Really,wow,I guess..if people are still willing to shell out & fill shows.
Exactly. Economics 101: Supply & Demand. Actually that should be reversed. It should be Demand & Supply. If there's a demand for something, well somebody will likely supply it.
If you don't want to support a band, well then don't. While some of these bands are IMHO charging crazy prices, they wouldn't if they couldn't.
Exactly! The Stones are perfect examples of this.
When I saw the Stones in Boston this past year the cheapest regular priced tickets were $150.00 for the worst nose bleeds with front of the stage "pit" tickets going for $2500.00. I always had floor seats for previous tours and never paid more than $150.00 for them so I said screw it and figured it would be the first Stones tour I would miss my first back in 1975 as I refused to pay $600-1200.00 for floor seats this time around.
The band took a lot of heat for the prices so they offered a limited number of tickets, supposedly around 1000 tickets a show where they offered them, at $85.00 but you would not know where you were sitting until show time.
I thought that was a good deal so I managed to score the $85.00 tickets for both Boston shows and ended up with great seats in the lower bowl of the new Boston Garden for both shows. These were the same seats that were selling for $600.00 so I got lucky but they still sold out both shows even with people paying anywhere from $250-2500.00 for tickets.
I agree ticket prices for big name bands are out of control but touring is where the money is as the bands make little to no money off of new music with all the illegal downloading so I do not begrudge them getting what they can. As Lee stated if fans were not willing to pay the crazy prices the bands would not charge them.
Cool sounds like we were both at the same two Boston shows. Loved it when they brought Memory Motel out of the rack. Anyway we paided more that we wanted for two tickets since we were wrapping a week long vacation around it and had to book travel/lodging. Having seen the Stones 6 times this was the strangest ticket affair ever. Almost like a Dutch auction if you will. We bought two tickets for Wednesday at the presale. Two weeks before we left for Boston a tip sent me to a website link where Ticketstabber was offering half price tickets for Friday night. A twoffer you bet we were in.
The point of all this that shot our entire 2013 concert budget, but the place was packed, the old boys rocked and the smiles on my wife's face when she saw her favorite band again, priceless!
Probably next time we see them the band and the audience wont clap, just click their walkers.
Peace
Mike
Great story Mike!, I agree both shows were very good as he old boys can still bring even if Keef throws a klinker in every now and then.
Mick was asked recently if there was any chance they would swing back throught eh U.S. again so I would not be surprised if they did more shows here. I grew up near NYC and would love to see them again at MSG as I saw many an amazing concert there in my younger daze.
I would rather pay 350 for the stones ...i paid 450 each at fenway so my son could sit next to the green monster and meet the opener.
Bruce is washed up as is Dylan...even petty who I have seen 16 times....The stones 16 as well....But look at what the fake bands are getting skynyrd styx foreigner having one original member each.ACDC technically doesnt have any as angus joined after the band started gigging.Fleetwood mac only has one John Mcvie joined after the first bass player had already recorded with them.Then you have heart.The wilson sisters joined after the band was formed and gigging so how do the get the name.Nancy joined a year after they were playing and now pink floyd....what a joke that is...gilmours solo stuff doesnt sell and ends up in the bargain bin so he uses the name pink floyd just to sell records.
My favorite example of "fakes" is Ten Years After touring without Alvin Lee.
I would rather pay 350 for the stones ...i paid 450 each at fenway so my son could sit next to the green monster and meet the opener.
Bruce is washed up as is Dylan...even petty who I have seen 16 times....The stones 16 as well....But look at what the fake bands are getting skynyrd styx foreigner having one original member each.ACDC technically doesnt have any as angus joined after the band started gigging.Fleetwood mac only has one John Mcvie joined after the first bass player had already recorded with them.Then you have heart.The wilson sisters joined after the band was formed and gigging so how do the get the name.Nancy joined a year after they were playing and now pink floyd....what a joke that is...gilmours solo stuff doesnt sell and ends up in the bargain bin so he uses the name pink floyd just to sell records.
Don't know if I would say Bruce is washed up as he keeps making #1 records and sells out stadiums.
Tough call on "fake" bands as some of those mentioned are known for their more recent work with new members and not the stuff from the original bands. How many music fans realize that the Stevie Nicks version of Mac is not the original? I love the Peter Green version of the band but let's face it they were and are basically a cult band. The Nicks version of the band is when Mac hit it big and what casual music fans identify as Fleetwood Mac.
I think AC/DC falls into the same category as the Brian Johnson version of the band is much more recognized then the Bon Scott version and is much more successful then the Bon Scott era band in selling records and concert tickets. It is very sad that Malcolm Young has dementia but as long as Johnson and Angus are in the band there will always be an AC/DC.
