Gig tickets. Jeepers.

[Burns-bass]

Just now, Leonard Smalls said:

Aye...

But I looked into buying Kraftwerk tickets recently - seemed they were doing the same dynamic pricing nonsense. Tickets at £50odd suddenly leapt up to £100+ for no apparant reason. I wouldn't mind but Kraftwerk haven't done any new music for 30ish years and are now not much more than a tribute band!

 

Indeed. I think you're effectively paying £100 just to be in a room with them.

 

So many of these big gigs are a disappointemnt, too. 

 

I'm not a Cure fan really (I've never really tried), but Robert Smith speaks eloquently and passionately about this and I really respect that. Didn't they do something where ticket prices were limited to a price ceiling?

 

 

 

[neepheid]

Plus, at the local level, we find it hard to get people to get off their backsides and pay a fiver at the door to come see us.  Please, restrain yourselves from commenting on the quality of the fare on offer, you scamps - you know what I mean!

[Wombat]

As others have said it’s not just the ticket prices. I’ve been going ‘Camden way’ for gigs  with a buddy for the last 5 years. We meet at the same pizza place for 2x pizza and a bottle of red before a gig. 5 years ago this was c£35. Last time it was £86. We’re discussing meeting at the door & eating at home. Stops all the catch up / socialising…

[BigRedX]

5 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said:

Aye...

But I looked into buying Kraftwerk tickets recently - seemed they were doing the same dynamic pricing nonsense. Tickets at £50odd suddenly leapt up to £100+ for no apparant reason. I wouldn't mind but Kraftwerk haven't done any new music for 30ish years and are now not much more than a tribute band!

 

I had contemplated buying tickets for Kraftwerk when they play Nottingham Royal Concert Hall next year. However my only other experience of going to a gig there was seeing The Cocteau Twins in the mid 80s and it was decidedly underwhelming being all seated with sitting down being rigidly enforced. They far more enjoyable and had a more appropriate atmosphere when I saw them some years later at Rock City.

 

Anyway I just had a look and the only tickets available were now over £170.00! That's sitting down for a band that are all about dance music. Even if I did think that much was worth paying I can guarantee the gig won't be a patch on when I saw them in 1981 when I was down at the front and perfect positioned to "play a little melody" on one of their hand-held synths during Pocket Calculator. It probably won't even be as exciting as when I saw them again in 1991 at some seated hall in Sheffield.

 

So that's a miss from me. At any price.

[BigRedX]

15 minutes ago, neepheid said:

Plus, at the local level, we find it hard to get people to get off their backsides and pay a fiver at the door to come see us.  Please, restrain yourselves from commenting on the quality of the fare on offer, you scamps - you know what I mean!

 

Conversely my band's next gig which is still over a month away is already sold out. Admittedly the venue is small (under 100 capacity) there's 5 bands playing, and the headlining band - Social Youth Cult - are the hot new post punk/goth band and could have probably sold it out on their own...

[neepheid]

10 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

 

Conversely my band's next gig which is still over a month away is already sold out. Admittedly the venue is small (under 100 capacity) there's 5 bands playing, and the headlining band - Social Youth Cult - are the hot new post punk/goth band and could have probably sold it out on their own...

 

I'll also wager that your next gig is in a large population centre, quite close to other large population centres, relatively speaking.  But even in our isolated outpost of civilisation, I'd like to think that one might hook in a few curious people.  Maybe people are so skint that spending a fiver on a lineup of bands they don't know is a gamble too far.

 

I think I'm going to be on a hiding to nothing with this point, as I'm sure a fingerpointing from someone at our lack of initiative when it comes to self promotion is in the post, so I think I'll leave it there.

Edited 11 hours ago by neepheid

[SumOne]

 

I think the economics of being in a professional band have changed a lot.

 

Gigs used to be a way of generating interest so people would buy your latest album, seems that has flipped around.

[martthebass]

Spent about £45 to see Level 42 and Roachford support at Sheffield City Hall the other week - thought that was pretty good value for money.

[Paul S]

2 minutes ago, martthebass said:

Spent about £45 to see Level 42 and Roachford support at Sheffield City Hall the other week - thought that was pretty good value for money.

