something that needs to be said

demay

I'm a long time fan, fan club member since No Code. Been to plenty of shows. Grew up with Pearl Jam, physically and mentally. Their music always brings a smile to my face, brings me out of tough times, and their shows are adrenaline....
but...
I'm really concerned about the direction of the band. Two tickets to the Chicago shows cost $148. That's not cheap, especially in these times. The SF show is a festival, and costs lots of money too. If this is the cost to put on a PJ show these days, well, I really don't understand how. If that's the cost for premium seats for 10c, I guess we have no choice but to cough up the dough. If it's supply and demand, well, Pearl Jam has lots of power and I just don't see why it's got to be so much money.

This isn't the anti-establishment, grassroots, ticketbastard fighting band who once proclaimed "get out of my fucking face, delight in our youth!"

Another question, why are they touring? Cause they have an itch to play...yeah. Cause they put out "Ten:Deluxe", I guess. To make some money? Sure. We won't be hearing songs off a new record or anything. What's up? Do they need some cash? Are they cashing in on the tour money while they can? Sounds like just the type of people they used to fight and mock back in the day. What would Kurt Cobain say?

Combine that with this new militant 10c policy that if you don't renew within 90 days or so, and they revoke your seniority, something they haven't done in the past. I mean, what's going on with this band? Sure, kudos to their environmental stances, and their charity work, but it's tougher to truly believe in them when their charging so much money.

I'm gonna give them credit and say that this is the legitimate cost of a PJ tour. Okay...but it's more money than last tour, right? What changed?

If you're glad I won't be going, well, it's your loss, cause I'm one of the biggest PJ enthus out there. I've hooked up my share of 10c with great seats with my extras and great times, cause I'd rather go with a true fan than one of my friends who don't understand. I've stood up and proclaimed PJ's greatness to anyone who can hear. But, I don't know how to explain this. I think it's important to question things, and this deserves questioning.

I just, well, I don't want to lose my favorite band. I think they may be "drifting away" and I'm sad and upset.
thanks.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

How much do you think a decent ticket from the 10club should cost you?????

Mamasan23

A lot of the costs very likely come from the venue. My husband is a concert promoter and I know from him that the UC is a union venue. So the promoter has to pay a certain amount of money to the venue to pay for all the security/vending/merch, etc. I can imagine that renting out the UC for a night knowing that it is going to sell out costs a pretty penny, and then the band has to also pay all of their roadies and stage crew. I trust that they are trying to keep the costs as low for us as possible. I recently saw Death Cab for Cutie at the Aragon - which is a fairly small venue - and those tix ran me $50 each. It just seems to be a sign of the times unfortunately.

NoelMichael

"one of the biggest pj enthus out there"?
man, pay to see your favorite band and stop whining. you should be happy they don't have to tour in order to promote a new record... they just play for the sake of playing. so many bands don't do that. so many bands fall apart. consider yourself lucky that you're seeing one of the very few bands that tours every year, even when they don't need a reason to tour. these guys have families and personal lives. they certainly don't need to tour, and i'm sure they certainly don't need to tour for some extra money. they're doing it to reward the fans and to play because they love to play. end of story

Gmoney

normally this type of post bothers me and I can't read more than a few lines, but i have to say I agree with a lot of the things you said...

Behind a wall a fat man snores...

Thorns2010

The price is cheaper than the 2008 tour, although yes it is more than the 2006 tour.

jimed14

you may want to read this thread ...

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=97910

washedinblack91

when was the last time you went to a pearl jam concert? it's been around $140 a pair for a few years now. i believe that one of the reasons, if not the biggest reason, for keeping their prices so low back in the day was because their fanbase was mostly high school/college students who didn't have enough money but now that they see their fanbase as mostly 30 year olds and older (hopefully) with careers, i would think that they wouldn't be so concerned to keep their prices so low. and your gripe about the "new militant 10c policy" is ridiculous, so if you had it your way if someone doesn't feel like paying for months or years on end they don't have to and still keep their 10c number? and pearl jam can tour if they want! it's got little to do with the money, they love playing live and if they want to do it it's their prerogative.

Tone

I'm sorry you feel that way, but I just don't think their prices are outrageous at all... many artists charge a hell of a lot more and people in other countries pay a hell of a lot more (I paid $75 for a PJ ticket in Australia in 2003 and thought it was a great deal cause I was used to paying more to see bands even back then... I paid $68 for U2 back in 1993).

As to why they're touring... I'm guessing it's cause they love it and because it's what the fans want. It seems to me these days they can't seem to win, they release special edition material and offer so much to their fans and then get accused of trying to fleece their fans for more money. I'm sorry, but I just don't understand it

The day they start charging Madonna/U2 prices, I may double-take, but I don't think they're anywhere near there, or likely to start down that road (after all, Madonna charged $369 for A grade seating last year, which I think is just disgusting and it costs $120 to see a play on Broadway)... $70-90 a ticket is a fantastic deal for what you're getting, IMO.

norm

it's not 1995

DewieCox

One of the problems I see with your post is that these dates are to promote the new album. They just don't wanna goes balls deep touring when they are gonna have to do a monster tour for the 20th anniversary. Another, have you been to a show, by any name band recently?

benjs

demay wrote:

I'm a long time fan, fan club member since No Code. Been to plenty of shows. Grew up with Pearl Jam, physically and mentally. Their music always brings a smile to my face, brings me out of tough times, and their shows are adrenaline....
but...
I'm really concerned about the direction of the band. Two tickets to the Chicago shows cost $148. That's not cheap, especially in these times. The SF show is a festival, and costs lots of money too. If this is the cost to put on a PJ show these days, well, I really don't understand how. If that's the cost for premium seats for 10c, I guess we have no choice but to cough up the dough. If it's supply and demand, well, Pearl Jam has lots of power and I just don't see why it's got to be so much money.

