• jim m
  • jim m
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  • From: Okie City, OK
  • Registered: 2006-04-24
  • Posts: 3,429

Re: Ticket prices

I checked the RAH ticketing and the 154 pounds price level is all in. Meaning including fees. Just as a comparison there is a show this fall in my region of the US. Dallas Texas had a price level of $175 with fees that is $200 which with current exchange rates is approximately 154 Pounds Sterling. My point is there is consistency in pricing from the US to GB.

Now to argue the question is that too much. Again if we are using the supply demand model and those tickets have all been bought then it appears not. In the US if you have an act that sells below market value the secondary ticket market is the winner. They snap up the tickets and mark up to whatever the market will bare. Who wins? The secondary market which may include the casual fan who knows the tickets are undervalued. For instance I had an extra pair of Red Rocks tickets this summer I bought during the fan pre sale and ended up needing just a single. I paid $100 each and could of sold them for $300 each according to Stub Hub. I resisted and gave them to a friend.

I understand the economy sucks and you have to prioritize your purchases and many long for the day of the $30 ticket in the corner bar and even then that was high for the usual show. Why? because he could sell them. So as much as there is a feeling that there is a need to voice an opinion about current ticket pricing and the feeling that some early fans have been left out I again make the point that happens at every price level. I have a brother that refused to pay the $150 all in price at our show in OKC this Spring and he is a fan but he works for the State and his wife is a retired teacher. Luckily he knew someone that helped a brother out.

Joe is still playing the 2,000 to 5,000 seat venues and the business of selling tickets starts with scaling the house and you certainly look to other acts for comparison but the reality there is no other act to compare Joe to. He doesn't qualify as a legend by the way, Eric Clapton has an average ticket price of $150 and grosses 2 million a show. Maybe that is why he tours less than Joe. Or you can look to Tedeschi Trucks who averages $50 for a gross of $150k which to me is one of the best acts out there today but they came from the jam/blues world and they are being held back by what that genre' averages. I bet they wish they could command and average ticket price Joe does and I believe they are working towards that $100 average. I paid $100 last week in Tulsa to see them and it is one I would of paid $125 for if they charged it.

I came here as a fan first and a Street Teamer on steroids even promoted some shows early on and one thing I discovered that there were fans of Joe's that would pay any price essentially as soon as the show was put on sale and the only question was how many of those fans were there. It was 200 early on in OKC. In some markets that number may be 2,000 however a venue may not have 2,000 seats in the sweat fall out zone I call it. There is 200 in the first four rows of most venues but in reality the first 20 rows of any venue are premium seats. Joe comes to my market once every two years and he sells tickets at market value and makes it possible to buy from the venue or ticket service without the scalper market driving prices. In the world I grew up in you reaped the rewards of success meaning hard work and innovation. Joe exemplifies that in the music business.

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  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2007-10-23
  • Posts: 1,929

Re: Ticket prices

Ian - I know your pain.  Things are not pretty across the pond for many right now.  I too, had a severe shift in finances last year (my income basically was halved after my husband died rather unexpectedly last year) but I have managed to still do things that are important to me. Not as many as before but enough.  For me it is all about what is a priority in my life.  My car is seven years old, my house could use some major renovating, and I really wish I could retire next year instead of four years from now.  I have seen Joe four times this year - Carnegie Hall (I always said I would go see Joe there when he played it - sort of the RAH of the US).  Hotel, train, ticket and food less than $500, and I only went one night (years ago I would have done both).  I could have gone to four shows within short driving distance during the spring tour.  I skipped on two of them, mostly because of the ticket prices (yes a few years ago I would have done all four).  Just did a personal bucket list show - Joe at Red Rocks - and on a relatively short budget (airfare, hotel and rental car split with a friend, and ticket courtesy of that same good friend all less than $1000).  I guess what I am trying to say is we all have to prioritize what is important to us. Joe has worked long and hard to get where he is today and if people are willing to pay what he is asking then his prices are ok.  I like the smaller venues he chooses most of the time and would rather pay a bit more to see him up close and personal than watch on a jumbotron.  I have had a "slush fund" that has a bit of money go into it with every check for years - this is what I use to pay for things like this.  Could the money be used for something more practical - of course it could, but tomorrow is guaranteed to none of us and I need to be happy, and seeing Joe live makes me happy.  And, probably most important of all - whenever I get to one of these shows I get to meet up with some of the greatest friends in the world.  One is never alone at a Joe show.  The main thing that bugs me about ticket prices is that I can't afford to purchase extras to share with people who have never experienced a Joe show-it got a lot of converts back in the day - I guess we did our job of promoting Joe a bit too well.

