Is it even possible to get good concert seats anymore?

[steve108819]

This past weekends McCartney concert got me wondering what you have to do to get a close seat for one of these shows. I got mine on stubhub before they were even available from the Sprint Center website. If I wanted front row I would have had to pay $5000 from scalpers per seat. As it was I paid double face value for upper deck seats. Is it even possible anymore to get good tickets at face value, or do they all go to the scalpers so we get raped if we want to go?

[itkindaworks]

I've seen the same thing, it's a bummer. Sometimes you can get lucky, but scalpers get the majority of decent seats.

[PedalFreak]

No it's not. All the sites sell to scalpers, I mean Ticket Brokers, first. I've bought tickets through a presale the minute they go on sale and still get bad seats.

[Thinsocks]

This past weekends McCartney concert got me wondering what you have to do to get a close seat for one of these shows. I got mine on stubhub before they were even available from the Sprint Center website. If I wanted front row I would have had to pay $5000 from scalpers per seat. As it was I paid double face value for upper deck seats. Is it even possible anymore to get good tickets at face value, or do they all go to the scalpers so we get raped if we want to go?

Same here. Tried to get tickets to see Paul at the Hollywood Bowl, but both the pre-sale and sale date sold out within seconds... yet there was upwards of 200 tickets on just one of the local "Ticket Broker" websites within minutes of the pre-sale. Total BS.

[PVH5150]

All depends on where the venue is & who the band is.

I saw the Scorpions last month at Meadowbrook in New Hampshire....I bought my tickets THE SECOND they went on sale. 9 rows from the stage, $56 per ticket. Not bad at all.

On the downside....I went to the actual box office to get Rush tickets the morning they went on sale (for 9/14 at the Garden in Boston). Nothing on the floor or loge. Ended up with 3rd row Club seats (above loge, below balcony) for a cool $125.

Put it this way....if the venue you're attending has a big wig corporate sponsor in its name or title, you're not getting the seats you want unless you blow Irving Azoff himself.

[dmb70]

About the only way to get really close tickets to big ticket bands without going the stub hub route is to join their fan clubs. Last year I joined AC/DC's for $50, got 15th row tickets for face value before they went on sale to the general public.

Many big time bands have some kind of vip/pre sale/ fan club type ticket packages.
Sometimes you can also get lucky on stub hub the day of or before the show.

[steve108819]

Not the answers I want to hear. I was hoping there was some trick I hadn't thought of. I really want to see McCartney again, but with good seats this time. I just can't afford the scalper prices. I miss the old days.

[Turbozag]

I had great seats for McCartney a couple years ago in Columbus Ohio.

I paid about $260 each for 2 tix. Was not expecting it, but turned out to be one of the best shows ever.

I was a few rows behind Peter Frampton.

Had 10th row dead center for Pink Floyd back on the "Delicate Sounds of Thunder" tour. A friend worked at the tix office and hooked me up. :-)
Face value.

:D

[HEY!YOU!]

FFFFFF and F'ing F them all.

I don't want to join every f'ing fan club to see bands in good seats.
I know life's not fair. Oh well.

I saw lots of top bands in the 70's and 80's for $5.50-$8.50 a seat.
Granted, I had to cut school or work and wait in line, but at least I got a chance and usually got good seats at face value.

Brokers my ass. Scalpers thru and thru.

I feel sad for kids today that want to see any big national acts.

I've resigned myself to seeing local or boutique acts.
Robben Ford and Larry Carlton at the Boulder theater for $39.00
thru their online box office. Works for me.

[Stike]

Live Nation and Ticketmaster are downright evil.

[Drew68]

I saw lots of top bands in the 70's and 80's for $5.50-$8.50 a seat.
Granted, I had to cut school or work and wait in line, but at least I got a chance and usually got good seats at face value.


Sigh... A lot sure has changed, hasn't it? My concert-attending heyday was in the mid 1980s. We'd camp out overnight at the mall and very often the party atmosphere in the parking lot was as much fun as the concert itself. A $20 bill paid for one concert ticket and breakfast at McDonald's. And the rock stars still managed to get rich!

I don't think I'd even know how to buy a ticket these days.

[HEY!YOU!]

Sigh... A lot sure has changed, hasn't it? My concert-attending heyday was in the mid 1980s. We'd camp out overnight at the mall and very often the party atmosphere in the parking lot was as much fun as the concert itself. A $20 bill paid for one concert ticket and breakfast at McDonald's. And the rock stars still managed to get rich!

I don't think I'd even know how to buy a ticket these days.

