Going to Shows and Concerts.

[Rebop]

How many of you don't go to shows or concerts either?
I never got into it.
Anyone else like that?

[Phalex]

I used to go to concerts. Of course back in those days I used to have friends.....

Yes was in town a week or two ago at a little venue (Maybe 500 seats) about 4 miles from my house, and I didn't go. I think I'm just getting too old for that stuff.

[BigOldHarry]

Rarely. I refuse to go to huge stadia/arena shows. Those things are for children. I do go see *music*, however. LA (where my GF lives) has tons of live music to be seen - and a good jazz scene as well!

[masterFlash]

As much as I can. Having 3 kids makes it a little tough, but live music (not the arena venue kind) is fantastic. Last Friday I checked out these Tuvan Throat Singers at the DIA. Really weird and cool.

[Tampabass]

In the old days, yes.

Now ... tickets to many of the shows I'd like to see (recently, "The Wall" tour and Tom Petty) are sky high, as in $75 to $150 to get just one good seat. Multiply that by two, add gas, parking, maybe a meal, and that's just too rich for my blood (or my wallet).

A lot of times, too, you have to buy tickets to some shows so far in advance, and then I'll get a chance to play a gig that same night. I'd rather play music than watch someone play music.

Then again, much of the good music is played at the smaller venues, where you can still see good touring acts (jazz, blues, jamband, reggae, rock) at decent ticket prices, and you can show up day of show and still get decent seats.

But the big arenas/domes, with the major touring rock and pop acts, even the older ones? Not gonna be much a part of my life anymore, for better or worse.

And concert-industry folks wonder why there are often so many empty seats at big venues?

[spaz21387]

I go all the time but its mostly local and underground touring bands i havent spent over 10$ on tickets for shows in a long time.

[tangentmusic]

Wanted to see Rush in Vegas in June. Tix are over $100.
I'll wait for the DVD.
Wanted to see Macca last time around. Tix waaay to spendy for me.
Every now and again we'll go see a show in a smaller venue.

[Bassman316]

I love going to shows. When my buddy lived in Raleigh we used to see shows all the time, usually at the Lincoln Theater or the Pour House downtown. Most shows we went to were $30 or less. Most were small time jambands and bluegrass acts, but we did see bands like Zappa Plays Zappa and P-Groove for under $20 each. Of course we've been to shows that were in the three-digit realm (Phish, the Dead). If all goes according to plan, this week I shall be scoring two three-day passes to the AllGood Festival in July... $159 for three days worth of music. Yes.

[BB75]

I used to go to shows all the time before ticket prices got so steep. I remember when $30 for a Lollapalooza ticket seemed like a lot. I miss the early 90s.

[5StringBlues]

Just small blues shows for the most part. Not too many arena acts out there I care for anymore.

[tangentmusic]

Originally Posted by BB75

I used to go to shows all the time before ticket prices got so steep. I remember when $30 for a Lollapalooza ticket seemed like a lot. I miss the early 90s.

I saw Deep Purple on their '74 "Burn" tour at the Long Beach Arena. Cost $7.50. Inflation eh?

[electracoyote]

I like to go to shows where the music is the priority for both the performers and the audience.

Too often these days, concerts are an opportunity for people to walk around with a beer in one hand, their cell phone in the other, seemingly oblivious to the performance, and all they do is create a distraction for those of us who bought the ticket and showed up to witness and get into the performance.

Red Rocks outside Denver is a perfect example. Beautiful venue, awesome concert experience potential, spoiled by the Gen X brats, neophytes, and debutantes.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Rarely. I refuse to go to huge stadia/arena shows. Those things are for children. I do go see *music*, however. LA (where my GF lives) has tons of live music to be seen - and a good jazz scene as well!

Same here. I did it back in the day and enjoyed it mostly. Now though, way too expensive and too much hassle overall.

Not to mention, as a working musician myself I can be very critical of other bands and I've had enough "big name" acts let me down (in performance, FOH mix or both) that it's just not worth the risk anymore.

I still go out to see live music quite a bit... but now it's always free, usually local, and almost always a band that includes one or more people I know.

[Tampabass]

Inflation is one thing. Charging so much for arena/stadium shows that the average person (or couple) can afford to see only one or two of those a year is something else.

It's called getting as much as you can, all at once, w/o any thought given to the long-term impact that that will have on the industry.

I blame promoters, venues, and, yes, artists. Of course they should be allowed to do it - I'm all about the free market. But I believe, long term, it's not to their advantage, as people ultimately will go to fewer shows and end up spending less.

I'm talking about you, Live Nation/Ticketmaster and the other entities with a near-monopolistic hold on venues, acts, and ticketing. It won't look like such a great approach when the concert industry goes bust.

And yet, there's no turning back.

(rant over)

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by masterFlash

As much as I can. Having 3 kids makes it a little tough, but live music (not the arena venue kind) is fantastic. Last Friday I checked out these Tuvan Throat Singers at the DIA. Really weird and cool.

LOL - Was Ondar there???

[hrodbert696]

In high school, when I could get my parents to pay or buy tickets with money from part-time jobs and didn't have bills, I went to concerts whenever I heard they were in town. Not a LOT, but I probably caught six or eight over the space of a couple of years.

In college, money generally seemed tighter and I mostly spent it on other things. I went to friends' plays and to concerts on campus, which were pretty affordable.

Out of college, adult life and bills to pay, I practically stopped going to see live music in any form.

Lately (I'm now 40), over the last couple of years, I've been rediscovering live music and going whenever I can scrape the money together. Saw Yes about a year ago, Cold War Kids a couple weeks ago, a touring show of Avenue Q, things like that. I love going, will do it whenever budget and schedule allow.

[uethanian]

shows are expensive...and i don't have a car. i've only been to one 'arena' show before, was fun but not something i'd do regularly. luckily my university has a half-decent music program, and the adjacent college town has a small but consistent indie scene as well as open mic nights. personally though i'd trade going to a show for getting a few albums i like.