By van sky

July 11, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

The Atlanta Concert audience is a great story. People support shows eventhough a decent percentage of those people are there to be seen. But afterall, the ‘buzz’ and ability to brag about ‘being there the night before’ is part of the scene. The funniest part of all of this is seeing all those 65+ types in the club level at Philips Arena dressing the same way for Dylan as they would for a UGA game. The tipping point for ‘big money’ concert tix was accompanied by both the McCartney and Madonna tours a few years back. Now it’s time pay the mortgage, make the BMW payment or see a show. No contest. Given that the POLICE toured sporadically and many, many people who love the music but never saw them made for a quick sell-out. We hope they’re not disappointed because after seeing them a couple of times and on “Live” Earth, it is a YAWN! When the drummer complains that he’s bored, you know you’re in trouble. Everyone will eat it up which makes Atlanta such an interesting place to see the shows. They don’t act cool, they still love the music…

By wrg

July 11, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

I paid the $750 per ticket to see Barbra Streisand at Philips Arena last year. We were front row center and it WAS worth it. She’s a legend, she had the orchestra, etc. Once in a lifetime opportunity. However I would not have paid that same price to be 30 rows back. The acts who put on a show (Madonna, Rolling Stones, McCartney) are worth the extra bucks. I do miss going to shows at Lakewood…it has more of a rock and roll atmosphere. Philips Arena is full of the “it’s so cool now that we’re here” crowd one finds at Chastain Park.

By Pravin

July 11, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Well we had the bargain of the country with Music Midtown. Even when they hiked prices big time, it was still only $70 for THREE DAYS. And the advantage with festival concerts, no assigned seating. A lot of people circulate in an out with a chance to go to the front.

Thanks to Atlanta’s old fogeys, we lost a good festival.

By Flo Jean

July 11, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

Music Midtown was great when it was at the site of the Federal Reserve building.

By Becky

July 11, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this

$60.00 for front row tickets to see the Eagles (Hell Freezes Over)..It was worth every penny..

By tonya

July 11, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this

My youngest daughter is crazy about Chris Brown, so when he came to Chastain Park I paid a ridiculous $210.00 ($70.00 per ticket) for her and my other two daughters to go. Next time I want wait so late to get the tickets.

By amy

July 11, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this

My husband and I paid $500 for a pair of U2 tickets and it was worth every penny. We were out of town the day they went on sale—but they usually sell out in about 9 minutes anyway. So we broke down and bought them on E-Bay. We even had our mother in law attempt to get them for us for an alternate date in the city where she lives up north for the show up there, and she was unsuccessful, too. At the time I think the highest ticket for the show (the Ticketmaster Price) was for $130, And the lowest was around $50.

By Dave

July 11, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this

I paid $200 for Pealrl Jam @ the fox a few years back. Well worth it! ! !

By Dave

July 11, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this

I paid $200 for Pearl Jam @ the fox a few years back. Well worth it! ! !

By Mike

July 11, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this

I don’t think I have ever paid more than $35 bucks for a ticket. I think Grand Funk at Chastain in ‘98 was $35. I happily paid that but I would not go much higher no matter who it is.

By EW

July 11, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this

If I pay the kind of money some of you claim to have paid for tickets, someones clothes are coming off and we can put on some music in the background. $700.00 for Barbara Streisand? More green matter than gray matter. The Live Earth show was about the biggest snoozer I gave fifteen minutes of my time to in a long time. It was a total flop. Gore was expecting two billion and got what, fifteen million viewers, and most of those barely watched for the needed six minutes to be counted.

By Becky

July 11, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this

EW, I agree with you..The $60.00 that I paid was for two tickets. I don’t think that I would ever pay more than $50.00 per ticket to see something now, so you can figure out how many concerts I go to..The same with any sport. But if you have the money & you are willing to pay that much, go for it..If I pay that much, I ecxpect to sit on the stage & have dinner with them..

By Elaine

July 11, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this

I paid what I believe was around $75 a piece for two tickets to see Frank Sinatra back in ‘94 or ‘95 at what was then the Omni. He passed on not long thereafter and I am so glad we “made the investment” to go.

Aside from the Chairman, I don’t think we’ve paid more than $35 a ticket to see anything/anyome. It’s just not worth it. I guess we’re just not in that income bracket. And come to think of it, even if I was, I’m not sure I’d choose to spend my money that way. People are starving in the world, for crying out loud.