My son's friends look at my framed concert tix, The Who, Zep, Beck, Zappa, Stones, Humble Pie, Allmans, CSN &Y, Dylan, Band, everyone who was anyone.
They ask how much to see the shows....I say "look at the stub" and that's not counting the shows I was able to see for FREE.

Their mouths drop......

[vds5000]

All depends on where the venue is & who the band is.

+1

I was able to get Bill Cosby tickets for $47/ticket. 7 rows from the stage! It's about 2 weeks away.

When Journey/Heart/Cheap Trick toured 2 years ago, I did have an opportunity to get 14 rows from the stage, but chose to go for 30 rows back because the tickets were almost 1/2 the price.

[Lotis]

I saw the Beatles last show at Candlestick Park in San Fran for $5.50 and it wasn't sold out. Now that WAS the good old days. However if I remember minimum wage like $1.25 so it's relative.

[TwoTubMan]

Try paying with cocaine. At least that's how it worked in Houston in the 80's if you wanted to be able to see the stage.

[greggorypeccary]

Great, another TGP "back in the day" thread. I'm actually feeling younger every day I come here!

But seriously, look at ticketbastard everyday the week before the show, including the day of. That's when the hundreds of tickets that are held for various friends or whatever are released. I got a great seat for Phish the day of the show.

[HEY!YOU!]

[QUOTE=. However if I remember minimum wage like $1.25 so it's relative.[/QUOTE]

No.
It's not.
Do the math.

Min. wage 1970= $1.65
Concert price= $3.00- $7.00

Min. wage 2010= $8.00
Concert price= $125.00- $3,000

Yeah,...right.
Not.

[fusion58]

I just can't reconcile myself to the idea of paying such utterly stupid money to see some rock act I paid $5.00 to see (on a triple bill in many instances) in their prime.

I don't care if Jesus is headlining - I'll never pay that kind of money.

Luckily (and ironically) I've been able to see the greatest musicians on the planet for a $15 or $20 cover at places like the Baked Potato for many years now.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

Live Nation and Ticketmaster are downright evil.


They are teh debil. Well, along w/ ebay and paypal. :red

[TTripp]

As long as people keep going, they'll keep things the way they are.

[pj29]

I just won't go to stadium or big tour concerts anymore. I can'y justify paying $100+ for a show, it is insane to me. I will only go to club/bar shows anymore. There are a ton of great bands that play those small places and the tickets never are more than $20 each, and the beer is usually cheap, it's easier to get to and leave, no parking problems or paying for parking, the list is endless. Plus, you usually get to hang with the band members before or after their set. I saw a ton of big bands (Who, Pink Floyd, etc.) when I was younger, but as people mentioned, it was more reasonable cost then.

[A-Frame]

About the only way to get really close tickets to big ticket bands without going the stub hub route is to join their fan clubs. Last year I joined AC/DC's for $50, got 15th row tickets for face value before they went on sale to the general public.

Many big time bands have some kind of vip/pre sale/ fan club type ticket packages.
Sometimes you can also get lucky on stub hub the day of or before the show.

So true. I joined the Dave Matthews band fan club when it started, and although I'm not really a big fan anymore, I keep my membership so I can sit in the first couple rows every time they come through. Concerts are so much more fun when you're 30 feet from the band.

[david henman]

...i found the ideal solution: live concert performance dvds.

[Tony]

Great, another TGP "back in the day" thread. I'm actually feeling younger every day I come here!

But seriously, look at ticketbastard everyday the week before the show, including the day of. That's when the hundreds of tickets that are held for various friends or whatever are released. I got a great seat for Phish the day of the show.

StubHub is great for this as well; ticketholders get desperate and slash prices. I picked up great tickets for U2's opening night in Chicago on their current tour the day before the show. $45.

[vds5000]

No.
It's not.
Do the math.

Min. wage 1970= $1.65
Concert price= $3.00- $7.00

Min. wage 2010= $8.00
Concert price= $125.00- $3,000


Thank the Eagles & Madonna!

[Powerpopfan]

I just won't go to stadium or big tour concerts anymore. I can'y justify paying $100+ for a show, it is insane to me. I will only go to club/bar shows anymore. There are a ton of great bands that play those small places and the tickets never are more than $20 each, and the beer is usually cheap, it's easier to get to and leave, no parking problems or paying for parking, the list is endless. Plus, you usually get to hang with the band members before or after their set. I saw a ton of big bands (Who, Pink Floyd, etc.) when I was younger, but as people mentioned, it was more reasonable cost then.


