** Overpriced Concert Tix **

A satellite forever orbiting

cincybearcat wrote:

lebowski70 wrote:

The people who complain about ticket prices either have not seen a major band in concert in the last 6 months or they are living in the past.

Yep...way in the past...like 6 years ago...2003....when I paid $77 for a PAIR of tickets.

6 years...100% increase...that is some serious inflation!!!!! Hell, gas isn't even at 100% increase over that time right now.

well, there are a lot of college funds to think of now.

Your Camaro's hood

satansbedbugs wrote:

Anyone else think that these tickets WAY overpriced?? Hey , if you can get it great , but I think there should be a ceiling on these tickets.. I know, I know if you dont like the price then dont buy , but jeez for a concert? And they are only going to go up.. Love the band , love the shows, but I got more important issues to spend my money on.. AKA engagement rings, houses, weddings, beer...etc

Here's the thing. This is an older band comprised of dudes in their 40s with a fanbase that is largely over 30. The band has a lifestyle to support. I'm sure they live in nice houses, have healthy mortgages, etc...and (wealth being relative) need to bring in a certain amount to sustain that lifestyle. Most of the fanbase are no longer teenagers, and therefore have some disposable income to spend on things like this. Is $70-$80 expensive for a concert? Sure. It is unreasonable? Absolutely not considering how established the band is and how loyal their fans are. I think the fact that they aren't charging $150 to fans who are rabid enough to pay still says a lot.

A satellite forever orbiting

S.O. wrote:

satansbedbugs wrote:

Anyone else think that these tickets WAY overpriced?? Hey , if you can get it great , but I think there should be a ceiling on these tickets.. I know, I know if you dont like the price then dont buy , but jeez for a concert? And they are only going to go up.. Love the band , love the shows, but I got more important issues to spend my money on.. AKA engagement rings, houses, weddings, beer...etc

Here's the thing. This is an older band comprised of dudes in their 40s with a fanbase that is largely over 30. The band has a lifestyle to support. I'm sure they live in nice houses, have healthy mortgages, etc...and (wealth being relative) need to bring in a certain amount to sustain that lifestyle. Most of the fanbase are no longer teenagers, and therefore have some disposable income to spend on things like this. Is $70-$80 expensive for a concert? Sure. It is unreasonable? Absolutely not considering how established the band is and how loyal their fans are. I think the fact that they aren't charging $150 to fans who are rabid enough to pay still says a lot.

i think it has more to do with the fact that they pay their road managers and crew really well. these people have been with them for almost 20 years.

cincybearcat

You know this issue is more than just about supply and demand. Certainly, from a purely economic standpoint benjs is correct. If they are selling out or close to selling our venues and there is a secondary market...they aren't charging enough for those seats on the primary market. That is pure capitalism.

The real question, didn't the band take quite a stance against this in the past? Haven't they chastized others for high ticket prices?

So, if they want to be pure capitalists...they should charge some more, a tiered ticket price like Madonna et al. BUt, if it's about more than just the $, I think they may want to review their ticket prices.

I'm still buying tickets and going...it's worth it, especially for 10C tickets. BUt you can't step up on your soapbox and then years later, try to step off without peple noticing.

Parksy

This is always a tough issue...

Yes, the tickets are expensive.... but not overpriced. It all depends on your perspective. A concert is a luxury. And... as such, most luxurious things are expensive. A car, to most, is a necessity. Some cars are more expensive than others... some not so much. Some are purchased as a luxury, some as a requirement. You pay for what you get. Of course, you could always take the bus.

It's all perspective.

I do know ONE THING for certain...

something needs to be done about scalping and online marketing of tickets. Be it a law, regulation... SOMETHING. I can understand that in an open market supply and demand dictates everything. But there should be a cap or something.

