2022 North American rumour thread take 2

RatherStarved

KL159781 said:

RatherStarved said:

I believe the Ed / Earthlings tour was utilizing a traveling bubble as well and it wasn’t sufficient.  

I wonder if the insurance rates combined with 2020 pricing is another disincentive.

Nonetheless I’m still optimistic we’ll get some dates.  

I’m optimistic as well for dates, but if you consider that Jeff said Vedder’s tour was a test for Pearl Jam, they failed the test.

A short 3 week tour has led to 2 band members getting covid and dates being postponed, adding greatly to the tour expenses and causing last minute issues for the fans. These are all things Pearl Jam wants to avoid.

Vedder and Pearl Jam management are clearly eager to go forward with touring. There is seemingly one or more band members who are less eager and can’t feel happy with how this Earthlings tour has gone. Add into it that Jeff doesn’t want to have to be checking vaccination status for audience members, something that is required for Vedder’s tour. These guys may also not be happy to be in a bubble. 

I wouldn’t be surprised to have May dates announced in a couple weeks. I also won’t be surprised if they push the dates off to after Europe.

I don't agree that the EV tour failed the test.  They played 5 amazing shows and are on pace to complete all 9 within a few days of the original end date.  Sure, it's not an A+ with at least two cases, but it still gets a passing grade in my book if it is completed as revised.  

KL159781

RatherStarved said:

KL159781 said:

RatherStarved said:

I believe the Ed / Earthlings tour was utilizing a traveling bubble as well and it wasn’t sufficient.  

I wonder if the insurance rates combined with 2020 pricing is another disincentive.

Nonetheless I’m still optimistic we’ll get some dates.  

I’m optimistic as well for dates, but if you consider that Jeff said Vedder’s tour was a test for Pearl Jam, they failed the test.

A short 3 week tour has led to 2 band members getting covid and dates being postponed, adding greatly to the tour expenses and causing last minute issues for the fans. These are all things Pearl Jam wants to avoid.

Vedder and Pearl Jam management are clearly eager to go forward with touring. There is seemingly one or more band members who are less eager and can’t feel happy with how this Earthlings tour has gone. Add into it that Jeff doesn’t want to have to be checking vaccination status for audience members, something that is required for Vedder’s tour. These guys may also not be happy to be in a bubble. 

I wouldn’t be surprised to have May dates announced in a couple weeks. I also won’t be surprised if they push the dates off to after Europe.

I don't agree that the EV tour failed the test.  They played 5 amazing shows and are on pace to complete all 9 within a few days of the original end date.  Sure, it's not an A+ with at least two cases, but it still gets a passing grade in my book if it is completed as revised.  

From the standpoint of what the band presented to the audience on stage, it’s a success. I think the members of Pearl Jam feel they can also put on amazing shows, as they always do, once these dates happen. The concerns of the band, that Jeff seems to have expressed, is to be able to tour without significant behind the scenes problems, and this Vedder tour wasn’t a success in that regard. 

True successes were what Guns N Roses and the Rolling Stones were able to do last year, where each had 2 straight months of dates and there were no reported cases of covid and no dates postponed. I think Pearl Jam probably were holding the success of the Earthlings tour to these standards.
Rescheduling shows adds a lot of extra cost to a tour and Pearl Jam may be very risk averse to tour with shows sold at 2020 prices while their costs are at 2022 levels.

The Earthlings tour is a much shorter tour than what Pearl Jam has planned, so it was easier to tack on the CA shows to the end. It gets more problem some the longer the tour. It also had much higher priced tickets than Pearl Jam has, probably in part to cover for potential postponement costs.

