I got to see top popular groups when I was in college. Prime tickets were four dollars. No subsidy from the University. Even with inflation current tickets are outrageous. I had front row tickets to a nola Rolliing stones concert for about 30 bucks. Current price is 594 if you want similar seats. Crazy.

No more concerts or restaurants for me.

They're not getting any more of my money, since they've lost their freaking minds.

Stick to smaller venues (buy direct if you can) and bands that aren't too big for their britches. Seeing Imminence in May and after fees the tickets were $30 which is roughly what $4 in 1970 would be today.

Bwahaha, my first concert, 6th row center, Cars opened for Styx on the Grand Illusion tour. $7.95 ea

the ticket prices I can deal with, it’s the B.S. fees that TicketMaster and their ilk charge that sends my blood pressure through the moon.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:
the ticket prices I can deal with, it’s the B.S. fees that TicketMaster and their ilk charge that sends my blood pressure through the moon.

Same. I was in the industry too and got tired of it. I would open up for a well known band, see what I was getting paid, and bitch. All fingers would point to Ticketmaster. Fucking thieves and a got damn monopoly. Nothing but a third party making shit expensive for everyone. And believe it or not, mid level artists get screwed too. Only the big time, mainstream type artists, get the real money.

No shit.
Never say never but concerts are most unlikely for me.
It is especially true of the great old bands that just do it for the cash cow.
The performance is deteriorated or the original members are gone and have just become a cover band of themselves.

I don't blame them entirely as it is the industry that has changed.
They don't make any money selling records anymore.

Then it's the price!
Used to get a great seat for a great band under $20 and the performers were in their prime along with us being in our prime.
I might make an exception for an aging musician that still can play.
Would love to hear Robin Trower or John McLaughlin play.
Wish I'd seen Jeff Beck lately before he passed, I am sure he was spectacular up until the end.
Thought about the upcoming Eagles and Steely Dan coming up but just can't do it and I loved both, especially Steely Dan.

I went to 3 this year [Shinedown/Papa Roach, Foo Fighters & Ben Folds], paid for 1 [technically 2, since 1 was a Father's Day gift out of our join acct ]. The third was picked up by work.
There's a few bands/groups that I'll pay for, but for the most part I'm good to skip it.

The last time I saw a large venue act was in 2002. Rush Vapor Trails Tour. I paid 75 bucks. That was it for me. Since then I have seen several smaller venue acts. Their prices are more reasonable.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:
the ticket prices I can deal with, it’s the B.S. fees that TicketMaster and their ilk charge that sends my blood pressure through the moon.

This!
I was going to buy 3 tickets to a show at about $115.00 a ticket and the fees exceeded the cost of a 4th ticket. Nope, not willing to do it.

Do the math for a 3K seat theater.

The concerts I am interested in seeing are groups or singer/songwriters that aren't playing pop. Smaller venues, lower ticket prices, better music.

my first concert was about $5 or $6

wanted to see Paul McCartney at The Hollywood Bowl a few years ago

two seats left - Orchestra Pit - and they were $5400 per seat.

you can blame ticket master for this - in some cases I suspect they make as much as the performer

ticket prices have not been bad, however as mentioned the add ons have gotten a bit stupid,

some venues charge for will call, and want you to use the app instead,

I'm OK with that ,but used to do will call only (it was free) so instinctively lean towards that,

last 18 months or so,
Morrissey
Numan
OMD
Belew/Harrison Remain in the Light,
The Fixx
English Beat
Costello


maybe missing one or 2,

all tickets were 25-40 bucks , then add 8 to 15$ each for surcharges etc,

drinks at The Wolf Trap are high, and if you want to drink one in the seated area, you have to buy a sippy cup to have your drink it so you don't spill it,

not joking,
IIRC at $8 a pop.,


wife wanted to see New Order, but even the nose bleed seats were over $100,

did not make that one

Best deal I had was three bands for $25, with The Warning as the headliner. Kick ass show.

Band Maid? $40. I think. Cheap, anyway.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy was the expansive one at like $85. But I’ve seen them I think every time they have been in Atlanta since 1995, wasn’t gonna miss it.

Got Costello in January. Should be fun.

I will be dating myself, but Clapton for 20 bucks, Stevie Ray for 20 bucks, but the best was Led Zeppelin for 2.50.

Greatfull Dead free, 6th row center stage. That's after sipping cocktails with Gerry and the band for 3 hours. They gave us tickets.

Those days are just a fond memory now. I will not pay the asking price these days.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:
the ticket prices I can deal with, it’s the B.S. fees that TicketMaster and their ilk charge that sends my blood pressure through the moon.

Agreed.

In the last few years, I've passed on a couple of shows I would have liked to have gone to because the TicketMaster fees almost doubled the cost of the already pricey tickets.

On the other hand, I went to two concerts this year. Tickets for one of the shows were $20 each (no fees); the other show was $25 each (including a small venue fee).

Granted, these were not big acts. But, the bands put on a terrific show and the wife and I had a great time.

Saw Hendrix in the late 60's for 4.75.

I just don’t go to the big shows anymore, and haven’t for a long time. My daughter and I are seeing Colter Wall in 10 days and I believe reserved seats were somewhere in the $175 range, and that’s a lot money. Every show I’ve seen since Covid is markedly higher than it was prior. Things were very lean for everyone connected to live music for a solid two years, maybe they’re trying to recoup losses.

I saw a lot of big live music shows in my younger years. I’m amazed that so many recall the ticket prices from decades ago. I really have no idea what I paid for tickets back then. A major change in music over the decades is the fact that now live music tours are the be-all-end-all in supporting everyone involved in an artist’s career. Back then, the biggest driver (I believe) was album sales, and the tours promoted an album.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
A major change in music over the decades is the fact that now live music tours are the be-all-end-all in supporting everyone involved in an artist’s career. Back then, the biggest driver (I believe) was album sales, and the tours promoted an album.

Decades ago, I had a conversation with a person who I was friendly with through my job, she worked for Bill Graham Productions, one of the topics was concert ticket pricing. In her opinion, the game changers were #1) Barbara Streisand and The Eagles being the first to charge hundreds of dollars in order to make a huge profit from the gate. Before then, tours were used to promote and generate album sales, with many acts satisfied to make a little or break even on the road. And #2- the widespread use of I-Mag (image magnification) for concerts, which added a huge cost to tours (cameras, projection, screens, engineering equipment, operators, etc). And now, artists make next to nothing in royalties, but earn their living from concert tours.

My first big rock concert, Day on the Green #3 in 1979 featured Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush, and St. Paradise at the Oakland Coliseum. I was 14 and my brother and I took the BART from San Rafael there and back.

Tickets were $12.50 so I had to mow two lawns to buy it. I don't think I'd ride the BART to Oakland today.