Anyone else have a money limit for what they will spend on gigs?

Stillill42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788538#Comment_123788538

Yeah, fair cop. I did too. No regrets.

dasdog

Most I paid was €179 for a ticket to Ennio Morricone in 2019 in the flat seated section of the 3Arena. He was only a few metres away conducting but backed with a full orchestra and about 80 in the choir.

He only ever performed again eight times after that.

I'm very reluctant to breach the €90 mark and try and go to shows in the €25 - €70 bracket mostly. But if John Coltrane came back from the dead I would pay stupid money.

Stillill42

In fairness lads, the problem is that instead of supporting the music industry all those eye watering amounts are feeding the demise of it, no? As long as we're stumping up, it supports the Live Nation view of the industry where all the focus is on the top end, the Taylors and the Beyonces etc, the idea of music as an 'event'. Zero money in the bottom end, the small venues, the non tiktok sensation young bands, no profit so feck them. Arctic Monkeys are in that top tier 3 Arena category now but the first 17 venues they played have ALL closed down. So yeah, it's all a bit worrying. So many brilliant artists that can't afford to tour, can't make a living while those assholes spread the billions around at the other end. I don't mean the artists but they are defo comiplicit.

LLamachara

Depends on how good the band are currently live. Had no interest in Oasis but after seeing set list and reviews, got a ticket for €170.

Some of the heritage acts charging mad money are shite live.

Given how strong the live scene is in Dublin at the moment, there’s great value for gigs in the smaller venues. I’m finding they deliver a better live experience, seeing bands playing new material rather than chasing a nostalgia hit from a band well past their best.

All of which highlights how poor value some of the bigger gigs are.

Pearl Jam was a turning point for me. Big fan but that gig represented poor value as well as leaving a sour taste given PJ’s Ticketmaster history.

Felt like a money grab regardless of how good the gig was

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788682#Comment_123788682

Best of luck with your upcoming court case in UK 🤞

LLamachara

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788691#Comment_123788691

???

Rocket_GD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788713#Comment_123788713

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2025/08/25/kneecap-cancel-sellout-us-tour-as-mo-charas-court-date-approaches/

Your unsername.

Stillill42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788713#Comment_123788713

There's a touch of the Mo Chara about your username.

dav09

I used to go to a lot more gigs probably 20/30 per year some years on top of festivals, local gigs, etc, but around the 100 euro mark is at the top now for me which limits what I go to anymore. I miss a lot of gigs because I can't justify them cost wise, got somewhat 'cheaper' Oasis tickets but was up in the rafters. I couldn't believe the Marlay Park prices for some new pop artists over 100 euros each with barely a few hits (not that I would be going anyway), but across the board it has just gone mental price wise. A lot of gigs just seemed to have doubled for bands, older bands, etc. over the past 6/7 years. Also seen some strange cases for example I went to Limp Bizkit and Pendulum double header for 76 euros in London, for Limp Bizkit alone the standing price I got was over 90 euros nearing 100 a couple of months later, couldn't justify it so didn't go, I feel Ireland is being screwed partially too (although no where near as bad as the US) but maybe it is partially down to less costs/ spread in the UK if they can do multiple dates in multiple arenas.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788713#Comment_123788713

I think it's a "mo chara" reference?

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788548#Comment_123788548

Well thats the thing - I'm at the point where I am saying, no matter how much I want to see someone…..I wont pay over the limit. Just like I wont pay over X for a car or a restaurant or whatever.

To be fair, I am middle aged and I have seen a lot of acts at this point:

U2 Paul McCartney Paul Simon Radiohead Oasis The Pogues REM Van Neil Young Madonna Ray Charles Bob Dylan to name a few

Of those - Paul McCartney is the only one where I'd say - thats a show I've wanted to see all my life. And there are very few really I'd put in that category now, maybe Stevie Wonder or Kate Bush. Or bands that probably wont ever play like The Smiths or the Cocteau Twins.

DoctorEdgeWild

Not specifically gigs for me, but musical theatre, so a similar thing. No limit for me, it's the reason I work overtime, to fund that habit. Most I've spent of a ticket was 400 for a show I think. Averages out around £100 for London seats or around £40 for regional stuff. (I live in England)

sydthebeat

I would only pay above €150 for a very select rate group of bands / musicians.

David Gilmour, Tom Waits, Steven Wilson / Porcupine Tree, REM revived etc

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788955#Comment_123788955

Yeah Musical Theatre is an expensive beast generally . And classical .

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788713#Comment_123788713

I thought your username was a play on Mo Chara our Kneecap boy . Sorry .

Say Your Number

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788292#Comment_123788292

It's f*cking bonkers how many people will pay more than 200 euro to go to a concert and then act like they are in the pub, treating the band like it's some random fella in the corner with a guitar that they have no interest in listening to.

Goldengirl

More money than sense I'd say and less manners .

z80CPU

Yes. For this year €0. Have to focus every last cent on renovating my accomodation.

Butterbeans

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788772#Comment_123788772

I'd be on the same page. I'll go to the gig if I see value in it. There has to be a line somewhere.

Would have loved to see Smashing Pumpkins last year but when I got to the table all that was left were tickets for €200/300+, VIP tickets where they throw in some merch to try and justify the gouge. Partly my own fault, as I missed date when tickets were released, but still way too much.

€80/€90 is the most* I'd spend on a gig (Nick Cave last year, and Blur the year before 2 absolute stand outs for me. Saw Oasis at their peak in 1996 (tickets were IR£22.50 = €30 approx), (supported by The Prodigy and Bootleg Beatles). Knew the ticket prices would be up there for the come back, but jaysus, that was eye-watering.

*Think I paid €110 for a standing ticket for Paul McCartney in 2009...I could be wrong on that, maybe someone else can recall better than me.

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123789461#Comment_123789461

Oh yeah - I remember a few years back U2 in Croke Park, I went down and listened from the street at back of Cusack Stand.

Now tickets were expensive, and hard to get.

But from about 6 songs in, there were people leaving. And it wasnt one or two, there as a steady stream of people leaving. Couldnt understand it.

TheIrishGrover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123789461#Comment_123789461

I do remember bringing my godson to Oxegen years ago with his cousin. Godson was 17 and his cousin was 20 and an Oxegen veteran. Amazing lineup that year so that's why I went even though I was probably way too old for Oxegen (When Jay-Z is not the headline you know a lineup is huge).

So I say to my nephew: "Look, I'm not your folks. But you don't usually drink so I would suggest NOT going mental. You won't see this lineup again. Take a leaf from your cousin's book". As I said this (About 12 noon) this kid (17 or 18 or something) staggers up and pukes his ring up all over the gaff. My Godson: "Yep. Point taken" lol

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123789145#Comment_123789145

fair to say there is an 'odd one out' in that list 😂

Choochtown

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788567#Comment_123788567

I'd be amazed if anyone who attended any of those Tom Waits gigs regretted the expense.

I still haven't found the vocabulary to describe how fantastic the experience was.

Gus Ivey

I would not have a money limit for any experience, whether that's a gig, a sporting event, a holiday or whatever. I paid EUR 170 for Oasis. For most of the population that's a day or 2 in work or less.

Is it worth a day or 2 in work to get to go to Oasis. Absolutely!