So I go to buy two tickets to a concert at Verizon Wireless next month. They're $29 bucks a pop, which is a bit steep for a death metal show, but I had already decided I can't miss it, so on I proceed. Come checkout time, my total is over $84. REALLY?! Tax plus $26 freaking dollars in convenience fees. Somebody tell me I'm not crazy for thinking it's a little ridiculous to pay nearly 50% of the original ticket price in taxes and fees... Any way to get around it?
I think Live Nation has no fees this month. At least thats how it was advertised. I tried it but it didnt work for me.
I stopped using Ticketmaster years ago. I'd rather drive, pay parking in downtown and buy them at the box office. I think I've saved at least $200 in fees in the last two years doing that.
I'm just surprised that you are surprised that Ticketmaster is sticking it to you, big time. That's been their M.O. for many years. I rarely pay to go to a "big concert" anymore. The fees and ticket prices have turned me off. Thank goodness, Austin has a terrific live music scene at the clubs, which are far more reasonable, to say the least. I'm sure you don't want to hear my stories (again) about seeing Pink Floyd at the Houston Music Hall touring for Dark Side of the Moon, in glorious surround sound (first time I heard it) before the album came out. Cost? $3.50. That's not in Euros, either. The most I paid for a Hendrix ticket was $6.00 bucks. I could go on, but everyone would simply get depressed. I feel sorry for music lovers in this "Modern Age" of ours.
In my business I'm actually proposing (in my own words) "Ticketmaster type fees". Its both a putdown and flattering to them...Its acknowledging that they're straight rotten gougers, complimentary in that I see how its profitable. There might be more of this kind of thing later in a service based economy. Inflation and automation sucks.
J/K....but I'm with Deckard. I stopped going to big concert unless it's some one I haven't seen and their already too big like Depeche mode and The Cure. I keep my ears open and catch bands really early and go to places like Walter's and Meridian. You just have to find the artist's before the mainstream does but that's a whole lot of fun anyways.
Who is it? I still love hearing them. Your stories make me wish I grew up in a different time, my man.
It's Between the Buried and Me and As I Lay Dying. I would pay $100 for a ticket to this concert, probably more, because Between the Buried and Me is my favorite band in the world (never seen 'em) and As I Lay Dying was the best death metal concert I've ever been to. Underoath is there too, but I haven't been really feelin' their music since 2002. Wouldn't mind not paying the extra fees though. Thanks for the help.
I hate ticketmaster, but I don't think the convenience charges are even the worst thing they do. I hate that they have special pre-sales where they let obvious scalpers buy ridiculous numbers of tickets. So I go online the minute tickets go on sale to the general public and there are no good seats left. I then look on ebay and some jackass in California is selling $50 tickets to a show in Boston for $300 each.
Don't wanna hijack this thread but As I Lay Dying Death Metal?! even Metal? Christian metalcore is more like it, you're blaspheming Death metal bands by calling AILD Death metal...
metal, metalcore, religious or not...most amazing live atmosphere for a small venue, and i was actually sober... actually, becoming the archetype ranked right up there as well. and they're a christian band too. should not compute...
