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SLUGGO

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Jan 5, 2007
Messages
270
I paid $250 each face value for 17th row floor to see Paul McCartney in Tampa on his last tour. It was steep, but I was actually ok paying that much after the show. He played for almost 3 hours and was amazing. Truly, for that kinda money, I don't see how anyone other than Paul can demand that price. I'm sure this wil open flood gates, but McCartney is the last real, living legend. No disrespect to Clapton, Springsteen, etc,...but this guys was a Beatle....I don't know that you can find anyone more relevant. (Just my 2 cents...or $250 bucks!)
 

Beth

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Aug 16, 2002
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2,910
Location
Indio
I agree with BP on this one - I am not a fan of arena gigs ... watching some dots on stage in the distance with (usually) a poor PA sound is not my idea of a good time ... much prefer the hot, sweaty intimate gigs were you get more a feeling of the artist being involved with the audience.

Good gig night before last - Eagles of Death Metal playing the London Astoria.

I was (semi) tempted by the Police reunion tour though - but no way am I paying those prices.

I think those guys are from the Coachella Valley, where the string factory is. Saw them at Morongo Casino last year -- a proper rock band and hilarious!
 

Jim_F

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Joined
Aug 9, 2006
Messages
389
Location
London UK
They're a great live band - very funny as well as being a kicka$$ live band. They seem like a bunch of really nice guys too - very approachable and very into what they do.
Jesse and Dave Catchings were in the Crobar (bar round the corner from the Astoria) before the gig chatting to fans.
 

xcental34x

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Mar 19, 2003
Messages
705
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Mehmfus
That's why I plan on seeing them at Bonnaroo. Tickets will be $50 cheaper and there'll be plenty of other bands I like to check out.
 

KennethB

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Apr 9, 2006
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929
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Stavanger, Norway
Hehe. This is the Broken Music-tour rerun, only with the "all important" original line-up. I prefer Sting's own band. But it is the last chance, I mean, Andy's born in 42.
 

Moose308

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Joined
Jun 12, 2006
Messages
204
Location
British Columbia
I tried to get tickets to the Vancouver show. I gave up. Too much work and random chance.

I must say, that the non-on-the-floor tickets were substanially cheaper than that. However, if you try and get within 10 rows, yes you will be paying that steep pricce.

To make matters worse, TicketMaster was actually auctioning off the first five rows. Minimum bid $250 per seat, 2 seat minimum. I suspect they didn't post the results of the auctions, but I suspect the prices paid are astronomical.

I am kind of annoyed by the steep prices. Especially when you consider a lot of the price is inflation from all the middle-men. If 2 nights later they can sell the same venue and same seats for a no-name band at $30 a ticket, what does that tell you? I suppose this is all just the free-market economy at work, and the laws of supply and demand. Sure, it annoys me that as much as I would like to see the Police one last time, there are 15,000 other fans in the local area who want to see them just that much more than I do.

I guess I can't be too bitter. I did get to see them the last time they were in Vancouver in 1983.
 

paranoid70

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Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
2,647
Location
Long Beach, CA
Not to change the subject, but I recently got tickets for Black Sabbath (they are calling themselves Heaven and Hell for some reason). For good seats at the Forum, the cost totaled less than $60 each.

I love the Police, but a Sabbath reunion with Dio is higher up on my "gotta see" list. Glad there was no price gouging there! Too bad the Forum sucks for concerts.
 

thindave

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Joined
Mar 17, 2004
Messages
448
Location
Manalapan, New Jersey
I got 4 at MSG at 9:00:30am the day they went on sale - you could order $50, $90 or $200+ tickets...

I didn't see them during the 70s/80s and $90 per wasn't too bad. I mean, that's only 4 lap dances & a coke...
 

maddog

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Joined
May 8, 2004
Messages
4,463
Location
Albuquerque
I got 4 at MSG at 9:00:30am the day they went on sale - you could order $50, $90 or $200+ tickets...

that's what the ticket spread was for Phoenix. Floor and lower level were $200+, nosebleeds were $90 and behind the stage was $50. With all the presale crap, I felt lucky to buy the $90 nosebleeds. I don't have high hopes. Saw a snip of them jamming in some club playing some sort of jazz medley of their tunes. But I like their recorded material and just want to see them once in my life.
 

stretch80

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Joined
Dec 1, 2004
Messages
358
Location
massachusetts
I'm with the "Small shows rule" crowd.

Just saw the Christian McBride Band for $25, and they were incredible. They start with jazz-rock-funk fusion and take off from there.
 

AnthonyD

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Joined
Mar 23, 2005
Messages
3,683
Location
New Jersey
I got to see them in their prime - not interested in the re-runs...

It would've been nice to share with my kids, though. Thank heaven for DVD's...

And while they were once, and continue to be one of my favorite bands, Sting was ALWAYS in it for the money.

I recall some interview wa-a-a-y-y-y-y back when he remarked about their musical transition from theri first album on through. Basically claimed they played what sold until they could play what they wanted to play.
 

bassplayersgf

Active member
Joined
Oct 5, 2006
Messages
40
Location
Columbus, GA
I think I'd pass out if I went to buy tix for a concert and the cashier told me it would be $200+ per seat. I was upset to see my dream seats at an Atlanta Thrashers game (NHL for those who don't recognize the name) would be 90 bucks a pop. Of course, that's regular season. I told Andrew I'm bound and determined to go to a Stanley Cup playoffs game this year in Atlanta...now that will probably blow my savings account!
 

adouglas

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Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
5,592
Location
On the tail end of the bell curve in Connecticut
yeah, yeah,

whinge, whinge.

Look, it's simple.

Tickets cost as much as the market will bear.

Period.

It has absolutely nothing to do with what's 'right,' personal greed, the cost of putting on a show, sponsorship, milking the cash cow or any other pseudo-conpspiracy theory. It is ALL about supply and demand.

The minute nobody wants to pay $200+ to see a band, then tickets won't cost $200+ any more. That's why you can see The Remnants of The Who for $80 but have to pay two bills-plus for The Police.

If YOU could charge $250 for a ticket to a gig and fill the room, wouldn't you?

C'mon, BP, you've clearly got your head screwed on straight about the market economy. I'm surprised you didn't mention this.
 
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