Exactly how I feel. I've actually lost the taste for stadium and arena shows. Terrible sound and you have to watch a giant tv to see anything. I could do that at home. Rock wasn't meant to sit at like a baseball game. I like seeing acts on the way up (or down) in rock clubs or even theaters where you are right there in front of the band, sweating and rocking out with everyone.

[74vibrolux]

Thank the Eagles & Madonna!

Seriously. I blame the Eagles. I remember going to see the Stones on their Voodoo Lounge tour. It was quite the production. I got fourth row center for $55! I never thought I'd pay that much for a ticket. Then, a few months later, the Eagles reunion happened and they charged their ridiculous three figure prices. I was floored that ... One - people would pay to see the Eagles (;)) and Two - people would pay that much. From that moment on it got ridiculous. It really became a case of some artists trying to see how much they could gouge their fans for.

Add to all of that the take it up the ass fees that Ticketmaster loves to heap on us and you can't see a concert from the cheap seats for less than $150 anymore. It's really ridiculous.

[itkindaworks]

When did ticketmaster get the monopoly on ticket sales? Sure there are smaller venues promoting themselves, but for the most part ticketmaster/live nation(one entity now) control the ticket sales.

[Doug]

I hate to give up my secret, but ... waiting until the last minute seems to be working for me. Here are a few recent examples:

Rolling Stones Bigger Bang tour - Wife and I went to the box office and got tickets that were just released, $50 for upper deck side of stage. We pretty much had the section to ourselves which was really nice. Most other tickets were $100 and up.

Clapton - Bought tickets online about 8 hours before showtime. Got great seats, 2nd row of our section about 20 yards from the stage at an arena show. My co-worker paid over twice what I paid for seats about 15 rows behind us through Stub Hub. She bought hers when tickets first went on sale.

Brad Paisley - Center section about 8 rows from the stage. We bought them about 4 hours prior to showtime. The walkway to the crowd stopped right at our seats, so when Brad was there we could literally have touched him.

Iron Maiden - Center section 12 or so rows back. I bought these a couple of weeks before showtime.

In all the above cases, I had been looking for tickets for a while and they all showed either sold out or only lousy tickets remaining on Ticketmaster's website. I swear they hold the best seats until the last minute. :dunno

[KLB]

Seriously. I blame the Eagles. I remember going to see the Stones on their Voodoo Lounge tour. It was quite the production. I got fourth row center for $55! I never thought I'd pay that much for a ticket. Then, a few months later, the Eagles reunion happened and they charged their ridiculous three figure prices. I was floored that ... One - people would pay to see the Eagles (;)) and Two - people would pay that much. From that moment on it got ridiculous. It really became a case of some artists trying to see how much they could gouge their fans for.

Add to all of that the take it up the ass fees that Ticketmaster loves to heap on us and you can't see a concert from the cheap seats for less than $150 anymore. It's really ridiculous.

I dig the Eagles, but it is riduculous paying that kind of money to see them live. Anyway, they play their tunes almost note for note compared to the studio cuts. When I want to see/hear the Egales, I play the "Farewell Tour" DVD.

Besides insane ticket prices, the sound is often poor and the hassle getting to/from the venue isn't worth it for the reward.

[art_z]

This is why I go to clubs to see bands, where my "seat" is where I stand, usually a few feet away from the performer. No interest in paying $X hundred dollars to sit a hundred rows back and only be able to see the band on a big video screen.

[puckhead]

I just won't go to stadium or big tour concerts anymore. I can'y justify paying $100+ for a show, it is insane to me. I will only go to club/bar shows anymore. There are a ton of great bands that play those small places and the tickets never are more than $20 each, and the beer is usually cheap, it's easier to get to and leave, no parking problems or paying for parking, the list is endless. Plus, you usually get to hang with the band members before or after their set. I saw a ton of big bands (Who, Pink Floyd, etc.) when I was younger, but as people mentioned, it was more reasonable cost then.


yeah, i'm the same way. i don't think i will see an other stadium show again.
fortunately we have some decent 1-3,000 seat venues around town, and they draw pretty strong acts. Saw Alice in Chains last year in row 11 of a 2,500 seat theatre, awesome sound, terrific atmosphere. Chris Cornell (with Pete) was playing at the smaller casino theatres (1,000 seat) - saw that show from row 5 or so. Not a bad seat in that house, anyways.

the last straw for arena shows was Van Halen's last tour - $185 for tickets 200+ feet away. no thanks.

[Doug's Tubes]

Like previous posters, gave up large venues a long time ago! Even Jones Beach can be too large now if you're all the way in the back.

Got orchestra for ZZ Top at the Beacon in September presale, and 4th row orchestra for Richard Thompson at Town Hall in October also presale. These are my kind of venues. Seeing POCO at the Turning Point Cafe several times was amazing! Their popularity has resurged, so they're doing Jones Beach opening type venues.

