Ticket prices. This is not for you (the fans).

kaw753 · March 2024

JOEJOEJOE said:

For the econ geeks amongst us:

Concert Tickets
Only Taylor Swift can offer a Taylor Swift concert. She holds a monopoly on the creation and delivery of that experience. There is no substitute, and loyal fans are willing to pay for the experience. Because it is a scarce resource and the delivery is tightly controlled by a single provider, access to concerts has inelastic demand.

I saw today that Singapore paid Taylor Swift to only play Singapore and no other Southeast Asian countries.

josevolution · March 2024

I don’t mind paying more but I have to get a good return for the cash I put out! For instance I spent close to $2k for three days in Vegas to see U2 at the sphere! It was worth every single cent

Zod · March 2024

SHZA said:

But inelastic demand typically pertains to necessities (utilities, prescription drugs) whereas luxury items have the most elastic demand. If TS decided to charge $5,000 per ticket I think we'd see some elasticity

Yah, but we'd probably see it on gas too, if has went from $4/gallon to $400/gallon

It's that so far many items haven't pushed the price far enough to lower the demand below how many people are willing to buy tickets. I am curious to know if the concert industry will hit the wall.

on2legs · March 2024

Check the prices of a Broadway play. You’re easily paying $250 a ticket face value for lower level seating. And they perform a show like 8 times a week. For months or even years. When you compare it to a concert that is one or two nights only in your city every 3 years, suddenly the price of a concert ticket seems more reasonable.

mikesbri · March 2024

Just noticed Vancouver released some great seats. Unfortunate these don't go to 10c members.

mcgruff10 · March 2024

I ll throw in some cash to get @lastexitlondon to a show. Come on rob you know you want to go!!!

YourDirtisMyfood · March 2024

Fun Fact: I paid $49 to see Taylor Swift in concert at Gillette Stadium in May of last year (the rain show, IYKYK). How? When the tickets dropped via TM on November 15th, 2022, I had 6 browsers up and somehow got in and those seats off to the side of the stage were all that was left. But for $49 (probably $70 with fees), I bought them.

2-feign-reluctance · March 2024

PJ_Soul said:

SHZA said:

Zod said:

23scidoo said:

jimjam1982 said:

pjhawks said:

It's really got to suck for the guys in the band to be held to standards they set for themselves 25-30 years ago. I sure as heck don't want people in my life to hold me to the same standards or beliefs I had when I was 20-25 years old. Maybe stop holding them to those standards of yesteryear or put them on a pedestal that they are above what other bands do or charge. No system they implement is going to be perfect, but the more 10C seats and the availability of every show is still pretty damn good. The premium prices is a really easy decision for most people. Either you are ok with paying it or not. It shouldn't be a two week bitch fest about the cost in my opinion because the old days aren't coming back.

Right?

They fought for their fanbase that was 16 to 26 years old primarily at the time....which btw is when you are at your poorest.

If you can't afford shows now... No one to blame but the choices you have made of your own free will. 30 years later and you haven't grown and made more money? Take a long hard look in the mirror before blaming the band. Your decisions aren't the bands fault. Plenty of things to complain about in this world and Pearl Jam ticket prices aren't one of them.

Very bad..its the second time i think im reading posts about ''life choices''..ridiculous..

not exactly ridiculous. I think the reason veteran act's can charge more is because on average they have older fans, who on average have higher amounts of disposable income. Not everyone, but on average.

It's why when we were young PJ, Nirvana, etc.. tickets were pretty cheap, but a Stones show would cost 3x as much.

It's also technically the cycle many people go through in their career. Late teen's and 20's, you figure out some education, figure out skills sets, build a career. Get into your 30's you try to make sure you own a home and start building equity. Get to your 40s and 50s and you should be in peak earning years (due to skills and experience). That's when you do a lot of retirement saving etc.. Lots of people go through that cycle, it's not really ridiculous. Yes some people get hit by the bad luck bus, but that's how it works for many people.

Like for me, the hardest tickets I ever bought were the ones for the 2000 tour. They were all US dates, FX rate was awful, it was my first year of university. I think after FX the Seattle tickets worked out to about 60cdn. That was so hard to scrape up money. a $208cdn 2024 ticket seems way less painful to me than a $60 2000 ticket.

I think saying that anyone who would feel financial strain from paying the current prices must have made poor "life choices" is a bad and condescending take. Any individual's financial circumstance is based on many factors. Not everyone has the same opportunities, priorities, or family situation. And misfortune can strike though no choice at all. If someone devotes their career to public service, teaching, etc., implying that they made a bad choice because concert tickets are less affordable is pretty insulting.

