I do think tickets are overpriced, but that's really not too bad. I'm sure it will be worth it. You only live once.

It's ridiculous and outrageous.
There's not a single person on the whole planet that I'd pay that much to see.

Evidently some (a lot of?) people have a lot more disposable income than many of us. So be it and good for you.

I'm 74 (geezer) and never was into the whole pop/rock/music/mega-concert thing.

Could you explain how the Gaga concert was a life changing event for you?
Sorry, but I just don't understand.

I'm not 'judging' or putting you down, I just don't understand it.

It was a once in a lifetime experience.

It was Gaga ( one of my faves) at the final show of the historic NYC concert hall. Would never have that chance again.

I'm trying to think of 'once in a lifetime' experiences for me.
Got my USAF wings
Got married.
Had a daughter.
Got hired by TWA.
Escaped death in a hijacking.
(Yeah, that was 'life changing')

There are a few more, but nothing associated with entertainment.
I guess it's just me.
I'm just not that passionate about other stuff.
I lead a humdrum life.
Never mind.

Well, maybe not the hijacking.

Different strokes for different folks. Nothing wrong with it.

Like I said, I'm not wanting to be a jerk here.
Just curious.

A Brit friend of our s said "OH, YES! Are there any tickets left? I want two!"
Sorry, no.

In that age range, Elton john has been a substantial part of the soundtrack of your life if you are a white urban/suburban kid, as I was. So getting to see these people, for some of us, is a big deal and we'll spend money for that. Most of us have something that sucks money from us for an otherwise useless purpose -- like golf, gambling, gaming, bowling, car restoration, etc. I think concerts fall into that.

I'm still ticked off at myself for not going to see Richard Pryor in 1983 for the then-difficult-to-come-up-with sum of $25.

Then again, she used to tell me she was going to take me to Woodstock but chickened out at the last minute.

However, I got to see Rendezvous Houston by Jean Michel Jarre back in the 80s. It was absolutely free. And, it was the very definition of a once-in-a-lifetime-experience

All I had to do was drive to a friend's home, whereupon he drove us as close as we could get, and we walked the rest of the way to Allen Parkway to sit in the grass along Buffalo Bayou, with the other million or so people that showed up

I paid $64 to go see Macklemore in Milwuakee this February. That was less than I was expecting to play.

Elton John's a fucking legend and beyond talented.

Shit, I've paid more than that to see an NFL football game.

Seriously, I'm not trying to be an asshole.
I'm just clueless about this phenom.

Clearly, I sing and my daughter has been a seriously musician, so maybe it means more to me than to others. And I'm cool with that (and I don't think you are trying to be an asshole, btw). But to me, seeing someone live that is good at what they do is so much better than just listening to recordings. I paid nearly $100 to see Mumford and Sons and don't regret a single penny of that money. I will remember that night until I die (or go senile). And no when I listen to their music, it means so much more to me having seen them live. Hell, I still remember seeing Cheap Trip live in 1984.

Now, some people probably aren't worth seeing live. I doubt Elton John is one of them.

His more mature voice is great!

I had to. It's for my wife's birthday.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
I just could not resist.

...to see a pop star. I respect the whole scenario but it just ain't my thing.

... what would you pay to see them?

de gustibus non est disputandum

Friend of mine wanted to see Jimmy Buffett in Jersey a couple of years ago, but the cheapest ticket was 500 smackers. By that measure, $160 for Elton John is cheap.

-- Mal

Oh yes.
It's not that I don't like some pop. I just wouldn't pay to see it.
Actually I'm starting to really like ballet. The moves they make are incredible.

is the anniversary of 11-17-70 album.

From StubHub

It's a really good show -- and his last tour (allegedly).

They'll be back when the money flow dries up. Rush said this tour was their last tour... they'll be back. Black Sabbath is saying that this is their last tour... they have an album coming out next year. Shit, even Eagles Of Death Metal will be back. You can't keep a good band down!

Worth every penny!

i couldn't help but think of your rant and giggle a bit when the tickets went on sale last week.

Iron Maiden is playing in April, Twentyone Pilots are playing in July, the Cure is playing in May... madness. Pure madness.

i remember when tickets went on sale a couple months before the show. *shakes cane at kids on mah lawn*

but that was a few years ago. I agree though - they are worth it.


