• Registered: 2014-05-11
  • Posts: 7

Topic: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

Hi,

This is not a complaint but more of an effort to gain some understanding behind the pricing of tickets to see Joe in concert. 

I’ve seen Joe in concert a few times over the years and he always delivers a top notch performance.  That being said, I’ve noticed over the last few tours that tickets in the best sections to see Joe live are priced between $100-$200 per ticket.  I’m from Massachusetts and the upcoming Boston show this summer, for example, lists tickets in the front sections priced at $155 and $205 per ticket before adding on fees. 

I know it’s not cheap to stage a live concert and many factors are involved including production costs, artist fees, etc.  However, it’s possible to secure tickets to other well known artists and bands nowadays and come out less than what it would cost to see Joe live.  Just last summer alone, I saw Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, and Journey/Def Leppard in concert and never paid over $250 total for a pair of tickets including all fees.  I would end up paying over $300 for a pair of tickets to see Joe in Boston this summer if I wanted to secure seats in the front sections.  More than ever, concert tickets are a luxury expense and often times not something that the average person can easily afford. 

Just wondering how others feel regarding ticket costs.

  • Registered: 2006-05-08
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Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

If you go to the shows, you know it’s a big production and all costs have to be carried by Joe.  No sharing with other bands.  He tours to support new music - not just cashing in on “the concert season”. 

I don’t go to that many concerts these days, so I don’t mind paying more for top notch productions.  Joe delivers just that.

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  • DougH
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Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

He's into Taylor Swift prices but she seats 27,000 at a time

Joe only seats 4500 max

---------------

(If only I had 1% of Joe's guitar talent)
  • gary
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Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

Ah the good old days.Well when I started here we were all in on making Joe big time because we all knew he deserved it.So now his prices reflect the true capitalism of the market.
  Also you have to figure he now has horns and back up singers to tote around and pay ( ah ah nobody start that up again)
  I don’t think you can just compare to much tonthe other big name acts as yes the venue size has a lot to do with prices.
Let’s face it.If he can sellout no need to offerer up a different show at a lesser price.
The market will dictate all that.
Then it becomes a personal choice on the value of that cost to you as an individual.
  Same could be said about an athlete.Perhaps you saw a player in college and have to pay 5 times more to see in a pro sport.
   Anyone who was on the early Joe train ( as trains are a theme in Joe songs !) does have to deal with the sticker shock now.
That’s progress as they say. I would love to be able to see him play for the prices I paid ten years ago! Ain’t gonna happpen and I do come to terms with it.

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  • From: homosassa florida
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 154

Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

You're right about the good old days. I've seen JB many times over the years since he was 13. One consistent thing I've noticed. Every time I go I pay more and end up farther away. Ironically this is what we all wanted, for Joe to become widely successful. Do I miss seeing him in a small club, standing a few feet away for free? Damn right. But I'm also proud of what he has grown into.

hardrain
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Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

uncleraven wrote:

You're right about the good old days. I've seen JB many times over the years since he was 13. One consistent thing I've noticed. Every time I go I pay more and end up farther away. Ironically this is what we all wanted, for Joe to become widely successful. Do I miss seeing him in a small club, standing a few feet away for free? Damn right. But I'm also proud of what he has grown into.

So true more money and farther away!
   Not so easy to get close any more

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7 Reply by BansheeUK (edited by BansheeUK 2019-03-14 08:17:10)

  • From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
  • Registered: 2011-08-12
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Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

From Joe's interview in Classic Rock magazine (18 Sept 2018)-

"No ticket price isn't scrutinized in advance. Absolutely no one gets a cut of the earnings who doesn't thoroughly deserve it. 
"There's a lot of artists out there who look like  they do very well, but when the tour is over and they pay the bus bills, and venue fees, and agents' fees, and  the potato chips backstage and these  pesky things called taxes, they come home broke," Bonamassa says, "I don't."
If it's that easy, then how come more bands don't do it?
"Because they don't want to bet on themselves. {Striking the table for emphasis.] They.  Don't. Want. To. Bet. On. Themselves."

