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

Tombo2001

Personally - I;ve decided, 100 euros thats it - anything above, dont care who it is. Dont care if its the Beatles with John Lennon back from the dead. I am not paying above that.

Which means Ive missed out on performers I always would have watched in the past - have seen Bob Dylan play 5 or 6 times. Not going this time.

And also means I am much more likely to watch shows in smaller venues.

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Dutchy

Yeah bar festivals, where you can still get a decent bang for your buck, I would have to give my head a bit of a wobble if considering over a ton for a standalone gig. You also need to factor in accomodation etc which has become a basket case.

o1s1n

Yep, I also have the 100 euro limit. Decided on it a few years ago and so far, it hasn't done me wrong. Tool, Pantera and other similar shows I've been to in the last few years have all come in under that.

Luckily I'm not into pop music, so no shows I want to go to are really going to break that I reckon.

I really don't know how folks can stand at a gig like Coldplay or Taylor Swift after paying hundreds (maybe even thousands!) for tickets and think 'yeah! this was a good financial decision!'

ledwithhedwith

No, id assess each gig. Paid 170 for oasis standing

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123787760#Comment_123787760

Seems they topped out my limit back in 2009 😁

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123787760#Comment_123787760

you done well.

quickly running out of money so a very strict limit is starting to appear, and its probably also around 100, but in saying that i just forked out 300 for metallica, but my concert attendance has virtually collapsed, largely due to having no funds to do so

Say Your Number

Paid 155 for AC/DC last summer, the most I've ever paid, most bands I like are probably unlikely to reach that level of popularity anyway, apart from some legacy acts can't see myself ever going above that.

ledwithhedwith

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123787778#Comment_123787778

Haha that's gas , was at that , kasabian and prodigy as well made it good value even at the time

Electric Nitwit

Haven't set a particular limit but I'm passing on a lot of gigs due to money now. Very few bands that will get me to pay over about 80

On the plus side, it's driving me more towards new band showcases at places like Whelan's, Workman's etc and they're absolutely amazing, the standard of new music (often from basically kids!) is really good out there

TheIrishGrover

Kind of. I mean I paid 400+ (But less than 500) for Oasis ticket. But that got me pit ticket and various other perks. People paid 560 and more for general pitch standing without any of the perks. That was the most I paid and would need to be something VERY special to do that again. And I can't think of what that would be. I paid a similar amount for ticket to Taylor Hawkins tribute in Wembley but that was a mini festival itself.

Many larger acts these days are hitting the 100 Euro mark but, bar festivals and Oasis, I have not paid 100 for a ticket this year.

I do tend to go to smaller acts in smaller places apart from the occasional tentpole show/festival

DireD

paid 90 for arctic monkeys in 2023 and thats about as high as id go for standalone gig. prices are insane now. festivals are the only place where you can get bang for your buck these days.

steve_r

Spent €90 on David Bryne, which I think is the most I've spent on a one off gig.

I was looking at the "Dedication Thin Lizzy" tribute in the three arena but standing tickets for €90 for a tribute act seems mental to me.

The prestige acts charging big money has been around a while though - I'm pretty sure it was mad money to see Eric Clapton back in the early 00's as well.

I feel certain mid tier bands just aren't coming here any more as well. I was looking at an article earlier in the year covering the best albums of the year so far - many of the acts were going to the UK and Europe but no Irish dates.

Strumms

Yeah, I also assess each gig. Venue and artist will decide for me. Spent a lot of money to buy face value tickets for the Stones and Paul McCartney. Never regretted it. Two and three hour sets respectively. Both high quality gigs…I’d done my research in advance…. setlist.fm is a great site..

2018 the National were charging €76 euros plus booking fee for the Energia Park gig. From my home the cost of taxis, food, refreshments Id have been shelling out about €160-€180 euros to see a band I’d seen 3 times.

Pulp in Dublin this year. Im a colossal fan of theirs, charging €80.75 to €90.75 plus fees for the Point.. a band that haven’t had an album out in 24 years, had band members leaving / dying, replaced by session heads and just, no, thought it was an absolute piss take of a cash grab.

Stillill42

Not As such but I've pretty much opted out of the mega events. I'll do a Depeche Mode in Malahide Castle for instance but I can't really see myself at a 120 euro 3 Arena show again. I give myself the extravagance of one great festival a Summer and am happy to spread my gig outgoings over 20,25 generally fantastic Whelan's/Button Factory/ Grand Social/Workman's gigs a year. Great music, fair prices, lovely people (mostly!) and my money is going in the pocket of people who need it and deserve it.

scruff monkey

Depends on the gig, up to 50/60 doesn't get too much thought depending on act. Unless it's someone who's likely doing their last tour in good health (Peter Gabriel) then I'd really need to give head a wobble at going over 100.

