The cost of live music
Discussion
The issue of bots buying up huge amounts of tickets from sites such as Ticketmaster as soon as they go on sale was debated in parliament yesterday. These bots, some might cynically suggest run by TM itself, buy up huge amounts of tickets far faster than any humans could then place them on a secondary ticket selling site (oddly also run by TM) and vastly increased prices. Use of bots has now been made illegal. A small victory.
popeyewhite said:
The issue of bots buying up huge amounts of tickets from sites such as Ticketmaster as soon as they go on sale was debated in parliament yesterday. These bots, some might cynically suggest run by TM itself, buy up huge amounts of tickets far faster than any humans could then place them on a secondary ticket selling site (oddly also run by TM) and vastly increased prices. Use of bots has now been made illegal. A small victory.
I missed this so good to hear, but will they find another way around it?Skyedriver said:
Got an email a couple of days ago from The Sage in Gateshead.
Oh great I thought Chris Rea is on later in the year. Always been a fan of Chris.
Then I saw the price - £65
We just paid less than a fiver to see Tom Hingley, ex of the Inspiral Carpets, play with his new 'Inspirals tribute band'...Oh great I thought Chris Rea is on later in the year. Always been a fan of Chris.
Then I saw the price - £65
considering every concert I've been to in the last 20 years has suffered from
crap facilities,
the need for a big screen as your so far away from the stage
massive overcharging for beer which is usually cheap s
t served in thin wobbly plastic glasses
sound engineers that want shooting as they all have a parchant for overegging the bass at the expensive of everything else
a general sound that is worse than listening at home
and usally some obnoxious git who wants to stand up in front of you when your in the seated section
frankly I've given up with live music bar one or two small club environments. Its just not worth teh ridiculous prices they charge when you can almost guarantee all of the above
crap facilities,
the need for a big screen as your so far away from the stage
massive overcharging for beer which is usually cheap s
t served in thin wobbly plastic glassessound engineers that want shooting as they all have a parchant for overegging the bass at the expensive of everything else
a general sound that is worse than listening at home
and usally some obnoxious git who wants to stand up in front of you when your in the seated section
frankly I've given up with live music bar one or two small club environments. Its just not worth teh ridiculous prices they charge when you can almost guarantee all of the above
I have slightly more obscure tastes. Most recent gigs include Einar Stray Orchestra 2 weeks ago £8. A couple of months ago C. Duncan £11. Both in small venues catering for audiences of up to 200.
It's very unusual for me to pay more than £15 for a ticket for any band that I like to see.
Typically they use the PA system and lighting in the venue. Keeps the cost of the ticket down.
And you're never far from the stage so no big screen needed.
It's very unusual for me to pay more than £15 for a ticket for any band that I like to see.
Typically they use the PA system and lighting in the venue. Keeps the cost of the ticket down.
And you're never far from the stage so no big screen needed.
Was gonna see Joe Bonamassa at the RAH the other day - £70 for the cheap standing ones at the top to well over £100 for normal seats.
its actually the second time I've not gone to see him because of cost - primarily because he is in the second tier or artists I like but not desperate to see.
I read on one of his forums they previously had to advertise in the mainstream media because tickets of his previous tour didnt sell out.
its actually the second time I've not gone to see him because of cost - primarily because he is in the second tier or artists I like but not desperate to see.
I read on one of his forums they previously had to advertise in the mainstream media because tickets of his previous tour didnt sell out.
grumpy52 said:
Compared to most other forms of top entertainment the prices are in comparison .
Prem league football is £40 -70 per ticket and at some grounds £15 just for a programme.
Motorsport £30 for touring cars just to get in plus extra for a seat .
British GP £70 basic entry ?
The sound and light and all the other effects at shows is so much better these days .
We deliver kit to shows all over Europe so get to see the vast amount of equipment and staff required to stage a show these days , the transport costs alone are huge .
And people say classical music is eliteist!Prem league football is £40 -70 per ticket and at some grounds £15 just for a programme.
Motorsport £30 for touring cars just to get in plus extra for a seat .
British GP £70 basic entry ?
The sound and light and all the other effects at shows is so much better these days .
We deliver kit to shows all over Europe so get to see the vast amount of equipment and staff required to stage a show these days , the transport costs alone are huge .
davepoth said:
The reason that tickets have gone up is that people are willing to pay more for them, pure and simple.
Pretty much this. When tickets are a finite resource and gigs are selling out, prices will naturally rise.I expect that reduction in the income from recordings as we move away from CDs would add to the pressure to raise prices from the artist side too.
egomeister said:
davepoth said:
The reason that tickets have gone up is that people are willing to pay more for them, pure and simple.
Pretty much this. When tickets are a finite resource and gigs are selling out, prices will naturally rise.I expect that reduction in the income from recordings as we move away from CDs would add to the pressure to raise prices from the artist side too.
Mojooo said:
Was gonna see Joe Bonamassa at the RAH the other day - £70 for the cheap standing ones at the top to well over £100 for normal seats.
its actually the second time I've not gone to see him because of cost - primarily because he is in the second tier or artists I like but not desperate to see.
I read on one of his forums they previously had to advertise in the mainstream media because tickets of his previous tour didnt sell out.
It was this that got me. I think Bonamassa was playing somewhere in Blackpool and tickets were 3 figures. When I read the ad and saw the price I started laughing, but a few people came out with comments that the promoter and venue set the price rather than the artist. its actually the second time I've not gone to see him because of cost - primarily because he is in the second tier or artists I like but not desperate to see.
I read on one of his forums they previously had to advertise in the mainstream media because tickets of his previous tour didnt sell out.
So, much as I went looking for a way to rage on Bonamassa I dont think this was entirely his call. I'll just get him for crimes against interviews and randomly playing while people are trying to ask him questions.
I'd still pay whatever GnR's promoter asked though to be fair.
andy-xr said:
I'd still pay whatever GnR's promoter asked though to be fair.
I can see why people are so annoyed about ticket resellers, but it sounds to me like a free market situation. Artists and promoters are aware of how much their tickets are fetching but choose not to take the risk of unsold seats. This risk is taken on by the resellers.
It also means that those people who really really want to go can do so, they just have to dig a lot deeper than the face value. If it really was a question of who was lucky enough to get tickets first then people whose desire was higher would have to get lucky or go without.
It also means that those people who really really want to go can do so, they just have to dig a lot deeper than the face value. If it really was a question of who was lucky enough to get tickets first then people whose desire was higher would have to get lucky or go without.
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