Madonna's top tickets, on the floor, are $300.00 each plus service charges and so far every show is a sell out. While Prince's seem to be mainly in the $75.00-$85.00. Not a bad deal.

Prince soaked his fans overseas for $$$ last year, presumably because the supply-and-demand worked in his favor and he hadn't played in places like Hong Kong and Australia for ages and ages. Here in the States, he plays pretty regularly, and this tour seems pretty exhaustive to boot - I think it's hard to compare Prince's tour to Madge's touring, because he's more of a musician/performer and she's got a more presentational thing going on - videos, films, etc., and as a result she's not really a prolific live performer.

Besides not being a very good singer or dancer does she even play any instruments when in concert ... all gimmicks, anyway - I don't give a damn about Madge's tour.

Anyone who complains about ticket prices doesnt understand economics in a free capitalistic society. Concert tickets are not food or shelter. They are not essential. You dont have to buy them. Supply and demand is a basic economic principle which is the foundation of capitalism. If Madonna can get $300 for a concert ticket and sell out, obviously the demand outweighs the supply. Sound economic theory might even suggest that she could charge even more since there are obviously more people willing and able to pay $300. Thus, the consumer can not be technically "soaked" by any concert ticket price as it is a completely discretionary purchase. Concerts are entertainment. Entertainment should be purchased with discretionary income. Shifting the blame to an artist for the price indicates a lapse in common sense. If the intelligent consumer does not believe that the concert is worth the ticket price, he/she will not pay that price. The demand for big name legendary artists like Madonna and Prince is relatively inelastic. This means that demand decreases by a small amount as price increases. The market is relatively insensitive to price increases. When this is considered along with the limited supply (ie. the finite number of seats available in any venue), artists can - like any other capitalists - charge what the market will bear.

Its the American way.
[This message was edited Sun Mar 28 17:40:08 2004 by newwave]
[This message was edited Sun Mar 28 17:41:22 2004 by newwave]

newwave said:

This is the lamest post I've seen on this forum. I understand economics but you're missing the point completely. Fans want to see Madonna live. And many can't because they're not rich. It's not a question of, "You don't have to buy a concert ticket if you feel the price is too high". It has nothing to do with that. Madonna fans shouldn't be told that because they really would love to go and see her but the reality is, it's just too damn expensive! And it doesn't have to be that way. If Madonna would've booked herself into stadiums (30,000 -70,000+) instead of arenas (10,000-20,000+) on her upcoming tour, then there wouldn't be this ridiculous supply and demand argument now would there? And don't give me this Capitalistic philosophy that says because it's legal that it means it's alright to charge extremely high ticket prices because that's BS. And it's not that it's only being greedy, which is what it's all about, it's just plan wrong.

It is the artists' and promoters' fault for increasingly high ticket prices, period.

Btw, this applies to anyone or anything.
[This message was edited Sun Mar 28 18:41:21 2004 by TheGoldExperience]

See the news story about ticket prices (with Prince mention):

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4601934/

TheGoldExperience said:

Madonna - like most artists that have survived as long as she has in the music BUSINESS - is a BUSINESS person. She is a private corporation. She is under not obligation to maintain prices at a certain level in order to allow tiose that can not afford them to buy them. Rock concerts are not essentials. People can live without them and most do. The government and its laws step in and regulate those industrioes that do supply products and services that are truly essential - fuel, medicine, healthcare, food, electricity, water, education, etc. When a consumer can not afford these things, there is often some kind of iprice regulation or financial assistance to help him. On the other hand, there are some things that are simply luxuries. Concerts are one of these things. The consumer who misinterprets them as necessities while having limited resources to attend them will usually whine like a broke ass.

Many of these same fans that want cheap concert tickets would probably like a plasma TV and a Mercedes - but the simply cant afford them. Is Mercedes obligated to cap their prices in order to get more lower income consumer into their cars? The demand for their product is inelastic. Their brand name and reputation is strong enough to represent a high value perception in the market. This is why you will never see a $12,000 Mercedes. No high value marketer is going to intentionally reduce the value perception of his product through lower prices in order to appeal to a broader market when demands consistently outweighs supply.

When U2 was on tour, the good seats were $300 and they were filling stadiums. The demand was there to support the price which correlated to the perceived value in the marketplace. Hammer used to be able to demand premiums for his concerts. His value perception has significantly decreased to the point that he would have trouble getting more than a few bucks for his concert ticket or album.

