[ Closed ] Hammersmith Apollo March 2015 (Page 6 of 9)

I'll paraphrase: he said we'll make an effing lot of money. 

Some people took/take (mild or severe) umbrage.  Some considered it arrogant.   In the context of the total independent ascendency which has brought great success to J & R adventures, I took it to mean their plans would continue to boldly go where no blues artist and team have gone before.  And bear no shame reaping the fruits of their labors.

Rock ON & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! "
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

After reading a post from Rocket, I feel like the towns people of Rock Ridge after listening to an inspiring speech from Gabby Johnson, where the only proper and respectful response is "Rbptt"!!

his manager, - Joe’s success has come as a result of a 3 way relationship, - Joe, Roy and producer Kevin.

Rocket, my comment is that Joe’s ticket price MAY be taking him away from some of the fans that have over the years followed him extremely closely, buying up back catalogues, merchandise and as many tickets as they could, towards the nouveau riche guys that work in the banks trading, big bonus types whose mates have told them about some new guitarist on the scene who is as good as Clapton. Of course I am making a massive generalisation and this is slightly tongue in cheek but the sentiment rings true, - as I have seen the crowd change over the years. Joe’s success was not as a result of playing big high ticket price venues, he has been a hard working player whose success came as a result of hard working everyday people, not the rich "city boys” who may now be the ones to buy up the tickets. He is also an artist where you would see parents bringing their kids, as I did on every occasion I have seen him, - but we have now been priced out of that option, and that is a shame for me and my kids, but we will move on. Last year at RAH there were people around me who had not got a clue about what they were seeing or hearing, up and down to the bar, talking over the quiet songs. At Shepherds Bush Empire I witnessed some of the rudest most ignorant behaviour I have seen in a gig and that includes 80’s punk bands! The crowd have changed and will continue to do so.

In saying all of that I accept that I have no right to expect tickets be sold cheap just for me, but what this does perhaps highlight is that the fan club thing has never been set up properly which if it would have been might have provided a discount code or fan pre-sale, but instead Joe’s management look to have made a commercial deal with a commercial radio station, and paid out on a lot of VERY expensive advertising to attract in a new audience, - which is good but I fear that his management have got wrong because they have risked alienating his existing fans. It is classic new business verses account management. A lot of organisations spend a  money to go out and find new business whilst ignoring their existing customers who take their business elsewhere.

just to qualify something: I do not consider that I am saying anything negative about Joe, - my opinion is that every time he comes on stage he gives his audience 100% regardless of what has been paid for a ticket. And he has worked extremely hard over the years to get to be as good as he is so deserves every penny he can earn. He has to trust in his management who have got him to where he is, this could be a crossroads moment and I am not convinced that they have got it right.

This class envy attitude is very disturbing.  It clouds the issue, to no avail.  I too hate to see people that have supported Joe get priced out of the market, however, bemoaning the fact that only "rich city boys" can afford to see Joe instead of "hard working everyday people" shows a lack of understanding of reality.  I would assume you would consider me a wealthy.  I come from a family where my father was a teacher and my mother was a stay at home mom.  I started working when I was 12 years old.  That was 50 years ago.  My wife and I own our own business and have for 30 years.  We each work 12-15 hours a days outside in the hot Florida sun.  Many of my friends and business associates are wealthy and have similar stories.  While I would like everyone to be able to see Joe, I will gladly pay $200 per ticket or more to sit in the front row and know that I have earned it.

Not sure there is a need to bring personal background, up-bringing or finances to the forum.
I wouldn't mind living in Florida though!

Lester..

bobkatmsu I can assure you it is not class envy, and I am sorry if my comments come across that way. I have many friends from many different backgrounds including a couple of city bankers, -  so can assure you that I have no chip on my shoulder about the have’s and have nots. My comments are social observation based on my experiences - I have met many of Joe’s fans at gigs and some of them I would class as good friends, - just regular people like myself. - We have an issue her in the UK that it is “us” in the middle that have been squeezed hardest by a Government who appear to lack experience, - we have shifted for the first time to a parliament made of career politicians who have themselves never done a hard days work so it appears have made some very strange governance decisions.

anyway enough from me on this debate I fear that it looks too negative. And this forum is funded by Joe, so he deserves respect for allowing us opportunity to put across our points and I fear that I have said too much on this topic already.

My prediction: the Tuesday and possibly Thursday nights will be cancelled or ticket prices will be heavily discounted as next March approaches.

MY prediction?!  That your prediction will prove false.  To qualify, I have thoughts that because of the success of Tour de Force, outlying cities may be left out of future touring for preference of a multi-night London stand.  Possibly as a normal UK appearance routine.  Not necessarily as permanently etched in stone, but more like promoters (they pay the bills) realize it ¢o$t less, and people can get to London with relative ease.  I doubt outlying cities would ever be completely shunned, just made to be an exception visit made rather than regularly.  Perhaps several years apart, even very many in some cases.  Sure, people might bemoan the fact they cannot make the trip at "those" prices, especially when they could be returning to their own domicile shortly thereafter back home.  But, if demand is great enough in a certain city, who is to say that "every now and then" a local show gets booked.  Perhaps those many years apart?!  We in the US of A pretty much flat expect this sort of treatment.  And not just from huge acts.  I know BB King would gauge his audiences by their reaction to the evening's performance, and, when it was tremendous, he would beg the question, in his inimitable gracious and humble style (after thanking everyone, from the heart, "you make us feel so good Ladies and Gentlemen"), "can we come back here next year?!", or, in some markets, "can we keep coming back here?!" . Think that over.  That applies worldwide, and especially to the US of A even moreso!!!

Rock ON & Keep A Mustered Seed Of Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! "
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”