Bonamassa has jus spent 15 minutes expanding on why bands should bet on themselves. This can be boiled down to one sentence; promoters are greedy; bands are naïve.
If you want the slightly longer version,  here it is. Bands should have more faith in their own abilities, he reasons. Strip out the machinery of the music industry, work out a way to do it for yourself. Focus on the markets your strong in and build it from there. Raise the ticket prices, don't give them away for popcorn. Reinvest the money you make in what you're doing and you'll make more money. Its hard, sure, but you've got to hold your nerve. Cut out anyone you don't need on your side. Bet on yourself."

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...
  • gary
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Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

BansheeUK wrote:

From Joe's interview in Classic Rock magazine (18 Sept 2018)-

"No ticket price isn't scrutinized in advance. Absolutely no one gets a cut of the earnings who doesn't thoroughly deserve it. 
"There's a lot of artists out there who look like  they do very well, but when the tour is over and they pay the bus bills, and venue fees, and agents' fees, and  the potato chips backstage and these  pesky things called taxes, they come home broke," Bonamassa says, "I don't."
If it's that easy, then how come more bands don't do it?
"Because they don't want to bet on themselves. {Striking the table for emphasis.] They.  Don't. Want. To. Bet. On. Themselves."

Bonamassa has jus spent 15 minutes expanding on why bands should bet on themselves. This can be boiled down to one sentence; promoters are greedy; bands are naïve.
If you want the slightly longer version,  here it is. Bands should have more faith in their own abilities, he reasons. Strip out the machinery of the music industry, work out a way to do it for yourself. Focus on the markets your strong in and build it from there. Raise the ticket prices, don't give them away for popcorn. Reinvest the money you make in what you're doing and you'll make more money. Its hard, sure, but you've got to hold your nerve. Cut out anyone you don't need on your side. Bet on yourself."

It all makes sense. Your not making money off record sales. If people didn’t think it  was worth it he would have to do something different.

Your rock candy baby
Your hard sweet and sticky

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  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 3,741

Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

I hear you Gary....market value.....but i miss the free shows at Casinos, as well as all the local shows he has done in NorCal.
Ill pay the money when he comes to Arizona, I always tell peeps about Joe, some didnt get the message, NOW they listen to me

Shredit Joe Bonamassa smile

  • gary
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Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

Shredit wrote:

I hear you Gary....market value.....but i miss the free shows at Casinos, as well as all the local shows he has done in NorCal.
Ill pay the money when he comes to Arizona, I always tell peeps about Joe, some didnt get the message, NOW they listen to me

Shredit Joe Bonamassa smile

I miss the “cheap” shows too.Knew I had it good at the time ! I had turned some friends in to Joe back in the day and they never cleared their schedule to take the time to come with me to a show.So NOW they are interested and the price is a deal breaker. So it’s I told you So dah !!!

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  • Registered: 2013-04-05
  • Posts: 157

Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

dknight16 wrote:

He tours to support new music - not just cashing in on “the concert season”.

Not sure I agree with that part of the comment... Joe tours pretty much year round regardless of new music or not. usually takes a month in the first part of the year and a month in the second part of year. And yeah he doesn't just cash in on the concert season as I think July is one of the months he takes off. haha He just stays on the road.

  • gary
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Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

holeshot1982 wrote:
dknight16 wrote:

He tours to support new music - not just cashing in on “the concert season”.

Not sure I agree with that part of the comment... Joe tours pretty much year round regardless of new music or not. usually takes a month in the first part of the year and a month in the second part of year. And yeah he doesn't just cash in on the concert season as I think July is one of the months he takes off. haha He just stays on the road.

  It seems just touring as much as possible an over all business model.I am sure that what has made him what he is today and his popularity.

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Your hard sweet and sticky

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  • Registered: 2013-04-05
  • Posts: 157

Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

gary wrote:
holeshot1982 wrote:
dknight16 wrote:

He tours to support new music - not just cashing in on “the concert season”.

Not sure I agree with that part of the comment... Joe tours pretty much year round regardless of new music or not. usually takes a month in the first part of the year and a month in the second part of year. And yeah he doesn't just cash in on the concert season as I think July is one of the months he takes off. haha He just stays on the road.

