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Concert tickets - how much is too much?

(49 Posts)
KatyK Sat 07-Mar-15 10:24:18

Paul McCartney is coming to Birmingham. As a life long Beatles fan I thought I might try to get tickets. I saw the Beatles many times in the '60s and the last time Paul came to Brum we went along. On that occasion we got the tickets free as my DH used to work with someone who knew Paul. I've been on line this morning to look for tickets. The top price tickets for two of us would be £285. These seats are not particularly near the front but would just give a reasonable view of the stage. How much would other people be prepared to pay to see someone they like? Needless to say we are not going. sad

aprilgrace Tue 31-Mar-15 08:19:13

My father is a big fan of Katherine Jenkins. But when she came to the local theatre and tickets started at £70 he was heard to mutter " I like Katherine Jenkins, but not THAT much"

tiggypiro Wed 18-Mar-15 08:37:25

Going 'off piste' a bit but back in 1965 when I and my 3 friends were just 16 we went as 'helpers' on a trip to London organised by 3 teachers for some 12 year olds.
At night they allowed us to go out on our own and being the sophisticated young ladies that we were (cough cough!!)we decided to go to the theatre. On returning to the hostel the teachers quizzed us about our evening and appeared shocked that we had been to see 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie'. We were so innocent that we had had no idea what it was all about and it was only years later I realised why they were shocked !! I do remember however that we were sat up in 'the gods' on what seemed to be stone seats so very little money I think.
I can't imagine any 16 year olds not understanding that play now !

Fili Wed 18-Mar-15 07:33:46

Why their prices are so big? Only rich people can afford those concerts =_=

Treebee Thu 12-Mar-15 19:43:33

You pays your money and takes your choice.
I'm a Macca fan, have seen him 4 times in concert now. His back catalogue is second to none. He plays for at least 3 hours straight and has excellent videos, fireworks , other lighting effects.
I paid £89 altogether on Saturday for my ticket for the O2 and am so looking forward to it. Nothing compares, for me!

janerowena Wed 11-Mar-15 22:55:18

£7.50. Far too much.

This is for friends who are putting on a concert that involves singing and Zumba.

I think they should pay us to go and watch.

KatyK Wed 11-Mar-15 18:33:50

Oh yes Death of a clown smile I saw the Kinks a couple of times in the '60s and many others have a few tales to tell grin At Birmingham Town Hall part of the audience sat behind the stage and we were quite near the stage. I remember I had a long, bright pink chiffon scarf which I was waving at them. Dave took the scarf and put it around his neck and gave it back to me as they went off. Swoon...... the things we did grin Oh well, back to the washing up!

Falconbird Wed 11-Mar-15 08:53:41

I would pay whatever it took to see Ray Davis and take out a loan to see a Kinks reunion.

It all depends on how much you want to see something - having said that I think ballet tickets etc., are too pricey and exclude people on lower incomes.

Goggled Dave Davis and was shocked to hear he had been so ill. He seems to be on the mend now.

Remember seeing him on Top of the Pops singing Death of a Clown.

gillybob Mon 09-Mar-15 14:17:02

I think that no amount is "too much" if you can afford it then, why not. I love music and enjoy nothing more than a good concert.

gillybob Mon 09-Mar-15 14:14:55

Sounds amazing Grannyknot and no, not bragging at all. I bet it was wonderful seeing/hearing them together like that in such an intimate setting too. I would have died and gone to heaven seeing EC,AFL and JW on one stage. You lucky, lucky lady. smile

Tegan Mon 09-Mar-15 13:25:29

It was a very good, fascinating insight into his life and personality wasn't it.

KatyK Mon 09-Mar-15 11:02:15

There is always talk of a Kinks reunion although the brothers have never really got on. I preferred Dave back in the day (a few of us chased him through Birmingham city centre once, poor man blush ). He has been very ill over the last few years I believe. I would love to see the Kinks musical that is in the West End at the moment.

Falconbird Mon 09-Mar-15 08:02:04

Dave Davis - that's right. I watched a documentary about him and he is such a sensitive guy. Wouldn't it be great if there was a Kinks re-union. sunshine

Grannyknot Sun 08-Mar-15 18:53:18

In our early days carried away by the excitement of now living in London, we bought tickets for a play (a drama) on lastminute.com - well we laughed so much - firstly, we were sent back out of the theatre and had to take a narrow flight of stairs that ran up on the outside of the building, up to where our seats were, and we were so high up that we saw the crowns of the actors' heads - even when they were off stage, we could still see them! So whatever we paid on that occasion, it was too much.