Agreed, but not only that, a lot of people who can afford such prices perfectly well may still have a problem with prices just because they are a total rip off, and/or because they care if people from all walks of life are able to attend concerts with them. I don't think those with money suddenly lose the concept of value for your dollar or fairness or accessibility for consumers.

For the win. Would be a perfect close to this thread.

MD190661 · March 2024

droptheleash9 said:

I'm not here to carry water for the band and I'll happily call them out when I disagree with them. That said, Pearl Jam ticket prices have long been kept artificially low relative to what they could be charging. What the band charges has frequently been been multiples less than what comparable acts were asking for for their seats, particularly in the best locations. As for the PJ Premium seats, those are a small portion of the seats available so to act like that is the price for all tickets is disingenuous. PJ Premium seats are also a concession in order for the band to even get 10 club seats in todays day and age. Imagine if the folks here had to pay market price and didn't have the opportunity for 10c drawings like 99% of other musical acts?

Yes. Things have changed. Yes the band has softened its stance on dealing with the devil (ticketmaster). Is it a perfect system? No. That doesn't mean we don't have it better than fans of most bands when it comes to ticket prices. Would you rather be paying $1,300 on stubhub before fees to get an obstructed view balcony seat to Taylor Swift?

Just looked on ticketmaster for Springsteen tickets at the end of the month. They just added some face value seats near the stage. $400 a pop before fees. Not resale, not platinum. The ones behind the stage are $199 before $50 in fees. I'd never pay either to see anyone, esp acts I've seen at least 10 times. So, yes, PJ is charging a lot, but at least they aren't charing Bruce prices.

YourDirtisMyfood · March 2024

Fun Fact: I saw Bruce at Gillette last August for around $55 (before fees) in the 300s. Fun concert, my first time seeing him and although rain was in the forecast, it held off thankfully.

Chrrie · March 2024

PJ_Soul said:

SHZA said:

Zod said:

23scidoo said:

jimjam1982 said:

pjhawks said:

It's really got to suck for the guys in the band to be held to standards they set for themselves 25-30 years ago. I sure as heck don't want people in my life to hold me to the same standards or beliefs I had when I was 20-25 years old. Maybe stop holding them to those standards of yesteryear or put them on a pedestal that they are above what other bands do or charge. No system they implement is going to be perfect, but the more 10C seats and the availability of every show is still pretty damn good. The premium prices is a really easy decision for most people. Either you are ok with paying it or not. It shouldn't be a two week bitch fest about the cost in my opinion because the old days aren't coming back.

Right?

They fought for their fanbase that was 16 to 26 years old primarily at the time....which btw is when you are at your poorest.

If you can't afford shows now... No one to blame but the choices you have made of your own free will. 30 years later and you haven't grown and made more money? Take a long hard look in the mirror before blaming the band. Your decisions aren't the bands fault. Plenty of things to complain about in this world and Pearl Jam ticket prices aren't one of them.

Very bad..its the second time i think im reading posts about ''life choices''..ridiculous..

not exactly ridiculous. I think the reason veteran act's can charge more is because on average they have older fans, who on average have higher amounts of disposable income. Not everyone, but on average.

It's why when we were young PJ, Nirvana, etc.. tickets were pretty cheap, but a Stones show would cost 3x as much.

It's also technically the cycle many people go through in their career. Late teen's and 20's, you figure out some education, figure out skills sets, build a career. Get into your 30's you try to make sure you own a home and start building equity. Get to your 40s and 50s and you should be in peak earning years (due to skills and experience). That's when you do a lot of retirement saving etc.. Lots of people go through that cycle, it's not really ridiculous. Yes some people get hit by the bad luck bus, but that's how it works for many people.

Like for me, the hardest tickets I ever bought were the ones for the 2000 tour. They were all US dates, FX rate was awful, it was my first year of university. I think after FX the Seattle tickets worked out to about 60cdn. That was so hard to scrape up money. a $208cdn 2024 ticket seems way less painful to me than a $60 2000 ticket.

I think saying that anyone who would feel financial strain from paying the current prices must have made poor "life choices" is a bad and condescending take. Any individual's financial circumstance is based on many factors. Not everyone has the same opportunities, priorities, or family situation. And misfortune can strike though no choice at all. If someone devotes their career to public service, teaching, etc., implying that they made a bad choice because concert tickets are less affordable is pretty insulting.

