Ticket Prices (my beef)

HailHailVitalogy

hopethatuchoke wrote:

gndcd402 wrote:

morgie2 wrote:

I never understand these price complaints. Just look around, PJ's ticket prices are EXTREMELY reasonable compared to other big acts. Nuff said.

i disagree. like them or not, muse and green day are two big acts out there. muse has a stage set up that is almost as elaborate as that of u2 yet they charge $50 a ticket. i don't know about green days stage setup but i am almost certain its more elaborate than pj's and they charge about $45 a ticket. muse's setup HAS to be ridiculously expensive and yet they are $25 cheaper than pearl jam?!

also i just crunched these numbers a few days ago. since 2003, pearl jam's ticket prices have increased over 50%, including inflation. if i don't include inflation, the increase is nearly 100%

This is my issue with the ticket prices. Next to nothing goes into their show. They show up, have some lights and a stage and that's it. If that is what they want to do...by all means go for it...but for $170-$180 a pair they should be providing something more. The argument that their prices are in line with other top acts is false. Based on record sales, radio play and general popularity...Green Day, Muse, Metallica and Radiohead have all surpassed Pearl Jam and they all have elaborate stage shows for cheaper ticket prices. Those are arguably the top touring acts out there today. You can't lump Pearl Jam in with Petty, the Stones and U2. Those bands have been around for 30 years+ and have a different crown and different demographic and more appeal to 50+ year olds with money so I don't think it's fair to compare Pearl Jam's prices to those.

So when people say PJ's prices are reasonable, I'm not sure what you are comparing them too. I think they are approaching the price point where they are going to start to have trouble selling shows out. People won't pay $100 face value for pearl jam. I paid the same price for Radiohead tickets in 2003 that I did last year and they gave away their album.

Exactly.

AmishGuy91

cincybearcat wrote:

AmishGuy91 wrote:

See...yankees complain about ticket prices, but Texans would be happy just to have a show...I'd gladly pay $200 for 10c tickets.

See...texans use words like "Yankees"..which is why you get no shows.

Plenty of people use that word...like mlb announcers

P-Town-P-Jam-Fan

Brokers probably made more money off of Phish than Phish did themselves. If tickets are priced too cheaply, the brokers use their spinners and buy up all the tickets and re-sell them. Phish and Radiohead were scalped like crazy because they didn't charge enough for their tickets. The band should be making the money, not scaplers. If tix are priced high enough scalpers do not buy because there isn't enough room for profit. Every band is trying to find the fine line of correctly pricing their tickets so venues sell out, but not pricing them so cheap that the scalpers are the ones buying everything. The only thing PJ could do better is have more price tiers. One price point is also a scalpers heaven because people will pay a bit more to be in a better location. There should be about 6 different price levels for all events.

HailHailVitalogy

JaneNY wrote:

I guess there is a requisite of at least one thread like this per tour.

There is, and I have read them for 8 years...but this is the highest it's ever been and it's a bit unreasonable.

HailHailVitalogy

uskidsknow wrote:

DewieCox wrote:

uskidsknow wrote:

For a band of their popularity the ticket prices are absolutely reasonable.

Next.

Based on their popularity?? That's a laugh

Of course, based on their popularity as a touring act. Most bands who can fill the types of venues that Pearl Jam does charge upwards of $100+ a ticket for the good tickets. It's more expensive to play at bigger arenas in bigger cities like MSG in NYC. As such, the ticket prices are higher.

Let's be honest, the people that are going to MSG and selling out MSG for 173$ a pair are the same people that have been following the band in the New York metropolitan area for YEARS

HailHailVitalogy

uskidsknow wrote:

DewieCox wrote:

Radiohead and Tool are more popular....Tix were prolly around 30% cheaper last tour

Plus they both have pretty awesome stage shows.

Nah. I saw Radiohead last tour and no way did I pay $45 for the ticket. Maybe at amphitheaters, but they're always cheaper. I don't think either is more popular than Pearl Jam. What is your criteria for popularity? They both fill up the same venues so there isn't much between then. I doubt In Rainbows has sold much more than Backspacer did.