Wheniwasyourage Sun 08-Mar-15 18:47:49

What annoys me about tickets for theatres (we're not concert-goers, so can't comment on prices) is when there is a booking fee. How can you go without booking? We can't all go to the theatre to buy tickets if we don't live in the relevant town, and sometimes they seem to charge them there as well. Why don't they just put up the price of the ticket - I would not grudge an extra couple of pounds on the ticket nearly as much as I do a compulsory "extra" charge. angry

shabby Sun 08-Mar-15 18:39:58

I was given two tickets to see Barbra Streisand at the O2 in 2007. Big fan but would never have paid £250 each, actual price of the tickets. The seats were on the first tier and without the big screens and obviously the music we would never have known who we were watching.

Ana Sun 08-Mar-15 18:35:22

Dave Davies. I always preferred him, myself!

Falconbird Sun 08-Mar-15 18:19:29

Oh what I would give to shake Ray's hand. He still looks good although he must be 70 by now?

I also liked his brother very much but can't bring his name to mind.

My 38 year old son is also a big Kinks Fan.

For me it's "Thank you for the days."

KatyK Sun 08-Mar-15 10:39:19

Falconbird - We always go to see Ray when he comes to Birmingham. I loved the Kinks in the 60s and my sister loved them later on. She is a bit obsessed with Ray and Rod Stewart bless her. We have always managed to get second or third row for Ray (he comes to Birmingham Symphony Hall). The tickets are never expensive and I agree with you, he is great. He usually shakes hands with people who rush to the front at the end of the concert, my sister was shameless and shook his hand grin . My nephew, who is in his 20s, loves Ray's music too and came along to one concert. One of Ray's roadies gave him a plectrum that Ray had been using. Ooo I sound like a teenager now smile I am signed up to a site which alerts you when people you like are coming to your area so you can be ready to buy before it is announced.

Falconbird Sun 08-Mar-15 10:25:11

Because I don't go to concerts much now I'm a widow I am prepared to pay high prices for a special occasion.

I bought tickets for the panto last year and the price was nearly 300 pounds for six of us which I thought wasn't too bad and the seats were excellent.

When I go to the ballet I always get good seats because it's the best way to really appreciate the costumes, dancers etc.,

I think prices are really high and it must stop a lot of people going to the theatre regularly.

I saw Ray Davis some years ago and that was worth every penny. We had the cheaper seats (my son bought them smile but with a lot of shouting "look at me Ray" - he did!!!! One happy Nan.

rubylady Sun 08-Mar-15 00:33:33

I read somewhere that Mike McIntyre earned 14 million last year. That is some ticket sales!

I haven't paid anything for my tickets as my darling brother has taken me to concerts in the past, the best one ever being Freddie in Queen at Elland Road in 1982. He was on with Joan Jett as his support act. This was obviously before the days of giant screens and mobile phones, they were just there, tiny on stage from where we were but utterly fantastic.

baubles Sat 07-Mar-15 20:41:01

I spend quite large amounts on gigs/concerts/opera/ballet tickets throughput the year but that is what I enjoy. I'm a non smoking teetotaller, I'm sure others spend lots on good wines and spirits.

I don't spend more than I can afford although that might mean cutting back somewhere else.

Paul McCartney wouldn't feature on my list but each to their own grin

KatyK Sat 07-Mar-15 18:22:22

Having just spent a lovely afternoon watching The Queens Speech at Birmingham Rep, Jason Donovan and Raymond Coulthard taking the main parts, at only £28 a ticket, who needs Macca grin The play and the acting were superb.

thatbags Sat 07-Mar-15 18:16:45

Too much is more than you're willing to pay if you have the money or more than you have if you'd like to pay it but can't.

Mishap Sat 07-Mar-15 18:08:49

Crazy price!! No way would I spend that!

Katek Sat 07-Mar-15 17:55:13

£50 is probably about as high as I wouid go. By the time you double it for both of us, transport and sometimes a hotel in Glasgow/Edinburgh it becomes quite an expensive treat. Having said that we have tickets for Michael McIntyre, Seasick Steve, Kevin Bridges and the Aussie Pink Floyd this year. You have to buy them early or they just sell out-tickets for various performers for 2016 are already onsale!