We know there are lots of acts currently on tour getting through all of this, but as we’ve seen, this band is much more hesitant to go ahead and tour than others.

mrk2

This interview with Pete Townshend kind explains how touring has changed during these times.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/pete-townshend-who-tour-interview-keith-moon-1296914/

How will Covid impact the way you tour? I know that Elton John and the Rolling Stones have been forced to basically create a traveling Covid bubble. Will you be doing something similar?
We have no choice, unfortunately. The insurers are the ones making these dictates. This is not the Rolling Stones or Elton John [making these calls]. This is the insurers. They are insisting that they won’t pay out if you cancel because of Covid. That’s the first thing. And secondly, if they do pay out, they only pay out 85 percent. And thirdly, they up their charges from 2.5 percent to 5 percent and now to 8 percent of the gross income on a tour. It’s absolutely brutal.

D-Rod

RatherStarved said:

KL159781 said:

RatherStarved said:

I believe the Ed / Earthlings tour was utilizing a traveling bubble as well and it wasn’t sufficient.  

I wonder if the insurance rates combined with 2020 pricing is another disincentive.

Nonetheless I’m still optimistic we’ll get some dates.  

I’m optimistic as well for dates, but if you consider that Jeff said Vedder’s tour was a test for Pearl Jam, they failed the test.

A short 3 week tour has led to 2 band members getting covid and dates being postponed, adding greatly to the tour expenses and causing last minute issues for the fans. These are all things Pearl Jam wants to avoid.

Vedder and Pearl Jam management are clearly eager to go forward with touring. There is seemingly one or more band members who are less eager and can’t feel happy with how this Earthlings tour has gone. Add into it that Jeff doesn’t want to have to be checking vaccination status for audience members, something that is required for Vedder’s tour. These guys may also not be happy to be in a bubble. 

I wouldn’t be surprised to have May dates announced in a couple weeks. I also won’t be surprised if they push the dates off to after Europe.

I don't agree that the EV tour failed the test.  They played 5 amazing shows and are on pace to complete all 9 within a few days of the original end date.  Sure, it's not an A+ with at least two cases, but it still gets a passing grade in my book if it is completed as revised.  

It’s not a pass/fail test.  It’s a “what worked  and what didn’t work” test.  

Weston1283

While many may not agree, this is a good sign for the direction of the touring industry, especially after reading above how difficult it has become 

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/15/arts/coachella-masks-vaccines-covid.html

Coachella is completely dropping any and all Covid requirements

drakeheuer14

Weston1283 said:

While many may not agree, this is a good sign for the direction of the touring industry, especially after reading above how difficult it has become 

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/15/arts/coachella-masks-vaccines-covid.html

Coachella is completely dropping any and all Covid requirements

Nice! Another small step back to normal life

PJNB

drakeheuer14 said:

Weston1283 said:

While many may not agree, this is a good sign for the direction of the touring industry, especially after reading above how difficult it has become 

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/15/arts/coachella-masks-vaccines-covid.html

Coachella is completely dropping any and all Covid requirements

Nice! Another small step back to normal life

So if fans do not need to be tested you would think that the performers would follow under the same rules would they not? 

RatherStarved

Wondering if outdoors is the reason re Coachella.  Wasn't able to access the article so apologies if it says as much.

jerparker20

RatherStarved said:

Wondering if outdoors is the reason re Coachella.  Wasn't able to access the article so apologies if it says as much.

The state of California is dropping masking mandates (except for schools) as of today.

Went to War on Drugs last night in St Paul, MN. Venue required vax/neg test for entry. The city has an indoor mask mandate, unless you’re eating or drinking. As you can imagine, a majority of the attendees weren’t wearing masks most of the night cause they were drinking. The venue staff weren’t enforcing masks either. For good, or bad, we’ve moved on from masks.

Noload

Man I love hot Covid talk.

Weston1283

Current available seats for EV in LA.  Insane. 

nicknyr15

Noload said:

Man I love hot Covid talk.

It’s the best 

davidos

The EV tour was a little risky being on the tail end of Omicron... By March/April things should be back to 'normal'.... Enough is enough.

