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The price of concert tickets today.... What's your take?

GChief said:
No, and as someone pointed out, figure $30-$40 an hour compared to a 1980 hourly rate.
Also for everyone whining about “scalping” fees go to the freaking box office like I do or don’t go, it’s easy, there are ways around it.
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Yeah, I went to the box office last week to get tickets and saved my buddy and I $35. In some cases the shows I go to are an hour or more away, so it makes sense to pay the fee. It is what it is.

On a side note, in reference to the post from Andy. Ed Sheeran is going to gross almost half a billion? :crazy: Maybe I'm out of touch with the average person, but I had to look up his songs as I have no idea what he sings. It made me sad when I heard it, nothing particularly interesting at all. If I wanted to hear that guy I'd just go sit in my dentist's waiting room :p. I don't get it, so many great bands and this guy hits it big? Oh well, at least we have something to look forward to....a new American Idol!!!!! :no:
 
likebike23 said:
so it makes sense to pay the fee. It is what it is.
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All shows are at least and hour from my home but 20-30 minutes from work so I can usually get to the box office if I am in town working. If I can’t get to the box office and “need” to go I pony up the $30 extra :dunno:. I just find it funny most the people bitching about the fees don’t even go to concerts :rflmao:
 
I've gone to several shows in the last year with a friend who finds great deals through Groupon. Saw Jeff Beck with Paul Rogers and Ann Wilson for $20, I think it was the same for ZZ Top and John Fogarty.

I paid $250 each to a scalper for tickets to see Pink Floyd in 1994, IIRC. Division Bell tour. Just saw Steven Wilson last December 15th for $40 in a small club. Fantastic performance!

I could pay pretty much anything they're asking these days, but there aren't too many artists still alive today that I'd pay big bucks to see.
 
I really don’t care to go anymore; the cost is a factor, but for me, what takes the fun out of it is having no control whatsoever over the environment and your ability to enjoy what you came for. Is it the old age thing, or is there more than that going on?

The most memorable of the ones I attended decades ago were very intense, almost magical experiences, and nearly everyone attending was there to enjoy the show. The last few in recent years appeared to have been more like crappy social events for people who aren’t allowed out in daylight; loud visiting, walking up and down the aisles, obnoxious drunkenness, blocking the view of others, using the phone, and the list goes on. What upsets me most is how disrespectful it is to the artist(s), and I have not seen anyone in recent years kicked out for shitty behavior.
 
I go to fewer and fewer concerts every year, it seems. Most of the bands/artists that I am especially fond of should have thrown in the towel years ago. At this point, it is just depressing to go see what's left of them. I'm not getting any younger, either, but sometimes the performances are literally pathetic. I'll hold onto my memories from the 80's before I'll pay big bux for a ticket to their retirement party.
 
Are we talking about geezers on stage or concerts in general? Last “geezers” I saw was Buddy Guy last year and Rush a few years ago. Most the shows I see are currently “active” bands. They are putting out albums and touring regularly.
 
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The last big show I saw was Pink Floyd in Denver.
Had to have been sometime in the mid to late 80's.
It was like $20.
Stadium seating.
No one would ****ing sit down.
I saw the stage once, for about a minute.
Screw that.
 
GChief said:
Are we talking about geezers on stage or concerts in general?
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Geezers on stage, although the crowds that they draw aren't getting any younger, either. And too many bands that are touring (in name only) with one original surviving member. Last time I saw Dylan (a few years ago), he couldn't even remember all the words. He has always "mumbled", but this time he was drooling as well. It was like they gave him a weekend pass from "the home".
 
savatage1973 said:
Geezers on stage, although the crowds that they draw aren't getting any younger, either. And too many bands that are touring (in name only) with one original surviving member. Last time I saw Dylan (a few years ago), he couldn't even remember all the words. He has always "mumbled", but this time he was drooling as well. It was like they gave him a weekend pass from "the home".
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Lol, yeah there are few of those that I would go see. Luckily I grew up in the perfect spot for concert going in the 70’s-80’s. Everyone hit Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati or Indianapolis. Most times at these 2 of those during a tour, sometime all 4. Indy was the furthest any at 2 hrs.
 
2N697 said:
I really don’t care to go anymore; the cost is a factor, but for me, what takes the fun out of it is having no control whatsoever over the environment and your ability to enjoy what you came for. Is it the old age thing, or is there more than that going on?

The most memorable of the ones I attended decades ago were very intense, almost magical experiences, and nearly everyone attending was there to enjoy the show. The last few in recent years appeared to have been more like crappy social events for people who aren’t allowed out in daylight; loud visiting, walking up and down the aisles, obnoxious drunkenness, blocking the view of others, using the phone, and the list goes on. What upsets me most is how disrespectful it is to the artist(s), and I have not seen anyone in recent years kicked out for shitty behavior.
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Yeah. This.

I must be getting old and deranged because I can't begin to understand using good money to go to a concert, only to spend the entire time texting, chatting, and doing anything other than listening to the band play.

The last 5 years or so this behavior has gotten much worse here. For me it is a major factor in giving up on concerts.

re: Old Gezers on stage. Funny thing is that in spite of my above rant I've seen some pretty darn good shows in the last 10 years. Juthro Tull in 2005, with an old Ian Anderson giving an astonishingly good performance, Golden Earring in 2006: damn they were good. Judas Priest in 2005, great show, Harley Davidson included.