[chrisr777]

You paid double for upper deck? I just checked on tickets for North Carolina, which is the next show, and found a pair on Ticketmaster in section 112, row R. That is the first lodge section. Ozzfest in SoCal has Pit available. The final Wall show (with the possibility of DG showing up) has floor seats. If you wait, then tickets get released if you are willing to pay the ridiculous prices some promoters charge. 90% of shows have tickets leftover on stubhub the day of the show that you can get for under face value if you want to take the chance that there might not be anything left.

Yes, you can get good seats.

[27sauce]

I saw Metallica last year, decided I wanted to go at the last minute (day of the show) and figured I'd go the scalper route. The show had been sold out since April, but I though I'd call the ticket office just in case. I got 2nd row (off of the floor) for 85 bucks! It turns out they released all of the unclaimed fan club tickets day of. I know thats not something you can count on, but if you are in a smaller market like me...

[smallbutmighty]

About the only way to get really close tickets to big ticket bands without going the stub hub route is to join their fan clubs.

This doesn't always work either. I joined the Iron Maiden fan club a few years ago specifically to get good seats for the "Somewhere Back in Time" tour. We got to purchase them before they went on sale to the general public.

Best I could get was about half-way back in the second level.

WTF?

[T.Wesley]

Got tickets to see Iron Maiden less than a week before the show, right next to the sound board, for $67 each. +$6 mandatory parking fee +$14.95 "processing" fee for $87.95 total

Good seats though!

--chiba

[zekmoe]

I saw Rush from 8th row center this past friday, and paid $125 for the tickets. Normal price for close seats these days. Worth every cent IMHO.

[MudPies]

Got tickets to see Iron Maiden less than a week before the show, right next to the sound board, for $67 each. +$6 mandatory parking fee +$14.95 "processing" fee for $87.95 total

Good seats though!

--chiba

Next to the sound board only second to right in front of the sound board. Best seats in the house IMO.

[gururyan]

I too got fed up with it, started going solo. You can get a single seat right up front OR a pair of tickets in the back. I've done the pre-sale, fan club, American Express VIP, 1st buyer in line at the ticket window, etc. It doesn't matter, you want more than one seat together?...you get to watch from the back, top deck, behind a support column. BUT, if you go by yourself, PRESTO! You're in the front. Small price to pay. Case in point?...here was my view of Clapton recently, from my SINGLE seat.

http://gallery.me.com/ryansdesigns/100252/EricC/web.jpg?ver=12675973970001

[LHanson]

Try paying with cocaine. At least that's how it worked in Houston in the 80's if you wanted to be able to see the stage.

...or sex. My college roommate was approached by the (male) manager of a large record store in Houston back about '84. He was offered great seats for a concert in exchange for "a date".

He declined.

[relix63]

This whole ticket price thing confuses me to no end. Tom Petty played at Summerfest about a month ago in Milwaukee. There were actually some tickets available for around $25. Granted, they were in the back but at least the price was reasonable. The problem was the additional fees brought the price up to $56 if I'm not mistaken. This might be the first time I've seen the fees cost more than the actual ticket. Crazy stuff.

[dmb70]

This doesn't always work either. I joined the Iron Maiden fan club a few years ago specifically to get good seats for the "Somewhere Back in Time" tour. We got to purchase them before they went on sale to the general public.

Best I could get was about half-way back in the second level.

WTF?
Ya, it's not 100%. Did you buy your tix the day & hour they went on sale?

[Road.Kill]

I had great seats for McCartney a couple years ago in Columbus Ohio.

I paid about $260 each for 2 tix. Was not expecting it, but turned out to be one of the best shows ever.

I was a few rows behind Peter Frampton.

Had 10th row dead center for Pink Floyd back on the "Delicate Sounds of Thunder" tour. A friend worked at the tix office and hooked me up. :-)
Face value.

:D

So for good seats, just go with Peter Frampton next time! :D

[RedRockRoy]

StubHub is great for this as well; ticketholders get desperate and slash prices. I picked up great tickets for U2's opening night in Chicago on their current tour the day before the show. $45.

What year was that?

[KennethC]

Things will get better once technology brings 3D concerts to the masses, in their very own homes. :)

[TCauble]

My girlfriend and I paid a couple hundred bucks for our McCartney tickets and sat in the second to last row of the Hollywood Bowl.

[Julia343]

I remember Houston. "These are good seats". I couldn't even see the stage. I didn't have cocaine on me.