Stick around Ian - this would be much too quiet a place without you.

Sandy

"There's a lot of people that are in so much of a hurry to be, I guess, to be famous or that they don't want to take the time to learn to play and do all that.They'd rather just knock it down off a computer and maybe get on a game show and get famous..That's fine if that's what you want to do.
"We're more old school than that. We like creating the sounds."  - Tom Petty
  • From: Clearwater, Fl
  • Registered: 2013-11-02
  • Posts: 347

Re: Ticket prices

Ian916 wrote:

with respect Rocket you are showing a lack of understanding of what is going on in the UK right now, and what is forecast. Today it is likely that the Bank of England will cut interest rates in an attempt to stimulate the economy (first time in 7 years). The UK housing market is in decline, a number of significant investors have already pulled out of the UK and it is very likely that more will follow. The value of £sterling has dropped significantly after the 23rd June vote outcome, - the lowest in 31 years, spending has dramatically reduced.

As an example this week I have seen warnings of price increases on new guitars of between 8 and 17%, - and other imported goods up to 20%. This week grocery shopping has increased.

Fact: the full in the £ has made it cheaper for Joe to come here, not more expensive. The cost of booking the RAH has just dramatically decreased for an American.

Ron, tickets are £154, there is no “good price”, I will not be seeing Joe live at the RAH and likely again. I assume that as you have not answered any of the points that I have raised you are of the “loaded" don’t care about others camp. I would have thought that any Joe fan should be concerned about something like this. AND importantly the reason that this subject has come up again is that it is a dramatic price increase for playing the UK, the complaints last time were about a £110 ticket cost for Hammersmith, - do ou really think that nothing would be said at £154?

Sad. But taking the opinion of some of you, - there is no point trying to address this against the smugness. I am out, - happy to have met some great friends over the last 7 years.

What you consider "smugness" other's consider facts.

The only thing we deserve, is an opportunity.  Everything else has to be earned.
  • Registered: 2008-03-23
  • Posts: 649

Re: Ticket prices

bobkatmsu wrote:
Ian916 wrote:

with respect Rocket you are showing a lack of understanding of what is going on in the UK right now, and what is forecast. Today it is likely that the Bank of England will cut interest rates in an attempt to stimulate the economy (first time in 7 years). The UK housing market is in decline, a number of significant investors have already pulled out of the UK and it is very likely that more will follow. The value of £sterling has dropped significantly after the 23rd June vote outcome, - the lowest in 31 years, spending has dramatically reduced.

As an example this week I have seen warnings of price increases on new guitars of between 8 and 17%, - and other imported goods up to 20%. This week grocery shopping has increased.

Fact: the full in the £ has made it cheaper for Joe to come here, not more expensive. The cost of booking the RAH has just dramatically decreased for an American.

Ron, tickets are £154, there is no “good price”, I will not be seeing Joe live at the RAH and likely again. I assume that as you have not answered any of the points that I have raised you are of the “loaded" don’t care about others camp. I would have thought that any Joe fan should be concerned about something like this. AND importantly the reason that this subject has come up again is that it is a dramatic price increase for playing the UK, the complaints last time were about a £110 ticket cost for Hammersmith, - do ou really think that nothing would be said at £154?

Sad. But taking the opinion of some of you, - there is no point trying to address this against the smugness. I am out, - happy to have met some great friends over the last 7 years.

What you consider "smugness" other's consider facts.

No, going by your posts on this topic Ian was correct

No matter how far you try to push the envelope, it remains stationery

41 Reply by gary (edited by gary 2016-08-07 15:43:18)

  • gary
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  • From: Palatine Illinois by Chicago
  • Registered: 2006-08-25
  • Posts: 4,767

Re: Ticket prices

I hope that if a discussion is still relevant here that we can make our case.
Those in the UK thanks for enlightening us in the status about the situation.However money is relevant in any personal situation.
Things happen that can limit ones disposable income even in the best economies.Affording Joes tickets has become a burden for me personally,however I will not take the stand that he should lower his prices of that's what he can get for his tickets.Consider he has expanded out of a three or 4 player band.
I really hope that people such as Ian don't leave the forum just because of a heated discussion.
We sometimes have to disagree on issues.
Also there are a lot of artists I really love that I made a decision not to go see them live due to the cost.
That doesn't mean I like them less.
I am just resigned to the fate of my own budget.

Your rock candy baby
Your hard sweet and sticky

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