Ok Radiohead at Jiffy Lube which is an Amphitheater was $47 face value for SEATS....Pearl Jam is $79

William Wallace

uskidsknow wrote:

i don't understand why you or anyone else whines about ticket prices. if you don't want to go just don't go. simple!

You seem to like Pearl Jam only for the music, which is OK.
But there are other fans here (me included) who love the band for what they stand (stood) for. And one thing was their fight for good ticket prices.
Maybe that helps you to understand why some fans are disappointed with ticket prices.

Kanye East

HailHailVitalogy wrote:

uskidsknow wrote:

DewieCox wrote:

Radiohead and Tool are more popular....Tix were prolly around 30% cheaper last tour

Plus they both have pretty awesome stage shows.

Nah. I saw Radiohead last tour and no way did I pay $45 for the ticket. Maybe at amphitheaters, but they're always cheaper. I don't think either is more popular than Pearl Jam. What is your criteria for popularity? They both fill up the same venues so there isn't much between then. I doubt In Rainbows has sold much more than Backspacer did.

Ok Radiohead at Jiffy Lube which is an Amphitheater was $47 face value for SEATS....Pearl Jam is $79

Yeah, but Radiohead sucks.

klem62

I agree that its quite high for ANY concert anymore. Still love the band, still want to see one show this year, but I still think its sad that the real fans are finding it harder and harder to see the band live. The same situation is happening with sporting events and other shows. People have to pay top price for the experience of seeing their favorite team/band/event live and that problem will never get better. I blame it on the Yankees with their $1000 seats behind the plate. Not that it makes any sense but its always fun to blame the Yankees for anything. Seriously though it is quite distubing, I`m just glad I can afford to see them once a year and I`m quite grateful that they come to the Philly area often. Still the most bang for your buck!

uskidsknow

William Wallace wrote:

uskidsknow wrote:

i don't understand why you or anyone else whines about ticket prices. if you don't want to go just don't go. simple!

You seem to like Pearl Jam only for the music, which is OK.
But there are other fans here (me included) who love the band for what they stand (stood) for. And one thing was their fight for good ticket prices.
Maybe that helps you to understand why some fans are disappointed with ticket prices.

I love the band for lots of reasons. What PJ did in the 90's against ticketmaster was kickass, but it's impossible to fight that fight now. PJ is an amazing live band (obviously) that doesn't do extensive touring. I think it's totally reasonable that they charge $75 per ticket.

BlackThirteen

I agree with you OP. I can't even afford fanclub tickets for both msg shows hence I'm gonna try show one and if I don't get them I'm gonna try night two then buy the other night on ticketmaster. They should option selling one ticket at the prices they're charging. I'm just too hassled to buy two nights then try to find a fanclub members to buy my extras. Oh well I'm still gonna pay and go see them. I've told my friend as long as ticket prices are under $100 a seat I'll go but anything higher and I'll probably have to pass.

P-Town-P-Jam-Fan

HailHailVitalogy wrote:

JaneNY wrote:

I guess there is a requisite of at least one thread like this per tour.

There is, and I have read them for 8 years...but this is the highest it's ever been and it's a bit unreasonable.

did you think they were going to go down in price? Of course its the highest ever. The next tour will be higher than this one.

William Wallace

uskidsknow wrote:

PJ is an amazing live band (obviously) .

Now here we agree!

Better Dan

The tickets aren't exactly cheap but I do think they're reasonably priced. I can understand people bringing up the band's fight against TM, but that was 15 years ago! Times change, the band has changed, the music and concert industry has changed.

jammingwhileIcan

P-Town-P-Jam-Fan wrote:

Brokers probably made more money off of Phish than Phish did themselves. If tickets are priced too cheaply, the brokers use their spinners and buy up all the tickets and re-sell them. Phish and Radiohead were scalped like crazy because they didn't charge enough for their tickets. The band should be making the money, not scaplers. If tix are priced high enough scalpers do not buy because there isn't enough room for profit. Every band is trying to find the fine line of correctly pricing their tickets so venues sell out, but not pricing them so cheap that the scalpers are the ones buying everything. The only thing PJ could do better is have more price tiers. One price point is also a scalpers heaven because people will pay a bit more to be in a better location. There should be about 6 different price levels for all events.

