| YourValentine 05.06.2007 03:49 |
Only a few days before the concert in Frankfurt on June 13th, the Stones offer considerably cheaper general admission tickets and move the stage from the smaller end to the long side of the stadium thus removing 10 000 unsold seats. They simply do not sell 35 000 tickets between 84 and 190 euros, now they offer general admission tickets for 59 euros hoping to sell 25 000. It's great that people finally stop paying these exaggerated prices, I hope it becomes a trend. |
| Mr Mercury 05.06.2007 04:56 |
I seriously hope this becomes a trend as well. Too often in the past have I stopped going to gigs because of the over-bloated ticket price. As much as I like the Stones, I would never pay their exorbitant ticket prices. 190 euro's is scandalous. |
| The prophet's song 05.06.2007 05:22 |
Roughly, how much is 1 euro compared to 1 pound? |
| YourValentine 05.06.2007 05:54 |
1 euro is about 0,67 pounds or 1,35 US dollars link Amazingly, the first ever and only Barbra Streisand concert in Germany, Berlin June 30th is not sold out yet, either. There are loads of categoy 2 tickets left. Ticket price category 2: 391 euro! Like you, Mr. Mercury, I have passed many concerts in the last years because I would not enjoy them feeling ripped off. Many tours are in the hands of international agencies now, so the local promoters have no say in the pricing anymore. Only if big artists must fear to play to half empty stadiums the situation will change. |
| The prophet's song 05.06.2007 06:39 |
^Thanks YV Wow, thats about $340 NZD. I'd rather pay $11 to see Keith Richards in POTC3 quite frankly. |
| Mr.Jingles 05.06.2007 08:41 |
The best concerts I've ever been to have been the cheapest ones. Green Day $35 Muse $30 This is the reason why I did not want to pay over $100 to see U2 on their Vertigo Tour. Lame setlist with mellow songs are just quite simply not worth the money I'm paying. Legendary bands who have been around for decades should learn a couple of things from the newcomers. |
| The Fairy King 05.06.2007 09:26 |
Mr.Jingles wrote: The best concerts I've ever been to have been the cheapest ones. Green Day $35 Muse $30 This is the reason why I did not want to pay over $100 to see U2 on their Vertigo Tour. Lame setlist with mellow songs are just quite simply not worth the money I'm paying. Legendary bands who have been around for decades should learn a couple of things from the newcomers.Muse and Green Day aren't newcomers Dan. :) But i agree with you that artists like U2, Stones and Madonna should really reconsider the expences they make to put on a good show. Muse put on a great show with ditto lights and pyrotechnics and sell tickets for less than 40 Dollar/Euro...and they're not losing any money in the process. |
| AspiringPhilosophe 05.06.2007 09:59 |
If you ask the artists, they say that prices are going up because they are required to have such a show. They can't just play anymore, they argue...since the invention of music videos and things the audience demands a visual show, with fireworks and complex sets and all kinds of art stuff that is expensive. OK...maybe I buy that argument, but what they don't realize is what we have all said here...there is a limit to what we are willing to pay to see a show. Entertainment is good, but you can, and it appears that some do, price themselves right out of the market. Why bother paying upwards of $100 per ticket for nosebleed seats when you can buy a CD for less than $20? Personally, I'd rather they go back to the days when they just sat and played, and did a little more interaction with the audience....a much cooler experience than trying to make a music video come to life on stage, IMHO. |
| willem-jan 8923 05.06.2007 10:04 |