The most I've paid for a show was 400 bucks for a VIP package to Rush a couple years ago. Seen them 8 or 9 times now but this time I was guaranteed seats in the first 12 rows and we got a ton of promotional posters/DVD/Shirt and other stuff.


I tried to go to London for the Led Zep show at the O2 but didn't win the lottery.

Went to the Maryland Death Fest in 2009, '10 and '11 - 3 day fest tickets were about 120 each plus airplane and car rental but I stayed with a nearby cousin so no outrageous hotel bills.

Paid 120 for Eagles tix a while back.

Flew to Denver a few weeks ago to see the opening show of King Diamond's Abigail anniversary tour (stayed with a friend, 35 dollar stand-by plane tix. Spent more on food while there than I did for the show and stuff lol)

But happily, most of the shows I go see nowadays are underground metal bands in little clubs for 10 or 20 bucks so I get to see a lot more shows for my concert dollars.

But live concerts is one of my favorite things to do so I spend more on that than other things.

The nice thing about living in LA is that there's always live music and events going on here so you don't have to go very far to see them. I do like to travel though I don't get to do as much of that lately as I would like to.

I saw TV On The Radio last week at the Ace Hotel which is a really awesome small theater venue that recently opened after a long renovation. In the last few months I've also seen the Offspring, Opeth, Rise Against, Social Distortion, and the great Weird Al Yankovic among others. I'm also planning on going to the KROQ Christmas concert which has Twentyone Pilots, AWOLNATION, and Silversun Pickups and tons of others, and in January I'm heading down to San Diego to see Tool (who I haven't seen since 2009).

When I saw that Tool is double-billing it with Primus, I was like "shut up and take my money!".

That is cheaper however....


My concert is in a venue that holds about 1000 people and is general admission which means there is a damn good chance I'll be standing right up front for my concert. I just did two back-to-back Robert Plant concerts and we were right in front. I know how to get front row at general admission concerts and I do so wearing 3 inch heels. Oh and I don't leave either. I'm not some dumbass who is going to drink herself silly and need a bathroom during the show. I get up front I stay up front. That's the only way I pay that kind of money for a concert.

When ELO tours next year the venues will be much larger and I'll probably be stuck in assigned seating 10-20 rows back. I'll be fine with that but to have the front once in my life....so cool!

Oh and ELO is #2 on my list of all time favorite bands. When it comes to favorite musicians only Robert Plant rates higher than Jeff Lynne. To me I think Jeff Lynne is a fricking musical genius whose 'Out of the Blue' album turned me on to the world of collecting music and owning vinyl and experiencing music beyond the pop hits you hear on the radio ( side 3 'Concerto for a Rainy Day' is the greatest album side ever!). So what I paid is like a pilgrimage to me. It's worth it!

So ask yourself this... Does Elton John have that same profound meaning to you like Jeff Lynne and ELO has for me? When you answer that question you'll know if the $160 is worth it.

Asbury Park Convention Center. He put on a great show. Take Me to the Pilot was brilliant! He wore soccer shorts, boots and a cape. I do not remember the ticket price but I think it was less than $10. My only income at the time was gifts for birthdays or holidays and babysitting at $2/hr ( I think). It was decades ago so some of the details are a little fuzzy.

Cheapest tickets are $110.

sound system was so poor that we missed half of the dialog and music lyrics. It's evidently very funny, but if you can't hear it . . . we thought it was a rip-off.

I've seen musicals and symphony performances there and am plenty pleased.

One is that we don't buy nearly as much music as generations past. Musicians have to make most of their money touring, and big tours are expensive to fund. 18 wheelers full of equipment, paying all the crew and all their expenses, etc.

The other reason is "ticket brokers", especially via buying tickets online. They drive up the ticket prices to the fans and the artists figure "Hey, if someone is willing to pay $150 to a scalper then they can pay it to me." I can't say I blame them. Most artists have fan clubs that they sell early tickets to, so that they have a shot at the best tickets at the best prices.

$160 for 2, dead center for the Allman Bros? Sure

Tickets were probably about $18.00 apiece. He wore huge glasses, a hat and platform shoes. Good concert.

Concerts used to be loss-leaders to get people to buy albums.

