I stopped attending rock concerts in my early 20s because I valued my hearing and it seemed stupid to always have to wear earplugs - to hear music! Sound quality was always horrid anyway.
The price of concert tickets today.... What's your take?
- Thread starter Quadman2
- Start date
Route 66
Super Member
Mark Knopfler will be playing at a local venue near me called The Greek Theater two days after my birthday. I thought it would be a nice way to celebrate but when I checked the ticket prices I was flabbergasted. They start out at $51 for a bench seat in what looks to be a different zip code. They go up pretty fast from there, all the way to $1332 per ticket! Jeez, I don't wanna be on stage with the guy, I just wanna have decent seats for my birthday.
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dr*audio
Fish fingers and custard!
I went on line to buy Steve Hackett concert tickets. The tickets were $55 which to me is just tolerable. Then I went to the payment area and found my $55 ticket was now $74. This is outrageous. I didn't buy it. If people just keep letting this happen Ticketmaster will keep gouging us like this. Someone has to take a stand. In Cleveland they still charge you a service charge at the venue so there is no way to avoid it.
Mamrak1
Super Member
I always wonder how rock musicians manage to make money these days. Back in the Seventies there seemed to be a finite amount of groups out touring. Now, you have musicians from their twenties to their seventies all fighting for the same dollar.
I don't envy anyone trying to make a go of it in 2019.
I don't envy anyone trying to make a go of it in 2019.
grillebilly
Empty Head
Excellent point. I try to go to the venue whenever possible and buy advance tickets. They usually don't charge a fee or it's just a buck or two.
I have done the same as you, gone to my cart and see a high service charge, then bailed out completely.
david1111
Barba non facit philosophum
@Condorsat
@GChief
A buddy and I just saw Joe Bonamassa in Toronto, and it was $300 cad a seat. Joe was great for sure, but I think I'd recommend just buying a whack of his music instead.
I know that's easy for me to say cuz I just saw him, but really, I believe I'll stick to buying music now, and maybe new tubes to try in my pre. The enjoyment factor is longer, and much more savoured.
$50 is probably a good concert limit for me at this point.
Dave
@GChief
A buddy and I just saw Joe Bonamassa in Toronto, and it was $300 cad a seat. Joe was great for sure, but I think I'd recommend just buying a whack of his music instead.
I know that's easy for me to say cuz I just saw him, but really, I believe I'll stick to buying music now, and maybe new tubes to try in my pre. The enjoyment factor is longer, and much more savoured.
$50 is probably a good concert limit for me at this point.
Dave
I hear what your saying but I am way more into the live performance than listening at home. I’ve seen him and don’t mind paying up to see him again. My soft limit is $75 but I will pay for a few bands. Last year my biggest pay out was the Carolina Rebellion but that was 3 days of music. My norm is less than $35 around here. Hell between me and my GF we usually win tickets to most shows we want to see, not sure why we are lucky, maybe the music gods are looking out
I've seen JB 6 times now. The first time was in 2006 in a small club that packed in about 150 people, back then he was still wearing bluejeans to a show. Tickets were €30 and it was a very personal view of a very enjoyable show.
Every year the venue got larger but the ticket price only climbed very slowly (like +€5 per year, totally OK) until he played in the Albert hall, after which prices jumped to €80, which is when I stopped buying. I can buy 5 CD's for €80. I like JB's music a lot, ahd he always puts on a good (but short) show but the cost/enjoyment/value ratio just doesn't compute any longer for me when it reaches that level, but that's something that obviously each person works out for themselves.
But the cost factor isn't really what has made me stop going to concerts. First, concerts over here in Munich are almost always standing only and at 62 I've gotten to the point that standing in place on a concrete floor for 3+ hours just kills my back and knees. It just takes too much beer to dull the pain and then there is the relief of that beer to take care of. What goes in must come out and that seems to be happening more often as I get older.
A question for those of you back in the States. Have you noticed the behavior of show-goers changing for the worse over the last few years? I'm not meaning to make an old-guy "get off my lawn rant" but it's been my perception that over here the last few years that the hall is filled with people that are more interested in chatting and playing with their cells than actually listening to and watching the show. Actually watching the show is getting more and more difficult because I can't see past all of the raised hands and cells that people are deadly intent on using to film the show rather than listen. Drives me nuts.
