I don't know about opting out entirely, but if you get there early enough to any pre-sale or general sale launch moment and you seem to get non-platinum standard pricing.
― brain (krakow), Friday, 22 July 2022 22:23 (one year ago) link
"Early" is relative, afaict, and not at all transparent. I'm tempted to sit out the sale next week entirely rather than get pressured by an invisible price clock that would force me into paying well above (theoretical) face value. Another grody aspect of this all is that TM allows immediate reselling on its site, too, which means (no surprise) that there are *already* hundreds of tickets being resold via Ticketmaster, typically well below the inflated "dynamic" price. And these are for shows in *8 months*. I figure they want to play the extreme capitalism game, fine, I will just wait and watch the prices sink as the demand shifts from fans trying to buy tickets to scalpers and brokers trying to sell their tickets. Looking at Tulsa (for example) right now, there are plenty are tickets below $100. Even GA tix are going for a mere $550 or so, which is not cheap but seems comparatively in line with other acts, and certainly more reasonable compared to the "dynamic" equivalents going for ten times that amount.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 23 July 2022 16:30 (one year ago) link
I got a presale confirmation for a Long Island show which is a bit of a hike. Tickets there are generally a shade cheaper, but the train ride's more expensive (and driving means a ridiculous parking charge at UBS), so if the prices are way up there, I may just sit out and see where things go with the Barclays or MSG tickets the week of the show.
― birdistheword, Saturday, 23 July 2022 16:43 (one year ago) link
fwiw, Barclays apparently does not use Ticketmaster! But I assume anything in the NY/Philly/NJ area will be insane regardless. Cheapest resale tix for Albany, for example, are currently around $300. Still cheaper than dynamic, but not cheap!
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 23 July 2022 16:46 (one year ago) link
Yeah, I think this area may be the toughest place to be if you want a deal. I actually signed up for a lot of venues, and I'm guessing the demand around here was too insane for me to get more than one presale. I really regret not going to the 2016 shows at Barclays - IIRC floor seats were like $150, and of course they did "Purple Rain" in tribute to Prince
― birdistheword, Saturday, 23 July 2022 16:49 (one year ago) link
We got "Take It Easy" in tribute to Glenn Frey, lol.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 23 July 2022 17:26 (one year ago) link
As someone said above; for shows this big, and especially for multi date runs - just wait until close to the show - there are always people dropping out and reselling in desperation close to the time. The recent pearl jam shows in london had been pretty much sold out since they went on sale in 2019/2020. I think face value for standing was £80 - I got 2 for £70 a few days beforehand - probably would have gone cheaper if i'd waited till the day before.
Twickets is a good UK option for cheaper than face value resale!
― Hmmmmm (jamiesummerz), Saturday, 23 July 2022 17:38 (one year ago) link
Cheapest resale tix for Albany, for example, are currently around $300. Still cheaper than dynamic, but not cheap!
Only sub-$300 tickets I was able to find there are behind the stage (presumably -- the layout apparently isn't finalized yet?).
I only saw Springsteen once before, in that arena's nosebleed seats off to the side. Visually it actually wasn't too bad, but the sound wasn't great. It's also one of the smaller arenas, certainly significantly smaller than MSG, Barclays, or TD Garden, probably the same size as Mohegan Sun. If I go -- and it's a massive "if" given prices -- I'll try to get nosebleed seats with a decent view.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Saturday, 23 July 2022 17:38 (one year ago) link
I hear behind the stage is actually a fun place to be! At least seems like it could be, based on the shows I've seen. One of the many insults to injury aspects of this debacle is that Springsteen resolutely does not have a light show or anything akin to production values, not like the Stones, not like McCartney, not like U2, Roger Waters, etc. So you're paying for the people on the stage and really nothing more. But that also means standing in the back gives you a great view of the band, and the band makes an effort to play to those particular cheap(er) seats.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 23 July 2022 18:20 (one year ago) link
I saw Springsteen on the Tunnel of Love tour behind the stage. I still got a pretty good show--he's such a superb entertainer--and a really good view of his bald spot.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 23 July 2022 19:49 (one year ago) link
Bald In The U.S.A.Combover MeBorn To RugThe Price Toupee
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Saturday, 23 July 2022 20:20 (one year ago) link
I must say, "Combover Me" makes the song title sound even dirtier than it is.
― Lily Dale, Saturday, 23 July 2022 20:29 (one year ago) link
I say this a million times and will say it again, if you are going to pony up $$ for a big venue show that is pure showmanship & music, Bruce is your guy. He’s so good at bringing an audience in and making you feel like like it’s a club or a VFW hall. Like you might be in the nosebleeds and he’s the size of an ant but it feels like you’re in the first 10 rows the whole time.The only other artist I have ever seen who has that kind of oldschool stagecraft, that combo of precision & intimacy, was Prince.
― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 23 July 2022 20:36 (one year ago) link
I'm glad I got a ticket to see him in Hamburg before all this dynamic pricing nonsense started. I'll still try for one in Seattle, but it's nice to go in knowing I'll get to see him regardless and there's no huge pressure to pay outrageous prices.
― Lily Dale, Saturday, 23 July 2022 20:41 (one year ago) link
a really good view of his bald spot
Bald in the USA
Given the long discussion of ticket prices plus baldness I really should have a "scalpers" joke here somewhere.
Wait for it...
Hmmm....
Got it!
PATTI SCALPYA
― your marshmallows may vary (Ye Mad Puffin), Sunday, 24 July 2022 00:25 (one year ago) link
Not worthy
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Sunday, 24 July 2022 00:27 (one year ago) link
suggest ban
― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 24 July 2022 02:33 (one year ago) link
Perhaps caution
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Sunday, 24 July 2022 02:40 (one year ago) link
No, Veg is right. I shalk preemptively FP myself
― your marshmallows may vary (Ye Mad Puffin), Sunday, 24 July 2022 02:42 (one year ago) link
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/ff/Bannedintheusa.jpg/220px-Bannedintheusa.jpg
― slide into my KMFDMs (morrisp), Sunday, 24 July 2022 02:57 (one year ago) link
I got Saturday detention for skipping school to wait in like for 'Tunnel of Love' tickets and then it sold out before I got any at the Hoosier Dome.
Ain't that America for you and me...
― earlnash, Sunday, 24 July 2022 04:18 (one year ago) link
(Comb on up for the Risin')
(I'll see myself out.)
― your marshmallows may vary (Ye Mad Puffin), Sunday, 24 July 2022 10:27 (one year ago) link
"Tenth Avenue Tease-Out""Baldlands""Hairy Darling"
By many accounts Bruce patched that problem up with a hair transplant.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 24 July 2022 13:41 (one year ago) link
roll down the window and let the wind blow off my hairs
― Thus Sang Freud, Sunday, 24 July 2022 13:45 (one year ago) link
Just curious, when did Bruce's baldspot really become noticeable at his shows? Tunnel of Love or Born in the USA tour?
xxxp man, if it wasn't for the internet, I'd be going to a lot less shows.
― birdistheword, Sunday, 24 July 2022 14:02 (one year ago) link
Countin On A Miracle Breakthrough In The Treatment Of Male Pattern Baldness
― maf you one two (maffew12), Sunday, 24 July 2022 14:03 (one year ago) link
TBF someone did cut a six inch valley through the middle of his skull.
― Chris L, Sunday, 24 July 2022 14:17 (one year ago) link
Wow - I always thought it was “…my soul”!(v funny post, btw)
― slide into my KMFDMs (morrisp), Sunday, 24 July 2022 14:25 (one year ago) link
Meeting Of The Hair Club For Men Across The River
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Sunday, 24 July 2022 14:48 (one year ago) link
"State Toupee"
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Sunday, 24 July 2022 14:52 (one year ago) link
!
― Meme for an Imaginary Western (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 24 July 2022 15:52 (one year ago) link
https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2020/04/29/PAPP/f7d85c1e-02d7-4d5d-a054-b5a3da0cf1ec-Bruce_haircut.jpg?width=660&height=657&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 24 July 2022 16:08 (one year ago) link
Ticketmaster's claim: "In the wake of an ongoing furor over 'dynamic pricing' for Bruce Springsteen’s tour, Ticketmaster took the unusual step Sunday afternoon of releasing some statistics about costs and percentages for the dates that went on sale last week. Downplaying the number of controversial 'platinum' tickets with variable prices that reached as high as $5,000 apiece on the first day of on-sales, Ticketmaster says those represent only 11.2% of the overall tickets sold."
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ticketmaster-says-most-bruce-springsteen-210902940.html
But then there's this:
"While there was speculation that the highest prices being disseminated were determined by an algorithm, sources say the dynamic pricing is not actually rooted in an algorithm but set by promoter pricing teams, which would explain some of the big differences in pricing for platinum tickets from city to city."
― birdistheword, Monday, 25 July 2022 01:41 (one year ago) link
One of the least transparent corporate entities with a vertically integrated de facto monopoly that gives them control of supply, demand and distribution? Sure, I trust that excuse.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 25 July 2022 01:56 (one year ago) link
Spot on - but it'll be interesting to see if things do continue to improve as it would make that statement seem more plausible.
