Ticket Prices

John Parker · From: Golden Valley, Az. USA

The local radio station is advertising two upcoming concerts in March here in Arkansas. Merle Haggard, who will be in Malverne, and George Strait, who will be in Little Rock.
Tickets for Merle are $50.00 and tickets for George are $49.00 and $59.00.

I got to thinking about the ticket prices and came to realize how expensive it would be to go. To buy two tickets (Got to take the wife if I want to continue living.)- $100.00, dinner for two - $50.00 (Got to be a nice one), T-shirts, CD's, drinks at the concert, etc.- $50.00-$60.00, total cost- $200.00+ for the evening.

Call me cheap or whatever but I'm just a working stiff. Merle, George, sorry guys, I can't afford you, you're just too expensive for me.

How about anybody else our there? How do feel about the price of concert tickets?

John Parker
Zumsteel SD10 3x5
Peavey Session 400

[This message was edited by John Parker on 26 January 2004 at 03:55 PM.]

Tom Olson · From: Spokane, WA

I haven't been to a concert in close to 20 years, but from what I've been seeing, those prices aren't too far out of line for any big-name act. I'll agree, though -- it's mighty pricey.

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

As a Christmas present, our daughters took my wife and I to see the international star Sarah Brightman* do her show in Atlanta last Monday night. The tickets were $125 each!

My youngest daughter's husband buys season tickets to the Atlanta Braves which are around $2000 a year.

Like you, I would not pay it, but from the looks of things, they don't seem to suffer for lack of an audience. Proving that people WILL buy or pay for anything they want. When stars command "millions", it would take an incredible amount of 10 dollar tickets to fulfill that demand. The person I really feel sorry for is the producer, cuz he is the LAST one to get paid, assuming there is anything left. A mighty risky endeavor I suspect.

carl

* The show was incredibly good. It was indescribable. It is no wonder she is so popular worlwide.

[This message was edited by C Dixon on 26 January 2004 at 04:29 PM.]

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Cut the "gingerbread", and buy two tickets. Parking may cost another $10. So, your entertainment for the evening costs you $110.

You have been "programmed" to think you have to buy "dinner out", and drinks, and then go shopping for CD's and T-shirts to enjoy good music.

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

Besides the too high ticket prices, the last 2 concerts I went to (George Jones & Alan Jackson) I couldn't enjoy the concert because of a bunch of screaming fans standing up. They wouldn't shut up and sit down until I could enjoy the concert. I left disgusted and said that was my last. That was several years ago and I haven't been back since. David Copperfield was here last Sunday night and the tickets were $47.00 for a one hour show. I asked myself what could he possibly do that I would pay $47.00 to see. Answer: Nothing! So I didn' go. I just catch the acts when they appear at the fair. I can watch for free at a distance or get a seat down front for $5.00. I just hate having the bass and drums pound my chest and it makes my girfriend so uncomfortable we have to leave most of the time.

Ken Lang · From: Simi Valley, Ca

We went to a Hag show about 5 years ago in small venue (maybe 500 seats) about an hour and a half drive from the house. I don't remember the ticket price but it was probably around $50. It was a thing where we could have gone and come back that night but we made it an adventure instead.

We got a room in a fancy hotel, drove down
sat. morning, checked in and spent the day crusing around and at night went to the concert. When it was over we went to the hotel which was 5 minutes away and bedded down.

In the morning we had a leasurely breakfast and headed home. We don't get to many concerts but when we do it's nice to have saved the money and make a relaxed affair of the whole thing.

Bill Crook · From: Goodlettsville, TN , Spending my kid's inheritance

I agree with George.........

I went to a show (Brooks & Dunn, Reba Mc'entire) here in Nashville. The sound was so loud,that all one could hear was continous roar.(Bass was thunderous) the acustics in the Gaylord arena is the pits. Also there were,all around us,screaming,yelling girls,clapping that sounded like shotgun blasts. Sound level had to be far above 120 Db. This was NOT a good experience for us.

Went to another concert a year later. The same thing happened. Again, NOT a good experience. Later, had a discussion about the sound level,Acustics,and screaming morons,with some friends. they all said this was the normal. I don't go to concerts anymore. (Even if they were free of charge)

Besides,the ticket charges are far in excess of normal reasonable prices. And in a couple of months, I can see the whole thing on Cable T.V.

Ron Page · From: Penn Yan, NY USA

My experience is that the screamers will be at the George Strait event but not the Merle Haggard show. Merle isn't going to play loud enough to wake the dead and the screamers are mostly in the 18-30 age group.

Go to the gig, sit back, relax and enjoy the show. Ask yourself, "I wonder what the poor folks are doing tonight?"... and by tomorrow you'll begin to know the answer.

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HagFan

Leroy Riggs · From: Looney Tunes, R.I.P.

Awhile back, Bill Gaither was coming to Denver with his religious quartet and the price of his tickets were $160 each. We didn't go and we don't go to many shows because of the very high prices.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Steve Pacholl · From: Minneapolis

In the summer of 1997 I saw Johnny Cash in a 300 seat venue. Tickets were $50 each. In a venue that small, I felt it was well worth the price. Bought tickets for both nights/shows. For an added bonus, Mr T. sat in front of me during the first show.

During the last Springsteen tour I paid $95. I've never been disappointed by a Springsteen show and never felt cheated. Of the $95, Ticketbastard got $20 and local taxes/fees got $6. I have found that Ticketbastard will charge higher fees for the popular shows that they know will sell out.

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

I paid to go to a concert one time, but never again....I don't pay that much for a new suit!

The only concerts I've been to since was with a backstage pass or I was working in it. You could probably buy every album the artist ever made for less money.

However, I do attend the steel-guitar events. I've always thought they were reasonably priced for what you get in return!
www.genejones.com

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

go see Merle..he's worth twice the price..

Think about it..$50..

thats 3 large pizza's...

t

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

Tony.....That's still more than I pay for a suit!

Ron Page · From: Penn Yan, NY USA

Tony said it perfectly!

My daughter works at a pizza parlor and I get a real sweet deal on those pizzas. So, maybe it's 5 large pizzas, but I can eat it all.

In all honesty, I've never paid close to $50 for the many Hag concerts tickets I've bought. I would pay it, but never had to. I really prefer his show in the small venues where everyone in the place can just about touch him. When I've seen those shows he's always been very engaging with the audience.

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HagFan

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

....or a pizza!

(I'm cheap)

Nicholas Dedring · From: Beacon, New York, USA

One thing that I would think about is two experiences I had a while ago...

This is going back a little way, but when Dizzy Gillespie was playing for his 75th birthday at the bluenote, I wanted to go... but I was just a broke student, so the price for the table, and the drink minimum and all that was way out of my range.

A few years back, Nina Simone played Carnegie Hall... tickets were (I don't remember for sure) $65 for nosebleed, up to a few hundred for orchestra seats... and it was sold out by the time I got through. I think I might have coughed it up had the seats been available, but with great reluctance. She died the following year, and now no amount of money will get me into a show of hers.

Dizzy died a year or three after that blue-note gig, and I didn't get to hear him either... if Merle comes to my neck of the woods, I'll throw down $50 to see him. When am I going to get another chance?

Steve Pacholl · From: Minneapolis

I'd hate to imagine what a $50 suit looks like.

Most of the shows I see are either comp'd or I'm working backstage, so to spend a few bucks to see a good show every once in a while doesn't bother me. In fact it helps me justify spending $50 for show by someone I really admire. Especially in a small venue.