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Gigs are getting rather pricey

honru

The other day I was browsing new listings, and I thought to myself "man, gigs are getting expensive". Yesterday I had a look through old newspapers and was fairly chuffed at the prices gigs were generally going at.

I thought I'd do a comparison on concert prices between us and the UK, and it turns out we're paying significantly more than our fellow neighbours... €8 to €10 extra on most counts. Since I only really compared relatively small gigs and newer bands, it does seem a bit much.

Now beer is topping the €5 mark. Makes me very sad.

Of course, when the demand is there, prices will rise. I'm just wondering if other people have noticed it too and if they're cutting down on the amount of gigs they generally go to as a result.

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68 lost souls

They brought it in in america a few months ago for some of there gigs and I was listening to an interview with the editor of Hot Press on the radio and they were saying that it is not a question of IF it is coming in it is a question of WHEN is it coming in, they suggested it would be in within 2 years.

EDIT: Yes at the moment it is based at the coorperate market at the moment, but having heard statements from ticketmaster they are saying that it will let the "most dedicated fans get the tickets" The problem is that not all the DEDICATED fans have money, just the rich ones or even people who arent big fans but have the money to spend.

tracert

I just payed €80.50 + €2.00 booking fee for a Paul Simon ticket. He's playing the point. If this were anywhere but Ireland that would be pure madness.

ChuckProphet

tracert wrote:

I just payed €80.50 + €2.00 booking fee for a Paul Simon ticket. He's playing the point. If this were anywhere but Ireland that would be pure madness.

If you were to put a value on that I'd say about 40 is a fair price. they're screwing us alright.

thebassman

I'll get onto ticket prices in a sec, but as a side note, does anyone remember pre-ticketmaster that part of a gig was purchasing a specifically designed ticket? None of the uniform TM stubs that exist these days.

None-the-less, yes, tickets have gone insanely pricey, especially since TM appeared, and given the expense in putting on gigs and increased costs to bands etc. etc., eit's still huge money to pay. Guess it's capitalism at it best - if people are going to pay for a product, people will be charged for it.

Let's look at four gigs I've been to - all U2. All home grown lads, who would not have the expense of hotels etc when they finish their gig.

1. 1989. Point Depot. £18 seated (£16 standing). A bit steep at the time, but nothing extraordinary as this was one of the first set of gigs in what was then a relatively new gig venue. (see stub by clicking here to see artwork!!)

2. 1993. RDS. £20 standing. Pretty cool gig. Once again, if I recollect correctly, that wasn't too steep. (Click here to see ticket stub. Design getting a bit TM-esque). Incidenally. anyone remember the Golden Horde? They supported at this gig, and broke up soon afterwards. My mate at the gig gave the singer the finger, who reacted quite badly!!

3. 1997.. Landstown Rd. £30 in the stands. This is the frirst time I recollect saying "God! This is a bit steep!!" (Stub cann be seen here)

4. 2005. Croke Park. €70 in the stands. Understanding costs etc, this was steep for Bono and the boys and giving back to the country that made them, along with their recent astude accounting ploy, moving partially their accounts to Holland - but that's another day's story!! (Stub here)

BrianD

I think it's important to note that the promoter does not always set the ticket prices. Even if they do the artist management is fully aware of what is being charged.

We are fortunate that Irish promoters bring in an insane numbers of bands to this country every year. We really do have the choice of gigs here that you wouldn't get in other cities the size of Dublin. It is however more expensive to do business here and there is also the cost of shipping the production needs of a major tour here. This is why you'll notice that a lot of big tours start or end in Ireland. Some tours will ditch a lot of their production before they arrive here as well.

In regard to Ticketmaster. Up to recently they were really the only player in town and, what ever you may say about charges, do a very good job and are capable of handling any size gig. Now there are more players - Ticket Lord, Tickets.ie and even the WAV box office. I think the promoters should make their tickets available to a number of ticket agencies. Then we can start having some competitition on the handling charges and so on.

PiE

miju wrote:

eh no

Oh ok, thanks for clearing that up for me with such insight.

I think it's important to note that the promoter does not always set the ticket prices. Even if they do the artist management is fully aware of what is being charged.

This is a very good point. Maybe complaints to the bands' management themselves might yield better results than complaining to Ticketmaster or the Irish promoters. Doubt it though, they're all in it for the money anyway.

grumpytrousers

tracert wrote:

I just payed €80.50 + €2.00 booking fee for a Paul Simon ticket. He's playing the point. If this were anywhere but Ireland that would be pure madness.

not as mad as you think. the top price ticket in london is £45 (excl charges). Rough rule of thumb that you take uk price and multiply by 1.5 takes you to €68. Chuck in the comment made by BrianD and which i've said before that economies of scale don't apply to a one off Irish show when contrasted with his 'mini tour' of the UK....

RainyDay

This topic is covered in this Sindo article today - free registration required.

Doctor J

Civilian_Target wrote:

TBH, pricey gigs are better than no gigs. Can't have your cake and eat it.

Go see some local bands. There are plenty of quality Irish bands playing venues around the country every night and not charging more than a tenner.

I don't understand people whining about ticket prices but still paying. Why can't people in theis country say "no, that's too much" and have the grapes to decline supporting the system which is ripping them off. I'd like to see Tool but I'm not paying that much to stand in what is a fairly crap venue, which usually suffers from bad sound and deal with the delight that is Irish "security" and still have to pay through the hoop for the privelege? No, thanks. When people stop going to the gigs, the prices will stop going up. People who continue to lap up the price hikes only have themselves to blame. Stand up and say no. Don't go and, yeah, write a letter to the band and their management and explain why you won't attend their gig. That'll make them take notice.

Support your local scene, you might be pleasantly surprised.

MrJones

Exactly. why are people moaning and still paying the prices. put up or shut up as the man himself said.
also there are plenty of local bands and less well known bands that play and are fantastic and the tickets cost very little.

Doctor J wrote:

Go see some local bands. There are plenty of quality Irish bands playing venues around the country every night and not charging more than a tenner.

I don't understand people whining about ticket prices but still paying. Why can't people in theis country say "no, that's too much" and have the grapes to decline supporting the system which is ripping them off. I'd like to see Tool but I'm not paying that much to stand in what is a fairly crap venue, which usually suffers from bad sound and deal with the delight that is Irish "security" and still have to pay through the hoop for the privelege? No, thanks. When people stop going to the gigs, the prices will stop going up. People who continue to lap up the price hikes only have themselves to blame. Stand up and say no. Don't go and, yeah, write a letter to the band and their management and explain why you won't attend their gig. That'll make them take notice.

Support your local scene, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Doctor J

Indeed. Last international gig I was at featured bands from the USA, Australia and three from Ireland, a solid four hours of entertainment. Price?

€24

Oh yes, it was not a gig put on by certain promoters who shall not be mentioned

The last local gig was three bands last Friday, excellent stuff. Price?

€7

If you feel ripped off it is because you allow yourself to be ripped off