TICKET PRICES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rednekkPH]

Let me ask you this...Do you think that there will be some people out there who really want to go however becuase of the prices, will not go?

Of course there will be. It suks, but it's life. Pick any product - from a gallon of milk to a new Ferrari, and there are going to be people who can't afford it or who won't buy it becuase they do not feel the price is justified. I really want a new Road King, but because of the price I won't have one anywhere in the near future. I'm also not gonna chastise Harley-Davidson for making as much profit as possible on their product.

[CaptainP]

not sure why anyone is dumb enough to think that Nissan, or any venue, sets the price for shows and Jimmy gets paid to play. That is absurd and wrong.

JB and all artist set their ticket prices. the venue gets a percentage of the sales and all concessions. trust me, I know someone who works in that industry.

If you are that dumb to think that the venue sets the prices, then you are also saying that all the venues on his tour had a meeting and decided to set the exact same prices as everyone else!!! come on.

You are forgetting that most of these venues are owned by the same one or two companies. The prices are based on what they have to pay to get him, and guess what, profitability will be the same in all of these places. That's why they usually settle into the same range.

Let's get back to one common response here. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE PRICE OF THE TICKET, THEN DON'T GO. SIMPLE AS THAT....................................................................

agreed

[Cubbie Bear]

If this is the case, I am incorrect. I assumed, although I may be wrong that if an artist would charge $25 and the venue sells out...while another artist charges $100 and the venue sells out...artist 2 would make 4 times as much money..

Again, it's not the artist charging that much for the tickets, it is the venue. The artist charges the venue to have them play. Now, it is true that Jimmy might be forcing them to charge that much for tickets by making HIS fee large, but you have to consider everything that goes into producing such an event. It is HUGE.

I believe Jimmy has more money than 99% of us and to me, there is no need to charge this amount of money to one of his shows.

We live in a Capitalistic society. As much as we may idolize Jimmy Buffett, or any other performer for that matter, the truth of the matter is, they are in the entertainment BUSINESS, and that business is ruled by money.

Let me ask you this...Do you think that there will be some people out there who really want to go however becuase of the prices, will not go?

Yes. And it is unfortunate, but this is the reality of living in the United States of America in 2006. You can't always get what you want.

Yes....ME However, I have only questioned Jimmy's logic and timing-given the apparent lower overhead. I agree with all the republicans chiming in, he has every right to determine what the market will bear. I don't have to like it and I don't have to go. His right/myright

[Quiet and Shy]

Demographics would have something to do with it. Buffett attracts an older, and presumably wealthier, crowd than Pearl Jam or Dave Mathews.

After purchasing the amount of drugs it takes to fry your brain so badly that Pearl Jam or Dave Matthews sound good, there simply isn't much money left for tickets.

Well said!

No one is asking if you like the music of those two artist. The point is, they are charging half the price of Jimmy and they will sell out just as quick. Oh, also, both of those artist let people who belong to their fan club purchase tickets before the general public, something that Jimmy does not do. Plus, the longer you have been in the fan club, the better the seats you will get.

And to say that it's the venue who may be realizing that they have a cash cow, give me a break. If Buffett wanted to change it, he could.

Again, look outside the box for once

A combination of things, I suppose.

I'm sure Buffett has the power to structure ticket sales, contracts, etc. as he chooses. And, I'd expect ticket prices are managed through the contract between the venue and artist...leverage depends on the artist, and supply/demand are a part of price (I'm sure Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews will be playing more shows in a tour than Buffett).

Now, where's my box?

Pearl Jam played 23 shows last year....Was that much more than Jimmy? If it's supply and demand....why does he charge the same amount of money in Camden then in Mass where he is playing two night?

Many fans travel, there are established fan bases, so 2 vs. 1 doesn't hold water to me...if you went to 4 or 5 shows vs. 1 you might start to see some impact (demand elasticity -- some people will go to a show at nearly any price, and others wouldn't go to a show for free). And a true measure of supply and demand (for shows that sell out quickly) would be an open market price (scalpers sell price) along with face.

[Cubbie Bear]

and I said "Republican" in only the nicest trickle down, supply side, voo-doo economic way I know how

[LIPH]

Pearl Jam played 23 shows last year....Was that much more than Jimmy? If it's supply and demand....why does he charge the same amount of money in Camden then in Mass where he is playing two night?

We're not talking about last year. How many shows will Pearl Jam be playing this year? So far Buffett's only announced 17, plus Jazz Fest.

[LIPH]

Many fans travel, there are established fan bases, so 2 vs. 1 doesn't hold water to me...if you went to 4 or 5 shows vs. 1 you might start to see some impact (demand elasticity -- some people will go to a show at nearly any price, and others wouldn't go to a show for free).

And some of us will go to fewer shows based on the makeup of the band.

[spartan1979]

While I don't care for the higher ticket prices, I don't have a real problem with it. Why should any artist charge a low price only to see a huge markup by the scalpers. The scalpers are making money off supply and demand, why shouldn't Jimmy?

[buffettbride]

Many fans travel, there are established fan bases, so 2 vs. 1 doesn't hold water to me...if you went to 4 or 5 shows vs. 1 you might start to see some impact (demand elasticity -- some people will go to a show at nearly any price, and others wouldn't go to a show for free).

And some of us will go to fewer shows based on the makeup of the band.

i know. jimmy wearing too much eyeshadow is keeping me away too.

btw, lar, you've taken this whole thing very well.

