How much would you pay to see a concert?

Question

Seriously. Celine Dion is playing a show here in Columbus and Ticketmaster is reserving the best seats at $1000 to $2000 a ticket.

http://www.ticketmaster.com/exchange/05003F67DE798F8F/?sort=price&page=2

Not that I would EVER go see Celine in concert... but I'm using this as an example. Another example would be Hannah Montana. Parents are paying out thousands to get tickets to see her show. Why?

So, what's your threshold? How much would you pay to see your favorite band?

Personally, the most I've ever paid is $185.00 a ticket to see U2 in Cleveland a few years ago. I wouldn't have paid that much, but it was a last minute trip and some guy was selling his lowers tickets at face because his wife was sick. Despite the price it was worth it. They put on a great concert.

Diago, I heard about that windstorm. They didn't refund your money?

Linz - PJ = dank?

Answer 1

Ugh. I wouldn't see Celine if Ticketmaster paid ME $2000.

But that's not the answer you were going for, huh?

My threshold depends soley on the artist in question: have I ever seen them before? Are they on my "artists to see before I die" list? How much do I want to go? Those types of questions.


With that said, I'll go with the most I've ever paid for a concert ticket. $185 each.

However, it was an easy justification. One, it was my husband's birthday present (so I splurged and got the expensive seats), and two, it was the Eagles. Neither he nor I had ever seen them live, we'd both always wanted to, and didn't know if we'd ever have the opportunity again. As an aside, I'd see them again if given the opportunity, but would probably opt for the "cheap seats." They sound just as good in the back of an indoor venue as they do in the front. :)

****
Given: which tour? I may have been at that concert!

Answer 2

My highest bid for a concert ticket depends on several factors...who the artist is, how soon and likely they are to be in my town again, where the seats are, if I've seen them before, ect. The most I paid was $150 for a pit ticket to see NIN in 2005. It was their first tour for "With Teeth" and they played smaller venues, so I was pretty close to the stage. It was worth it because it had been 5 years since NIN had last been in town, and my seats at THAT show were the worst I've ever had at a concert. So $150 to be in the pit was well worth it, plus they did a great show. I also payed $100 to see Tool last year, since it had been 4 years since I had seen them.

I've seen most of my favorite artists now, but there are a few left that I would pay a fat price for. To this day, for some weird reason, I still haven't seen U2. Next time they come, I'll pay as high as $150 or $200 for them. Also, if Led Zeppelin decides to go on tour, I might pay $300 or even $400 to see them, although I'm sure it would cost more...

Answer 3

My cut off point is usually around $60. If I can't get the wife and I in and out for $200 (give or take $20 if the t-shirts are cool), we don't go. I also always try to get the most bang for my buck by going to package shows. One of the great things about being an 80s metal fan are the summer package tours. You can usually get three or four bands plus a new-ish opener (like Endeverafter) for $40 - $60.

The most I've ever paid for a show was $75 per ticket, and that was a Christmas gift for my wife. I took her to a Coldplay show. I was so f*cking bored that I stood outside with the smokers and drank beer all night.
The most expensive tickets I've had were for Aerosmith / Motley Crue last year. They were a gift from a work associate. They were premium tickets on the 3rd row with a VIP package that included two t-shirts, a few buttons, a poster, and a deck of cards.






NP: "Spit It Out" - Whitesnake

Answer 4

Great question. Personally, for any normal (non festival) show I think I top out at about $50-60, and I think there are only a couple bands I would do that for (Radiohead is the one that comes to mind). Maybe $100-150 if it was something like Simon and Garfunkel with like the Shins opening or something like that. Luckily most of the shows that I really would want to catch usually come in at around $20-30, and luckily the shows my wife would want to see are around in the same price range.
I think it's simply ridiculous that someone would pay that much for anything that represented about 3 hours of entertainment and didn't even necessarily put you right up front and center. I can have a totally doing it first class romantic weekend with my wife in Big Sur for $2,000, or take a mini vacation without worrying about how much we were spending to one of the many places we have wanted to visit (NY or Chicago or even a brief trip somewhere abroad) for that. I've never been wealthy though so there is a much different scale for the demographic they're shooting at with those prices.

Answer 5

Maybe $80, but that's where I'd draw the line. I guess the more legendary the artist, the more I'd shell out. I paid $75 (about $80 with tax, fees and all) to catch Bob Dylan a couple of years ago. That's the most I'd ever spent. But I have an itch to go catch B.B King. live. For that I might possibly consider spending $80.

I'm with Jake, though. It seems the cheaper the cover price, the more fun the show is.

Answer 6

My mom paid $234 a ticket for Genesis this year twice for two different concerts, I thought that was insane. But they are her favorite band and she wasn't sure if she would ever see them again! The most I would pay would be about $60 and that is for my favorite band, and that's only because I'm afraid for the same reason that I may never see the band again. It just depends on how much you like them. I don't ever think I would pay that much for a Hannah Montanna ticket for my kids though because chances are they won't even remeber it in a couple of years.

Answer 7

My cut off is about $75-$100 (with all taxes/fees included), but I don't go to 'big' concerts often......just too much time and money spent. They're either in Mansfield at the Tweeter Center (which is about an hour away from me) or at the Banknorth Garden (damn it feels weird saying that again), either way I'm looking at a hassle.

The last 'big' concert I went to was The Black Crowes and I spent 35 for lawn seats and then was given a free upgrade to a seat. It was a great time.

Answer 8

Van Halen is coming to the NJ area again in March and tickets are (again) $175 after Ticketbastards surchages. I missed them the first time but will get tickets this time.

I don't think any band is worth more than $200 (and certainly not Linkin Park or MCR). If you spend more than $200, you should get a t-shirt and some groupie performing favors on you included in the price.

Answer 9

I think the most I've paid per ticket was about $90. I'd be willing to go around $250 depending on the artist. It makes me sick to know there are actual life forms on this planet that shell out two grand for Celine. The fact that she has a permanent booking in Vegas is beyond me. Her music has the excitement of drywall which is in direct contrast to Sin City. I've heard about more obscene numbers for Madonna and Barbara Streisand.

BC - There are few better bargain in music than a NIN concert.

Answer 10

Now way would I ever pay $1000's. I think I paid $125 to see Pearl Jam at the Gorge in 05. That's the most I've ever spent. Of course we live 7 hours away....so the cost of the show was really more like 6-700 in total. Well worth it!