For those complaining about ticket prices

JohnD. · July 2009

Check out what Aerosmith is charging for their gig next month at Staples Center and realize we actually have it pretty good all things considered:

UPPER CONCOURSE

US $59.50 - US $200.00
LOWER LEVEL LOGE

US $59.50 - US $200.00
LOWER LEVEL FLOOR

US $149.50 - US $200.00
LOWER LEVEL PREMIER

US $89.50 - US $149.50

murphyJammer · July 2009

I say this everytime a tour comes around, but few seem to ever agree.

elwayvedder · July 2009

I dont think anyone is arguing their prices versus the prices of bands like aerosmith etc. I think the debate is how how PJ tix have gone in a relatively small amount of time. Its all relative to the % increase from a certain time until now. Looking back at my ticket order history and basically PJ tix have doubled since 2003, give or take

SpinMeRoundRollMeOvr · July 2009

The price hike is not favorable. I think we can all agree.

I got some perspective last night. I went to a Tool concert land paid around 60 bucks for my ticket, post-TM fees. They played for MAYBE 1.5 hours and did a lot of spaced out noise during the show. I walked away thinking one thing:

"PJ would have dropped a 2.5 hour set, no question. They would not have stopped rocking once. A PJ ticket is worth every penny."

So yeah. Bring it on Philly. I'm ready.

DewieCox · July 2009

Comparing PJ to Aerosmith is your first mistake. oranges and apples

Compare them to a similarly minded band like Radiohead and PJ's prices are absurd.

PJ shows are worth it to me, but they're tix ARE overpriced.

JohnD. · July 2009

Right- fact is the industry has changed. A huge chunk of what they makes now comes from touring. Not too much being made from CDs these days. And they put on an amazing show. 77 bucks is not unreasonable all things considered.

DewieCox · July 2009

JohnDalton wrote:

Right- fact is the industry has changed. A huge chunk of what they makes now comes from touring. Not too much being made from CDs these days. And they put on an amazing show. 77 bucks is not unreasonable all things considered.

I dunno where you've been for 40 years, but touring is how major bands have made huge jack since Jimmy Page met Peter Grant. They've pulled in plenty of money, but albums have always been put out to promote a tour more than vice versa.

vedder_soup · July 2009

any one complaining should take a look at ticket prices in Australia

we will be looking at over $200 us a pair for the next tour

Tuolumne Mama · July 2009

Elwaysvedder thanks for that succint and polite post describing what many folks have been trying to say. Look forward to meeting you in October.:-)

elwayvedder · July 2009

FoxyMHMama wrote:

Elwaysvedder thanks for that succint and polite post describing what many folks have been trying to say. Look forward to meeting you in October.:-)

You as well FoxyMHMama! WIth the exception of feeling tremendously guilty for any potential of me skipping Hallloween with my boys, I cant wait for the last week of Oct to get here as I think it is going to be the PJ experience of our lifetimes

gndcd402 · July 2009

SpinMeRoundRollMeOvr wrote:

The price hike is not favorable. I think we can all agree.

I got some perspective last night. I went to a Tool concert land paid around 60 bucks for my ticket, post-TM fees. They played for MAYBE 1.5 hours and did a lot of spaced out noise during the show. I walked away thinking one thing:

"PJ would have dropped a 2.5 hour set, no question. They would not have stopped rocking once. A PJ ticket is worth every penny."

So yeah. Bring it on Philly. I'm ready.

our lady peace, $20 tickets for a 2 hr show at the vic theater

unbeatable!

Scott36 · July 2009

Some of you guys give PJ an awful lot of leeway. Quite a double standard on this message board.

Sure, at the end of the day, it's worth the $90+ cost of a ticket, but it's still a lot. It still goes against everything the band said they stood for back in the 90s.

And how can you say that they play so much longer than other bands? Hell, Eddie played maybe 80 minutes in Baltimore. I've been to plenty of other shows with bands that play long sets. Sometimes you have to look at things objectively instead of always assuming PJ is in the right. I love hearing this band play more than most anything else, but they definitely could do some things differently that would be great for their fans (starting with the general lack of touring).