[LIPH]

Many fans travel, there are established fan bases, so 2 vs. 1 doesn't hold water to me...if you went to 4 or 5 shows vs. 1 you might start to see some impact (demand elasticity -- some people will go to a show at nearly any price, and others wouldn't go to a show for free).

And some of us will go to fewer shows based on the makeup of the band.

i know. jimmy wearing too much eyeshadow is keeping me away too.

btw, lar, you've taken this whole thing very well.

Like I told the source when I got the PM about it yesterday, it had to end sometime. It was fun while it lasted and I have no complaints. I could have gone to more shows this year because I don't have that $500/month student loan payment anymore but I'll spend it someplace else. Maybe I'll even take a real vacation.

[jl4592]

how does this site have this many tickets before the sale date?

http://www.ticketsnow.com/tickets.cfm/p=358770

[Quiet and Shy]

While I don't care for the higher ticket prices, I don't have a real problem with it. Why should any artist charge a low price only to see a huge markup by the scalpers. The scalpers are making money off supply and demand, why shouldn't Jimmy?

Yeah, I'd rather pay Jimmy than a scalper because Jimmy's the one providing the value, not the scalper.

[pojoe99]

the prices are so high because the upkeep on 10 houses, 5 boats , 2 planes, 15 cars, and all the rest of jimmy ' s toys that everyone has contributed too over the last 30 years has just gone through the roof........................ready....set.....gooooo!!!

[bigjohn]

Jimmy Buffett, who has likely grossed more than $25 million (by conservative estimates) from the Cincinnati market over the past 25 years, isn't done yet.

The troubadour, who has turned the beach bum persona into his Margaritaville entertainment corporation, is asking $128 (plus service charges) for a pavilion ticket when his June 8 Riverbend concert goes on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. Lawn seats are $38; (513) 562-4949; www.ticketmaster.com; www.riverbend-music.com.

That appears to be the top-end standard ticket price at the some 15 venues Buffett has announced from April through August.

It is the highest ticket price Buffett has ever charged, a 45 percent increase over last year's $88 Riverbend ticket, at the time the highest that Buffett had charged. Last August's Buffett show sold out in minutes.

It is one of the highest ticket prices in Riverbend's 22-year history, rivaled by two concerts in 2003 from Fleetwood Mac ($132.50) and the Kiss/Aerosmith double bill ($127.75). The Eagles reunion tour broke the three-figure barrier at the venue in 1995 ($112.50).

"It's a big ouch," said Tim Klaber, a board member of the Cincy Parrothead Club, when asked how the beak freak faithful are responding to the Buffett price.

"Everyone's going, '... I can't believe the price.' Nobody likes it. But you know what? We'll pay it. Maybe we've been lucky. Buffett's such a hot summer act maybe he was underpriced for a lot of those years."

Klaber remembers waiting in line at the old Record Theater in Norwood in the early '80s to get tickets for Buffett shows at Timberwolf Amphitheater at Kings Island. It was there that the parrothead phenomenon started.

"I think I paid $20." Klaber said. "That may be the service charge this year."

Concert promoters say the price of tickets is driven by what bands are demanding. Concert insiders say up to 90 percent of the ticket price goes to the artist.

Riverbend spokeswoman Rosemarie Dalba cautioned the Buffett ticket price should not be seen as a price trend for summer shows.

"Absolutely not," she said. "This is just Jimmy Buffett. If anything, there is a more conscious effort paid these days to keeping ticket prices affordable. This is definitely not a trend for the summer."

The only other concert the venue has announced is for the Dave Matthews Band on Aug. 1. The $59 per ticket mirrors his top ticket price of the past few seasons. Matthews' shows have frequently sold out and the artist has often talked about keeping ticket prices reasonable.

Dalba said the summer touring business is booking late this season and she doesn't expect Riverbend to have many more announcements until later in April. She said it's possible, but not certain, that Buffett's show may actually open the pop music season at the venue owned by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Pop music shows at Riverbend are booked by Live Nation, formerly known as Clear Channel Entertainment until the giant radio corporation spun off its concert business last year.

Buffett's summer touring schedule is a light one. He plans just 15 stops. That amounts to less than three weeks on the road. He has just five dates planned in early June and six in early August with some appearances in the West and South in the next two months

[Quiet and Shy]

Thanks for posting, Bigjohn.

[bigjohn]

Not trying to start trouble, just got back and saw this article

[pojoe99]

the prices are so high because the upkeep on 10 houses, 5 boats , 2 planes, 15 cars, and all the rest of jimmy ' s toys that everyone has contributed too over the last 30 years has just gone through the roof........................ready....set.....gooooo!!!

Maybe we all get a free case of corona with every ticket purchased...or maybe Margaritaville shrimp....or both........

[SharkOnLand]

To those complaining: The time that you've spent here complaining, you could've picked up a second job as a dishwasher and made enough money to buy a ticket.

[pojoe99]

To those complaining: The time that you've spent here complaining, you could've picked up a second job as a dishwasher and made enough money to buy a ticket.

thats what i need a second job so I can go to a concert...............hey, how bout a third job so we can buy a beer and a hot dog when we go!!!!

[Jahfin]

"beak freaks", I like that.

I think the ticket prices are outrageous myself but perhaps with the recent changes in the Coral Reefer lineup he has something a little extra special in store. If he were to work in some of those less played tunes that have been mentioned so far that might well warrant an exclusive ticket price, but not as much as he's charging. Surprise appearances of Reefers from the past (not just "Fingers") would also be a nice treat and definitely add a bang to your buck.