Any economics book will say that prices can decrease if demand falls to a certain point. This happened to Diana Ross on her last tour. The perceived value of her tour with 2 fake Supremes was not what she expected. As a result, the tour flopped and she could not sell enough tickets to complete it. The price was not low enough to match the perceived value. People simply were not willing to pay to see Diana and 2 unknown singers backing her and being billed as the Supremes.

Americans want there cake and eat it too. Its quite natural. We enjoy the fruits of a free enterprise system. They have always come in cycles. Madonna wont always being able to get $300 per ticket. She is a hot commodity now and is exploiting it to the maximum. Any smart business person would.
[This message was edited Sun Mar 28 19:55:09 2004 by newwave]
[This message was edited Sun Mar 28 20:05:02 2004 by newwave]
[This message was edited Sun Mar 28 20:09:56 2004 by newwave]
[This message was edited Mon Mar 29 13:47:09 2004 by newwave]

I hate to admit this,but my friends and I decided that we are gonna ahead and get the $300 seats for Madonna's concert

Last week,we were like "No way,we're not gonna spend that much....let's just get the cheap $45 nosebleed seats".But now,a group of us have decided to go ahead and get the best seats.While I'm thrilled to be seeing Madonna,a little voice inside my head is telling me I'm crazy to spend that much money on ANY concert.

Well, I tried to get the $300 tickets and got NOTHING! I knew she was going to sell out. Especially, her midwest fanbase city which happens to be Chicago! I still can't believe all three shows sold out. But, I have a plan to get a ticket to one of her shows the week of, if I'm in the country.

Madonna is a great stage performer! Her shows are theatrical which I love. She first incorporate theater (stage/set design changes) in 1990 during The Blonde Ambition Tour.

newwave said:

Once again, you're missing the point and you happen to be ignoring that it's wrong and it's greedy. And expounding on your Capitalistic BS isn't going to alter that anytime soon. Just because concerts aren't necessarily necessities, doesn't mean that it's right to charge that much. Gouging the public is what it really is.

Mercedes and concert tickets people?! That's right. Let's compare to the two...ROTF

U2 were not playing stadiums on their last tour in 2001. They were booked into 10-20,000 arenas. While most of them sold out, there were a few that didn't (Tampa, St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbus & Lexington). Their ticket prices for this tour were not $300, they were $130 tops. If they had their average ticket priced at half that, they would've sold out every show and would've been able to perform in stadiums (30-70,000+) and hence supply and demand would have been met.

Concert ticket prices were never this high until The Eagles started charging $85 tops in 1994. The solution for insufficient supply for demand would be like I said, to book artists in larger venues, then there would be enough supply and demand and hence everyone could see their favourite artists in a live setting and be happy.

Oh and the next time you call people "whining asses" for not being not rich, you can go fuck yourself. It's a mentality like yours that ruining consumers' ideals about entertainment and society in general from getting ahead in life. If you seriously believe the spew that you've just stated, you need help.

um...Madonna is an awesome dancer...and even thou she's not a great singer, she still can sing!

Britney isn't a great dancer or singer...so don't mix the two!
Madonna has been known for her antics and dances...so she is just as talented as an entertainer...and PRINCE is the greatest! no comparison!

but leave maddy alone, she is great in her own right!

Her and PRINCE are my two favs!

Love them!

www.newpowerdetroit.com

incognito said:

"Madonna is a great stage performer" What a joke!!! Those over-produced over the top stage shows to compensate for her no-singing/no-dancing ass..... I can't believe these fools are even considering paying $300.00 dollars to see Madonna. Damn!!!!

gman1966 said:

Madonna sold out six shows at Madison Square Garden in NYC yesterday. It seems a lot of fools paid $300 after all.

sextonseven said:

Unbelievable!!!! Madonna is just a weak or average at best live performer. Unfucking believable!!!!!

