I love Ticketmaster/Livenation.

[TJ55]

They do not gouge you at all when purchasing concert tickets. Also, not having an option to buy a ticket package for multiple night runs so they can charge the 33% convenience fee for every ticket is very gracious of them.

That is all...

[hover]

is this opposites day?

[PSPookie]

I like that they charge a fee for 1) taking your money and 2) the privilege of printing your own ticket.

[TJ55]

Originally Posted by PSPookie

I like that they charge a fee for 1) taking your money and 2) the privilege of printing your own ticket.

Don't forget the parking charge they add to EVERY ticket for shows in select cities. Obviously everyone in Cincinnati will drive alone and not have to pay for parking again when they get downtown.

[SoComSurfing]

I agree it is a huge aggravation. Just this week I realized TM was charging $27 in fees for a $33 ticket. Then, as was mentioned, there are extra parking fees at the venue. No thank you. I'll take a cab and purchase at the gate or just go by boat and pay a lower marina fee (beach-side venue).

[Richland123]

I like the term "convenience fee". How are any of these things all that convenient?

I was at a concert last week at a 20,000 seat arena that did something completely different. There were no advance ticket sales at all. In addition, there were no tickets printed and no reserve seats. Everybody paid $10 each at the gate. Parking was only $5. So, no ticket service fees or paying for ticket printing or box office personnel, etc. to keep expenses down. They sold the place out.

I was a promoter for a big concert a few years ago at a local arena and we did not use Ticketmaster or LiveNation in order to keep our ticket prices down. We had all reserved seats but for advance ticket sales, we used the arena box office and several local stores as ticket outlets with no service fees. And, we did not raise the ticket prices at the door for last minute purchases. Parking was either free on the streets or $5 in the arena parking lot. People loved it.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by Richland123

I was at a concert last week at a 20,000 seat arena that did something completely different. There were no advance ticket sales at all. In addition, there were no tickets printed and no reserve seats. Everybody paid $10 each at the gate. Parking was only $5. So, no ticket service fees or paying for ticket printing or box office personnel, etc. to keep expenses down. They sold the place out.

I was a promoter for a big concert a few years ago at a local arena and we did not use Ticketmaster or LiveNation in order to keep our ticket prices down. We had all reserved seats but for advance ticket sales, we used the arena box office and several local stores as ticket outlets with no service fees. And, we did not raise the ticket prices at the door for last minute purchases. Parking was either free on the streets or $5 in the arena parking lot. People loved it.

Sounds like the wave of the future to me. Especially if economic hard times keep squeezing the average guy/gal.

I never cease to be amazed at how eager big greedy corporations are to cut their own throats.

[stevetx19]

i would like to actually pay for a ticket from TM. Many of the tickets i've recently purchased had sold out within an hour to these other businesses that double the face value for resale. I bought from these places, and TM wouldn't even confirm it was a real ticket or not.

[Jonyak]

I will never buy a ticket off of ticketbastard.

horrible, business. I will never give them any of my money.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Richland123

I like the term "convenience fee". How are any of these things all that convenient?

For me, I have the convenience of sitting on my couch at home while making the purchase. I can browse the open seats in the arena and decide which ones I want. I also know I don't have to wait until the day of the event and hope to get a ticket. Yes, it is expensive, but to me totally worth it. Especially in situations where I fly across the country to attend an event.

Your experience is great and all, but it doesn't seem practical for people attending from outside the immediate area where the venue is.

-Mike

[MakiSupaStar]

Ugh. Don't get me started.

[Richland123]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Your experience is great and all, but it doesn't seem practical for people attending from outside the immediate area where the venue is.

I totally agree with your situation where you are traveling a long distance to see I show and want to make sure you have a ticket when you get there.

However, there are many concerts in my region that the ticket service fees are actually much higher than the actual ticket prices themselves. I know many people who now refuse to attend and support concerts and there has been quite a decline in live music concerts regionally due to lack of attendance. Some of the venue box offices charge the high service fees even if you go there and buy a ticket in person. I am a concert promoter and event manager for many shows and I see first hand what is happening with the concert music scene. People don't want to spend big money to see shows anymore. It is declining rapidly and the poor economy has affected it as well. I sure hope things turn around soon.

However, I heard today that Superbowl tickets inside the stadium are $2,000 - $3,000 and $200 - $300 just to stand in the parking lot outside the stadium. Go figure!

[Johnny Crab]

This too shall pass when they starve themselves and artists they sell for into bankruptcy.
ANY item, product, service sold today in the "extra money/non-necessity" spending area either maintains or lowers pricing OR they WILL have falling sales.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by Richland123

However, I heard today that Superbowl tickets inside the stadium are $2,000 - $3,000 and $200 - $300 just to stand in the parking lot outside the stadium. Go figure!

I read that a Super 8 close to the SuperBowl is getting $699 a night for a room.

Insanity.

[TJ55]

Of the hundreds of shows I've seen, I've had to deal with these crooks for atleast half, so I shouldn't complain if I'm not gonna take a stand. I COULD boycott live shows to make a statement, but my enjoyment far outweighs the money spent on tickets and extra charges. Basically I just like to b****. That's my pleasure

[MJ5150]

Pearl Jam went on a crusade to bring down TM. We see how that worked out.

-Mike

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by Richland123

I like the term "convenience fee". How are any of these things all that convenient?

I was at a concert last week at a 20,000 seat arena that did something completely different. There were no advance ticket sales at all. In addition, there were no tickets printed and no reserve seats. Everybody paid $10 each at the gate. Parking was only $5. So, no ticket service fees or paying for ticket printing or box office personnel, etc. to keep expenses down. They sold the place out.

I was a promoter for a big concert a few years ago at a local arena and we did not use Ticketmaster or LiveNation in order to keep our ticket prices down. We had all reserved seats but for advance ticket sales, we used the arena box office and several local stores as ticket outlets with no service fees. And, we did not raise the ticket prices at the door for last minute purchases. Parking was either free on the streets or $5 in the arena parking lot. People loved it.

My work often gets in the way of me getting to gigs for the starting time, so yeah, I'd rather pay a few quid extra and know I could actually get in, instead of showing up to a show that was sold out.