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

[MickeyMomOfThree]

WoW...and I thought I payed a lot when I payed $65 a piece for nose bleed section to go see Roger Waters: The Wall being performed...

FWIW, Lady Gaga does put on a fantastic stage show from what I have read

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.

So you know, I splurged and bought DH tickets to see Roger Waters perform The Wall (nosebleeds, but still sunded great.) The show was in Cleveland, 4 hours from here and he couldn't get off work so he drove there Tuesday, saw the concert and drove home getting home at 4:30 am Wednesday. He said it was soooo worht it, so fantastic. He saw him 2 years ago but this was better. You are in for a great time!

I finally saw Bon Jovi this summer. It was worth every penny! Those were only like $35 each with no service charges (NOT Ticketmaster) for lawn seats. It was a steal and would go again in a heartbeat if they came near us! (We drove to Cleveland for that one too!)

 

[Pigeon]

. 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.

That's it. You are banned for life from the budget board.

I don't think dh and I have spent that much on concert tickets over the course of our lives.

 

[pipervali]

I think a lot of it depends on the venue too. If they know they're at a location that will sell out no matter what, the prices are going to be higher.

I took my mother to see Bon Jovi this summer. The tickets were originally listed at $95 a pop, for mediocre seats. They weren't selling out. I waited until two weeks before the concert, and I got them for $25. I did feel bad for the people that paid full price for the seats right next to ours though.

 

[S. C.]

We have 3rd row seats for Clay Aiken concert March - 2011, $81.95 each ticket.

 

[disfan07]

We paid $350 for 3 tickets to see Kristin Chenoweth in december. These are Balcony seats.

The concert is at Walt Disney Concert Hall and there really are no bad seats at the hall so we didnt see the need to pay for more

 

[tasha99]

So you know, I splurged and bought DH tickets to see Roger Waters perform The Wall (nosebleeds, but still sunded great.) The show was in Cleveland, 4 hours from here and he couldn't get off work so he drove there Tuesday, saw the concert and drove home getting home at 4:30 am Wednesday. He said it was soooo worht it, so fantastic. He saw him 2 years ago but this was better. You are in for a great time!

I finally saw Bon Jovi this summer. It was worth every penny! Those were only like $35 each with no service charges (NOT Ticketmaster) for lawn seats. It was a steal and would go again in a heartbeat if they came near us! (We drove to Cleveland for that one too!)

I'm going to see The Wall in December and my boyfriend said our tickets were almost $500. I'm really looking forward to it, but I would never have bought those (I guess I'm lucky he's willing to splurge.)

 

[Minnie J]

I wanted to go see a R&B artist named Maxwell and Jill scott but I went to find out how much it was and it was 500 bucks. I said no way!! Now Rihanna tickets were 117 bucks but she canceled out her tour

 

[PrincessParty]

I just purchased tickets for myself and 2 DD for a Disney band "Allstar Weekend". Tickets were $43.95 each, with all the charges included and we get: w/ Stephen Jerzak, The Scene Aesthetic, Action Item
Doors at 5PM, Show at 5:30PM. All Ages
VIP Ticket: $39 advance
Includes a special Meet and Greet with the band where you will be able to get an autograph and a group photo, VIP Laminate, exclusive Suddenly Yours Meet & Greet Poster, and early admission into the venue. The Meet and Greets take place approximately one hour before doors open. There will be an on-site coordinator who will meet and escort you to the band. Laminate and Poster will be given to you at the Meet and Greet.

This is the first time we've purchased tickets for them as the other 3 concerts of theirs have been free.

 

[Dax]

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.

So you know, I splurged and bought DH tickets to see Roger Waters perform The Wall (nosebleeds, but still sunded great.) The show was in Cleveland, 4 hours from here and he couldn't get off work so he drove there Tuesday, saw the concert and drove home getting home at 4:30 am Wednesday. He said it was soooo worht it, so fantastic. He saw him 2 years ago but this was better. You are in for a great time!

I'm going to see The Wall in December and my boyfriend said our tickets were almost $500. I'm really looking forward to it, but I would never have bought those (I guess I'm lucky he's willing to splurge.)

Looks like Roger Waters is doing good this tour...Our concert in in Nov...I am beyond excited as is DH..We are making a day out of it...dinner before the concert and all! I am looking to get some merchandise too!

 

[dawson5]

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.

I've read a few articles that suggest that the rising cost of cd's and a weakened US economy is more responsible for the drop in sales. I've always thought the concert was where they made their money.

Here are a few articles and research papers on the subject:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4831-net-music-piracy-does-not-harm-record-sales.html

http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9086/canadian_govt_study_p2p_increases_cd_sales/

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...BoNMXD&sig=AHIEtbTnyZxyuNnZVKfFjhONaO1Ze7Smug (this was a pdf and it opened in google docs for me, might have issues, if so just google: Oberholzer-Gee and Strumpf and it should be the first one.)

http://www.bricklin.com/recordsales.htm
^
This one was really in-depth.

Then add this:
http://uk.gear.ign.com/articles/849/849695p1.html

I believe that the recording industry is just as responsible for what is going on today. I balk at paying $15+ for a cd that might have 4 songs on it I like. This would encourage me to go to a place like itunes, amazon, walmart.com, etc to buy and download just the songs I like. They get $4 instead of $15. The more I read, people are going digital. They don't want to give up the space to a lot of cd's, so you would think that this would also translate into more digital sales and less overhead.

and I never followed up with how they did:

http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9026/radiohead_shocks_record_industry_with_free_download_of_new_album/

Radiohead gave away their last album, free for download/pay what you believe it's worth.

