Grateful Dead

Part of the problem here is that there is almost no other way for a performer to make money anymore, except for playing a live show. The bottom fell out of the music industry almost 40 years ago and on-line streaming and file sharing has rendered the recording side irrelevant from a cash flow standpoint. Touring used to support the sale of recordings. That's not the model any longer. Touring is now the income stream. So, the cost for tickets has gone up. BTW, the last Grateful Dead show at Soldier Field 23 years ago was $33.50, so why are we even surprised that tickets for Dead & Company run for $150? We shouldn't be. The production costs have increased and promoters are in the difficult position of having to guarantee bands a contracted fee for the entire tour, often with a massive initial percentage payment due upfront. I'm not crying for the promoters or the artists, but music, like all entertainment, is a business and the cost of doing business is high. That means that the price that we pay to hear the music has risen rapidly and will likely continue to do so in the future. Pick your shows carefully.

Well said Beac. I feel the pain along with thousands of other fans. Something has to be done. It does not matter if it is a Dead show or anybody else; everyone wants a taste. A slice here and a slice there. The above is true for all concerts as well as sporting events. It is getting bad. There has to be some tech geek somewhere who can develop a system where the artist as well as the fan gets treated fairly. I don't mind paying the $150 range for GA, but these service charges are ugly. Depending on venue it is anywhere from 20 to 28 dollars plus a ticket. Nasty way of doing business. What really burns me are fans who sell their extras for profit so they can pay their ticket cost to shows. Again nasty and bad karma. Thank God for Cash n Trade. Real fans doing right.

I live in New Jersey which has always legal scalping called ticket brokers. Back then I worked as a casino dealer and could'nt buy tickets in advance because of scheduling. the brokers back in the 80's would sell me $20.00 tickets for 25-30 dollars because of my situation they were the only way I could go to a show without buying on the street only to find it was counterfeit! Here in the present I sent in for three nights in Chicago mail order any price, any night and they mailed me three nights for $55 dollars a night. That was a true Miracle and I enjoyed the hell out of it. after that I've been shut out of every text advance I go on line 1 second after they are released to the public and I get sent to Ticket Bastard's own ticket broker and I get a ticket in the rafters for $100.00 plus shipping and handling and then print the damn things myself only to be charged 150 a pop that is a monopoly or mafia style loan sharking or whatever you want to call it. I have been going to shows since tickets where 4 bucks and ticketron charged an outrageous fee of 2 quarters for printing them and handing them to you.I can't afford to keep playing $150.00 a show so we can band together and fight by way of all writing are elected officials or we can start paying $500.00 a show if we don't this is not the Dead's fault they have always did what ever they could to help but they are to old to fight are battle's. this is corporate greed getting worse every day! I hope enough people read this and write their congressmen and ever other political prick in your area there is strength in numbers. thanks for reading, BeacHavenHarry