TheGoldExperience said:

I agree, I think that ur missing the point. Capitalism is great, and the artist/performers should be paid (how much is irrelevent), but just because u CAN do something, does not neccessarily mean that u should. WE COULD do lots of things in society, but we don't. Society always uses this crap about a free society and Capitalism to hide the real issue....greed. Granted Madge can have the $300 tickets, but the average fan... (AVERAGE) can't afford the price. And it's not about disposable income, it's about giving all those fans that have paid your way in the past, have bought you music (good and bad), an opportunity 2 see the show. I am sure that u will see Madge in an interview calming that she "know's her fans want 2 see a good show", or something relative the fact the she is doing this tour for her "fans". BS. Your fans will be going without just 2 see her goofy ass. But the other side of the issue is the overhead for the tour. What kind of gimmicks, bells and bongs will she have. These things cost. Fortunately Prince has a very basic show that showcases musicians and their skills, and all the gimmicks would detract from the true musical experience. But in Madges case u gotta do something to get and hold their attention. Nuff said....peace
[This message was edited Tue Mar 30 17:20:06 2004 by tonybibb]

DavidEye said:

Get the $45.00 dollars seat DavidEye, Trust me!!!!

gman1966 said:

Hello Gman,long time no see

Are you taking your lady to the Madonna gig? She's a huge fan,right?

sextonseven said:

What's amazing to me is that,just a few months ago,critics were rushing to declare that Madonna is "over",that her time had come and gone.But now that she's selling out all these venues,suddenly these critics are silent.I know many longtime artists who would love to be "over" the way Madonna supposedly is.

Amazing that for the price of ONE Madonna ticket you can see Prince 4 times - FOR SHAME Forget Madonna - I can yawn @ home for free

CalhounSq said:

Are you going to the Prince shows in San Jose? I better see you there

"Concert ticket prices were never this high until The Eagles started charging $85 tops in 1994"


Good point.It's also worth noting that,around the same time,Barbra Stresand went on tour and the "CHEAP" seats for her shows were around $200,if I'm not mistaken.And just a few years ago,The Rolling Stones were charging $200 for good seats to their shows.

So,it's kinda unfair that Maddy is getting all this criticism over her ticket prices,when other artists and bands have been ripping off their fans for years.

CalhounSq said:

A Madonna concert may not be the most musically challenging event, but I don't think boring is a very accurate description. If anything I would imagine it being a big spectacle--similar to a Janet Jackson show.

sextonseven said:

A Madonna concert is NEVER boring.She pulls out all the stops and then some.

DavidEye said:

Thank God she's not coming to Houston!!! Come on DavidEye you have to admit, Madonna is weak as a live performer. She NEEDS those full production shows to carry her. I know she is thanking God for videos because that what made her who she is.....

gman1966 said:

I think Madonna is an incredible live performer.Yes,she utilizes alot of special effects and props,but her shows are also very musical too.The thing is,she has said that she doesn't want to do a "normal concert where the singer just stands up there and sings".She wants to make it a dramatic,theatrical "spectacle".I like the idea of concerts being like a Broadway play.....makes it more exciting and worth the extra bucks I gotta spend...lol...


It's a shame that Maddy is bypassing your area (Texas) once again.Just like in 2001,she is skipping some major markets,including her hometown of Detroit! I think she prefers doing a quick 2-month tour as opposed to a long,grueling trek.But anyway,I'll let you know what you missed,lol.

DavidEye said:

You're right. I saw Prince and Madonna within days of eachother in London in 1990 and Madonna's show was much more entertaining. I'd rather see a Prince concert over Madonna any day but I don't agree that her shows are boring.

DavidEye said:

DavidEye, DavidEye. The key word here is "You Think" Madonna is a great live performer
How is that possible when

A. She really can't sing, very average.....
B. She can't dance, oh she can do that Choregraph stuff where you practice day in day out
but natural rhythm, no my friend she does not have it.....

The most amazing accomplishment is that despite her liabilities, she is world famous it really
is a testament to her as they would say "Blonde ambition"

I have sat with my girlfriend and watched that HBO special with a objective eye and if she could
sing despite whether I like her or not I would say so.....

DavidEye said:

Last year the Stones charged $250.00 for the expensive seats! I would go see Madonna but I wouldn't pay $300.00. Once again she is not coming to Phoenix, and I wouldn't travel to see her.

Madonna made her money and fame like Britney Spears is - by shocking people with sex and showing tits and pussy. She is not much more than that. She is not a musician and doesn't play instruments and can barely even sing. To even put her anywhere near the category Prince is in would be an outrage and a joke.

The whores at the Bunny Ranch in Las Vegas get paid lots of money too. That doesn't make them great artists.

sextonseven said:

ANOTHER performer I'd never pay to see live