This was from 2002:

http://www.forrester.com/ER/Press/Release/0,1769,741,FF.html

 

[4shinystars]

We're seeing Roger Waters do the Wall next week. Just couldn't afford top prices, but still was over $100 a ticket. Add to that the hotel and travel expenses, since he's not coming anywhere near Albany, so we're going to Buffalo. That said, I've seen Pink Floyd and/or Roger Waters and/or David Gilmour on every tour they've done since the early 80's and I still kick myself for not going to see the Wall done by the original line up. This is dh's only obsession, and it's a combo birthday/Xmas/anniversary present.
\I remember going to concerts all the time when I was a teen at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, lawn seats were maybe $10 tops and you could get inside seats for about $5 more in the balcony. Kids today don't get to do that, and unless you live in a major city, you can't even see many indie bands. Interpol at a small club was still over $30 a ticket, and there was no seating.

 

[HelenePA]

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.

I went to one of his concerts and had nose bleed seats.. well the "men in black" came around and moved us down to the 2nd row

I also got my brother roger waters tix.. I tried to get the cheap seats but they were gone in seconds I had to get him the next price up ones.. i think it was like 245$ for 2 tix.. I'm not a floyd fan

 

[eliza61]

Tickets prices are based on the market. simple as that. Lady Gaga can command 200 tickets becasue people want to see her.

Anyone remember Barbara Striesands farewell tour? I saw her at Madison Square Garden and ticket prices were $250 a pop and that was over 10 years ago.

Theater tickets to a broadway show are routinely $125 a person and Cirqu du soliel is easy $100 bucks.

 

[beansmom]

And I was ticked to find out the tickets to see Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan were $25.90 and $35.90. Guess that isn't so bad compared to Lady Gaga, but then again I don't get her appeal.

Suzanne

Must be a 'Suzanne' thing coz that's my name and i don't get it either.

My daddy used to say "If (Insert performer name here...we'll use Lady Gaga today) was in my front yard, I'd shut the curtains". Pretty much sums it up for me. =))

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Looks like Roger Waters is doing good this tour...Our concert in in Nov...I am beyond excited as is DH..We are making a day out of it...dinner before the concert and all! I am looking to get some merchandise too!

My DH got a shirt for just $20! Way better then the $45 I paid for my Bon Jovi one this summer.

We're seeing Roger Waters do the Wall next week. Just couldn't afford top prices, but still was over $100 a ticket. Add to that the hotel and travel expenses, since he's not coming anywhere near Albany, so we're going to Buffalo. That said, I've seen Pink Floyd and/or Roger Waters and/or David Gilmour on every tour they've done since the early 80's and I still kick myself for not going to see the Wall done by the original line up. This is dh's only obsession, and it's a combo birthday/Xmas/anniversary present.
\I remember going to concerts all the time when I was a teen at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, lawn seats were maybe $10 tops and you could get inside seats for about $5 more in the balcony. Kids today don't get to do that, and unless you live in a major city, you can't even see many indie bands. Interpol at a small club was still over $30 a ticket, and there was no seating.

I tred to get tickets for Buffalo (we are in Rochester) but they were sold out. DH had to go to Cleveland, 4 hours from here. Unfortunatly he still couldn't get time off work so he had to work, drive to Cleveland, see the show and drive back getting home at 4:30 am and go to work again. His friend who was supposed to go with him had to go away for work so our oldest DD went with him. She went to school Wednesday with no sleep! Man to be a teenager again...then again I'd have done that to see Bon Jovi.

 

[Minniemouse07]

And I was ticked to find out the tickets to see Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan were $25.90 and $35.90. Guess that isn't so bad compared to Lady Gaga, but then again I don't get her appeal.

Suzanne

This is cool! Did you like their concert? To be honest I have no idea who they are but my brother is working on the tour and you are the first person I've "met" that has heard of them!

 

[budbeerlady]

This is cool! Did you like their concert? To be honest I have no idea who they are but my brother is working on the tour and you are the first person I've "met" that has heard of them!

Too Funny! Your brother is VERY lucky! We love Jason and as hard as he has been working he just doesnt seem to be getting what he deserves. Luke is alright but we are big Jason fans, DD's first song obsession was Hick Town! (Might be because she was allowed to say bottom crack when she sang it.)

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I think concerts aren't worth the money. I also hate being crowded in like sardines, dealing with drunk people and not being able to sit down and see at concerts. Or having someone else dancing in front of me and I can't see even when standing because of it.

My husband still likes to waste money on them. He can usually find someone else interested in going.

OP, I hope you really have fun at the concert.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Too Funny! Your brother is VERY lucky! We love Jason and as hard as he has been working he just doesnt seem to be getting what he deserves. Luke is alright but we are big Jason fans, DD's first song obsession was Hick Town! (Might be because she was allowed to say bottom crack when she sang it.)

Well, again... I have NO idea about either of the artists or their music. Philly doesn't seem to be in their demographic so we haven't been able to see them.

I think that my brother is working more w/ Luke though, I could be wrong. So hard to pin that boy down w/ all the time he is on the road.

 

[Ava]

How much I'm willing to pay for a concert ticket really depends on the artist. I paid I think $165/ticket for Madonna a few years ago and it was worth every penny to me. Those were the 2nd price level and got me in the back section on the floor - awesome seats at MSG because the back floor sections are up on risers so you can actually see. The top price tix for that show were around $350 each, which was too much for me but obviously a lot of people had no problem paying it.

Madonna's really the only artist I'd pay over $100/ticket to see. Besides her, the most I like to pay is $50-$75/ticket. I also really hate all the fees Ticketmaster adds on. For Broadway shows I go to the venue in person to buy so I avoid the fees. But for most concerts you can't do this if you want any chance at decent seats. (Also why I like general admission shows - it doesn't matter when you buy your tix, you have a chance to be up front if you're willing to get there early & wait in line!)