I hate scalpers. :evil:

Parksy

S.O. wrote:

satansbedbugs wrote:

Anyone else think that these tickets WAY overpriced?? Hey , if you can get it great , but I think there should be a ceiling on these tickets.. I know, I know if you dont like the price then dont buy , but jeez for a concert? And they are only going to go up.. Love the band , love the shows, but I got more important issues to spend my money on.. AKA engagement rings, houses, weddings, beer...etc

Here's the thing. This is an older band comprised of dudes in their 40s with a fanbase that is largely over 30. The band has a lifestyle to support. I'm sure they live in nice houses, have healthy mortgages, etc...and (wealth being relative) need to bring in a certain amount to sustain that lifestyle. Most of the fanbase are no longer teenagers, and therefore have some disposable income to spend on things like this. Is $70-$80 expensive for a concert? Sure. It is unreasonable? Absolutely not considering how established the band is and how loyal their fans are. I think the fact that they aren't charging $150 to fans who are rabid enough to pay still says a lot.

you HONESTLY believe they have mortgages?!!?!?!

Your Camaro's hood

A satellite forever orbiting wrote:

S.O. wrote:

satansbedbugs wrote:

Anyone else think that these tickets WAY overpriced?? Hey , if you can get it great , but I think there should be a ceiling on these tickets.. I know, I know if you dont like the price then dont buy , but jeez for a concert? And they are only going to go up.. Love the band , love the shows, but I got more important issues to spend my money on.. AKA engagement rings, houses, weddings, beer...etc

Here's the thing. This is an older band comprised of dudes in their 40s with a fanbase that is largely over 30. The band has a lifestyle to support. I'm sure they live in nice houses, have healthy mortgages, etc...and (wealth being relative) need to bring in a certain amount to sustain that lifestyle. Most of the fanbase are no longer teenagers, and therefore have some disposable income to spend on things like this. Is $70-$80 expensive for a concert? Sure. It is unreasonable? Absolutely not considering how established the band is and how loyal their fans are. I think the fact that they aren't charging $150 to fans who are rabid enough to pay still says a lot.

i think it has more to do with the fact that they pay their road managers and crew really well. these people have been with them for almost 20 years.

Agreed. I think that being generous to their crew fits into the same category as paying the mortage. It's all about sustaining their lifestyle.

blondieblue227

This old debate again huh. viewtopic.php?f=4&t=104392

It’s kinda like global warming. Some people believe it’s happening, some don’t

Some people think ticket prices are fine, some don’t.

I still say the consumer has the power. Consumers need to come together and boycott high price shows.
damn those Eagles... it all started with them.
there's other ways for a band to make money other then playing live for only the rich.

Inside Ticketmaster's Empire - July 09 Rolling Stone Magazine
http://www.ivykennedy.com/trash/RS7.09.htm

Hugh Freaking Dillon

I am paying $100 for Metallica, another band I've seen several times. It's all how much it's worth to you. A buddy of mind saw the Eagles on their last tour, and he paid over $300 to see them. To me that's a fucking crime. But to him it was worth it. It's all relative. I hate to use a tired old cliche on this type of thread, if it's too expensive in your mind, then it's not worth it to you. Of course, I'm not saying anyone is more of a fan than you are, as the live show is something different to each individual.

We can't honestly think that a band can sustain itself and its crew charging the same prices year after year when the economy stinks, not to mention inflation.

And none of us, unless we've been touring for 20+ years, has any clue as to why they charge what they charge. There's so much that goes into it, I'm sure it would blow our minds.

benjs

blondieblue227 wrote:

This old debate again huh. viewtopic.php?f=4&t=104392

It’s kinda like global warming. Some people believe it’s happening, some don’t

Some people think ticket prices are fine, some don’t.

I still say the consumer has the power. Consumers need to come together and boycott high price shows.
damn those Eagles... it all started with them.
there's other ways for a band to make money other then playing live for only the rich.