At the prices today, I'll stay home and buy the DVD. I can pause it when I want. Parking prices quadruple. And if you've got to go pee, there's those filthy bathrooms with a line.

[razorbladeSD]

Have any of you experienced the people from the venue coming around offering upgrades?

When we went to NIN/JA we had ga tickets at the back on the grass. Before the show, there were a bunch of girls working for the venue walking through the crowds offering ticket upgrades to seats for 20 bucks..

[MightyGuru]

Just another reason I have chosen to forget live shows anymore. Too much bullshit to wade through. God how I long for the days of going to the local music store and picking up tix.

Now you have to register with an online entity and put all of your CC info in, get non-transferable tix (for ridiculously inflated prices) be online at a certain time to attempt to get decent seats...it's almost like the concerts are being run by the FAA.

I do not need this bullshit runaround.

[MudPies]

The best music is in the clubs and theaters anyway.

[gururyan]

Have any of you experienced the people from the venue coming around offering upgrades?

When we went to NIN/JA we had ga tickets at the back on the grass. Before the show, there were a bunch of girls working for the venue walking through the crowds offering ticket upgrades to seats for 20 bucks..

Another show I got an amazing seat for by going single. I was at the NIN/JA show in Atlanta, ended up behind 3 different velvet ropes in my own "box" with the most amazing spot. The artists from Street Sweeper Social Scene and Trent's musical guest (forgot his name) ended up in the "box" next to me and I got to hang out with them.

[jrjones]

my wife's friend just bought 6th row center mayer tickets for 60 bucks a few weeks ago...

[wareagle]

some friends and i paid 120$ for rush and got literally 3 rows from the back. ridiculousness.

[xjojox]

For the first time in my life a few months ago I patronized a "reseller". (These guys are apparently kosher in Texas). Just one time in my life I wanted front row to see a band that meant a lot to me (or at least meant a lot to me way back when). I paid 500 bucks for a pair of tickets to see the Doobie Brothers, pretty outrageous. But I did get the best seats in the house (first row, dead center on the aisle, close enough for high fives from Patrick and Tom). I guess that's what it takes nowadays for a good seat.

[semi-hollowbody]

We have had decent seats ONCE...every other time we were so far away we couldnt tell who was on stage...

We had 3rd row seats to U2 360...best seats ever...but they cancelled before they came to detroit...broke back bono...they cost us $400...REFUND!

[loudboy]

You can see Steve Earle and Hot Tuna, in a club, for $15 tonight.

[RedRockRoy]

Have any of you experienced the people from the venue coming around offering upgrades?

When we went to NIN/JA we had ga tickets at the back on the grass. Before the show, there were a bunch of girls working for the venue walking through the crowds offering ticket upgrades to seats for 20 bucks..
Yes, I saw the same thing just a few weeks ago. It was the Santana/Winwood show in Chicago.

I am fairly sure the seats being sold as upgrades were not available to the general public through the TM website. IOW, I think these were seats that did not sell on the secondary sites like stubhub.

I bought tix from TM website within 10 seconds of them being open for sale. I got center 24th row. Two people right behind me bought tix on the grass online then got upgraded for $20 each inside the venue (Tinley Park).

[Blanket Jackson]

reason #84 why I love jazz .... you pay the guy at the door, take your seat 8 ft. from the performance area, and enjoy the show. No crowds, no hassles, and no freaking scalpers pissing all over your good time.

[PVH5150]

Some compare & contrast in my shows.....

Van Halen (10/30/07 in Boston @ the Garden), $150 per ticket, got in line at 5AM at the box office, I was 7th in line.....12th row, in the loge.

Ted Nugent (6/26/10 in Boston @ the House Of Blues), $27 per ticket, 5 feet from the stage, caught 2 picks from Ted & had the time of my life.

[steve108819]

I nomally don't care anymore about being right up front. I've been front row center for Kiss, Nine Inch Nails, Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Soundgarden and Skid Row back when I was younger. After awhile I realized that the sound is usually a lot better further back. But for McCartney it was important for me to be up close, which I obviously didn't get. I commented to my wife that instead of being in the party, we were watching others in the party from above. It was weird. The entire show the folks on the floor were on their feet, while up where we were nobody stood up once until the final 3 songs. The people on the floor sure looked like they were having fun. I stil had a blast, it just would have been better up close.

[danelectro]

I lucked out a few years ago with Sarah Mclachlan tickets. I was first in line at the Ticketmaster desk at my local Krogers. Front row, dead center.

[jetsnation]

About the only way to get really close tickets to big ticket bands without going the stub hub route is to join their fan clubs.

This.

It's not 100 percent, but this is your best shot.