  It seems just touring as much as possible an over all business model.I am sure that what has made him what he is today and his popularity.

Agreed, it's certainly what made him his money... Well that and branding any item for sale in the store. smile

  • From: homosassa florida
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 154

Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

Sort of goes with this topic. Joe's accessibility after shows has gotten a lot more difficult. He used to hang out by the bus or a designated area to meet everybody for talk, pics and autographs. Meet & greets, if I'm not mistaken, are much more structured and hard to come by now. Along with ticket prices, just another sign of growing success. Not complaining but again sure do miss the "old days".

hardrain
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Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

1. Ticket prices are never going down. As long as he will keep selling out venues at this prices, tickets are going to stay the same and even go higher. Personally I believe that every dollar that goes into the price is strictly justified. It is a world class show and to put it together in the way it is suppose to look and sound is not cheap. Plus think about the top professional musicians that are touring with him: what do you thing Reese"s salary should be for example? I think Joe is the best boss and pays his great band and crew what they deserve.

2. That being said J&R should keep in mind what 200$ per ticket means for many regular folks with average incomes. Mind works this way that when people become rich they very quickly forget what it is to be poor. So rich guys to whom 200$ means nothing imagine going to the show and spending 10K per ticket just to remind you what goes into consideration.

3. Joe reached the point of success and fame when individual fan doesn't matter anymore and is just a face in the crowd. One fan can't afford a ticket and doesn't go to the show - guess what: doesn't matter because there is always another fan old or new to replace him. That a point of many musicians careers when they can become rude and obnoxious and the tickets and records are still going to sell. So how wonderful and great it is that Joe stays gracious, kind and attentive to his fans as much as he can.

  • Registered: 2016-05-16
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Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

Massarocker wrote:

Hi,

This is not a complaint but more of an effort to gain some understanding behind the pricing of tickets to see Joe in concert. 

I’ve seen Joe in concert a few times over the years and he always delivers a top notch performance.  That being said, I’ve noticed over the last few tours that tickets in the best sections to see Joe live are priced between $100-$200 per ticket.  I’m from Massachusetts and the upcoming Boston show this summer, for example, lists tickets in the front sections priced at $155 and $205 per ticket before adding on fees. 

I know it’s not cheap to stage a live concert and many factors are involved including production costs, artist fees, etc.  However, it’s possible to secure tickets to other well known artists and bands nowadays and come out less than what it would cost to see Joe live.  Just last summer alone, I saw Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, and Journey/Def Leppard in concert and never paid over $250 total for a pair of tickets including all fees.  I would end up paying over $300 for a pair of tickets to see Joe in Boston this summer if I wanted to secure seats in the front sections.  More than ever, concert tickets are a luxury expense and often times not something that the average person can easily afford. 

Just wondering how others feel regarding ticket costs.


Since you asked.....imo, there's nothing more rude than complaining about an artist's ticket prices. Joe Bonamassa has worked his **** off for very long time to get where he is today. There are  many of us   who have been following him for decades now who could tell you personal stories about the kind of person he is and the things he's done for his fans that he didn't have to do. Ticket prices are simple economics- if they cost more than you can afford or are willing to pay, you don't buy them. Just like I'd love to have the latest model Porsche but can't afford one so I wouldn't go into to a Porsche dealership complaining about the prices and expect them to lower them for me. I paid $375 (face value) for a fourth row seat to see Neil Young a few years ago. Worth every penny. I'm glad I could afford it. Some people can't. That's life.

17 Reply by Lester

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Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

This topic comes around on a regular basis.
Joybird has pretty much summed it up.
Personally, I think the price has levelled off a bit recently, there was a time when the percentage increase each year was quite steep.
It’s just the way of the world - nobody works for free!

Lester

  • gary
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Re: Ticket Cost to see Joe live

Just another side note on the topic. There are a lot of up and comers our there who may not hit you the way Joe does but are still outstanding artists you can see at the old Joe  prices. They need your support too to keep the music going.
   In a way there are many well known  blues or blues rock artists that are not nearly as expensive as Joe.That may be a reference point as to the grumbles about current show pricing.But they are not selling out 3000 plus seat venues around the globe so it is what it is..

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