The Future of Concert Ticket Prices
So far, so good, says Billboard magazine on the state of the touring business. But then there's the warning that concerts may not be invincible, and in an opinion piece from the magazine's touring guru Ray Waddell, he asks the promoters to make tickets more affordable. "That means bookers may have to lower their expectations about what their acts can earn. That's just smart business." Bargain basement prices would certainly bring out more fans, but it's one of those Catch 22 situations. If you make the tickets truly affordable, will it still be worthwhile to put the show on at all? Yet, if it is to remain financially feasible for the artists, promoters and venues, will the tickets prices have to stay where they are? There are really no good answers, but it's nice to know someone's still trying to ask the hard questions.
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countryiscool says:
Doesn’t matter to me, I rarely put out the $$ for concerts anyway. CD’s and DVD’s are good enough, plus what I get on GAC and CMT.
Kim says:
It’ll work out. always does. “feasible for artists” could be solved quickly by downgrading the special effects department. How much does it cost say, Carrie Underwood or Kenny Chesney to put on one show for example? I’ll bet its obscene. They have to transport it, have people put it up, pay for it in the first place, etc. Maybe they could cut back and try the smaller venues with more dates.
I much prefer down-to-earth acts anyway. all the pyro-technics, big screens, costume changes, etc really isn’t for me. I also tend to think the cheaper the act, the better the presence has to be because there is no razzle-dazzle to disguise a lack of talent. maybe this will turn the tide from huge stadium acts to smaller, more intimate venues. I wouldn’t mind a bit.
RedMaZ says:
I agree Kim. I couldn’t imagine ever going to some Arena Rock Pop music show, and paying in some cases 100 dollars or more. I could never deal with it. Most the artists I go see, the tickets are 10 or 20 dollars at the most.
stephanie says:
I agree with Kim too. All the pyrotechnics and elloborate stage hooplah is only there to hide the fact that there’s a lack of talent in my opinion. I pay to hear music, not see a light show.
Davey says:
Agree totally ladies. Light shows are for the 4th. great reference to “Chicago.” started singing it immediately.
(if singers told the the whole truth, how many would be singing this?)
So, Kim, RedMaz, Stephanie all together now:
Give ‘em the old razzle dazzle
Razzle Dazzle ‘em
Give ‘em an act with lots of flash in it
And the reaction will be passionate
Give ‘em the old hocus pocus
Bead and feather ‘em
How can they see with sequins in their eyes?
What if your hinges all are rusting?
What if, in fact, you’re just disgusting?
Razzle dazzle ‘em
And they;ll never catch wise!
Give ‘em the old Razzle Dazzle
Row after row will crow vociferous
Give ‘em the old flim flam flummox
Fool and fracture ‘em
How can they hear the truth above the roar?
Throw ‘em a fake and a finagle
They’ll never know you’re just a bagel,
Razzle dazzle ‘em
And they’ll beg you for more!…
Davey says:
see how many people THAT offends, lol.
MiaT says:
It is a catch 22 situation. But maybe they don’t have to put on those huge production shows. I love the stripped down concerts. I don’t need all the flash! What happened to just seeing a guy/gal with a guitar?
RedMaZ says:
A guy/gal with a guitar happens all the time.
Ms. Feathers says:
Now that gas/diesel prices are lower (by about half!) than they were in the summer, acts can lower prices based on that fact alone. At least for now…
Kim, Carrie Underwood hasn’t headlined her own show yet, so there’s no telling what she’d spend if she was, but I can vouch for a complicated stage set, with a 9-piece band (including BGVs), and 5 costume changes. And that was just for the 75 minutes she spent opening for Keith Urban. It took dozens of scrambling techies well over 20 minutes just to tear down her part of the stage before resetting for Keith.
THE BIGGER ISSUE is what effect the economy will have on scalpers (euphamistically called “internet brokers”). Some of those people may not be able to sell those $500 (and higher!) tickets and may have to go out of business. Aw….
IMO, there will ALWAYS be a market for live music. And if the market is allowed to work, a balance will be achieved between what consumers are willing to pay and what the artists can do with that per-person amount. If they have to play more shows at smaller venues, well, that’s fine by me.
Forex Brokers for says:
Start small and stick to talent that work. Knowing when to stop is also an important trait to have in order to become the artists you can be. Therefore, a bit will continue to rise in talent, and I would hold it.