And then to hear certain artists whine about lost royalties from downloads!?! I understand that we should not break the law, but gouging people for tickets, ridiculous t-shirt prices, CD prices still hovering around $16 or more…it’s hard to feel sorry for them… They’re getting paid.

By Jumbo

July 11, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this

I once paid $1500 per ticket for 20th row to see Carrot Top at the Fox. It was worth it!

By Andrea

July 11, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this

This may be slightly off topic, but I paid a ridiculous amount for a kids show. I paid $75.00 per ticket (not including ticket master fees) each for me and my daughter to see the Dora the Explorer show. The promoters of kids shows are getting over just as much as some of the concert promoters. I paid 118.00 to see Clifford the Big Red Dog. The best one (of the shows seen in Atlanta) by far was Nemo on Ice (pricey but worth EVERY cent). With the money I have spent on shows, plays, etc. featuring Barney, Elmo, Dora, Junie B. Jones, Disney, etc. I could have funded a small country! Oh, and the coup de grace (sp?) is the Lion King on Broadway. Younger kids won’t appreciate it, but my daughter is six and she was mesmerized by it. WORTH EVERY PENNY FOLKS!! But, be prepared to spend upwards of $200 for each ticket for premium seats. We made a mini vacation of it (shopping, dinner out, etc.) but I won’t have to stand in any lines in the heat at Disney!!

By Maria

July 11, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this

I’m glad I can still see a lot of great bands at venues like Variety Playhouse, The Roxy, and The Tabernacle for less than $30… and sometimes less than $20. I’m much more likely to spend $100 over 5 concerts for up-and-coming bands than $100 (or more!) on one concert for an artist who owns a couple of multi-million-dollar estates.

I recently spent $60 per ticket for me and my husband to see the Decemberists with the ASO this coming Friday. That’s more than I’ve spent for a concert in a while, but I know it’s going to be a great show, and Atlanta’s one of only five stops on their tour.

By jc

July 11, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this

WRG…what an idiot..pay to see barbara striesand..you must be one of those liberal retards.

By We all have vices

July 11, 2007 6:01 PM | Link to this

I would like to point out that two weeks ago, everyone was mocking people who spent $200 on shoes as self centered idiots who should donate to the homeless. Yes, you can get cheaper shoes, but I like expensive ones! I would like to point out that everyone on this blog could go to cheaper concerts (different brand of shoe = different band). All music lovers will insist the specific band makes it valuable. I would say the same on shoes. Now, if we could all just use our $$ on what we want and get along without criticizing each other, life would rock!!

By Carrot Top

July 11, 2007 7:12 PM | Link to this

Thanks mom!

By Demi

July 11, 2007 7:13 PM | Link to this

$75.00 for Ozzfest’05…there is no shame in my game.

By wrg

July 11, 2007 8:30 PM | Link to this

I don’t label myself a liberal JC. Although I think the war in Irag is a big mistake (they didn’t attack us…although I could care less if we nuked the entire Mideast…if they want to live in the Dark Ages we can help them out). However, if I have the $$$ I think I can spend it how I want without being judged by the likes of you.

By wrg

July 11, 2007 8:42 PM | Link to this

Oh and JC…it’s BARBRA not Barbara. Now if you excuse me I have to walk my Sheltie “Scarlett O’Hara”. Toodles!

By joanne

July 12, 2007 12:49 AM | Link to this

The Police, not worth your money. I was in CA for the opening concert in Oakland. The tickets were sold out yes, we had gotten advance sales for being A’s ticket holders. Scalpers were everywhere hoping to sell for face value. We had mid level seats, great view, the people in front of us, showed up after the warm up act and they bragged how much they paid. Our tix value was $90, one person admitted to paying $50, another couple paid $30 each. The show was a dud. Fond memories and all that, they aren’t a good live band. It’s the 401k tour.

By rid0617

July 12, 2007 1:55 AM | Link to this

Anyone who pays these kind of prices has more money than common sense. But what do you expect from the generation that never heard the word no.

By doinou

July 12, 2007 7:12 AM | Link to this

Life is good in America to be able to spend that kind of money. I agree with rid0617.

By losers

July 12, 2007 7:25 AM | Link to this

Losers!

Your relatives who had to live during the Depression are ashamed and rolling over in their graves!