CMU HistoryGirl wrote: If you ask the artists, they say that prices are going up because they are required to have such a show. They can't just play anymore, they argue...since the invention of music videos and things the audience demands a visual show, with fireworks and complex sets and all kinds of art stuff that is expensive. OK...maybe I buy that argument, but what they don't realize is what we have all said here...there is a limit to what we are willing to pay to see a show. Entertainment is good, but you can, and it appears that some do, price themselves right out of the market. Why bother paying upwards of $100 per ticket for nosebleed seats when you can buy a CD for less than $20? Personally, I'd rather they go back to the days when they just sat and played, and did a little more interaction with the audience....a much cooler experience than trying to make a music video come to life on stage, IMHO.In those days bands made a living by selling CD's. The shows were to support the CD sales. With everybody downloading CD's for free, they need to get some money from shows. At least, for "new" bands, I can see where the high prices are coming from. The Stones (and other huge names) on the other hand don't need to make that much money any more I would say. They just follow the trend of increasing prices and see how much money you can grab (I'd do the same though). |
| YourValentine 05.06.2007 10:17 |
In the 1970s, when touring really started, the bands actually supported their records by touring. Today they want to be paid big money for playing to their audience. It does not mean that they do not make money from selling records and getting royalties from airplay etc. It has turned into a matter of reputation: who gets the most money from a tour seems to be the biggest star. As a result the audience changes: while in the 1970s, 80s and 90s mostly young people went to Rock concerts today the best tickets are not even for public sale. The "business" really has changed from a culture of the youth to big corporate money. We see a similar development in football with all the expensive VIP packages. However - should the masses be fed up some day, the whole hype will collapse. Why should young people pay so much for greedy old millionaires when there are still small festivals with genuine music and fair prices... |
| AspiringPhilosophe 05.06.2007 10:21 |
willem-jan wrote:You bring up a good point, but I think the free downloading thing is hurting the record companies more than the artists...But that's another issue.CMU HistoryGirl wrote: If you ask the artists, they say that prices are going up because they are required to have such a show. They can't just play anymore, they argue...since the invention of music videos and things the audience demands a visual show, with fireworks and complex sets and all kinds of art stuff that is expensive. OK...maybe I buy that argument, but what they don't realize is what we have all said here...there is a limit to what we are willing to pay to see a show. Entertainment is good, but you can, and it appears that some do, price themselves right out of the market. Why bother paying upwards of $100 per ticket for nosebleed seats when you can buy a CD for less than $20? Personally, I'd rather they go back to the days when they just sat and played, and did a little more interaction with the audience....a much cooler experience than trying to make a music video come to life on stage, IMHO.In those days bands made a living by selling CD's. The shows were to support the CD sales. With everybody downloading CD's for free, they need to get some money from shows. At least, for "new" bands, I can see where the high prices are coming from. The Stones (and other huge names) on the other hand don't need to make that much money any more I would say. They just follow the trend of increasing prices and see how much money you can grab (I'd do the same though). Bottom line is that they need to give the audiences a different experience than just a re-hash of their latest and greatest CD's. They decided to go about it the expensive way, with flashy lights, sets, and all kinds of other bells and whistles. That's fine...but eventually they will price themselves out of interest. A cheaper way they could do it, that would provoke more people to buy their CD's, I think, is to make the shows smaller, but more intimate. More audience interaction, different songs, acoustic versions even if you have to. People will willingly pay for the experience if they feel the experience is worthwhile, instead of artists lip synching to their latest CD and hiding behind fireworks and movie screens. Been there, done that...and it's not worth the price. |
| AspiringPhilosophe 05.06.2007 10:25 |
