How much would you pay to see a Taylor Swift or Beyoncé concert? I couldn’t be bothered in any event but price doesn’t seem to be an object for quite a number of concert goers these days. I’ve heard similar things from a friend who looked into purchasing tickets for an Adele concert in Vegas recently but changed his mind after seeing the prices.
A perusal of ticket-purchasing sites makes the sticker shock clear. On reseller Stubhub, the cheapest seat for a July Taylor Swift show in Seattle is $1,200; tickets for an August Mexico City show cost $500 each.
“I had to get nine phone numbers for three different accounts on Ticketmaster under three different credit cards,” said Joel Barrios, a Beyoncé fan in Los Angeles. He spent about $7,000 on three U.S. shows for himself and friends – as well as another $6,650 for several shows in Europe.
If the fools are willing to pay that much, why not?
Used to go and see Johnny Winter at the Gardens (Maple Leaf) back in the day for $7.00.
A fiver for Marshall Tucker Band at UHall in Ch’ville VA in ’74 (wasn’t particularly impressed, but heck, who plays UHall these days? (These days it would be called a micro-venue.) Think I paid $20 each for self and girlfriend in Pittsburg for Yes’ Big Generator tour. Wanna say ’88 or so.
Wife offered to buy me a ticket for Yes’ last tour with Rick Wakeman on the keyboards for the Dallas, TX concert, wanted $150 for it prolly 20+ years ago. Yes is still my favorite group but not $150 favorite(If I knew it was his last tour I might’ve jumped, oh well.). I was freshly retired, going to college on the GI BIll, and had that and my retirement to support wife-unit and 2kids. Not happening, sigh.
Only other concert I ever attended was JC-Superstar with the original recording cast, no show, just the music and singing. Still love king Herod’s song. Again at UHall in Ch’ville VA, mebbe $10. Might’ve also been ’74. Since I absconded to join the army in January ’75 that would put the limit on my recollection.
I get the explosion of concert ticket prices since with the arrival of tube of you and other internet venues ‘record’ sales have pretty much collapsed. Used to have 3 or 4, mebbe more record stores here in Lawton, OK (100ish-k pop counting Ft Sill). Now, none. Video stores the same.
I still remember when my dad’s proudest possession was a Heathkit speaker, probably a 4′ by 4′ by 5′ cube playing his Hi-Fi records from the 40s and 50s. Took a copy of his Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall to music class in 4th or 5th grade, ’66ish? Played Indian Love Song, got booed so bad teacher made me stop playing. They were all about Jimmy Somebody, name escapes me, not Hendrix, the other one. ‘Gimme some funk!”
People shelling out this kind of excess for concert tickets should have no right ever to complain about inflation or the cost of anything.
For that kind of dough she’d have to … er … I guess I can’t say that.
“For that kind of dough she’d have to … er … I guess I can’t say that.”
No, but you can still think it…I know I have…;)
Her mouth is too small.
and I don’t like her eyes, too racoon-like
The marketplace at work.
They call it free enterprise.
…a suckered is born every…
…a fool and his money…
Shee-it!
To think that I bitched about paying $12 bucks to see Lynard Skynard opening for Edgar Winters and only got 6th row seats.
Mind you, it was in Sudbury in 1973 and the weed was of ditch like quality.
But still, just sayin’.
Stevie.
Yup, recall paying 25.00 to go see Deep Purple back in the early ’70’s in YVR. Surprise Guest band was Electric Light Orchestra who totally blew Deep Purple outa the water.
I left after Purples 3rd song…deafening doesnt quite describe it…one really should had aircraft Ear muffs…
But Electric light…?? Awesome and kicked off their set w/Roll over Bethoven…!
Well worth the 50 I paid for me n the girlfriend at the time.
Paid around as much for Crosby Stills and Nash in the late 90’ in Jubilee auditorium in Calgary
But still less than a ride in the Titan submersible.
Wow! And here I thought I was insane for spending $350/ticket to see Jethro Tull at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley … in the sand pit … about 4 rows from the stage. But my oh my … what a fabulous musician. Yeah, his voice ain’t what it was in 1974 … but neither is mine.
Taylor Swift and Adele? Can’t hold Susanna Hoffs’ or Joan Jett’s well, anything, Just a depressing sign of the times with the masses worshipping the cult of celebrity more than ever.
Seriously, if you love music, give your ticket money to musicians who need and appreciate your support, your local acts. T Swift has enough.
And then wants US to pay off his student loans.
I paid $80 for NIN almost 20 years ago and I only know one song. Everyone else was going. Sunk cost. Went to Iron Maiden due to peer pressure about 7 years ago it was $100. Still meh. I prefer listening to music on low volume while I work. Oh and Beastie Boys mid 90s for $65 wasn’t too bad.
I got no use for Taylor Swift. Corb Lund, on the other hand…
Check out some Colter Wall.
Enthusiastically seconded.
See also: Tyler Childers, Matt Heckler or Arlo McKinley.
If you like mountain music or Steve Earle type music.
Thanks, he’s great! Tyler Childers, who SRC mentions below, is also fantastic. I’d pay to see these guys, and it won’t take the price of a new car.
Corb is criminally overlooked.
Indeed he is. I would love it if he could make it big in England. I would love to see an English Corb Lund tribute band called “Corb Limey”.
“But all the right people will be there”..
Nothing has changed when it comes to preening and flaunting your wealth..even when you have none.
If people are so stupid or have so much excess wealth ,that they can spend such sums on entertainment,who are we to say they are wrong..?
If you have a large enough group of posers,who must be seen at the show and these pretenders have access to wealth,then there is no theoretical limit to what they would be willing to spend…
Although I guess we will know the peak price point, as attendance will fall when it is found.
Suddenly it will not be “The Thing” anymore.
I think my comment got nuked cause I used the word “scalpers”?
What other people choose to spend their money on is of no concern to me.
A lot of money to watch somebody lip sync
Paid $65 for a Jerry Harrison / Adrian Belew show in Toronto this past March. They did Fear of Music and Remain in Light with a 3 piece horn section and 2 girls on backing vocals. Also threw in a King Crimson track. No fancy lighting or visuals needed.
I’d pay 3-400 to See Joe Bonamassa …. any day of the week…
Yeah, not many acts I would travel to see, but he’s one of them.
I paid $ 180 to see Nickelback last Sunday.
Plus 60 for a t shirt.
Did they kiss you?
We used to go see the Collectors “now called Chilliwack” at the Cultus Lake pavilion for $2 around 1970, Labour Day weekend they got Canada’s #1 one band the Guess Who in for $5 a ticket, they were not as good as the Collectors, and did not sell out.
Even if I had money to burn, I wouldn’t pay that kind of dough to see any of the current masters or mavens. The last concert I attended was, Elton John circa 1976, and he had a guest singer as well, Rod Stewart. Don’t remember what I paid, but it wasn’t that much. I do remember it was a performance in support of a third division soccer club The Watford Hornets (I think) Elton John had just purchased. His money and influence raised em from a third division club to a first division club. I lived in that town at the time, and it was the only time I ever attended the grounds of that or any soccer club. Never did see a game, which for me was no loss at all.
I would not pay one dollar to see anyone these days. Tickets could be free and I still would not take them.
Saw the Who over 20 times.. never paid more than $20 for a ticket..and that one time was their ‘farewell’ show at Maple Leaf Gardens in ‘82..
I believe the Capitol theatre show in Ottawa was $6.50 in 1968!