The sheer loudness level of the crowd doing nothing but chatting like they are in a bar has become intolerable to me. It's reached the level that I have difficulty actually hearing the band. I saw Seasick Steve here in 2017 and he stopped the show 3 times to tell people to, in his words, "Shut the F#*k UP!!!" "If you want to go to a pub to chat do it, but this is a concert and you are being disrespectful to the band!" (It didn't help much). He also stopped the show because one jerk kept shining his mini-cam flashlight directly in Steve's eyes. He kept asking the guy to stop, and the guy retaliated by doing it again and again, to the point that Steve had stood up and was actually heading off the stage to go kick some ass. Then some biker looking dudes drug the asswipe away, there was a bunch of moving arms in a huddle by the wall, and I didn't see the guy again after that.
Anyway, the noise level from the crowd, combined with standing for 3+ hours, along with the increasing ticket prices have ended my concert going days.
Cheers,
James
biscuithead
Me likes the eargasm retroplasm...
I would usually rail against rising ticket prices, but when I look at my situation objectively, I say it’s all good. I’ve stopped going to the spendy shows and concentrate on the “undiscovered and under priced” artists.
This has led me down the path of a lot of local music and more obscure artists. I’m also lucky that I live in an area that is very musically literate. Within a hundred mile radius of me is at least 75 venues all with excellent reputations for attracting superb talent.
I should also mention the preferred small venue. I’m so over the 10,000+ crowds. I like the quaint places with the tiny stages... no room for the two drum kits of corporate entertainment. No stadiums, no arenas.
High ticket prices are for people who no longer discover new music.
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Judas Priest
Super Member
@Bratwurst: I hear you about standing for hours!
I´m 53 and my last rock show was last year, I think (Monster Magnet). Basically, the whole experience sucks. You have to get there at least an hour before they open the doors to get to the front. Then wait for the opening band to play, wait for the roadies to take everything down and build up for the main act.
Now I´m about to get a heat stroke and am dying of thirst. The sound usually sucks up front. It´s so loud, I HAVE to use earplugs, and still can´t hear very well. I usually only make it through about half of the show from the main act, then I have to get something to drink, and watch the rest from the back.
The first time I saw Ghost was one of the best shows I have ever been to, but the second time I saw them, the sound was terrible and way too quiet; even without plugs. They seemed to be having trouble with the bass, and had to turn it down. That was a turning point for me. I realised that I enjoy music much more at home
I made the decision to not go see Black Sabbath on their farewell tour. Tickets were over €100 and a four hour drive away. No thanks!
I now try to go to the Symphonie once or twice a year. I get a very comfortable seat (!), the music is great and the perfect volume, and I don´t have to wade through piss and puke in the restroom
I´m 53 and my last rock show was last year, I think (Monster Magnet). Basically, the whole experience sucks. You have to get there at least an hour before they open the doors to get to the front. Then wait for the opening band to play, wait for the roadies to take everything down and build up for the main act.
Now I´m about to get a heat stroke and am dying of thirst. The sound usually sucks up front. It´s so loud, I HAVE to use earplugs, and still can´t hear very well. I usually only make it through about half of the show from the main act, then I have to get something to drink, and watch the rest from the back.
The first time I saw Ghost was one of the best shows I have ever been to, but the second time I saw them, the sound was terrible and way too quiet; even without plugs. They seemed to be having trouble with the bass, and had to turn it down. That was a turning point for me. I realised that I enjoy music much more at home
I made the decision to not go see Black Sabbath on their farewell tour. Tickets were over €100 and a four hour drive away. No thanks!
I now try to go to the Symphonie once or twice a year. I get a very comfortable seat (!), the music is great and the perfect volume, and I don´t have to wade through piss and puke in the restroom
50nstillhifi
Super Member
Outrageous.... 
$$$$
But when I see the sound system and special effects in use for most modern day concert and highly dynamic choreography... I get it!!
$$$$But when I see the sound system and special effects in use for most modern day concert and highly dynamic choreography... I get it!!
tomlinmgt
Lunatic Member
Yes, ticket prices have become insane for those of us who grew up paying $20-ish bucks to go see the hottest acts in the country/world and service charges are a total shakedown. But...
We pay $10-20 month for a virtually unlimited supply of music that can be listened to from the palm of your hand, in your car or any number of systems you may have set up at home/work or wherever. In addition to that, we have access to high quality video of a mind boggling variety of live concert performances, artist interviews and documentaries that spans over half a century that’s equally as inexpensive as the musical recordings and equally accessible in a variety of methods. Just sayin.