YourValentine wrote: In the 1970s, when touring really started, the bands actually supported their records by touring. Today they want to be paid big money for playing to their audience. It does not mean that they do not make money from selling records and getting royalties from airplay etc. It has turned into a matter of reputation: who gets the most money from a tour seems to be the biggest star. As a result the audience changes: while in the 1970s, 80s and 90s mostly young people went to Rock concerts today the best tickets are not even for public sale. The "business" really has changed from a culture of the youth to big corporate money. We see a similar development in football with all the expensive VIP packages. However - should the masses be fed up some day, the whole hype will collapse. Why should young people pay so much for greedy old millionaires when there are still small festivals with genuine music and fair prices...Excellent response, Barb! That is why I admire artists who have "made it" by popular music standards, but still refuse to play the bigger venues. There are a few who will still play the little, local festivals and events. Granted, the big ones won't "lower themselves" like this...but the bands who do this earn a lot more respect, because you know with them that it's all about the music, not the money. |
| Mr.Jingles 05.06.2007 10:54 |
<b><font color="#FF1493">The Fairy King wrote:Mr.Jingles wrote: Muse and Green Day aren't newcomers Dan. :)LOL! I know, but compared to the Stones, the Police, U2, and Genesis they sort of are. |
| Woodie 05.06.2007 12:21 |
Id pay 200 euros to get to see them if i could! I have no one to go with though and my parents wont let me either ;________; |
| Penetration_Guru 05.06.2007 15:08 |
In fairness, I saw the Stones 4 years ago and although the tickets were £50 I felt that the production values justified it. Obviously they want to make a profit and they have the right to do so, but I felt that 8 movable screens, animations, inflatables, a second stage, changing backdrops and the fireworks at the end combined with the performance was WORTH IT. I'd also dispute that they can change the orientation of the stadium at short notice - YV is usually right, but I'm suprised that the stadium is flexible enough to allow the staging to be loaded in either further or from a different entry point, and to have appropriate backstage facilities. |
| ***Marial-B*** 05.06.2007 17:41 |
Well... maybe they sell them like if one of them is gonna die on stage. Just think about that... Keith Richards died of a heart attack on stage... |
| Lisser 05.06.2007 20:04 |
While I agree with Barb I am guilty of paying the high prices so I can't say much. The strongest point Barb makes is how the best seats are not even available to the "common folk" anymore until maybe the day before the show and that's only when the "important people" don't want the seats. Erin, Pieter, and I snatched front and center seats at the Queen+PR concert in Jacksonville bc we watched them and no one ever showed up to claim them so we moved over and took them!!! Were those on sale? Bet not but I sure as hell paid $200 US dollars each for my Queen+PR tickets that night. Queen+PR is not the only concert I'm guilty of paying "the man" for an over priced seat but I'm a spoiled brat and if I want something I get it although I do wish that what I wanted were cheaper. Who wouldn't. I do hope this trend ends though. I also hope that there is ice water in hell and that the price of gas drops. :) |
| sparrow 21754 05.06.2007 22:00 |
i believe the more intamite (or smaller) venues are better. more chances of meeting the band 8-) and i think when a band has too many gimmicks, theyre compensating for the shit music they have. its not always the case, but it hasnt been proven wrong that often. lights are cool, but im there for the music, to forget reality for a while nad just rock out. not pay a buttload of money for a nosebleed seat. |
| Micrówave 06.06.2007 16:33 |
I think it's pretty unfair of you to accuse the artists of trying to squeeze us out of more money. You're forgetting the promotors and record label execs who are wanting to make as much money as possible. According to Barb, touring started in the 70s, but it was really getting rolling in the late 50s. The artists weren't making piddly poo of the tour, except in record sales. It's a well known fact that James Brown made more money dealing dope in the 50s then the actually shows he performed on his southern tours. While the more established artists of today can get a much bigger piece of the pie, be mad at Bill Graham Presents before you jump down the band's throat. And to think the musicians are making a lot more off of album sales today than the 70s is absurd. The producer, promotor, and sometimes agent are usually all making a lot more than the artist. By the way, Prince gave out his new CD when you attended his last tour. $75 US dollars total for show and CD. What a deal. The thong was $38, but I wanted to treat myself. |