I think you are way off the mark on Gilmour's intent in releasing the new album. Bands make little money on new music these days and Gilmour is not touring behind the album so not sure how he is taking advantage of the bands name. Infact he has stated this will be the last album of new music under the Pink Floyd name. If he really wanted to milk the name he could have put together a band and done a nostalgia tour which would have sold out stadiums even with just him and Mason but that is not in his nature. I just think they had the music in the can which featured Wright so they decided to put it out and close the book on the band.
haha Alvin Lee & Ten Years After...with no Alvin Lee.
Thats worse than Grand Funk Railroad with no Mark Farner.
Where do people get off on going on the road with just a name. Thats just pure ripoff.
Supertramp sucks today,but the solo guy from them is Supertramp.
* I just realized something,some of the worst shows I've ever seen have been the Highest priced ones.The crowds have generally been worse,not in tune with the band,disinterested,etc & bands been generally not 'hungry' or up-to-par or plain rude. And reverse some of the least expensive shows or festivals have been the greatest..with the best fans,really into it & vice versa the band really into the crowd.Funny how that works.
[Edited on 11/20/2014 by bettyhynes]
* I just realized something,some of the worst shows I've ever seen have been the Highest priced ones.The crowds have generally been worse,not in tune with the band,disinterested,etc & bands been generally not 'hungry' or up-to-par or plain rude. And reverse some of the least expensive shows or festivals have been the greatest..with the best fans,really into it & vice versa the band really into the crowd.Funny how that works.
Was just thinking today how happy I am I saw all of these "oldies" act when they were young, hungry, and trying to impress anybody & everybody.
And cheap too!
I mean Zeppelin...for $5.00 on the barrel?! No band just out of the garage could live off that today...let alone the biggest act going!
Bruce is washed up as is Dylan
Couldn't let this one slide...
Dylan is pretty washed up for a live performer and I'm one of the biggest Dylan fans in the country.
But I saw Bruce again this year and he's still the best live act to have ever performed on a stage so far. I have been to over 1000 concerts, seen the Dead 300+, ABB a bunch, everything from rap to metal to country to jazz and Bruce rules over them all and while I have heard from people that they "just don't get him", there is no denying the way he holds a crowd, any size mind you, in the palm of his hand. He taught Bono how to play to a crowd (according to Bono) and I'm pretty sure Prince stole some dance moves from Bruce! This tour he was playing tons of requests (his songs or covers), bodysurfing over the whole pit, inviting people on stage to perform with him or just dance and hang and and still turning on the house lights during some songs to bring the audience closer to the performer, not to mention playing whole songs to the crowd behind the stage and generally blowing everyone's mind who thinks that he is washed up. Oh, and it was 3 hours long! Washed up? I haven't seen ANY band come close to him whether they're 20 or 70!
Some of today's ticket prices aren't out of whack when you adjust for inflation...
http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/
Still no way I'm paying more than $50 to see anyone (unless there's another worthy act or more on the bill.)
My concert attendence(as far as national acts) has dropped off significantly
over the last 5-10yrs I would say, due to the fact of ticket prices.
It's out of hand. When we go to shows, it's local/regional/indie
artists/ acts who fly under the radar. I cant justify paying the ticket prices
any more. People can spend their money anyway the want, but the only
way to combat this is to hit the industry in the pocket book. As long people
keep feeding into these prices it wont stop. Just dont buy. I love going to
concert and seeing live music ,but it's out of hand.
Agreed, it is out of hand. I read an interview with Warren Haynes where even he said how the average person can't afford to see live music and certain popular bands because of high ticket prices.
Some of today's ticket prices aren't out of whack when you adjust for inflation...
http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/
Still no way I'm paying more than $50 to see anyone (unless there's another worthy act or more on the bill.)
I feel the same way.
[Edited on 11/22/2014 by The_Newt]
Personally I had an 'epiphany' (for lack of a better word) when the Eagles announced their "Hell Freezes Over" Tour priced at $350/seat,in 1994. That actually pissed me off, I think that was the 1st & I thoght that was crazy & I'd never pay that. Actually I thought,"yeh I'll pay that kinda $ for a show.."when hell freezes over".Shortly after the Stones followed. This was wayyy before the collapse of the music industry & downloading....so it was strictly a highpriced moneygrab from the fans,which was very profitable for the bands which already sold mountains of records.
I know that A/C D/C held their highest cost tickets to $99. Good for them. Their last tour we got 2nd row centre simply buying online,tour before we had $50 floor seats,so they've managed to keep things in check for us Fans.