Black Sabbath open air in 2014, €78 per ticket well spent for my son's birthday. Grass under foot, temp in the high '70s (f) so was pretty comfortable, enough room that we could stay fairly well back and actually and still see but close to both the beer and toilets, loud as hell but being open air it was still OK. LOL, my apartment is about 5km to the southeast of the concert and facing towards the center of Munich. My wife said that every time the wind shifted towards our apt she could hear the show. And it was a damn good concert.

re cost: I get it that the economics of concerts/touring has changed drastically in the last 20 years. And I do get it that the performers and working people need to be paid for their work. Unfortunately there are just limits as to what I can pay for a show.

So it's not all bad, but the behavior of people at a concert these days, well, as my Father always said, "That Just Burns My Butt".

Cheers,
James
 
Venue hire isnt cheap nor hotels for the touring crew,caterers and assorted members of the artists management and bean counters.In light of what happened at the Arena during an Ariana Grande show neither is security.
One point my mate has pointed out on more than one occasion is the hugely inflated ticket prices for solo comedian shows,these run at £50-£100+ and for that you get a bloke with a mic and a barely decorated stage lit by a few spot lights and the house PA system,the main act can travel by car and there is minimum local and touring crew.
One local comedian,Peter Kay, played a record breaking 20 nights there once,20 x 22,000 is a good earner and he not only slept in his own bed every night he took along his own sandwiches to save on catering fees.
I dont think anyone would turn down that job.
 
Went over the different posts, and there are some general type themes running through most of the posts. The costs, the older trying to live up to their hey day, the behaviour of the crowds, the expectations, the composition of the bands, the quality of sound, etc.

I guess it comes down to picking your "battle", checking out the reviews, seeing who's still in the line up for the bands and the price for all involved in a concert event.

There are still the few who do put on a great show, but, after attending some of the greats...that "flame" ain't there anymore. Also, I think if time has caught up to you, it just ain't gonna be the same, esp after listening to the original studio offerings, keeping in mind that some groups were never good at live performances.

Was thinking that maybe we should start mentioning some who still care about the crowd, the music and the showmanship that goes with the performance.

From what I can gather Hewy Lewis, Diamond, Buffett, Young, Valli and some of the lesser knowns still put out a memorable event. Overall all, these and others may become more difficult to appreciate as time takes it toll on both audience and artist(s).

Q
 
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Yeah, I wanted to see Mark Knopfler a couple years ago - but when I heard he was touring on a double bill with Dylan, I passed on that tour.
I kinda liked Dylan with the Band, and for quite a few years after that, (Heard he was great with Tom Petty way back then)
but its been over 10 years since I'd consider actually paying money to see Dylan.

Yeah, I know some folks LOVE that Dylan Christmas album a few years back, Dylan does the American Songbook, or Dylan does Sinatra -
What a load of shite! Of course, I wouldn't pay money to see Rod Stewart butchering the great American Songbook either
(and yes, I did enjoy Stewart with Jeff Beck, and during Rod's rock years - he's just not a sinatra kinda voice)
- I got friends that love that garbage - ... Let them!

savatage1973 said:
Geezers on stage, although the crowds that they draw aren't getting any younger, either. And too many bands that are touring (in name only) with one original surviving member. Last time I saw Dylan (a few years ago), he couldn't even remember all the words. He has always "mumbled", but this time he was drooling as well. It was like they gave him a weekend pass from "the home".
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Sadly, Huey Lewis isn't touring any more because he got struck down with some kind of deafness ...
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life...ws-says-cant-hear-well-enough-sing/515672002/

Neil Diamond has Parkinsons and has stopped touring
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/...ng-after-parkinsons-disease-diagnosis-118902/

Good ol Neil Young had a brain anueysm (but he's in recovery)
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/neil-young-brain-aneurysm/

Jimmy Buffett will probably never retire!,
But the yuppie mobs have gotten too big and stupid for my wife,
who used to see him YEARS ago in the $3.50, 4.50 ticket days
(She has the poster when played at the student Union at James Madison U in '87)



Quadman2 said:
From what I can gather, Huey Lewis, Diamond, Buffett, Young, and some of the lesser knowns still put out a memorable event. Overall all, these and others may become more difficult to appreciate as time takes it toll on both audience and artist(s).

Q
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If you don't want to pay to watch dinosaurs galumph about on stage, go find some local musical action and help up-and-coming artists pay their bills rather than top-up some rich has-been's retirement fund. You'll get to hear something new, and talented kids who could use a leg up get the support they deserve.

But if you do insist on listening to old dudes or dudettes, I bet there's plenty of action nearby for little fiscal outlay. For example, Nikki and I used to go to a local pub's regular "Jazz Night", which consisted of a young guitarist -- well, younger than me; probably in his early 40's -- who brought in different guest bass, horn, sax, whatever players every week. These guys were old, some barely able to to walk, but their playing was -- and pardon my French; occasionally oaths are necessary to properly emphasise a point -- ****ING AMAZING. Word had it that at least some of the geezers were "jazz greats" from days of yore, but being naive of jazz, I didn't recognise them.

The price was the cost of me buying us a few pints of cask ale, properly pumped and well kept. We always got seats near the band, which -- this being a small room -- was practically in the band. I had to be careful not to bump the guitarist's VOX amp with my chair.

Alas, the Jazz Nights stopped about five years ago, I don't know why. I'd hate to think it was because the supply of vintage godlike horn and sax players dried up as one by one they stepped off life's stage to the great beyond.
 
Condorsat said:
Just a thought .. you can save some money on concert tickets (large venues) by buying cheap seats and getting a good pair of portable compact binocular or monoculars. I've done that before and it actually works out quite well YMMV.

It's like filming a concert and being in charge of the movie camera.
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I can watch them from home with my bifoculs and a DVD lol. No washroom lineup, cold beer and snacks in the fridge etc.
 
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