| Lisser 06.06.2007 20:43 |
I was shocked that we all got CDs. Total bonus. Great show too. |
| john bodega 07.06.2007 00:19 |
I dunno. I'd pay exorbitant prices to see The Who. Fuck, I'd go into debt and travel to the other side of the country to see The Who. As long as Roger rests his voice up a bit before my show. |
| iGSM 07.06.2007 03:34 |
Supposedly the Who are touring here next year..AT ZE VACA.. I mean WACA. Sorry. Still trying to get rid of that. |
| thomasquinn 32989 07.06.2007 05:52 |
59 euros is still overpriced for a bunch of geriatric have-beens who don't know when to stop. |
| Mr.Jingles 07.06.2007 07:31 |
Penetration_Guru wrote: In fairness, I saw the Stones 4 years ago and although the tickets were £50 I felt that the production values justified it. Obviously they want to make a profit and they have the right to do so, but I felt that 8 movable screens, animations, inflatables, a second stage, changing backdrops and the fireworks at the end combined with the performance was WORTH IT.I strongly agree with this one. However, watching a lame Barbara Streisand show and paying hundreds of dollars for a lame-fest is indeed way overpriced. Aside from the fact that they need 2 stages (one for her and the other one for her nose), I don't see why else they would charge so much. |
| The Mir@cle 07.06.2007 07:57 |
I go tomorrow... so they surely have sold one ticket here! hehe! ;) |
| AspiringPhilosophe 07.06.2007 11:26 |
<font color=#CC0066 face="Bradley Hand ITC"> The Mir@cle </font> wrote: I go tomorrow... so they surely have sold one ticket here! hehe! ;)And like I said before, Tijn...you suck! :-P There are still some fairly descent priced tickets out there....the Family Values tour with Evanescence and Korn is coming to Detroit, and I priced out tickets at about 70 USD with shipping. I'm still not going because I don't like Korn that much and I don't have anyone to go with me, but that's a rare example. Here are some scary high ticket prices, if you are curious: Beyonce: Floor seats at Memphis TN Show $444 Nosebleed section $114 Bob Dylan: Floor seats Atlantic City NJ Show $438 Nosebleed section $143 Elton John: Orchestra Seats at Las Vegas $500-$610 Mezzanine section $222 The Police: Floor Seats at New Orleans $273-$2037 Nosebleed seats $162 All from link Sure, there are some reasonable ones (John Mayer, Ozzfest and Rush were fairly affordable) but who in the world would spend that much money on tickets for a show in a big arena where you have to deal with obstructed views, crowding, and no chance at all to even see the artist up close? Smaller, more intimate venues, that I'd pay for. |
| Erin 07.06.2007 11:45 |
CMU HistoryGirl wrote: All from linkYeah, but that's a scalping agency...or ticket tout as the Brits would say. I agree, though. Tickets ARE ridiculously overpriced these days...no doubt about it. When there were some complaints to Brian about the QPR ticket prices, he rattled of some Rolling Stone ticket prices on his soapbox and said they weren't charging what the COULD charge for tickets. Shhheeeyeah right! If they had been any more expensive in the US, not even a quarter of certain venues would have been filled. Jacksonville was bad enough as it was. A security guard told us they were giving tickets away to get some people in the place! |
| AspiringPhilosophe 07.06.2007 11:56 |
Ah, show how often I go to concerts (never really). On a student budget, I can't afford to, even the "reasonably priced" ones are a stretch for me. Thanks for pointing that out, Erin. :-) |
| Lisser 07.06.2007 18:44 |
Erin wrote:I remember that and thinking to myself that I had just wasted over $400, but I did have a GREAT time plus I sat next to some really cool people ;)CMU HistoryGirl wrote: All from linkYeah, but that's a scalping agency...or ticket tout as the Brits would say. I agree, though. Tickets ARE ridiculously overpriced these days...no doubt about it. When there were some complaints to Brian about the QPR ticket prices, he rattled of some Rolling Stone ticket prices on his soapbox and said they weren't charging what the COULD charge for tickets. Shhheeeyeah right! If they had been any more expensive in the US, not even a quarter of certain venues would have been filled. Jacksonville was bad enough as it was. A security guard told us they were giving tickets away to get some people in the place! |