*I finally relented & bought tickets to the Eagles this year while in NY (but only paid a little over $100.the day before) The guy next to me was bitc*%n that he paid $800 & got pretty drunk thruout the show.The Eagles were good..but not $800 good! That seat wasn't even on the floor or up front.
[Edited on 11/23/2014 by bettyhynes]
I remember paying $100/ticket to see the Eagles in Atlanta in 1994. It was a lot. I was pretty sure they didn't and couldn't have sold tickets for $350.
I found this article from 1994 about their ticket prices:
http://articles.courant.com/1994-05-19/news/9405190232_1_ticket-prices-meat-loaf-eagles
It looks like in most markets their tickets topped out at $96 on that tour & $115 in one market with a $51-$96 ticket range in Hartford. It said that tickets in that range kept sales down and they didn't do a second show. They did 3 shows at the Omni in Atlanta and the entire lower level was the same price ($96).
People do tend to focus on the highest priced ticket range (front section, VIP) in these discussions, even if those seats are less than 15% of what is sold. The highest I have paid was for the Gregg Tribute at the Fox which was over $200/ticket. Few shows would be worth that amount, but that one was!
Cynically, I look at the Eagles as the Jackie Robinson of big time (arena rock) popular music - they were the first to break the $100.00 mark (except maybe the Stones).
Realistically, I accept that simple inflation brings about higher costs on everything. I know that some shows have more production value than others - although this type of stuff means very little to me in the music sense. Those big bands that travel with a fleet of semis to bring elaborate pyro, projection and other elements certainly face bigger expenses in bringing their elaborate shows. There are other acts who pretty much still just bring their back line gear and get up there and plug in who are charging astronomical costs. I won't name names.
What chaps my a$$ is that nowadays the general sale for tickets seems to last about a nano-second before all roll over to the professional CORPORATE scalpers. Cynically, I believe that some of the bands are taking kick-back from these sales. I've even been assured by folks in the know that I'm not just being paranoid here.
I saw a T-shirt recently that read, "Yeah, I'm old but I got to see all of the good bands". I'd like to get that shirt and take a sharpie and add the line, "before they started charging mortgage payments for their tickets".
The good news is that there are still a lot of really fine bands that charge under $100 for their shows. Depending on your musical tastes, if you shop around you can probably find tickets to 5 - 8 separate shows for the cost of nosebleed section seats to one of the "classic rock" acts.
I'll give Garth Brooks credit. I paid $74 including Ticketmaster fees for an average lower level ticket to his show (wife is a big fan; I'm a greatest hits fan). He did 7 shows in Atlanta including 3 early/late show nights. He could have easily charged 2X for the seat I had, done 4 shows and made more money.
McCartney was charging $250+ (maybe even $270?) for the same section, face value with TM fees just a few weeks later. I'm talking 4 sections from the stage on the side, not high caliber floor seats. I think that goes down as the highest priced ticket for a decent/not great lower level arena seat in rock music in Atlanta ever. I wanted to take the family to see Sir Paul, but I could not afford it. Now, he did his typical epic long show with his killer band, but goodness that was high priced!
Edited to add that I was refering to the Garth and McCartney shows this Fall in Atlanta. I knew Paul would be expensive, but I had no idea he was basically 1.5 - 2X any other rock artist out there for avg arena seats.
[Edited on 11/24/2014 by hotlantatim]
I saw Paul for $100 right around the Stones were charging 6X that for an equivalent seat. I thought he was a bargain.
The other thing the Eagles did first was partner with a credit card company, AMEX, to sell preferred seating.
That was a game changer.
You were right about it being the Eagles to get to $100 first (Streisand the same year, non-rock of course).
Pink Floyd's highest priced ticket in 1994 was $75. I can't remember the exact price, but I know I paid less...I'm thinking $40 for that tour. The Stones, if I'm reading this article correctly, priced their tickets from $25-$50 that year (with some probably modest handling fees on top of it):
http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/16/arts/it-s-crowded-on-the-road-as-more-bands-go-on-tour.html
Ian Anderson's Jethro Tull's another one I think should hang it up. The last I saw them they weren't 1/10th of the band they used to be which was incredibly disappointing.Anderson can't seem to sing many of the notes he used to.
Martin Barre Band on the other hand seemed to still have the 'spirit' & life of the original Tull from what I've seen,and his young vocalist is really good,without the flute though.Martins one who stated he never stopped working on his craft & excercising his fingers all these years...and it shows & looks like he 'still'loves doing it.
I hate it when some bands still carry the name but really fail to deliver anywhere near the original feel,sound or performance but charge the big $. It really misrepresents the band to people who go & don't know any better. They should let the new talent move into the void.
[Edited on 12/9/2014 by bettyhynes]
