• From: Southern New Jersey, USA
  • Registered: 2006-04-23
  • Posts: 2,966

Topic: Outrageous Ticket Prices

I'm not a fan of Ticketmaster and I think their fees are outrageous.  BUT, the prices only stopped me once from buying a ticket, so I can be mad all I want, BUT I'm feeding the monster and keeping the demand up.  As much as I love Eric Clapton, I personally drew the line at paying $500 face value to see him in a smaller arena.  For me and my husband to attend it would have been $1000!!!  There were cheaper seats available, I could have compromised, but I made the decision not to go and engrossed myself in something else when he was performing 10 minutes from where I was on that night, I sooooo wanted to be there!

The tickets are a supply and demand issue.  It frustrates me purchasing the tickets in the first place and competing with all the ticket agencies.  I'm concerned about a trend I'm starting to see which is the American Express Gold Card, getting preference for concert/show tickets.  It's adding another layer of expense if you want to get good seats because of the fees to hold the Gold card.  I don't have one, I'm not sure what the fees are, I don't pay a fee for my credit card, but do have some bonuses..points for travel etc.  Also, I am surprised that of all the liberal lawyers in this country, no one is digging deep into this for some loophole, they probably don't go to concerts...playing the role of a creative lawyer, could it be a type of discrimination?

I am thankful that most of the shows I see these days aren't big ticket prices like Ticketmaster, although I am seeing Winwood and Petty tonight and did just get Eagles tickets, yeah so I'm a hypocrite.  Ticketmaster has got me under their thumb!!

StringsforaCURE~Helping cancer patients one STRING at a time.
http://stringsforacure.com/

Angela's Website

  • From: Netherlands.
  • Registered: 2006-04-27
  • Posts: 2,186

Re: Outrageous Ticket Prices

hello Angela,

Have a look at the topic from Eva about Eric Clapton.

The same question, I gave my point of view overthere.

I agree of course.

Andre Wittebroek

3 Reply by Angela (edited by Angela 2008-06-05 09:49:29)

  • From: Southern New Jersey, USA
  • Registered: 2006-04-23
  • Posts: 2,966

Re: Outrageous Ticket Prices

Hey Jane,
The lawyer thing is complicated and probably tip-toeing into politics...I have lawyer conversations with lawyers all the time, so its like second nature to me to bring up lawyers.  Yikes, I am going to be with at least 50 lawyers tonight at the concert, I may just ask them what they think!  Right now, I need to stay mum on the subject and not check back here for a bit....I need to get some work done. smile

Andre,
I read it over there. smile

StringsforaCURE~Helping cancer patients one STRING at a time.
http://stringsforacure.com/

Angela's Website

  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: Outrageous Ticket Prices

I hear ya Angela, I vented through a similar thread awhile back, but I still keep going. To be honest I haven't paid more than $75.00 for a show in a long time. In fact the last time was $99.00 plus service charge for a folding chair in the far back side of a winery venue to see B.B. King and for the first time live..........................................................................Joe Bonamassa. I did see Springsteen last Nov., but those tix were given to me. I wouldn't have paid $20.00 for the seats we sat in and Shred will back me on this one since he sat next to me. We spent most of the show controlling our bleeding noses in those $125.00 seats.

                                                                                                       Think Green, You'll Need Plenty Of It,

                                                                                                       J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint
  • From: Heading west on 80....
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 864

Re: Outrageous Ticket Prices

It all goes back to supply and demand.

No matter what corporate agenda is being put forth, if they priced them like that and they didn't sell it would not continue. Period. A bunch of $500 seats that are empty are good for no one.

We've had years in the past where we have gone to many, many shows. There are plenty of shows that we'd "like" to go to this summer, but they have priced us out of the market. It's not that we can't afford it, but we choose not to spend that much for these bands. They are going to still get close to a sell out without us, so no end in sight.

PC

PS - on another note, we bought two $50 tickets to see the Astros/Cardinals tomorrow night and it was $143 with service charges. Hmmm.

“A friend is someone that will help you move............a TRUE friend will help you move the bodies." -- anon
  • From: Connecticut
  • Registered: 2007-11-19
  • Posts: 254

Re: Outrageous Ticket Prices

One of the casinos here in Connecticut ,Celine Dion $750  $500  $450!!! They even wrote.,This is not a misprint in one of the promos!!! (oh I am so there!)

"Is it the new blues mobile or what?"                                                                                                                                                                                                     "Fix the cigarette lighter."
  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2007-10-23
  • Posts: 1,929

Re: Outrageous Ticket Prices

When the Rolling Stones played Fenway Park a couple of years ago they still had some of the really expensive seats on sale the day before the show.  I think they were over $400 each.  I wasn't even tempted [my first live concert was the Get Yer YaYa's Out era tour back in the day, seats on the floor, ended up in front of the stage, I have some very bad photos someplace].

On a side note to Eva's thread-I saw Clapton once many years ago, barely remember it, but hey, I saw him.  Wouldn't go again, but you should go-if only to say you saw him once.  Something to wow your future children/grandchildren with some day! My son still is jealous of the fact that I've seen SRV several times and he never got a chance!  But he likes the stories. [It works both ways-he saw Joe play in a little tiny place in Hartford, Connecticut.  This was before my son "introduced" me to Joe's music.  I'm jealous of that.  Guess we are almost even].  Go. A little part of you will always wish you had.

Angela-post a review of Stevie and Tom-I'm going next week-can't wait!

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: Southern New Jersey, USA
  • Registered: 2006-04-23
  • Posts: 2,966

Re: Outrageous Ticket Prices

Just had to peek back, THIS FORUM IS ADDICTING!!!

