How much is seeing your favourite band worth?
On June 18th 2018, it was announced via StubHub's ticketing website that Rammstein would play songs at their Puerto Vallarta, Mexico show from their new album set for release later in 2018. These are the only two announced tour dates for them for 2018.
They haven't toured North America since 2012, other than the odd spot at festivals, and usually only do special shows in Europe at this point. I've seen them once before, and it was the best concert I've ever been to. But in order to see them I'd have to spend money on a ticket, plane ticket, and resort hotel so I'm extreeeemely torn on it. On the one hand, I don't know how many chances I have left to see them. On the other hand, it'll cost a lot of money.
What's the most you'd pay to see your alltime favourite band?
Ooh, I can actually answer this question with obnoxious precision! I would pay $634.01 to see my all-time favorite band. Because I did.
See, my all-time favorite band is the Dillinger Escape Plan, who announced in 2016 that they would break up upon completion of touring in support of their final album, Dissociation. They announced a final show at the end of December 2017 at Terminal 5 in NYC. That sold out before I could get tickets. They added another date before that at the same venue. That sold out before I could get tickets too. Then they announced a third show, which I assumed would sell out so I didn't even bother, but my best friend did bother and actually managed to get tickets, so I got us plane tickets and a hotel room and paid for taxis, and my half of all that plus the price of my ticket was $634.01.
Not bad.
The most I have paid for a concert ticket was King Crimson last year at the Beacon Theater in NYC - about $125. It would take an awful lot for me to pay that much or more for a single band again. Obviously festival situations are a little different ... Anyway, there are a couple of obscure defunct bands who I would pay some serious money to see if they reunited (including travel expenses if necessary), but for currently active groups I have trouble justifying anything over $100. Most shows I go to are in the $10 to $35 range.
Dude let me just say that I saw Rammstein almost exactly a year ago in Jones Beach NY and it was the single best concert experience I've ever been to, and I've seen them before. The stage presence, theatrics, lighting, fireworks, and other pyrotechnics are the best. It was a huge amphitheater on a bay with the ocean in the back, and we were way up in the cheap seats. I could feel the heat of the flames. They play for so long and they just do an amazing fucking job. If you can do it, I urge you to do it.
This will be a similar thing, on a beach in Puerto Vallarta. And yes I agree their show is just... fucking... phenomenal. Even if you're not a fan of their music, the show is worth the price of admission.
Did they have Till up on the angel wings for Engel when you saw them?
Yes, both times. I don't know their songs that well, but they played some crazy song and he pretended to shoot a crossbow, but it was actually just a prop with long wires tied to it that led to these huge metal support beams about 30 feet out from the stage on either side. So fake rockets would travel along the lines and when it hit the beams they would shoot out giant plumes of fire. I think I have a video of it somewhere.
We probably saw them on the same tour. From what I understand, they play the exact same concert every time during a tour, with no variation, because their pyrotechnic show is so elaborate.
When they played Amerika, I couldn't even see the stage because of all the confetti.
Yea it's completely insane. The last song they played if I recall correctly was Buch Dich and the lead singer rode a giant penis around the stage and it shot fake cum on everyone that was actually soap suds.
I missed the last Pixies tour, and I really regret it. I would have had to fly, etc. I would have had to pay 800-1000 USD. I should have done it.
Honestly, one of the greatest experiences of my life. Don't want to make you feel bad, but it was super fucking good. I cried. I didn't even cry at my wedding.
So much. Honestly though, I've never had to—folk and punk tickets are almost never over $30 and usually quite under.
That's what I love about metal. The bigger 'mainstream' bands are of course more expensive, but even the best bands in some genres are always about 50 dollars or less. And that's top of the line! We are spoiled :)
Absolutely and it's fantastic!
It's hard to put a monetary value on this because at the moment I'm pretty dang broke and because for me, seeing Bonnie 'Prince' Billy on occasion doesn't cost me much. But if I had only seen him play once and thought I had only one chance to see him again, if I could afford it, I would spend quite a bit of money on it. His music has meant so much to me over the past 15 years or so, and seeing him live has always been amazing.
The first time I saw him, afterward as he was packing up, I got to go up to the stage and say, "Great show, man," and although he sounded like he'd be willing to talk more when he thanked me in response, my knees were shaking and I was too dumb to say more. (I was not quite as intimidated the next time I got the chance to speak to him.) You can't put a price on experiences like that. Unless you're broke like me and can't afford it, of course.
If only band tickets were still cheap :(
I don't really think I'd pay to see many of my favorite bands live, but the ones I would I'd pay probably $150-200 at most. I'm not sure I could justify to myself paying more than that.
Bands I would see live are mostly bands I love that I know have amazing live stuff that I'm almost certain I would love to experience. My Bloody Valentine, The Avalanches (only if they do a dj mix), Mr. Bungle (they'll never have a reunion but I can dream), Ween. There's probably a couple others that are escaping my mind right now.
Ween puts on a great show!
Well OP you could make a trip out of it, yes? Plan out a little vacation around the concert :)
That said, I'd probably pay a hundred dollars for my favorite band at most. I am not very rich lol
My husband and I drove all the way from central Florida to Greenville, SC solely to see the Foo Fighters...that cost us probably around $300 >~<
Honestly, not very much but that's because I try to live very frugally. I've never regretted not buying a ticket to something. I don't ever pay over $60 for tickets and I've been able to see a lot of my favorite bands (currently alive) for well under that. It helps that the bands I like (speaking about math-rock) generally only play very small venues.
Now, if given the opportunity to see some of those bands not alive (ex. Bill Evans Trio live at the Village Vanguard), I'd probably max out around $150ish.
Seeing my all-time favorite band live, even though I was in the nose-bleeds of an arena, was a borderline religious experience.
I don’t know know what come close to being around thousands of people who are all ecstatic to be there, singing and dancing their hearts out to songs they love, for almost two hours.
It depends on what seats it gets me. We have this venue here that a bank owns. It is designed to do different event types. I went to see Modest Mouse there and the set up was horrible. The venue is basically an oval with a floor in the center. They had the band all the way at the end of the oval. So you were on the sides of the oval or at the very other end.. It was terrible. THe band sounded great and it was the best set list of that tour and we got several encores. But the venue did a horrible job setting things up / placing them. I paid I think around $120 for 3 tickets.
~200 per person, including travel.