Ditto, Royal Albert Hall last night.  Front seats of a box, £60 each.  Ate at a Lebanese restaurant beforehand (yum), £65 for us both.  Travel to and fro with a railcard £40 for both of us.  Been looking forward to last night all year and considered it to be fantastic value.

 

I guess it all depends how much each individual values going to see live music - there is no 'one size fits all' opinion.  Personally, it is one of the things I enjoy most in life, more so than making music, so I am more than happy to pay for it.  

[Cato]

Spent £80 on a couple of tickets to see Maximo Park at the Birmingham Academy early next year.

 

20 years ago tickets for the same venue were generally around £20. 

 

Suprisingly, according to the BofE inflation calculator that's roughly in line with inflation with £20 in 2005 being worth around £35 today.

 

Booking fees, on the hand, would have been around £1.50-£2.00 a ticket in 2005 if memory serves, whereas for these particular tickets it works out at £7.50 a ticket, considerably higher than the same rate of inflation.

[Lozz196]

Sadly and not exactly about cost, going to gigs for me now means unless seated I can`t go, standing for a whole evening just too darn painful on my back. 

[miles'tone]

I don't go out to 'big' gigs anymore. I'm priced out of it these days.

Instead, I take advantage of everyone having their phones out and watch it for nothing on YouTube over the following days. Cheers 

[Happy Jack]

During the last 10 years of my career I was lucky enough to benefit from corporate hospitality, and I saw a whole load of big name bands from the 70s (Stones, Who, Fleetwood Mac, etc) as freebies.

 

Pretty much without exception they were disappointing, not a patch on who they once were, and frankly nowhere near as good as most of their own tribute acts. The Actual Rolling Stones at the O2, for example, were absolutely blown away by The Counterfeit Stones, who I'd seen three weeks earlier (and paid for with my own money) at Kew Gardens.

 

I genuinely can't remember the last time I bought gig tickets for a 'name' band and I can't say as I've missed it. I'd much rather be gigging with my own band down the Dog & Duck than watching a bunch of octogenarians through binoculars.

[PaulWarning]

49 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

During the last 10 years of my career I was lucky enough to benefit from corporate hospitality, and I saw a whole load of big name bands from the 70s (Stones, Who, Fleetwood Mac, etc) as freebies.

 

Pretty much without exception they were disappointing, not a patch on who they once were, and frankly nowhere near as good as most of their own tribute acts. The Actual Rolling Stones at the O2, for example, were absolutely blown away by The Counterfeit Stones, who I'd seen three weeks earlier (and paid for with my own money) at Kew Gardens.

 

I genuinely can't remember the last time I bought gig tickets for a 'name' band and I can't say as I've missed it. I'd much rather be gigging with my own band down the Dog & Duck than watching a bunch of octogenarians through binoculars.

I agree with this, much rather go and see a good tribute act in a small local venue than pay out an exorbitant fee to see the real thing at an arena gig and you don't get "Here's some tracks from our new album" cue, rush to the toilets and the bar

[christhammer666]

i know its a different time etc but i remember going to see big 4-5 band gigs at the astoria for £9

[jezzaboy]

I`m off to see the Stranglers tonight and I think the tickets were £57 all in which ain`t bad in this age. Only downside is it in Edinburgh and I can`t stand the place 

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

I have a slightly different tangent regarding going to gigs etc . Above all else , it’s not the cost that bothered me ! No! 
It’s the nasty way fans are being treated ,and taken for mugs ! The announcement of ‘ pre sale’ , the day of the actual sale of tickets itself , the knowledge  of the organisers that the fans are going to be at their computer at 9/ 10am not even knowing the total price to pay initially , the fans frustration most of the time of not actually getting anything other than wasted time and annoyance ….then the cost !  

 

The cost I could bear albeit with gritted teeth at times , but the roadies , the stage show ( if a band has one ) ,security etc all costs .
The experience of going to places like Wembley arena has improved somewhat since even the late’80s. It wasn’t really meant for music, but more for showjumping iirc.

 

The only event I’ve just heard about which will be expensive and a hassle , could be Jean michel Jarre doing a book signing next year! We will have to go to that , but it will probably like Geddy’s book signing at the barbican not too long ago . I met Jarre and got his autographed cd box set in the ‘80s but I don’t think I could ignore this if as expected it happens . Don’t fancy the haul to London and back , but it’s a one off ! 

