[CarbonTi]

I don't go to concerts as often as I would like, last show I saw was the Cream reunion concert at MSG. Reminded me that you can never go back, nostalgicly speaking. Anyway...

What is the deal with ticket prices these days?? How do kids get to see shows anymore? My teenager showed me the schedule for Jones Beach Theater here in NY and top ticket prices were routinely over $300. Dylan for $600, Aerosmith VIP tickets for over $1K. Taylor Hicks (!) on the bill with Earth, Wind & Fire. Is this really where it's at these days? Doesn't seem right to me - these guys have every right to make a buck but this feels like a money grab.

Related to this: What was your first concert as a young adult/kid and what'd it cost you to get in?

I was in 8th grade and I went to see Yes at Madison Square Garden. The ticket was $7.50 for the gray seats. 2 subway tokens to get there and back.

 

[grawk]

Look at it this way: You're a wealthy, over 60 former rock star. You're comfortable in your life, live in a house much nicer than a hotel, and can do whatever you want. What would it take you to go back on the road, living on a bus and in hotels, performing songs you wrote 30+ years ago? The ticket prices reflect that. If you want to pay $10, you still can, just don't go see yesterday's stars. Go to the clubs and see the bands on the way up.

 

[smeerkaas]

My first concert was about a year ago.

I went to see Radiohead, it cost me 50 euro.

Excluding VIP tickets, Tickets for popular artists will cost about 50 euro over here. Less popular artists will cost about 30 euro's. Relatively unknown artists can be cheaper.

 

[bhd812]

Have any idea of how big a concert event is or how many people are behind the scenes? there are hundreds on hundreds of people who work these shows and they all not only have to get paid but paid well.

then there is the cost of the promoter renting out the space, insurance for the building, people, gear, etc times 5. promoter has to get paid (and they do!).


When I was a manager at a Grocery store rite by solder field a food company who buy $20k of groceries from us like it was nothing..and the sad part the food was only for "some" of the early setup ground crew..not everyone.

there are shows that have 30+ semi Rigs of gear moving from town to town..dont even think of how much the gear costs to lease..or the people to setup the gear, or the cost of the gas for the trucks or..or..or

if anyone gets a chance to see a major concert being setup in the early stages then please do, your brain will spin from the amount of human work and the timing and precision of the setup all together.

 

[RYCeT]

Well, I usually don't go for top/VIP tickets, I find regular price are quite affordable, around $60-$90 dollars. The cheapest I went to is Nickelback in Borgata's Atlantic City for $25.00 standing venue only.

 

[fatcat28037]

I've been to see the Stones and Clapton in the 18 months, tickes were $60 to around $400 and that's in Charlotte. I have tickets for Alison krauss & Union Station at the same venu, Bobcat Arena, they were $46 for floor seats, that I can deal with.

 

[zotjen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarbonTi /img/forum/go_quote.gif Related to this: What was your first concert as a young adult/kid and what'd it cost you to get in?

I saw Joan Jett in 1982 for $6.

In the early 90's I saw the Tom Tom Club and I remember Tina Weymouth urging concert goers to boycott all concerts that cost $30, which was the new high at that time.

 

[Purgatos]

I saw Queen with Paul Rogers last year and I got my ticket for free, but it said $150 on it!

 

[feh1325]

linkin park in 8th grade

it sucks these days, ticketmaster takes 10 bucks a ticket for just looking at it

 

[goldenratiophi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarbonTi /img/forum/go_quote.gif Related to this: What was your first concert as a young adult/kid and what'd it cost you to get in?

Cleveland Ska Festival, ft. Mustard Plug - $13

 

[sebastian589]

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldenratiophi /img/forum/go_quote.gif Cleveland Ska Festival, ft. Mustard Plug - $13

Who else was on the ticket? I miss the old ska concerts, they were always fun ::sigh::

My first was at the 400 bar FOR FREE, I actually don't remember which one was the first

My neighboor owns the 400 Bar in Minneapolis and gets me into alot of good shows featuring bands on their way to the top so I've seen quite a few god bands before I even knew I liked them, White Stripes, The National, Clap Your hands Say Yeah, Olivia Tremor Control, Broken Social Scene, Fiery Furnaces, New Pornographers, the Walkmen and even Neutral Milk Hotel to name a few, the Neutral Milk Hotel might have actually been the first.

 

[GlendaleViper]

Wow, Mustard Plug headlined that festival? Way to go guys!

I avoid big festivals or arena shows. The most I've paid for a ticket is $50 which was, believe it or not, for a Bad Religion show. We ran with it and took a limo to the show.

Typical tickets run $10 for smaller acts and $35 for "big" ones like Ween (the only band I would pay big money for and I don't need to!).

 

[mbriant]

In the same time frame, the price of big name concert tickets has gone up a lot more than the price of automobiles.

 

[goldenratiophi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebastian589 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Who else was on the ticket? I miss the old ska concerts, they were always fun ::sigh::

A bunch of local Cleveland bands you've probably never heard of

If you care, the first act was called Sofapunch, followed by the Free Sample Tuesdays, then 80HD, then The Flatliners, then Deals Gone Bad, and finally Mustard Plug.

It was loads of fun though! But NEVER wear a warm hoodie to a 5 hour ska show!!

mbriant: Are those all your ticket scans? Man, I wish I could see Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, and Roxy Music for less than $10!

 

[GlendaleViper]

mbriant - I bow to you, good sir. That is one spectacular concert list. I presume those are yours, given the venues?

[EDIT] Holy Crap, 1978, CFNY presents Cheap Trick... gahd how that radio station has slipped since.