Now Jane, Listen to me girlfriend...my brother Kevin's law firm has box seats for sporting events at the Wachovia arena.  When concerts are there, he is allowed to secure seats before they go on sale to the general public, a fringe benefit.  ...decent seats at face value, sideview with a private entrance, private bathroom and a private bar...so it works for me...I don't get aggravated trying to purchase the tickets & worry about if I'll get good seats.  It was a creative way for the venue to make more money, I'm not sure how many seats are in this area, but there are sections of these club seats all around the venue at this level.  He has worked his arse off for the firm and is now a managing partner, recruits new attorneys and is in entertainment mode tonight with the summer associates, who the firm hopes will stay on after they complete their last year of law school and pass the bar, so technically they are two-thirds of the way to being a lawyer. Three of my four brothers are lawyers...they have opened my eyes to things I never would of or could have imagined, injustices and inequalities, totally outside of their legal specialites. My other brother is on a committee for minority hiring... To be honest, in general, they are both more liberal than me and I still love them, I'm not anti-liberal so much as it ticks me off when anyone with the power, so to speak, plays both sides of the fence! (that's the part that's complicated for here and the heart of the matter is deep & unfair IMHO)  And lawyers in general, work incredibly long hours, many of them may have the $$$, but not the time to go to concerts, that's what I meant by that concert comment.  We all make choices in life...

I have to borrow Tripsy's name...Jane you are a TRIP, such a good heart, always protecting the underdog. smile That's a compliment...oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood...I'll throw Tom Petty a kiss from you tonight, let me know if that's not OK!  big_smile  Peace!  Sending love back your way!

StringsforaCURE~Helping cancer patients one STRING at a time.
http://stringsforacure.com/

Angela's Website

9 Reply by Rocket (edited by Rocket 2008-06-05 12:31:31)

  • Rocket
  • Rocket
  • BONAMEGAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: San Francisco
  • Registered: 2006-04-26
  • Posts: 10,275

Re: Outrageous Ticket Prices

I think I'll go post at the Other Artists Category "What song are you listening to right now" ...

...and cue up Pink Floyd's US AND THEM...



hmm

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
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.”

10 Reply by gsj

  • gsj
  • gsj
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: North Essex, England
  • Registered: 2006-09-21
  • Posts: 2,149

Re: Outrageous Ticket Prices

"Fans Go On Strike To Lower Ticket Costs".

Now there's an idea.

never give up, never slow down
never grow old, never ever die young
  • Registered: 2008-03-23
  • Posts: 649

Re: Outrageous Ticket Prices

Ticketmaster, more like Ticketshafter

No matter how far you try to push the envelope, it remains stationery
  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: Outrageous Ticket Prices

Yeah, I weighed in on this topic as part of Eva's post regarding Clapton tickets.
In my opinion, if you actually buy tickets for a show, you have lost any rights to actually complain about those ticket prices.
The only recourse to spiraling ticket prices is to not pay the price. If enough people take a stand, prices WILL come down.
Unfortunately, it seems like there will always be someone willing to pay.

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • From: Coral Springs, FL
  • Registered: 2008-04-26
  • Posts: 180

Re: Outrageous Ticket Prices

pcornell wrote:

It all goes back to supply and demand.

No matter what corporate agenda is being put forth, if they priced them like that and they didn't sell it would not continue. Period. A bunch of $500 seats that are empty are good for no one.

We've had years in the past where we have gone to many, many shows. There are plenty of shows that we'd "like" to go to this summer, but they have priced us out of the market. It's not that we can't afford it, but we choose not to spend that much for these bands. They are going to still get close to a sell out without us, so no end in sight.

PC

PS - on another note, we bought two $50 tickets to see the Astros/Cardinals tomorrow night and it was $143 with service charges. Hmmm.

The well off will always be able to afford those prices so they will never go down - just like the price of gas.

  • From: Southern New Jersey, USA
  • Registered: 2006-04-23
  • Posts: 2,966

Re: Outrageous Ticket Prices

Jane,
I delivered the kiss, he smiled back...what a girl won't do for her bonabuddy! wink I was in the company of 30 lawyers not 50, couldn't figure out their political stance in such a short time...:D  BUT, did get 2 of the same responses to my AmEX question-its not illegal in anyway and I'm a two-timing hypocrite, as my brother pointed out in one sentence...look at how YOU got your tickets!! (in advance, before they went on sale to the general public, just like the AmEx way, except at no additional overhead) lol

I'll dig up the older thread on winwood/petty to post, but WOW do the fans love Tom Petty!!!!  What a feel good show...it was a sing along, in a sense, everyone sang all the words to almost every song, except a few obscure bluesy songs which were great...Prince William?/ only released in Germany.  Petty has a nice thing going on with his fans and he's very appreciative...had the lights turned on to see everyone...could be a motion that's repeated, but I want to think its sincere. Also, he did a very nice tribute to Bo Didley, a Travelin Wilbury's tune (George smile) and Petty's lead guitarist is great!  Winwood came on exactly on time at 8, played an hour, very good and well received, but most of the crowd was there for Tom.  I turned a few young lawyers on to Winwood!

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainm … l#comments

Jane H. wrote:

Thanks Angela! makes more sense now.
PLEASE do throw a kiss at Tom for me! I remember when we first got MTV, his was one of the first videos i ever saw. don't remember which one but, well never mind, i'll tell you later smile

have a great time and can't wait to hear about it.

i would like to see that show too but besides cost its time for me right now.
have fun

only time i saw Tom was with dylan and the Dead in DC at 105 degrees, what a hot trip that was!!!!! was about as far away from the stage as possible.

StringsforaCURE~Helping cancer patients one STRING at a time.
http://stringsforacure.com/

Angela's Website