By go outside and actually do something

July 12, 2007 7:30 AM | Link to this

I am raising my kids to be completely UNlike you guys (the paying ones - not the sensible ones at the end)!

By robo

July 12, 2007 7:40 AM | Link to this

“I paid the $750 per ticket to see Barbra Streisand at Philips Arena”

You are an idiot to pay this kind of money for any artist performance. The once in a lifetime crap is just that. Crap! What do you think would happen if nimrods like you didn’t shell out this kind of money for a freakin concert? The price would come down to a reasonable level, and the real music lovers could actually go to a concert. People that pay these prices just want to be seen and have a way to end their story about the wife’s new Escalade. They seek status, not a desire to listen to a live performance.

Did you enjoy the $6.00 cup of stale beer while Babs bored, or did you have the crappy jug wine?

By Where's Clark?

July 12, 2007 8:01 AM | Link to this

Oh Clark, please come and save these people from themselves!

By wrg

July 12, 2007 8:02 AM | Link to this

Once again it’s my money to spend. We had a great time. And I’m not a status seeker. Both of my cars are over 10 years old. I live a frugal life most of the time but I felt like splurging. Luckily I can afford to do so.

By robo

July 12, 2007 8:13 AM | Link to this

wrg, You whine like a junky justifying their “splurge” on a New Year’s eve eight-ball.

Did you spill the $10.00 jug wine on youself when you bought the $50.00 babs T-shirts? Sheesh! Imbeciles like you will never get it.

By Edward

July 12, 2007 8:23 AM | Link to this

I paid five million pesos to see Maria and the Donkey in Juarez, Mexico. She now works at Wal Mart on Lawrenceville Hwy., I saw her there the other day. I asked her about the donkey, sorry to say he died.

By wrg

July 12, 2007 8:34 AM | Link to this

Hey Robo, Sounds like someone is jealous about my disposable income. Don’t worry, one day you’ll move out of your parent’s basement, get a job and maybe have some extra money to do what you want to do. FYI: It was a $13 double Makers Mark and I’ve passed the age of wearing concert t-shirts.

By billybob

July 12, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this

I yearn for the good ole days. I saw the Rolling Stones (aka the cockroaches)at the Fox in 1978 and paid the ticket cover price of $16.00. Also saw Talking Heads at the Roxy thanksgiving weeken 1977 in front row center seats for $3.00 and Elvis Costello was the opening act. Does anyone remember TicketXpress? Pre-printed tickets gave everyone a fair shot. Catch thses guys when they are getting started and watch the insanely priced ones on DVD.

By gttim

July 12, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this

WRG…what an idiot..pay to see barbara striesand..you must be one of those liberal retards.

Really, you could have seen Ted Nugent or Charlie Daniels or one of the few wingnut acts at the county fair for much less!

By Perry

July 12, 2007 8:41 AM | Link to this

$100 a piece to see The Police in Tampa last night. It WAS definitely worth it!

By tommy

July 12, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this

$80 per for Clapton, $225 per for Eagles back at the grand opening of American Airlines Center in Dallas, and I’d do it all over again. at 41 I’ll tell you those were the 2 greatest shows I’ve ever seen and easily worth the price.

By robo

July 12, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this

wrg, Yeah, right, I’m jealous of an idiot that “disposes” of income for an overpriced babs concert and all of the fixins.

I worked in the entertainment business for 16 years and laughingly made wads of cash on “splurges” like yours. You see, I understand exactly what drives the pricing, and it’s greed, plus suckers like you. Don’t despair. You are one of millions…one cow in the herd.

By robo

July 12, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this

The year: 1978

The venue: Atlanta’s Fabulous Fox Theatre

The artist: Johnny Winter & Friends for 4 hours

The price: $16.00 (I was in free that night)

That was one memorable event of very many (over 2000 events) outrageously great nights, but I cry myself to sleep, because I never paid $750.00 to see babs striesand. Boo Hoo!

By wrg

July 12, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this

Johnny Winter??? That’s one of the highlights of your life. Aim a little higher dude.

By Flo Jean

July 12, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this

I guess there’s a concert price for everyone. Let people pay what they want to pay. We’re not living in a Communist country.