RatherStarved

We might be done with Covid but it might not be done with us.  

josevolution

The last thing I want is to have anyone up close behind me breathing & sweating in a GA pit I’m done with those shows! If PJ decides to still do GA pits I’ll always try for reserved seats if not I’ll pass on the shows! 

P34RL J4MM3R

Weston1283 said:

Current available seats for EV in LA.  Insane. 

Thanks for sharing Weston,  That is truly BONKERS.  We are definitely in a new era.  There is no way that is the case even 2 years ago.  This truly shows the effects of Covid.  It's like all the people at the airport saying "The terrorists won, because they changed our lives forever" with all the extra security measures.  Same with Covid, it won, because it changed our lives forever.

3days

P34RL J4MM3R said:

Weston1283 said:

Current available seats for EV in LA.  Insane. 

Thanks for sharing Weston,  That is truly BONKERS.  We are definitely in a new era.  There is no way that is the case even 2 years ago.  This truly shows the effects of Covid.  It's like all the people at the airport saying "The terrorists won, because they changed our lives forever" with all the extra security measures.  Same with Covid, it won, because it changed our lives forever.

I hear what you're saying, but is it also the change of date (lots of Pearl Jam fans travel)? Or is it TM releasing SO many tickets after the initial sale at hyperinflated prices? 

josevolution

3days said:

P34RL J4MM3R said:

Weston1283 said:

Current available seats for EV in LA.  Insane. 

Thanks for sharing Weston,  That is truly BONKERS.  We are definitely in a new era.  There is no way that is the case even 2 years ago.  This truly shows the effects of Covid.  It's like all the people at the airport saying "The terrorists won, because they changed our lives forever" with all the extra security measures.  Same with Covid, it won, because it changed our lives forever.

I hear what you're saying, but is it also the change of date (lots of Pearl Jam fans travel)? Or is it TM releasing SO many tickets after the initial sale at hyperinflated prices? 

You can walk up on day of show and get a good seat! What’s not to like about the new normal..

Choska

P34RL J4MM3R said:

Weston1283 said:

Current available seats for EV in LA.  Insane. 

Thanks for sharing Weston,  That is truly BONKERS.  We are definitely in a new era.  There is no way that is the case even 2 years ago.  This truly shows the effects of Covid.  It's like all the people at the airport saying "The terrorists won, because they changed our lives forever" with all the extra security measures.  Same with Covid, it won, because it changed our lives forever.

I think the issue is more ticket price than Covid restrictions for the audience. $200+ to see EV is kinda pricey for non-PJ fanatics.

JBob87

3days said:

P34RL J4MM3R said:

Weston1283 said:

Current available seats for EV in LA.  Insane. 

Thanks for sharing Weston,  That is truly BONKERS.  We are definitely in a new era.  There is no way that is the case even 2 years ago.  This truly shows the effects of Covid.  It's like all the people at the airport saying "The terrorists won, because they changed our lives forever" with all the extra security measures.  Same with Covid, it won, because it changed our lives forever.

I hear what you're saying, but is it also the change of date (lots of Pearl Jam fans travel)? Or is it TM releasing SO many tickets after the initial sale at hyperinflated prices? 

IMO it's all of the above that seems to be pushing down demand.

1. Crazy prices / TM platinum...somewhat justifiably as insurance costs and inflation are through the roof (plus the need to make up some lost income from 2020-21), but many people also are spending their previous concert budget elsewhere (look at vinyl prices, for example) and/or are also getting squeezed elsewhere with inflation

2. Hesitancy to attend shows or travel out of COVID fear, and potentially also some people not wanting to comply with venue COVID policies and staying home for that reason

3. Date changes, fear of cancellation or rescheduling leading to more people purchasing tickets week or day of an event

I am blessed to live a 10-15min trip from numerous venues and have tried to take advantage of the situation. Have scored absolutely unthinkable deals on great seats several times over the last 6 months or so. 

I do expect PJ to be different, however. PJ tickets have always been next level in terms of demand.