The Big Topic About Ticket and Merchandise Prices

[Grom]

Tickets for Muse's 2010 tour of Australia are "between AU$100 – $121 + booking fee". Compared to that, I don't consider Al's prices that extreme, especially seeing as Muse has such a massive following here. Plus, Al played more venues, too!

[Well, Well, Well]

yes but i'm sure al could also have a say in how much ticket prices are. or he could choose better venues that wouldn't overcharge. honestly though, when i think about it, the $30 tickets (plus fees) for the riverside is way too much money, but more so because it will be the same exact show as summerfest. i don't see the benefit to seeing the same show multiple times.

[scottidog]

I don't think Al chooses the venue either. I don't know for sure, but I'd imagine the way it works is that the Promoter calls Al's booking agent, offers to pay him whatever price is agreed upon and Al is booked to the venue of the promoter's choice, and the promoter charges whatever he/she thinks they can sell the seats for.

I just did a rough count of the concert I went to:

290 balcony 21+ seats @ $45 each is $13,050. I couldn't find a seating chart of the floor, but let's assume three hundred, plus another 100 standing @ $35 a head = $14,000. So with those numbers, the promoter got from ticket sales $27,050. Plus, I would assume the promotor gets a cut of the alcohol sales, and possibly the merch table.

[Driew_La_27]

I don't think Al chooses the venue either.

Not sure if you thought I meant that, but what I meant to say was that the venue (promoter) chooses the price. I don't know all the lingo, but I was trying to say that the promoter decides on the price.

[scottidog]

I was responding to WWW.

or he could choose better venues that wouldn't overcharge.

[Driew_La_27]

I was responding to WWW.

or he could choose better venues that wouldn't overcharge.

Ah, okay.

[scottidog]

I could have quoted it before I responded...

[Killingsworth]

Yeah, I agree with WWW about the level of "elitism" and hypocrisy of Al fandom. I too am disgusted by all of it (especially some examples I've seen on this board) but my parents seem to think $30-$50 bucks for a ticket was pretty cheap compared to what they were expecting (obviously it would be compared to the presale/VIP ticket prices on Al's website or compared to other established touring acts in music) but I guess it would be cheaper to look at it all separately than what the fees and merchandise all cost together. However, some of us consider ourselves decently smart shoppers when it comes to this stuff. Looking back, the trip to Denver really did "wipe us out" as my dad put it, but I still felt like I got us a pretty good deal considering the venue. Still, thanks to this shameful topic I definitely learned something about how Al finances his concert tours.

[scottidog]

Elitism and hypocrisy? Dude, if you don't want to buy stuff, don't buy it. Don't rain on the parade of people who do buy stuff. And as for the prices? None of this stuff has an inherent value, it's worth what people want to pay for it. If your family couldn't afford the concert and the trip, if it indeed "wiped you out" it was irresponsible to go, but don't lay that at Al's feet. He's not in control of your family finances.

To WWW, just because it isn't worth it to you to see multiples of the same show, doesn't mean that it isn't worth it to others. People can spend their money however they want, they don't have to have your approval.

Al's tours are financed the same way your wages are financed: he earns it.

ETA: Let's not forget, that Al also provides jobs. He isn't just putting all that money in his pockets.

[Alinite27]

Definitely agree with your post, Bobbi....Look, I've been around pretty much everywhere Al has toured, excluding Australia and the northwestern part of the United States. I've seen ticket prices all the way from $100 to $10. Al has his set price that he gets for shows, and then it's up to the promoter to do what they see they have to do. But, it eventually just comes down to whether you really want that show or not. If you do, you'll buy the ticket whatever the price. I was really surprised with going to the OC shows this time, and how low their ticket prices were. But, whenever you have a huge venue like that...you can definitely make it less than a theatre show.

All of the areas I've been in, I've never once heard someone complain after the show that they didn't get their money's worth..although, it is interesting to hear some different perspectivities on the show that corresponds with the type of area of the country you are in. I've never even heard complaints about Merch prices. I think Al's are pretty typical of every touring group that is out there now. The only criticism that I've ever had of Al's merch is that it just isn't very creative. Whoever puts his stuff together, really needs to get a greater variety of different types of stuff. The last merch collection that I really enjoyed was from the Poodle Hat tour. They need to get grey or lighter colors back in the selction, and also sell band t-shirts again. I think it's been pretty pathetic how it's only been Al featured on all the merchandise.

I can see how some could get an elitism attitude from some people on the board. I have definitely seen some, too. Hell, I could even be one that some may classify in that "elitist" group. I could see how people could feel that way, just because I go to see so many shows. We do it, though...because we enjoy it. If it ever got down to ol' this show is this price, and the merch is this price...and I can't believe that this promoter did this and that...blah, blah, blah...we would quit. Life is too short to worry about what money you spend here and there...it's just the fact that you get to go out with your family and have an awesome night and summer...every couple years.

I've made life-long friendships just by going to Al's shows, two extremely good family connections-especially the one this year, and there's no price that you can put on those at all. These three people and I will be friends forever...and it's so awesome because it's just due to Al's shows. (Definitely not limiting it to just these, they're just the closest ones...it's still awesome to see my other friends, too.) It's what makes each show that special because you never know what connection or experience will be had each night you go.