Mega money gigs (your oasis etc), nah, not a chance, they're charging festival monies for a quick w.ank, totally unjustifiable. If i wanted to be f.ucked like that then I'd go to an escort, at least with them it would be what it says on the tin.

I'd be right curious to see what U2 will charge for their next gigs, they usually get an exemption due to the spectacle & quality of the shows but can see them exceeding my limits.

Tombo2001

Ticket prices were always 'mad money', but its just that the 'man money' today is a lot higher than back in the day. The Stones in 2018 was cited - tickets for that started at 70 euro.

And 100% agree - there are loads of brilliant smaller concert venues.

Personally - I dont give a f88k about massive screens and pyrotechnics and the 'experience'. I am just there for the music. Went to see u2 in the 3arena few years back, was standing close to the stage - Pride came on, the Edge was standing 20 feet away playing the iconic intro solo. I was faced watching him. But the really weird thing was, everyone else was turned the other way looking at the big screen, nobody else was watching him. I would love to watch U2 play just once without any big screens, to see how well they really stack up as a live band.

I've watched Paul Brady for example play several smaller venues, 200 to 400 people in recent years; fantastic show. And its just him.

Fanirish

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123787928#Comment_123787928

which artivle?

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788027#Comment_123788027

2018 is not that long ago comparatively speaking. 70 euro for a big act like The Stones in 2018 is great proof as to how expensive tickets have gotten since then.

SuperBowserWorld

I think I've done very well price wise recently ... just checking my emails from Ticketmaster and the concerts below were all brilliant and excellent value. All standing below, all indoors, and not including Ticketmaster fee, price of a single ticket.

31 quid for The Lightning Seeds last year in the Academy.

47 quid for Paul Heaton in the 3Arena this year.

52 quid for Keane last year, 3Arena

65 quid for Flaming Lips, Olympia this year

...

The Lightning Seeds was like the cost of 4 pints. And way more enjoyable 😁

Goldengirl

I spent over my 100 eu limit for Bruce Springsteen and paid 137 each for his last Croker concert . A big concert set up and playing a good setlist I can justify that to myself .

We go to lots of concerts and gigs so don't mind spending on it but think the dynamic pricing is going to push people to the limits of what they can afford.

We pay less but attend more gigs seeing smaller bands and a few larger stadium concerts. That's us .

Suppose if you only want to attend once or twice you can afford to blow the budget on the dynamic prices .

Most of the concerts I go to are 50 to 80 EU bracket but pay 90 for the likes of David Byrne who I may not see again . I sign up to promoters lists and buy in presale in advance where I can .

Now I would say my absolute limit is 150 but very grudgingly . I refused to pay over the odds for Oasis even if I could have got one ! and was lucky to get a ticket from a friend who couldn't go and had paid only a nominal amount for it . (She stays with us when ever she goes to anything in Dublin so she said she was happy to give something back 🤗 ) I enjoyed the concert and all the more because I didn’t feel ripped off

All bands that you like are worth it to the fan paying at the time in the excitement , but really its not worth paying extreme sums over the usual price for 2+ hours of music no matter how much people build it up IMHO. Bands that are milking it are not doing it for the love of their fans . I can understand people getting pressured because they think they might never see a band or musician again but the band doing that knowing they are putting fans under pressure, its just gouging.

My favourite band The Cure and Robert Smith have been outspoken about Ticketmaster and LiveNation, forcing the latter to refund money to fans after they were charged large amounts for some concerts in the US . He said they would not play and that they had set a limit on ticket prices so that their fans could afford to go. The promoter had to give in and the tickets were put up for sale at the price Smith had set! What a hero 🖤 .

They have never charged over the odds for their concerts. We paid 90 odd for their last gig in the 3 Arena and 65 for their gig in Malahide They could have charged what they wanted because they have a very large loyal fanbase who travel all over the world to their concerts . But in this case people will buy the tickets , as well as the merchandise happily and come away with a good feeling about the band. Like I have , in case it wasn't obvious 😍

I know fans love their favourite bands and its up to each and everyone what they want to pay to see them . But paying extreme sums on a regular basis for the exorbitant ticket prices that have been demanded in recent years , means that many fans will more and more be rinsed as promoters and some bands/ artists know they can ask what they want for tickets . A lot of this pressure has in the past been aimed at younger fans but now we see more mature people being pressured to pay to see "a band they might never see again ".