Youre right scalpers make profit on these phish shows, but there are also fans getting in for a fair price. This is where a band could show morals even when there are immoral scalpers gaining as well. PJ could also do a raffle, like phish, but unlike phish require the purchaser to show ID at the gate which could lessen the scalpers control. It comes down to morales and put simply PJ is no longer practicing what they used to preach. Me being willing to pay 100 a ticket doesnt mean the band is in the wrong for charging that. With such a loyal fanbase PJ essentialy has a monopoly on our purchasing of good music tickets so ethics are required on the bands part; and have been lacking lately.

DewieCox

Kanye East wrote:

HailHailVitalogy wrote:

Ok Radiohead at Jiffy Lube which is an Amphitheater was $47 face value for SEATS....Pearl Jam is $79

Yeah, but Radiohead sucks.

Radiohead is more or as popular and no matter how you feel about their music, they have better musicians that play tighter shows.

cincybearcat

polaris_x wrote:

sooo what would be a "fair" price based on the standard you believe they used to set?

Well...let's look back to history for our answer:

2003:
Tickets for indoor shows were $77-$80...for 2 tickets ; so let's use $40/ticket
Tickets to outdoor shows were about $98....again for 2 tix ; so let's use $50/ticket

Those were terrific prices for 2003. Using this conversion http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl

$40 in 2003 has the same buying power as $47 today
$50 in 2003 has the same buying power as $59 today

2005:
Tix about $117/pair or $59/ticket (approx. 20% increase in 2 years)

$59 in 2005 has the same buying power as about $65.50 today

2006:
Tix cost about $118/pair so still $59/ticket (still 20% increase over 3 years)

$59 in 2006 has the same buying power as about $63.42 today

2009:
Tix cost about $148/pair or $74/ticket (48% increase over 6 years ; 25% increase over 3 years)

$74 in 2009 has the same buying power as about $74.74 today

2010:
Tix cost $150-173/pair...or $75-86 ticket, roughly equal to 2009. (still 48% increase over 7 years ; 25% over 4 years for lowest ticket price)

I think in order to keep the mantra of low ticket prices and access for many, PJ should look to set ticket prices at the 2010 buying power equivalent of the 2003 tickets. $50-$60 depending on the venue. That would show their commitment to low ticket prices for sure. All those prices are after all fees. I don't know what portion of each is fees so I can't separate that out and it might show a bit of a different picture.

Like I said, I'll keep buying tickets and the market could certainly bear a higher price, but you can "brag" about Pearl Jam's low ticket prices and how they take care of the fans (in that way anyhow). Getting the best seats in the house is a huge advantage though that makes swallowing the ticket price increases that much easier.

Hugh Freaking Dillon

NoelMichael wrote:

That's $86 a ticket. I went to Starbucks and got a $3 cup of coffee. So you tell me, what's better... An evening with Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden, or 28 cups of coffee? I'll go with the Pearl Jam

best analogy yet! love it!

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

T-Bone 82 wrote:

I think if there were more dates the prices would be lower. They've been doing these short tours so demand is really, really high for a low supply of tix.

However, I am disappointed that the prices are so high in such a bad economy. I have a good job, make decent money, and I'm able to plunk down the $173 but I am not going to do so. I saw them in twice in Philly last fall and even though they're by far my favorite band, I'm going to sit this one out. I really can't justify all that money in the span of a few months. If tix were $60 - $65 per head I'd do it, but $85 per head is too much.

its all about the

pearljgirl2010

i spend my money on two things: travelling and pearl jam...when i combine the two, I think I'm getting a deal ;-)

but, yes, tickets are pricey!