I heard my local country radio station advertising recently that several artisits, including Brad Paisley and Keith Urban, had lowered their ticket prices to "as low as twenty dollars" to help people that are struggling during this economic crisis. Curiosity got the best of me and I decided to look at some tickets for an upcoming Brad Paisley show in my hometown. As a side note, I've been unemployed since February, so if I were going to a show this summer, it would only be one and it would HAVE to be a cheap lawn ticket show. So, I go to the site to look for tickets and there they are...twenty five dollars...a little ripple of excitement went through me. I found a ticket and added it to the cart and to my surprise, the total price was upward of FIFTY dollars for ONE ticket. There is a FIFTEEN DOLLAR ticket fee. Ummm...what is the twenty five dollars for then? Then, a convenience fee. Please tell me what's convenient about that? Geez...

So, my point is why drop the prices just to tack on some ridiculous fees to get right back to where they are usually. And please don't think it's worth FIFTY dollars to sit on the LAWN. I've been front row for a Gary show for TWELVE! So, thanks for nothing...

That is awful that they are trying to sucker people in on a so called deal that isn't. I am so glad Gary doesn't do sneaky &#^#% like that.

I happen to think it's a great idea to lower ticket prices to get more people going...Your mad at the wrong people; and,(believe me) I feel your pain...There's a reason I call them "Evil" Ticketmaster...I also find NOTHING "convenient" about it...What's worse is they don't stop at the "CF"...After that then they tack on an "order charge"??? Whenever, I want a ticket from the venue down in Indy; I just make a day of going down...I just can't bring myself to pay $36. for a $25. ticket...Ironically enough, if you type in www.evilticketmaster.com ; it will not take you to their site...Go Figure???

I was wanting to go to that concert too because Brad, Dierks and Jimmy Wayne will be there, but I'm like you that's a little high. I think I'll save my money in case Gary comes around.

You know, I'm truly not mad at the artists...I think I was mad at my radio station for tricking me! LOL

Yeah, you and I know about paying ten or twelve bucks and being able to almost smell him you can get so close at general admission shows.

Yes, love those good old days.

Well, look at it like this...at least it's $25 plus a $15 fee instead of $65 plus a $15 fee!
In some places, it's not just TicketMaster (or TicketsWest, which does some of the ticket selling in my area) getting a cut. Some venues get to tack on a fee too, and there are cities that tax also, all driving up the charge.
A friend of mine and I would love to go to the Sugarland/Keith Urban show coming to Denver on July 15th. Decent seats go for a face price of $85, but after all the fees and stuff, run almost $115 a person. Yes, there are also $25 tickets available, but to end up paying $45 a person just to sit in the nose-bleed rafters is not too enticing. So far we are holding out hope one of us can win tickets through the radio station. Or that maybe there will be a last minute sale on tickets just before the show like there was before 2007's Tim and Faith second Soul2SoulII concert that makes it more palapable to spend money like that.

I have been known to spend as much as $85 for one Gary ticket, and am planing to buy one of those $150 tickets for the Vegas show, so there is one artist where I am not so quick to let the cost stop me.
Although one of the BEST Gary concerts I have been to was completely free--the Breckenridge show only cost me the gas to drive up to the mountains. Good thing since I was unemployed at the time, but I would have gone anyway even if it had been a costly ticket.

Hopefully those days will roll back around to us sometime before the year is out. Hey T2T glad to see you around! Hope life is good!

Today only Live Nations is having a "fee" free day. If you buy tickets thru them - no service charge. Might save someone a couple of $$

gail

OOOOoooopppppssss... Never mind

As texasgal said, Live Nation is having a promotion called "no service fee Wednesdays" for lawn seat tickets. I can't find how many Wednesdays this will be available. It is for participating & select concerts and says other fees may apply. I did see some concerts listed for Brad Paisley.

Hey sweetie! I'm good, hope you are!

Me too friend! I just want to see a concert somewhere near us.

Coyote Joe's has had some pretty big names lately, so keep your fingers crossed, because y'all know how CLOSE you can stand if you're willing to stand up there at that venue. I've noticed that Gary likes to come visit us in October/November, right when it gets to chilly to heat us up! LOL

They talked about all the added fees to "$20" tickets on CNN last night. Said it was false advertisement to claim no fee days. I think the added per person parking fee is terrible- $5 per person!

I loved the show in Boone last year and Asheville is one of my favorite places to see anyone! Fall can't get her fast enough--Keep your fingers crossed.

Cris, did you see ZBB at Joe's? Great show!

I hope to see something in Oct or Nov. Just keeping my fingers crossed.

I bought some 20.00 tickets for the keith urban show recently. compared to the close to 100.00 mark for the rest of the venue seats, i thought it wasn't that bad. sure, they aren't the best seats...but if an artist is coming to your city and you'd rather sit in ANY seat vs not go at all... it's not that bad.

it IS ticketmaster i think... and no one ever questions it...the extra fees that is.

gary's prices have always seemed very reasonable and he always seems to pack the shows.. ironic huh? i think he's VERY in touch with the fans and their needs. this is just one more reason that seeing Gary always seems like an excellent value.

I agree!

Actually, that's a really good idea. I know we've missed a few of other artists lately, just trying to cut back here and there. Since they still have the same cost to run the tour, what good is it for the seats to go half empty? Also, once they get that ticket and are in the door the artist still has a good opportunity to sell merch. So, if I were them that's what I'd do. Lower them just a bit, unless they are in an area they know will sell out. I'd make sure I had plenty of merch though in case they do have $$$.

What sad times though, that we even have to worry about it. It's just a shame. Gotta get better

I didn't sweetie...I went to Speed Street to "listen" to Jason Aldean, because I certainly couldn't "see" him! I heard ZBB is awesome live though and I hope to see them soon. I have a new job that starts in July, so I will hopefully be back on the concert scene...I miss meeting my buddies on the road!

I didn't know that Jason was there this year. I bet that was good.

It 'sounded' good, but if you offered me a million dollars to tell you what color his t-shirt was, I'd still be broke, because I didn't even get a glimpse. I've NEVER seen that many people there...EVER! Of course last year, when it was Gary, me and Wendy were there early enough to be about four 'rows' back, so I don't know how many people were there.

Mercy! It was wild enough last year seeing Gary. I would hate it if it was worse!

Well, we listened to Jason do about four or five songs and I told B I was ready to go...had it been Gary, I might would have toughed it out (of course, I'd have made sure I was much closer too), but I just couldn't deal with the stupid drunk girls any longer!

That is so sad.....while I like to drink as well as the next person....when I go to a show....NO WAY....I want to ENJOY!!! Seems there are way too many that go to shows JUST to drink and act like they are WILD.(and most are underage) Heard a news report on BamaJam....139 arrests...alchohol related...most being underage....having taken wrist bands that were discarded...or adults buying the alchohol for them...jailbait is jailbait....might be an old fogey...but..I waited till I was legal....don't think it will hurt today's generation any!! And I'll BET you those stupid drunk girls were no where near legal!!! Sorry they ruined your good time!!! (oh, and I've "endured" those types at Gary's shows too!!)

Oh I know what you mean. There were so many last year. Trying to fight and everything. It's crazy. Sorry it was like that! I say have a great time but don't ruin it for others.

Not to mention, if they're so stupid that they are just going to spill their ten dollar small cup of beer all over my flip flops and feet anyway, I'd rather they keep their distance or better yet...STAY HOME! ::amen::