Inside Ticketmaster's Empire - July 09 Rolling Stone Magazine
http://www.ivykennedy.com/trash/RS7.09.htm

Yep, those would be the 'inconclusive results' we seem to see every time one of these threads pops up! You're right about the consumer having the power - what does a band have to decide a ticket price upon? Nothing but history.. I would be willing to bet that, had they not sold out their shows this tour, next tour would have much more affordable tickets. It's all up to us. We are the dictators of the price. Pearl Jam asks us, through their pricing, "does this work for you?" and the 15-20,000 people in each of the venues they're playing at answer "yeah, that's fine!"

thebetterman

Parksy wrote:

S.O. wrote:

satansbedbugs wrote:

Anyone else think that these tickets WAY overpriced?? Hey , if you can get it great , but I think there should be a ceiling on these tickets.. I know, I know if you dont like the price then dont buy , but jeez for a concert? And they are only going to go up.. Love the band , love the shows, but I got more important issues to spend my money on.. AKA engagement rings, houses, weddings, beer...etc

Here's the thing. This is an older band comprised of dudes in their 40s with a fanbase that is largely over 30. The band has a lifestyle to support. I'm sure they live in nice houses, have healthy mortgages, etc...and (wealth being relative) need to bring in a certain amount to sustain that lifestyle. Most of the fanbase are no longer teenagers, and therefore have some disposable income to spend on things like this. Is $70-$80 expensive for a concert? Sure. It is unreasonable? Absolutely not considering how established the band is and how loyal their fans are. I think the fact that they aren't charging $150 to fans who are rabid enough to pay still says a lot.

you HONESTLY believe they have mortgages?!!?!?!

Exactly what I took away from that too, haha.

I don't think anyone who thinks they are overpriced is trying to debate this on an Economics 101 standpoint, more from the point that this band seems to be abandoning its own values. We've all heard stories of Ed going to shows as a kid... I don't see any neighborhood paperboys going to shows at $83.50 a pop.

usamamasan1

satansbedbugs wrote:

but I got more important issues to spend my money on.. AKA engagement rings

you will probably spend thousands of dollars on a small piece of metal with a rock attached to it. Get her a nice silver band for $50 and go see some shows. If she loves you less for not getting an expensive engagement ring which you clearly can't afford...who needs her.

Mrs.Vedder78

satansbedbugs wrote:

Anyone else think that these tickets WAY overpriced??

not me

blondieblue227

thanks benjs for backing me up.

by paulonios
'I hate to use a tired old cliche on this type of thread, if it's too expensive in your mind, then it's not worth it to you.'

i had really want to see clapton when he came down. i AM a big fan and his music DOES mean a lot to me. but at the price they charged, i couldn't go. so the 'worth it' theory is BS to me. it made me sick...clapton has money he's been doing this all his life, WTF? why can't average joe shmo afford a ticket?

so are you saying your favorite band can charge outrageous prices knowing their fan will ALWAYS buy and it’s totally ok to you?
I’m just saying they’ll be no limit if bands have the upper hand.

hopethatuchoke

S.O. wrote:

satansbedbugs wrote:

Anyone else think that these tickets WAY overpriced?? Hey , if you can get it great , but I think there should be a ceiling on these tickets.. I know, I know if you dont like the price then dont buy , but jeez for a concert? And they are only going to go up.. Love the band , love the shows, but I got more important issues to spend my money on.. AKA engagement rings, houses, weddings, beer...etc

Here's the thing. This is an older band comprised of dudes in their 40s with a fanbase that is largely over 30. The band has a lifestyle to support. I'm sure they live in nice houses, have healthy mortgages, etc...and (wealth being relative) need to bring in a certain amount to sustain that lifestyle. Most of the fanbase are no longer teenagers, and therefore have some disposable income to spend on things like this. Is $70-$80 expensive for a concert? Sure. It is unreasonable? Absolutely not considering how established the band is and how loyal their fans are. I think the fact that they aren't charging $150 to fans who are rabid enough to pay still says a lot.