By Sal

July 12, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this

$750.00 to see a has been hawk nosed nasal sounding prima donna like Streisand? Why didn’t you just toss the money in the toilet and flush it? You bought into thinking she’s worth that? That’s about as stupid as the people who paid the big bucks to see Chers’ forty-fifty final concert tour. Old Babs can still bring out the stupid in stupid people.

By sportsmommy

July 12, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this

I paid $120.00 to see Jay-Z and Friends at Phillips, I paid $110.00 to see John Mayer at Chastain, I paid $65.00 to see John Mayer at Lakewood and I paid $55.00 to see John Mayer at Tabernacle. I think it’s up to the person to pay what they want for who they like. Who are we to judge what’s too much for someone else to pay? I know that my limit is $150.00 for ANYONE. It’s about you doing what you want to do. We work hard and deserve to splurge every now and then. I do agree, though, if people stopped spending $700 on a ticket, that the prices will fall to a resonable amount.

By Decent

July 12, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

There was a Creative Loafing article about ticket scalping awhile back:

http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A18572

“On eBay, Yang was selling two tickets to U2’s May 21 show at Madison Square Garden. They weren’t great seats - the mezzanine on the opposite side of the arena from the stage - but they were a hot commodity.

Yang, a longtime U2 fan, spent almost $400 on the tickets, and then found he couldn’t go. So he looked at what similar seats were going for on eBay - $300, $400, even $500 apiece.

Yang listed the tickets on eBay on Feb. 15. Within two days, bidding had climbed to more than $800 for the pair. As the days went on, a few U2 fans left him some nasty messages. “They’re saying, ‘You’re just as bad as the scalper. You’re scum of the earth.’ I’m like, you’re entitled to your opinion. I don’t do this for a living. I felt like I got lucky. I’m not forcing them to pay. I’m not holding a gun to anyone’s head.”

On Feb. 22, the auction ended. The winning bid?

$1,625.”

I’ve also seen Super Bowl tickets go for about $7000/pair.

By robo

July 12, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this

wrg, Apparently, your ignorance equals your income disposal machine. However, I wouldn’t expect someone that spends $750.00 on a babs festival to have the slightest clue about JW.

Someone here already commented about the Rolling Stones show that same year at the Fox. I was there for that too, and set the marquee for the show. I was doing stuff like that then and continued working in the biz for years to come. That was where I learned to spot suckers like you from a distance.

By Tiger in ATL

July 12, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this

A little off topic but in the same family…. I paid $600.00 for an Opening Ceremony Ticket to the ATL Olympics. I had a great seat very close to the Flame. I could see Ali’s face as he lit the Flame… It is a true lifetime memory…What a great way to spend $600

By kate

July 12, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this

Robo, I am impressed by all your years of experience in the industry and admire you thusly so for it - however, I do find it interesting for you to be so critical of someone’s music preferences. Being someone who is not quite on par with you in that regards, but definitely quite versed in the music scene, I agree too that it is somewhat ridiculous to spend such an exorbitant amount of money on Barbra Streisand. Nevertheless, I think one thing you failed to realize is that more often times than not, ticket prices often have just as much to do with the venue in which the artist is performing than with what the fans are willing to pay. If you are planning on seeing an even at Philip’s Arena, no matter if it’s music or sports, you will be shelling out big money. Perhaps just something to consider…

By wrg

July 12, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

Robo, I still don’t know why you get so upset on how I spend my money. It was a one time deal. I’m not even that big a Streisand fan…but my partner is. It was an early Christmas present for him. I am glad for you and your enlightened state of mind but stop judging people as if you are the last word on the concert experience.

By right...help!

July 12, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this

He was right! These people DO need Clark Howard! Poor people.

By Spike

July 25, 2007 12:12 AM | Link to this

I just paid $450 + $50 commission on stubhub for Two SQUEEZE tickets on 8/3 at the Beacon Theater NYC.

I think I had temporary insanity after I got outbid at the last second for fourth row seats by some bidder who I know is just going to resell them judging from his past purchases. My high bid was $400 and at the last second I was outbid by five bucks.

So instead of lamenting my misfortune I went to Stubhub and purchased row BB (second row from stage).

The same row is now asking for anywhere from $350-500 per seat so I feel I got a “bargain” LOL

Anyway, life is made of memories so this extravagence I already feel is worth it.

I’ve been wanting to see them in concert since 1985 when their SINGLES 45 was the first CD I ever saw and listened to.

Thanks for letting me ramble.

spike