Zod · July 2009

tickets might be expensive but not overpriced.

If the concert is selling out, then they didn't overcharge for tickets. that doesn't make the expensive, but odds are if a show sells out, there's people that would of been willing to pay more.

I think PJ tickets prices are average. They do play longer than most bands. They don't charge as much as bands that starts in the 80's or earlier (aerosmith, the stones, u2 etcc), but charge more than the bands that came after them in the 90's.

PJ's ticket prices have definately been on the increase. I paid 79 bones for a pair of Vancouver '03 tickets, 148 for a pair of seattle 09 tickets.

I remember back then I thought pearl jam tickets were underprices. The whole concert market was on a giant increase, but pearl jam kept prices lower. Seems they gave in and caught up.

I don't really think they're cheap or overpriced.. they seem pretty much inline with the concert market. Not giving us a break, but not robbing us to death either.

There is also pressure from promotors and venues to push the price of tickets up, so they can charge more. I've often wondered what the breaking point for tickets will be (with any act). Back in the 90's you could pay 20 bux and see lollapalooza. I paid 25 bux to see soundgarden in '96. 35 to see pj in '98. Scalpers were making such a killing, that everyone else realized there were untapped funds and wanted there share, and now ticket prices for everything are insane. Tickets still sell... it just shows how big the demand is for live music.

lukin14 · July 2009

DewieCox wrote:

Comparing PJ to Aerosmith is your first mistake. oranges and apples

Compare them to a similarly minded band like Radiohead and PJ's prices are absurd.

PJ shows are worth it to me, but they're tix ARE overpriced.

But Radiohead is complete shit, and Pearl Jam is not.. so again, apples to oranges..

Scott36 wrote:

And how can you say that they play so much longer than other bands? Hell, Eddie played maybe 80 minutes in Baltimore. I've been to plenty of other shows with bands that play long sets.

Eddie does not have a back catalog of a hundred songs to pick from any given night.. I doubt he'd want to play all PJ songs all night by himself..

Ledbetterman10 · July 2009

DewieCox wrote:

Comparing PJ to Aerosmith is your first mistake. oranges and apples

Compare them to a similarly minded band like Radiohead and PJ's prices are absurd.

PJ shows are worth it to me, but they're tix ARE overpriced.

How much does Radiohead charge?

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun · July 2009

since they're all filthy rich now, shouldnt prices be going down? or flat?

vedder_soup · July 2009

daryl jam · July 2009

Tom Petty/Steve Winwood @ The Gorge
45 USD Row 24
3 hrs of music

Tragically Hip @ The Orpheum Theater
55 CDN
2 1/2 hrs of music

seems like good value compared to the likes of u2, AC DC, even TOOL

Solat13 · July 2009

elwayvedder wrote:

I dont think anyone is arguing their prices versus the prices of bands like aerosmith etc. I think the debate is how how PJ tix have gone in a relatively small amount of time. Its all relative to the % increase from a certain time until now. Looking back at my ticket order history and basically PJ tix have doubled since 2003, give or take

I'm not complaining and will be going to a bunch of shows, but you hit the nail on the head.

It's the % increase that is a little alarming.

The Spectrum in 2003 was $37 a ticket. This year its $77. At this rate, in another 5 or 6 years, we're looking at like $120 or more a ticket.

Cosmo · July 2009

Personally... I don't care so much about the prices anymore. I mean, it's not like they tour every year. The last time I saw them was in 2006... except for that Who thing... so, i had 3 years to build up the war chest. And I'm not so much of a traveler, so I'm not spending money on airport shuttle vans, airlines, hotels and car rentals. I am grateful that I live in a place where i can hit 5 gigs, well within a reasonable round trip by car... which I do not take for granted.
And the way I look at it... it's only money, right?

DewieCox · July 2009

Cosmo wrote:

Personally... I don't care so much about the prices anymore. I mean, it's not like they tour every year. The last time I saw them was in 2006... except for that Who thing... so, i had 3 years to build up the war chest. And I'm not so much of a traveler, so I'm not spending money on airport shuttle vans, airlines, hotels and car rentals. I am grateful that I live in a place where i can hit 5 gigs, well within a reasonable round trip by car... which I do not take for granted.
And the way I look at it... it's only money, right?

