Why we don't go to concerts as often as we used to.

[Baz]

I just don't like the general public anymore.

Bad enough I have to subject myself during the course of required activities but to purposely go somewhere where other numbskulls are.....sorry I'll pass.

Apologies to those who are somewhat normal people - as small of a percentage as they are.

[craigster59]

The last BIG concert I went to was Tom Petty at the Forum. I probably wouldn't have ponied up the money for the tickets, but Steve Winwood was the opening act and I'd never had the chance to see him live. Great concert, just wish Steve and Tom would have done a few songs together.

I know I've posted about it here before, but one of our fellow Porsche enthusiasts plays in a great band that was playing at House Of Blues and they price their tix at a whopping $25. Unfortunately, Ticketscheister charges a "convenience fee" of $17, bringinging the total for 2 tix to more than the face value of 3 tix. Complete bullscheisse.

Now TM has taken over from Nederlander, my favorite local venue The Greek Theater. So now I can expect to be anally raped with "convenience fees" to see some great bands.

Charge me $20 bucks to park, charge me $7.50 for a beer, just don't pick my pocket with convenience fees. I'd rather pay $40-60 bucks for a concert T-shirt and have the money go to the band than these TM corporate pigs.

Okay, rant over.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

My loudest concert, Pat Travers and Blue Oyster Cult at UCLA... shocking I know

More Cowbell!

[JavaBrewer]

Loudest for me was Joan Jett at the Arlington in Santa Barbara. Ears rang for 3 days. I was seriously worried of hearing damage.

OP, I stopped caring about live concerts years ago. We still enjoy the occasional small bar and mediocre cover band.

We would go see Nostatic play but we both HATE jazz music.

[Rick Lee]

Just buy tix in the parking lot or on the street a few min before showtime. I've done it countless times, have never paid over face value and usually get in first 10 rows on the floor. Just have to be willing to wait it out.

[unclebilly]

I am taking my kids to see Raffi in April. Do you think anyone will be sparking up? Should I bring ear plugs?

Tickets were $60 each and we had to buy a ticket for my daughter who won't quite be 2. Nobody gets in free.

Raffi Down By The Bay YouTube - YouTube

[craigster59]

And 911dean, that's the kind of stuff I like to go see these days. "Girl On The Billboard" by Del Reeves was always one of my fovorite country songs!

[911dean]

Originally Posted by craigster59

And 911dean, that's the kind of stuff I like to go see these days. "Girl On The Billboard" by Del Reeves was always one of my fovorite country songs!

I'm with you. I've been a blues junkie my entire life and over the last handful of years Rockabilly and Country has really caught my attention.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

That's like a 30% charge per ticket.

I hate Ticketbastard.

Why would artists and venues just give away a majority of their sales?
It's a monopoly.

The Central Bank gives money at the discount rate, banks lend to each other at the federal funds rate, and the consumer borrows 'federal' money after paying off all the middlemen and their NY highrise/other/overhead.
Even at it's very worst, the prime rate was less than 20%: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_rate

The scalping business is big. 2007: Ticket Brokers Busted
Then Ticketmaster was involved. 2009: Illinois Attorney General - TICKETMASTER AGREES TO SHUT DOWN DECEPTIVE TICKET BROKER WEB SITES

[campbellcj]

I've been going to more shows lately than ever before, but I strongly prefer smaller venues i.e. local clubs and historic theaters, say <3,000 capacity, like the Wiltern, Roxy, Orpheum etc. here in LA. There is a great club a mile from me called The Canyon that gets 70's-90's acts all the time and if you get there a few minutes early, you can walk right up to the first few rows of the floor. Afterwards I'm out and back home in 5 minutes. I can't stand packed crowds and long lines at the arena/stadium shows. That said, we are going to Fleetwood Mac this week as it's probably a once-in-a-lifetime chance for us.

[imcarthur]

I saw Billy Joel in 1974 during his Piano Man tour. I can't remember the service charge though . . .

Ian

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

$27.50 in service charges per ticket and they were downloadable print them yourself tickets.

Seriously WTF?

The tickets were only $89 per. That's like a 30% charge per ticket.

Exactly what "service" is being provided?

I hate Ticketbastard.

How about Fleetwood Mac tickets? $200. Tickebastard has begun catering to scalpers. You can buy tickets, then put them in a resale pool. So a lot of tickets for the show were $1000+ due to resale. I was looking at a pair of $200 tickets... thought about it, and went back. 20 minutes later, the tickets had been bought, and put in the resale pool at $250 each.
And guess what? They were collecting a service charge on the resale.
They already collected the service charge once....

[sand_man]

I dunno. I'm still a very active concert goer. I am 45. I probably see four or five concerts per month. In fact, I now enjoy bringing my kids with me. However, most of the shows that we see are smaller, "club" style venues. We listen to a lot of indie/alternative music. So for us, $15-$20 per ticket with only nominal service charges for "print at home" and we are there (general admission, of course)! Last show, I brought my 12 year old daughter to see Sharon Van Etten. It was beautiful and amazing! And I think my daughter was floored at how up close and personal the show was.

I still venture out for larger acts, and yeah the service fees are absolute BS!!!! We traveled from NC to Chicago to see Pearl Jam at Wrigley Field, and I think I'll have to work a few more years before I can retire after paying for that one (and these were the guys that fought the machine)!!!!!

[Aggie93]

I'm not a fan of the big shows anymore, but still go to two or so each year. Saw Springsteen in a 2,300 seat venue. That was fun. Also enjoy seeing the up-and-coming bands at smaller venues.

One of the most fun shows I saw recently was Steel Panther. They are not for everybody, actually very limited market. Very graphic lyrics. Some work colleagues came into town and were looking for something to do after dinner, found it with about two days notice. Just enough to know what to expect, kind of.

[Radioactive]

Wow, I live a sheltered life, only went to one concert, 'The Eagles' 1980 Long Beach,Ca. I don't remember what it cost, but I still remember the show. It sounded like you were listening to the album at home.

[R K T]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

It is what it is. $20 to see Deep Purple or Led Zeppelin in 1970 is about the same as $120 today.

Less than $20! I kept a bunch of my ticket stubs from back in the late 60s and 70s......Led Zep at the Forum for $4.00!

[xbrumossalesman]

Originally Posted by R K T

Less than $20! I kept a bunch of my ticket stubs from back in the late 60s and 70s......Led Zep at the Forum for $4.00!

Growing up in Jacksonville I have stubs from the Beatles (1964) & the Stones (1975) at the Gator Bowl for $5.00

[wdfifteen]

I never go to concerts in big venues any more. I don't like the atmosphere, the volume is too much, and the prices are insane!
I've had more fun and enjoyed better music bar-hopping in Nashville on a Saturday afternoon.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

We would go see Nostatic play but we both HATE jazz music.

We have a pretty loose interpretation of the "j" word

https://soundcloud.com/nostatic-live/01-eleanor-rigby

[JavaBrewer]

I was worried you were going to take that the wrong way Todd. The wife and I will make a visit North to see you soon - a much needed Adults night out.