| Penetration_Guru 07.06.2007 18:51 |
Were they cool independently of the osmosis from sitting next to you? |
| Lisser 07.06.2007 19:55 |
Penetration_Guru wrote: Were they cool independently of the osmosis from sitting next to you?I think idependently, but I'm sure I rubbed off a little on to them. ;) rotten |
| Mr.Jingles 07.06.2007 22:25 |
CMU HistoryGirl wrote: Bob Dylan: Floor seats Atlantic City NJ Show $438 Nosebleed section $143YOU'VE GOT TO BE FUCKIN' KIDDING ME! $438 bucks to hear a guy with a horrendous nasal voice sing a bunch of lame protest songs? I can just walk up to the local subway station and ask a local homeless hippie to grab his guitar and sing me some anti-war tunes. All he'd ask is for me to put a couple of bucks in his old smelly hat so he can buy a joint. |
| Erin 08.06.2007 09:58 |
Penetration_Guru wrote: Were they cool independently of the osmosis from sitting next to you?Hell yeah, we're cool independently! We were the ones that got Lisser to move to the kick ass end of the catwalk. I was shitting a brick till the show started thinkin' we'd get moved, but Lisser played it cooool and talked to the security guy. ;-) |
| PieterMC 08.06.2007 10:29 |
Mr.Jingles wrote: I can just walk up to the local subway station and ask a local homeless hippie to grab his guitar and sing me some anti-war tunes. All he'd ask is for me to put a couple of bucks in his old smelly hat so he can buy a joint.LMAO |
| Lisser 08.06.2007 10:52 |
Erin wrote:Oh for shit's sake!!! You all didn't make me move. I'm sure I wanted to go first!!! ;) Being the rebel that I am. That security guy was a dweeb. Remember him eating all those sunflower seeds and spitting the shells on the floor. GROSS. I kept thinking that if one of those hits me, he's goin doooooooown!!!Penetration_Guru wrote: Were they cool independently of the osmosis from sitting next to you?Hell yeah, we're cool independently! We were the ones that got Lisser to move to the kick ass end of the catwalk. I was shitting a brick till the show started thinkin' we'd get moved, but Lisser played it cooool and talked to the security guy. ;-) Good times!!! |
| Erin 08.06.2007 11:48 |
Lisser wrote: Being the rebel that I am.Well, you have used the men's room on more than one occassion...;-D |
| Mr.Jingles 08.06.2007 12:01 |
Erin wrote:Looks like someone couldn't wait on the line.Lisser wrote: Being the rebel that I am.Well, you have used the men's room on more than one occassion...;-D |
| thomasquinn 32989 08.06.2007 12:59 |
Mr.Jingles wrote:God, you are an asshole.CMU HistoryGirl wrote: Bob Dylan: Floor seats Atlantic City NJ Show $438 Nosebleed section $143YOU'VE GOT TO BE FUCKIN' KIDDING ME! $438 bucks to hear a guy with a horrendous nasal voice sing a bunch of lame protest songs? I can just walk up to the local subway station and ask a local homeless hippie to grab his guitar and sing me some anti-war tunes. All he'd ask is for me to put a couple of bucks in his old smelly hat so he can buy a joint. |
| Mr.Jingles 08.06.2007 13:33 |
<b><font color = "crimson"> ThomasQuinn wrote:linkMr.Jingles wrote:God, you are an asshole.CMU HistoryGirl wrote: Bob Dylan: Floor seats Atlantic City NJ Show $438 Nosebleed section $143YOU'VE GOT TO BE FUCKIN' KIDDING ME! $438 bucks to hear a guy with a horrendous nasal voice sing a bunch of lame protest songs? I can just walk up to the local subway station and ask a local homeless hippie to grab his guitar and sing me some anti-war tunes. All he'd ask is for me to put a couple of bucks in his old smelly hat so he can buy a joint. |
| Lisser 08.06.2007 13:59 |
Mr.Jingles wrote:Nope, sure couldn't. LOLErin wrote:Looks like someone couldn't wait on the line.Lisser wrote: Being the rebel that I am.Well, you have used the men's room on more than one occassion...;-D |
| Erin 08.06.2007 14:27 |
Mr.Jingles wrote:Jingles ROCKS!! ;-)<b><font color = "crimson"> ThomasQuinn wrote: God, you are an asshole.link |
| Mr.Jingles 08.06.2007 14:54 |
Erin wrote:linkMr.Jingles wrote:Jingles ROCKS!! ;-)<b><font color = "crimson"> ThomasQuinn wrote: God, you are an asshole.link |