― birdistheword, Monday, 25 July 2022 02:10 (one year ago) link
If things improve that means someone knows they fucked up.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 25 July 2022 02:25 (one year ago) link
Well, good, right? It will mean the uproar/pushback has been effective
― slide into my KMFDMs (morrisp), Monday, 25 July 2022 02:40 (one year ago) link
We'll see! All I know is that when I look at Tulsa (my rando control) there are still lots of tickets available for between $85 and $200 or so, with the highest around $500. (Lots of those are already "verified resale.") Looking just now, cheapest/worst tix at a bigger rando market, Austin, are more like $250, with the most expensive/best around $1000. An even more premium stop, Boston, the cheapest/worst are more like $600 or so, and the best around $2000. I assume however in or out of line some of these prices are, the market will be pretty liquid come showtime and find a more stable floor and ceiling. Why TM would want to waste its and our time with this dumbness is kind of perplexing. It's kind of like starting the bidding at an auction super high then working the price down over the course of several months. "Do I hear $500? $500? How about $450? $350? ..." That's one way to subvert scalping, I suppose.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 25 July 2022 02:57 (one year ago) link
No ball, Bruce!
Seeing @theweeknd with @oldfilmsflicker and it’s the first time I’ve had seats down center and not been able to see a damn thing because a giant globe is blocking the stage. This is an obstructed view that uhhhh definitely wasn’t priced as that. pic.twitter.com/L2MOTkNID1— Robert Daniels (@812filmreviews) July 25, 2022
― deep luminous trombone (Eazy), Monday, 25 July 2022 03:38 (one year ago) link
Blinded by the Blinding Lights (...you'll won't be, thanks to the globe)
― slide into my KMFDMs (morrisp), Monday, 25 July 2022 04:01 (one year ago) link
he has the whole world in his view
― StanM, Monday, 25 July 2022 04:02 (one year ago) link
Part of Lefsetz take on ticket debacle.
since Bruce and Jon are not tech-savvy, they had no idea the algorithm could go out of control, they didn't even think of capping ticket prices. So, the ticket goes up a couple of hundred bucks, better we get the money than the scalpers. As for the ultimate multiple four figure prices? They didn't even contemplate this, they did not foresee this.
But he also says :
As for Ticketmaster taking all the heat... They screwed up with their algorithm, but they do nothing, NOTHING without Bruce and Jon's approval.
The fault lies at the feet of Bruce. ... Bruce just wants what he's entitled to.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 25 July 2022 04:51 (one year ago) link
I got waitlisted for Springsteen tickets but my wife qualified. She is trying this morning but quickly got a message that there are 1335 people ahead of her in line for DC show tickets
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 26 July 2022 14:09 (one year ago) link
everyone says to stick it out.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 26 July 2022 14:16 (one year ago) link
Not looking good, unless we want to pay $1500 a ticket and we don't
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 26 July 2022 14:56 (one year ago) link
Some future president is going to have to forgive everyone's Ticketmaster debt.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 26 July 2022 15:22 (one year ago) link
lol fuck a $1500 ticket. The most expensive ticket I've ever had (and didn't pay for) was $1000 to see Pearl Jam in a small club with Robert Plant *opening*, and every penny of that ticket and all proceeds from the show, from merch to alcohol, went to Katrina relief.
Give it 8 months and the price will go down 10X.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 26 July 2022 15:28 (one year ago) link
I backed away from $300 McCartney seats earlier in the year. If I'd never seen him, maybe I would have done it, but as it was I mostly thought it would be fun for the kids to be able to say they'd seen a Beatle. But when I got to the purchase point and was looking at $1,400 or whatever with all the fees, I couldn't do it. That's a family vacation.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 26 July 2022 15:33 (one year ago) link
Hell, I wanted to take the whole family to see Weird Al a couple of weeks ago, but I just couldn't do it. It would have been something like $1000 for all four of us, with fees, and even that felt kind of yucky. With Springsteen specifically, who even knows what the shows will be like. It's been 6 years, and the next year won't make things any better. And there's no reason to think he won't just keep doing this for another 10 years, or as long as he can, no matter his/their condition.
Now, Roxy Music, an overpriced show I'm still on the fence about, there's a really good chance these will be their last shows (and no way will it be the band even close to its best), and given sales have been soft I'm sure I'll be able to get them for a reasonable price (or at least one I can justify) come September. But all these big acts, I've seen them all at least once, some multiple times, some (like Springsteen) many times, and ultimately ... in the end, if I ended up without a ticket, I think I'm good.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 26 July 2022 15:40 (one year ago) link
FWIW, I think I'm seeing this a LOT with the arena shows. Remember the Kendrick Lamar shows and how expensive those were? Depending on the location, it may have trouble selling out - for example, UBS in Long Island is not even close to selling out and you can now get them for half of the original asking price, with about two weeks until show time. And this is direct from Ticketmaster, not the secondary market or even Ticketmaster's resale listings.
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 26 July 2022 16:16 (one year ago) link