We pay $10-20 month for a virtually unlimited supply of music that can be listened to from the palm of your hand, in your car or any number of systems you may have set up at home/work or wherever. In addition to that, we have access to high quality video of a mind boggling variety of live concert performances, artist interviews and documentaries that spans over half a century that’s equally as inexpensive as the musical recordings and equally accessible in a variety of methods. Just sayin.
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Condorsat
Audio Enthusiast
Bonnamassa has an impressive robust inventory of live video performances on DVD & Blu Ray. Not just recorded events but great sounding discs.
(IMHO & based on others I own .. it sets the standard). So I can understand your point of view on that.It's a damn shame that more artists don't have a similar inventory for sale .. which I don't really understand. Some fans are lucky to have one well recorded video concert of their favorite Artist. Bonamassa fans have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to that.
As for me .. looking forward to the Concert. Seeing a live show at the historic Ryman (small venue/Old Grand Ole Opry) and Joe Bonamassa "live" (at least once) is a double bucket list item for me .. two birds w/ one stone.
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tomlinmgt
Lunatic Member
I've seen JB 6 times now. The first time was in 2006 in a small club that packed in about 150 people, back then he was still wearing bluejeans to a show. Tickets were €30 and it was a very personal view of a very enjoyable show.
Every year the venue got larger but the ticket price only climbed very slowly (like +€5 per year, totally OK) until he played in the Albert hall, after which prices jumped to €80, which is when I stopped buying. I can buy 5 CD's for €80. I like JB's music a lot, ahd he always puts on a good (but short) show but the cost/enjoyment/value ratio just doesn't compute any longer for me when it reaches that level, but that's something that obviously each person works out for themselves.
But the cost factor isn't really what has made me stop going to concerts. First, concerts over here in Munich are almost always standing only and at 62 I've gotten to the point that standing in place on a concrete floor for 3+ hours just kills my back and knees. It just takes too much beer to dull the pain and then there is the relief of that beer to take care of. What goes in must come out and that seems to be happening more often as I get older.
A question for those of you back in the States. Have you noticed the behavior of show-goers changing for the worse over the last few years? I'm not meaning to make an old-guy "get off my lawn rant" but it's been my perception that over here the last few years that the hall is filled with people that are more interested in chatting and playing with their cells than actually listening to and watching the show. Actually watching the show is getting more and more difficult because I can't see past all of the raised hands and cells that people are deadly intent on using to film the show rather than listen. Drives me nuts.
The sheer loudness level of the crowd doing nothing but chatting like they are in a bar has become intolerable to me. It's reached the level that I have difficulty actually hearing the band. I saw Seasick Steve here in 2017 and he stopped the show 3 times to tell people to, in his words, "Shut the F#*k UP!!!" "If you want to go to a pub to chat do it, but this is a concert and you are being disrespectful to the band!" (It didn't help much). He also stopped the show because one jerk kept shining his mini-cam flashlight directly in Steve's eyes. He kept asking the guy to stop, and the guy retaliated by doing it again and again, to the point that Steve had stood up and was actually heading off the stage to go kick some ass. Then some biker looking dudes drug the asswipe away, there was a bunch of moving arms in a huddle by the wall, and I didn't see the guy again after that.
Anyway, the noise level from the crowd, combined with standing for 3+ hours, along with the increasing ticket prices have ended my concert going days.
Cheers,
James
Can’t say I’ve experienced the chanting thing here in the states. But, then again, compare crowd mentality/behavior at a European sporting event to an American sporting event and perhaps that explains it.
TomBig58
Super Member
Years ago when tickets prices skyrocketed and fees went crazy my sister paid $100 to see the Eagles first "farewell" tour. I think they've done six or eight since then. I said, "I wouldn't pay $100 to even see a Beatles reunion where John and George come back from the dead to join in." I've ponied up a few times in the intervening years but mostly it's clubs, small venues/artists, and street festivals for me now.
don philipe
Super Member
Don't go to concerts anymore.I'm not a cheapskate but rock stars,actors and sports figures are way overpaid.
Umn. No, I think that you may have misread that.
I wrote "chatting", as in blah, blah, blah, my girlfriend bugs me, work is a bitch, and oh, btw, what are we doing here? 
Chanting is one thing that I haven't heard here so far, other than coming from the Catholic church next door.
Cheers,
James
tomlinmgt
Lunatic Member
Umn. No, I think that you may have misread that.
Chanting is one thing that I haven't heard here so far, other than coming from the Catholic church next door.
Cheers,
James
Ahhh...yep, my mistake. In that case, can't say chatting is any worse here than it's ever been. Not that I've noticed, at least.