Things could be worse …I could be paying loads to watch premier league football !

[Woodinblack]

2 hours ago, Paul S said:

Ditto, Royal Albert Hall last night.  Front seats of a box, £60 each.  Ate at a Lebanese restaurant beforehand (yum), £65 for us both.  Travel to and fro with a railcard £40 for both of us.  Been looking forward to last night all year and considered it to be fantastic value.

 

If I could go to the albert hall for £60 and only pay £40 for two people to get a train, I would do it more often!

 

2 hours ago, Paul S said:

Personally, it is one of the things I enjoy most in life, more so than making music, so I am more than happy to pay for it.  

 

Probably a difference to me - if it is a choice between making music and watching other people do it, I am playing every time

[BigRedX]

2 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

Probably a difference to me - if it is a choice between making music and watching other people do it, I am playing every time

 

Agreed. There is an inverse correlation between how well whatever band I'm in is doing and how many CDs/records I buy and how many gigs I go to solely as a punter.

 

My band at the moment are doing rather well and we've been busy playing gigs, writing new songs and recording our debut album. I don't think I've bought a single CD this year and the only gigs I've been to as a punter were two that were occurred at Whitby Goth Weekend in April when I wasn't actually on stage myself.

[tegs07]

37 minutes ago, RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE said:

have a slightly different tangent regarding going to gigs etc . Above all else , it’s not the cost that bothered me ! No! 
It’s the nasty way fans are being treated ,and taken for mugs ! The announcement of ‘ pre sale’ , the day of the actual sale of tickets itself , the knowledge  of the organisers that the fans are going to be at their computer at 9/ 10am not even knowing the total price to pay initially , the fans frustration most of the time of not actually getting anything other than wasted time and annoyance ….then the cost !  

I rarely go to bigger gigs for this reason. It’s kind of the antithesis of rock and roll. Paying a fortune and using apps to pre plan your life months in advance and then pay a fortune and join massive queues to watch NPCs film the entire thing on their phones. WTF is that all about. Yep I am the grinch. There are still countless fantastic gigs where you can make the decision on the evening, not suffer massive crowds and traffic congestion and get change from £30. 

[steantval]

Some of the top end tribute bands are now starting to up their ticket prices, I always see Limehouse Lizzy every January, this coming January my tickets will be £38 each, well worth it if you are a fan of Thin Lizzy, they do a brilliant job of reproducing the original band.

[martin8708]

10 hours ago, Shaggy said:

 

Likewise, I saw Rush at Deeside Leisure Centre around 1979 /80, saw most of the big name rock and New Wave bands around at that time, never paid more than a fiver.

 

 

Rush have announced a small tour with their new drummer  Anika Nilles , tickets going for about $350 to $1500 for VIP tickets , most fans are not very happy .Seems  most  of the money going to the promotors/ tour organisers rather than the band ?

[WalMan]

On parking prices for stadium gigs, when #2 son and I went to the O2 for Dream Theater I was still non weight bearing on my left ankle but I drove anyway as I have an EV, so automatic and don’t need my left foot. I used the valet parking and probably would again as it really wasn’t that expensive, particularly if spread across four in a car. Drove past the trucks and up to the door, handed over the keys and went in. Leaving the car was waiting at the door and the drive out was fairly easy. A bit of a queue once we met the carparks exiting, but I’d do it again.

 

For Stray Kids at White Hart Lane with my granddaughter I found a primary school that makes a bit of extra money for school funds by letting parking spaces for events that’s right next to the ground. £40 IIRC but a couple of minutes walk in and out, though you have to arrive a little earlier to miss road closures and we picked the wrong way out and got stuck at a road closure, but again worth it particularly if you have a car-full, easy access and gives a small school some much needed extra funds. Granddaughter was happy at the wait on the way out confusing the heck out of my Spotify algorithm finding K-Pop on Apple CarPlay 🤦🤣

 

Gig wise we tend not to do stadium gigs - DT at the O2 could possibly be the first gig of that size I have been to. More normally we are at smaller theatre or club gigs. Prices can get up a bit on occasion and paying an extra £2 or so for the ‘privilege’ of printing a ticket at home, or receiving it electronically to my phone is always galling.