That remains to be seen but after making so much money out of people this time I would be very surprised if there isn't at least one more final tour !

Edit spelling 🙈

Stillill42

I mean what would happen if EVERYBODY decided they weren't paying over 100? That would be pretty cool.

steve_r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788037#Comment_123788037

I actually think it could have been some Metacritic summary like this - however don't hold me to that as this list would have been updated and I was just casually checking whether a few of the acts were playing Ireland so its pure anecdotal on my part

https://www.metacritic.com/browse/albums/score/metascore/year?sort=desc&year_selected=2025

MustangMick

Ireland has got very expensive for gigs

Most paid, just over €200 to see Peter Gabriel last time in 3 Arena, excellent gig (2023)

Mostly smaller gigs these days, Nik Kershaw (yes in Navan),The Academy - great venue, or London (Brixton Academy, Shepherds Bush Empire)

At the moment looking at Peter Hook for Leeds in November.

Bruce Springsteen in RDS, the amount of people not watching the gig, constantly on their phone, full blown GAA arguments…!! Only waking up when "Born in the USA" is played for their 5 seconds of Instagram likes. 😕

Goldengirl

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

Saw him ( Peter Hook and The Light ) in the Olympia last year ..brilliant gig .

Glenomra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123787889#Comment_123787889

Asking as someone who doesn't go to concerts, was it worth 400 plus euro, I would only pay that for an All-Ireland ticket with Clare playing and I would have exhausted every effort before paying that sum! Sad maybe, but that's me!

TheIrishGrover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788329#Comment_123788329

Yes. I can honestly say it was. I mean, of course I would have preferred to have paid less but our thinking was "Look, we are not gonna get standard pitch tickets at release and later they will just be touted for stupid money. So we'll go for the next ones up." Little did we know that, even before they sold out minutes later, the standard pitch tickets were going for 560 euro!

So, yes, in this "bucketlist" concert, it was worth the money. Will I pay that again if they play in Slane or Dublin next year? No.

Yer a long time dead and "stuff" eventually ends up gathering dust and forgotten so have experiences.

There are very few other concerts I'd pay that kind of money for….. I can't think of anything for me personally. Led Zeppelin reforming (With Jason Bonham on drums) may be for some people. I saw them at that one-off concert years ago and was talking to a woman from Canada who paid 10,000 Canadian Dollars for her trip and tickets. Didn't have the heart to tell her I flew Ryanair from Dublin with no check in bag and am staying in a sh*tty hotel and the whole think cost me about 300 quid.

watchclocker

Yes depends on the gig and venue but I'll never pay more than face value, and I would never sell a ticket for more either

I paid €90 for Liam Gallagher and John Squire in Olympia last year and it sickened me but it was a cracking gig in the end

Paid £150 for Oasis in Heaton Park and I would have paid premium prices in Dublin but I was away with work so didn't attempt to find a ticket in the run up, if they announce Slane I would pay up to 250 I'd say

Nearly paid £200 for ELO in Hyde Park but changed my mind just before clicking the payment button, and they had to cancel anyway so glad I did or I would have been paying premium london hotel prices for nothing

Gigs are my vice and I'm happy to waste my money on them instead of something else, the memories from a good gig last forever

Fanirish

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788242#Comment_123788242

nice list. Some of those have not arrived yet here. Few though should in next year

delbertgrady

I don't have a set limit, as it depends on the act, so I can't have a universal cut-off point.

For years, I used to say I'd pay any money to see Kate Bush, when the chances of that ever actually happening seemed highly unlikely, given the fact that she hadn't performed a live concert since May 1979. But then she announced her residency in Hammersmith Odeon in 2014. My ticket was around €175, for what was Row F in the stalls, but was actually the second row, as they had extended the stage out.

I paid €290 to see David Gilmour in the RAH last year. Ninth row centre. But again, you're into that situation of, "How many more chances are you going to get to see them?"

loyatemu

I paid €140 to see Tom Waits back in 2008 which at the time seemed an absurd amount of money and I still would be reluctant to pay that much to see anyone today. But I figured it would probably be my only chance to see him live (and he hasn't toured since).

Goldengirl

I agree Delbert and think if you really want to see someone , just go for it . My issue is not the fans paying , but the bands and promoters gouging .

We pay more for gigs every year or as much as we do for trips away ,sometimes combining the two.

Just worried at the very high prices that seem to be getting more and more common, I won't be able to afford to do it anymore .