Oh not this argument again. The article that came out a few weeks ago said they made $42 million touring between 2006 - 2008. I doubt that includes merchandise or royalties they collect from their back catalog. I highly doubt they have mortgages.

benjs

hopethatuchoke wrote:

S.O. wrote:

satansbedbugs wrote:

Anyone else think that these tickets WAY overpriced?? Hey , if you can get it great , but I think there should be a ceiling on these tickets.. I know, I know if you dont like the price then dont buy , but jeez for a concert? And they are only going to go up.. Love the band , love the shows, but I got more important issues to spend my money on.. AKA engagement rings, houses, weddings, beer...etc

Here's the thing. This is an older band comprised of dudes in their 40s with a fanbase that is largely over 30. The band has a lifestyle to support. I'm sure they live in nice houses, have healthy mortgages, etc...and (wealth being relative) need to bring in a certain amount to sustain that lifestyle. Most of the fanbase are no longer teenagers, and therefore have some disposable income to spend on things like this. Is $70-$80 expensive for a concert? Sure. It is unreasonable? Absolutely not considering how established the band is and how loyal their fans are. I think the fact that they aren't charging $150 to fans who are rabid enough to pay still says a lot.

Oh not this argument again. The article that came out a few weeks ago said they made $42 million touring between 2006 - 2008. I doubt that includes merchandise or royalties they collect from their back catalog. I highly doubt they have mortgages.

That was revenue, not gross profit, first of all. I think you'd be a fool to insinuate the band are 'roughing it', secondly, but yes, I agree that the 'band has to do it to get by' argument may not necessarily be the most valid.

hopethatuchoke

benjs wrote:

That was revenue, not gross profit, first of all. I think you'd be a fool to insinuate the band are 'roughing it', secondly, but yes, I agree that the 'band has to do it to get by' argument may not necessarily be the most valid.

We agree on something once again Hell has frozen over

I think the bottom line with this argument is...there are 2 sides pretty set in their opinion. On one side you have the people who insist the band can do no wrong and would say $200 a ticket is a deal (and the small subsection of those people who seem to think the band is starving and borderline homeless). And then you have borderline hypocrites like myself who truly believe the prices are outrageous and against everything the band seemingly stood for but then we end up buying the tickets anyway.

Ledbetterman10

satansbedbugs wrote:

Anyone else think that these tickets WAY overpriced?? Hey , if you can get it great , but I think there should be a ceiling on these tickets.. I know, I know if you dont like the price then dont buy , but jeez for a concert? And they are only going to go up.. Love the band , love the shows, but I got more important issues to spend my money on.. AKA engagement rings, houses, weddings, beer...etc

So I see we're back at square one. Well I guess we all have our tickets now so we have to complain about something while we wait for the album release.

Well you capitalized "WAY overpriced" so I have to disagree with you there. They're not WAY overpriced. But they are a little overpriced. If they were way overpriced, that would imply that the show isn't worth it. And we all always walk out of a Pearl Jam concert thinking it was money well spent. $83 is a lot considering that contemporaries like Green Day and Radiohead charge in the $50 range and even Metallica, who is higher than Pearl Jam on the rock royalty list, charges about $15 less. So yeah, it's overpriced...but not WAY overpriced.

benjs

hopethatuchoke wrote:

benjs wrote:

That was revenue, not gross profit, first of all. I think you'd be a fool to insinuate the band are 'roughing it', secondly, but yes, I agree that the 'band has to do it to get by' argument may not necessarily be the most valid.

We agree on something once again Hell has frozen over

I think the bottom line with this argument is...there are 2 sides pretty set in their opinion. On one side you have the people who insist the band can do no wrong and would say $200 a ticket is a deal (and the small subsection of those people who seem to think the band is starving and borderline homeless). And then you have borderline hypocrites like myself who truly believe the prices are outrageous and against everything the band seemingly stood for but then we end up buying the tickets anyway.

It's a nice change, I kinda like it!
I think you're right about those two sides - and there are a lot of people who share your exact beliefs.. I feel like if I was a bit older and actually witnessed the band fighting Ticketmaster, and preaching about being a band 'for the people', then I'd be one of them.

LukinFan

satansbedbugs wrote:

I know, I know if you dont like the price then dont buy

exactly