Agreed, but not only that, a lot of people who can afford such prices perfectly well may still have a problem with prices just because they are a total rip off, and/or because they care if people from all walks of life are able to attend concerts with them. I don't think those with money suddenly lose the concept of value for your dollar or fairness or accessibility for consumers.

These threads can continue on into infinity because there are people who don’t consider it a ripoff and people who need more value for their money. No side is right or wrong. PJ could release spreadsheets of the tour financial data which showed an itemized breakdown of where every dollar went and there would still be an argument about what should have cost less and who should be paid less.

I personally don’t care if Jeff could buy the entire state of Montana and turn it into a buffalo habitat with the earnings from this tour alone because I will always want the product they’re selling for as long as they sell it. But there’s no point in trying to convince someone to change their stance because it’s your right to feel whatever way you want and it’s also your right to voice your displeasure about it. Questioning people’s life choices for not wanting to spend $185 and attacking the character of the band over ticket prices as if you personally know them and have all the facts are equally bad looks though.

OfThePearl · March 2024

Refreshing post.

ComeToTX · March 2024

Well said

Tim Simmons · March 2024

great take

seanwon · March 2024

pdalowsky · March 2024

mcgruff10 said:

I ll throw in some cash to get @lastexitlondon to a show. Come on rob you know you want to go!!!

Im definitely game for this, and if Rob refuses to come along we can get a united shirt mailed to him

Tjm007 · March 2024

on2legs said:

Check the prices of a Broadway play. You’re easily paying $250 a ticket face value for lower level seating. And they perform a show like 8 times a week. For months or even years. When you compare it to a concert that is one or two nights only in your city every 3 years, suddenly the price of a concert ticket seems more reasonable.

If the alternative is listen to a PJ album in the morning then cycle down to the pub for a few drinks with mates in the sun then home to watch Glastonbury on the telly vs £160 ticket plus £25 train then long queues, crap food plus crap £8 beers to watch an ant sized Stone Gossard play through a crap stadium sound system then I will see you at the Dog and Duck. I love PJ and have been a fan for 30+ years but sh1t venue and sh1t price swings the balance.

LF183187 · March 2024

I’d rather be with an Aynimal

Some of the same arguments are in line with why we should not tax the ultra wealthy. My income has increased tenfold over the last 20 years, but that is not the same as ten million turning to 100 million and on and on.

Pearl Jam have shifted from a band somewhat sticking by the principles they preach (Green Disease, Soon Forget etc) to old rich dudes who larp as liberals while not living in the trenches of reality.

on2legs · March 2024

Tjm007 said:

on2legs said:

Check the prices of a Broadway play. You’re easily paying $250 a ticket face value for lower level seating. And they perform a show like 8 times a week. For months or even years. When you compare it to a concert that is one or two nights only in your city every 3 years, suddenly the price of a concert ticket seems more reasonable.

If the alternative is listen to a PJ album in the morning then cycle down to the pub for a few drinks with mates in the sun then home to watch Glastonbury on the telly vs £160 ticket plus £25 train then long queues, crap food plus crap £8 beers to watch an ant sized Stone Gossard play through a crap stadium sound system then I will see you at the Dog and Duck. I love PJ and have been a fan for 30+ years but sh1t venue and sh1t price swings the balance.

I certainly respect your take and it definitely has to make sense financially for people. I realize the Euro tour was a big sticker shock to fans in those countries. I’m not happy about the price creeping ever upward either. But I’ve never regretted going to a Pearl Jam show… even if it wasn’t an optimal experience (Wrigley with the rain or SHN with the festival setup). And it’s usually a fantastic experience. Seeing them 4 or 5 times in a tour can get pricey, but they don’t tour every year. So if you divide the total cost by 3, it makes it a more reasonable expense in my mind and more comparable to seeing a band once or twice on a yearly basis.

kmcmanus · March 2024

Jeff turns 61 this weekend. Matt is already 61. How many more chances will we get? Almost everything costs more than it used to, it sucks. But some things are worth splurging on. If you had asked me in 2016 if I would have ever seen Petty or Soundgarden again I would have said “of course”, and I would have been wrong. So if I have to pay $18 more for MSG this year than I paid for Indy last year, I’m at peace with that. Especially considering that the tix are a drop in the bucket for getting to/staying in NYC & Indy from Syracuse.

This isn’t gonna last forever. And I doubt we’re gonna get advance notice when it ends. So I’m gonna act accordingly.

Ticket prices. This is not for you (the fans).

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