This isn't the anti-establishment, grassroots, ticketbastard fighting band who once proclaimed "get out of my fucking face, delight in our youth!"

Another question, why are they touring? Cause they have an itch to play...yeah. Cause they put out "Ten:Deluxe", I guess. To make some money? Sure. We won't be hearing songs off a new record or anything. What's up? Do they need some cash? Are they cashing in on the tour money while they can? Sounds like just the type of people they used to fight and mock back in the day. What would Kurt Cobain say?

Combine that with this new militant 10c policy that if you don't renew within 90 days or so, and they revoke your seniority, something they haven't done in the past. I mean, what's going on with this band? Sure, kudos to their environmental stances, and their charity work, but it's tougher to truly believe in them when their charging so much money.

I'm gonna give them credit and say that this is the legitimate cost of a PJ tour. Okay...but it's more money than last tour, right? What changed?

If you're glad I won't be going, well, it's your loss, cause I'm one of the biggest PJ enthus out there. I've hooked up my share of 10c with great seats with my extras and great times, cause I'd rather go with a true fan than one of my friends who don't understand. I've stood up and proclaimed PJ's greatness to anyone who can hear. But, I don't know how to explain this. I think it's important to question things, and this deserves questioning.

I just, well, I don't want to lose my favorite band. I think they may be "drifting away" and I'm sad and upset.
thanks.

People should be taking note of what you said - and more specifically, how you said it - well-spoken and logical. Thank you for giving your constructive criticism, and those are definitely some interesting points. In my opinion, the problem with discussing the show costs is that, for obvious reasons, it seems that only insiders are granted access to dollar values, percentages taken by venues, merchandising costs, etc., which leaves the consumer wondering how much each party is actually making. That's why I choose to just stay silent on the topic of costs - it feels too much like an accusation without any sort of evidence.

SOLAT319

demay wrote:

I'm really concerned about the direction of the band. Two tickets to the Chicago shows cost $148. That's not cheap, especially in these times. The SF show is a festival, and costs lots of money too. If this is the cost to put on a PJ show these days, well, I really don't understand how. If that's the cost for premium seats for 10c, I guess we have no choice but to cough up the dough. If it's supply and demand, well, Pearl Jam has lots of power and I just don't see why it's got to be so much money.

I'm not U2 fanboi but did you guys know their concert tickets will start from about 40 bucks for their upcoming tour?

Mrs.Vedder78

norm wrote:

it's not 1995

+1

Fifthelement

Same old same old blah blah blah. Not to attack you personally demay, but I just get tired of seeing these threads.

demay:
I'm gonna give them credit and say that this is the legitimate cost of a PJ tour. Okay...but it's more money than last tour, right? What changed?

You answered your own question.

demay:

I'm really concerned about the direction of the band. Two tickets to the Chicago shows cost $148. That's not cheap, especially in these times.

If people can't afford to go, then don't go. It costs on average (for two people) $35-40 for a movie,
a $100+ for a professional sporting event (tix, parking, etc.), even a nice dinner out $60+ (two entrees and two alcoholic beverages). A PJ show of two plus hours $74. These are all events that you may do once a month or once a year, so really, the cost is not outrageous. It's not just five (or six) guys being paid here. They are just one cog in a large wheel.

If you still think that $74 is too much to see a world-class band, then go out and spend $12 to see a local up and comer. Give 'em your cash now so that in 17 years, you can bitch and complain about how much THEY charge . . . and you can once again say "I remember when . . ."

UpSideDown

benjs wrote:

demay wrote:

That's why I choose to just stay silent on the topic of costs - it feels too much like an accusation without any sort of evidence.

bingo

when Ed just handed over $10,000
and they played the beacon theatre for free last year (while raising a few million dollars for charity)

I give the band the benefit of the doubt. And honestly, the tickets are always the cheapest things when compared to the travel, parking fees, food, etc...

blondieblue227

Gmoney wrote:

normally this type of post bothers me and I can't read more than a few lines, but i have to say I agree with a lot of the things you said...

i agree.
good use of your words demay. ....as my mom would say.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

The last few years i have had PLENTY of issues, and questions about the band and how the 10club runs a business.

But the last thing i have a problem with is the price of tickets......

$148 for 2 tickets to see the best live band on the planet?????

its a fucking bargain........

Gary Carter

people grow up and eventually leave there punk roots behind and have families and become adults . fans need to realize its all bout money for pj and thats the reality of it all. they earned the right to do whatever the hell they want. if they wanna whore themselves out and be like the who then they can, they earned that right. i'm not bashing you personally but i'm tired of people holding onto something that isnt there with this band or whining cause pj isnt what they want them to be and think they owe us something. my most favorite era of this band was the punk days and i wasnt even old enough to see them during those days.

hrd2imgn

What would Kurt Cobain say?

the guy who killed himself leaving his baby daughter behind, that guy?

I could not give a shit in the least what that guy would think

benjs

metsfan wrote:

people grow up and eventually leave there punk roots behind and have families and become adults . fans need to realize its all bout money for pj and thats the reality of it all. they earned the right to do whatever the hell they want. if they wanna whore themselves out and be like the who then they can, they earned that right. i'm not bashing you personally but i'm tired of people holding onto something that isnt there with this band or whining cause pj isnt what they want them to be and think they owe us something. my most favorite era of this band was the punk days and i wasnt even old enough to see them during those days.

That's true. Let's not forget the fact that in '95, how many of the members had kids? Any of them? Plus they didn't have Boom. So six paid band members, plus each of the band members' families.