyeyam]

My suggestion is to go the the artists webpage and check out their tour schedule. You will be amazed at the price difference depending on the venue.

For instance I went one time to a smaller amphitheater and paid $30 to see Tim McGraw...and I was in the 7th row back! Talk about awesome seats.

My boss went to see him and his "big show" at a larger venue the following year. His tickets were over $100 and he had mediocre seats.

My point is, if you can find them at a smaller venue outside of larger cities you can really save a lot of money. Sometimes they play the smaller venues to get ready for their big stadium shows, to try out songs and see audience reaction, to try out some of their electronics and other stuff. You probably won't get the full big show. But if you want 2-3 hours of nice entertainment and a much better seat at a reasonable price go to the smaller venues. The two venues that I am speaking about were about 10 miles apart. One was the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon and the other was the Clark County Amphitheater across the river in Washington. Basically same show, but what a price difference!

Also, check out tribal casino concerts. They are usually reasonably priced and imo you get way better seats. They generally aren't trying to make a profit on the show, they are just trying to get you into their establishment so they can make some money from you gambling. Which of course you don't have to do.

 

[sameyeyam]

I haven't been to a concert in years because of the prices. I really miss going.

Besides the price, I am 5'2" and can't see anything if it is one level seating since most people stand the whole time.

Too funny! I'm 5'1" (if I stretch on my tippy toes). I go to some concerts, but not a lot because of my height. Even if it's stadium seating I always get tall people in front of me and can't see a thing. When everybody stands at the concerts I remain seated. There's no use in standing, I know I can't see a single thing, so I might as well just be comfortable and listen to the music instead.

 

[jsksjs]

My suggestion is to go the the artists webpage and check out their tour schedule. You will be amazed at the price difference depending on the venue.

For instance I went one time to a smaller amphitheater and paid $30 to see Tim McGraw...and I was in the 7th row back! Talk about awesome seats.

My boss went to see him and his "big show" at a larger venue the following year. His tickets were over $100 and he had mediocre seats.

My point is, if you can find them at a smaller venue outside of larger cities you can really save a lot of money. Sometimes they play the smaller venues to get ready for their big stadium shows, to try out songs and see audience reaction, to try out some of their electronics and other stuff. You probably won't get the full big show. But if you want 2-3 hours of nice entertainment and a much better seat at a reasonable price go to the smaller venues. The two venues that I am speaking about were about 10 miles apart. One was the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon and the other was the Clark County Amphitheater across the river in Washington. Basically same show, but what a price difference!

Also, check out tribal casino concerts. They are usually reasonably priced and imo you get way better seats. They generally aren't trying to make a profit on the show, they are just trying to get you into their establishment so they can make some money from you gambling. Which of course you don't have to do.

Not the casinos here in CT! They charge more than what other venues charge! I think they do this because, they give all their good seats to the high rollers for Free. That way, they can make up some of their money charging more for the other tickets

 

[dvcgirl]

Consider it the subsidization for all the "free" music out there now.

Sales of albums used to be a major source of revenue. File sharing has just about killed that business model. Now the actual music is seen as a way of getting people to buy concert tickets and merchandise. Between that and increased audience expectations for what a show should include (i.e. heavily produced) ticket prices have gone way up and likely will continue to.

That's exactly it....the artists make next to nothing on CD sales anymore.....as most people steal their music online. And so they subsidize it by charging so much for concert tickets.

We're going to see David Waters perform The Wall at Madison Square Garden this Tuesday. We're both big Pink Floyd Fans and since Waters is 67, this is likely the last time is going to happen. DH wanted great seats...and so we got fourth row...and paid $750 per ticket. Granted, it does include a 2 hour pre-show dinner with open bar and some merchandise. Still, it's a lot of money.

 

[kimbac3]

Too funny! I'm 5'1" (if I stretch on my tippy toes). I go to some concerts, but not a lot because of my height. Even if it's stadium seating I always get tall people in front of me and can't see a thing. When everybody stands at the concerts I remain seated. There's no use in standing, I know I can't see a single thing, so I might as well just be comfortable and listen to the music instead.

I had that same problem at the Uproar Festival (I'm 4'11")- I'm glad the had screens. I was ready to stand on the chair!! We paid about $50 a piece for them put we saw 8 bands including Avenged Sevenfold and Disturbed. DH and I took 2 of our kids, my DD's boyfriend and my nephew. Everyone had a blast so it was worth it.

DH and I bought tickets to see Shinedown (Acoustic) at House of Blues in AC - $35 a piece for them.