Hasn't there been a legit tour(not quite worldwide or even national but tours nonetheless) every year since 2003 and at least some shows every year of the bands existence.

Cosmo · July 2009

DewieCox wrote:

Cosmo wrote:

Personally... I don't care so much about the prices anymore. I mean, it's not like they tour every year. The last time I saw them was in 2006... except for that Who thing... so, i had 3 years to build up the war chest. And I'm not so much of a traveler, so I'm not spending money on airport shuttle vans, airlines, hotels and car rentals. I am grateful that I live in a place where i can hit 5 gigs, well within a reasonable round trip by car... which I do not take for granted.
And the way I look at it... it's only money, right?

Hasn't there been a legit tour(not quite worldwide or even national but tours nonetheless) every year since 2003 and at least some shows every year of the bands existence.

...
Yes... there have. They have played several shows between 2006 and now. Just not within striking distance for me.
I'm not big on travel... I think it's from all of that business travel I used to have to do. It soured me on airports, hotels and rental cars. So, I save my money til they come around here... and if it's 3 years... that's okay. There are a lot of other things to do in the meantime.

thefin190 · July 2009

vedder_soup wrote:

I loved these, they are so true.

Greg354xxx · July 2009

AUS 2006 shows were approx $175US with a pre-Sex on Fire biggest band in the world Kings of Leon opening.

vedder_soup · July 2009

Greg354xxx wrote:

AUS 2006 shows were approx $175US with a pre-Sex on Fire biggest band in the world Kings of Leon opening.

and when KOL just charged the equivalent of $73US a ticket for their shows out here, how much will they be this time????

Greg354xxx · July 2009

I should have clarified - that was $175US for a pair of tix through 10C, not for 1 ticket.

vedder_soup · July 2009

Greg354xxx wrote:

I should have clarified - that was $175US for a pair of tix through 10C, not for 1 ticket.

i know that, i know it was for a pair, but people are bitching about paying $70US for a PJ ticket and that is the sort of cash we drop for any arena sized show, minimum. that is why i am always in these threads telling people to come to shows here, and then they will stop complaining!

oh, and for a point of reference with tickets... i saw today the visa presale tickets for Nickleback are $169 AUD - $138 USD PER TICKET!!!! that does have a $20 premium on them for visa presale, but still! :twisted: :roll:

Wolf At Bay · July 2009

Let's not forget that a lot of the big bands that charge ridiculous ticket prices, like your Aerosmiths and your U2s have a set show, and don't expect people to see them more than once per tour. No one would want to. PJ on the other hand has a fanbase that strongly desires seeing multiple shows per tour and the band KNOWS this. And that is why the ticket prices are too high. They have guaranteed repeat customers, but still keep raising the ticket prices. The jump from around $55 per ticket in 06 to like $80 per ticket this year is way out of proportion.

PJeff · July 2009

Wolf At Bay wrote:

The jump from around $55 per ticket in 06 to like $80 per ticket this year is way out of proportion.

Was it? Many people still bought tickets to multiple shows.

Scott36 · July 2009

Just LAST YEAR, tickets were $62. In one year, a $15 jump is pretty damn big. Especially given the fact that the economy is in such a backslide right now. Prices are going way up each year. I'm not sure how high they can go before shows stop selling out. I guess they can charge these prices if they're only going to play between about 5-15 U.S. shows per year. My biggest beef is just that the band used to talk so much about keeping their ticket prices low and affordable for fans. If it was $20 15 years ago, shouldn't it be about $40 now? I guess some of the principles have changed, but it makes it hard for younger fans to afford to see the band too much when you factor in the cost of travel that becomes a necessity due to their lack of touring.

nfanel · July 2009

PJeff wrote:

Wolf At Bay wrote:

The jump from around $55 per ticket in 06 to like $80 per ticket this year is way out of proportion.

Was it? Many people still bought tickets to multiple shows.

yup. supply and demand, people. for me these concerts are worth every penny...i can't imagine a better way to spend $80. nobody is making you purchase tickets.

For those complaining about ticket prices

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