Now, no one buys albums -- they pick off a couple of songs from iTunes. Revenues are way down.

In order to justify a tour, it has to break even or make a little money. And it's just expensive to move a show like that around.

This is why Las Vegas and places with fixed spots have become such a big deal. They are WAY cheaper to put on and you can cut ticket prices.

$160.00 sounds about right to me nowadays. Just commenting on the difference 40 years makes! Interesting how concerts used to not be for making money but now they are and the situation has reversed.

$160 a pop, I can't think of many musical acts that would make me cough up that kind of cash.

You'd have to be pretty dedicated to make that worthwhile.

But he does put on one hell of a show. I saw him 20 years ago, and he performed for about three hours. Midway through, his band took a break; but Elton kept on playing. He even played a song from underneath the piano. Great show!

It's like a traveling city. Several hundred employees. Many highly-paid musicians. Millions of dollars worth of equipment. Venue costs. Truck rentals. Security. Hotel rooms. Royalties to be paid, etc. I bet Elton pockets less than $5 from your ticket.

A small, no frills, rock band breaks even with roadies at $50,000 per show with a free venue. (I've set up charity events and done the math.)

It's just an expensive proposition.

Wonderful.

He puts on a wonderfully entertaining show.

Over 3 hours I think.

Seems like tickets were somewhere in the $70-80 range.

It was well worth it and I would have paid more.

Big arena acts by mega-stars are fun, but I prefer going to clubs and catching acts as they are just becoming known and maybe have their first song or two being played on the radio. Those tickets are usually going to be in the $10-15 range, and in a metro area you will generally have some choices as to type of music.

And then there are open mic nights at many clubs which are almost always free if you just want to here some music.

I understand it - concerts used to be about promoting an album but now it is about the only way to make any money for musicians - but I can't quite justify that for myself for one entertainment event.

different world, for sure.

But then I have no problem getting on the guest list at any show I want to go to.

But then, Sir Elton was double-billing it with Billy Joel, so that made it okay.

John and Joel did a duet on Benny and the Jets, swapping 16-bar bits on their respective pianos before the big finale. I'm sure it was well-rehearsed (John got sick during the tour and our original date was postponed until the end of the tour), but they were really good "scoring" off one another, first with nods to each other's oeuvre, then bits from classical music and old standards, intermixed with creative noodling.

Tickets were about $100, but worth it.

The Georgia Tech v Virginia Tech game is rather popular. What I see as "no way" is the $172 for some seats at that game. IMHO you should be able to tell the difference between college games and pro games by the ticket price. However, since everything colleges have to sell is overpriced.....

or Kiri Te Kanawa or Yo Yo Ma. I'd crawl across broken glass for tickets to The Marriage of Figaro at the Metropolitan Opera. I wouldn't cross the street to go to an Elton John concert even if it was free. Or any other pop musicians, for that matter, except maybe the Stones.

Last edited Sat Nov 21, 2015, 12:19 AM - Edit history (1)

I have also seen Arthur Rubinstein and Jacqueline duPre, James McCracken, Norman Treigel and Beverly Sills live.

I saw Elton John and Billy Joel together. Seeing Elton John was on my bucket list. . I have seen a lot of rock and jazz acts. As far as conductors, I saw Frank Zappa conduct a 9 piece band because it was so complex with changing time signatures.

I played in orchestras under Nicolas Slonimsky and Carmen Dragon. I enjoy lots of different types of music. I don't mind paying money if I really want to see a particular musician. I have absolutely no interest in spectator sports.

I have a $6 ticket stub from seeing Bruce on the Darkness on the Edge of Town tour in 1978.

In this video from around 1964, Allan Sherman thought $47 was an absolute fortune for two tickets to see the Beatles live:

until he had his throat surgery, and was unable to reach the highs needed for many of his old songs. he just doesn't sound the same anymore.

$160, no way is right.

is that unless he has worn down since I saw him around 4 years ago it will be worth it. He kept going and going. I would certainly pay that much to see him again. A long, non stop, very energetic and good show.

when I could have got in for free because there was no one to collect the tickets.

I decided to skip that show, sadly...

to spend on concerts. Considering the cost getting there too.

There are tickets available for $41.50 ($56.75 including fees).