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Post by Mr. Atari on Feb 24, 2007 14:03:09 GMT -5
This could go in Phantom's Complaint Bar, but it's been a while since we had a music specific thread, so here goes.
So this morning, tickets for The Police show in Denver went on sale. I knew it would be a crap shoot and I knew it would be expensive. But I've said my whole life that if The Police ever reunited, I'd pay a lot of money to see them.
So I went on Ticketmaster at 10:00 AM sharp, and played the game. After some quick requests for cheaper seats were rejected, I found 4 tickets at $225 each. I realized that I didn't want to pay that much for 4 tickets, but I'd be willing to buy 2 at that rate (after all, it is a once in a lifetime gig). It meant that Mrs. Atari and another friend couldn't come, but they aren't huge fans anyway.
So here's the rub: Ticketmaster wouldn't let me buy only 2 once I was approved for 4! The only option I had was to resubmit the request for 2. Of course, in the time it took my page to refresh, the $225 range was all sold out.
In retrospect, I should have sprung for the 4, then sold 2 of them later. But in the moment, what with the sticker shock, I didn't think of it.
So now, I'm not going to see the show. All because of Ticketmaster's patented "Highway Robbery Purchasing System".
DAMN YOU, TICKETMASTER!
PearlJam was right about you bastards!
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Post by MSTie500 on Feb 24, 2007 14:25:48 GMT -5
Too bad Semptari. Thats the deal with one time things, once you've refreshed they are all out.
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Post by siamesesin on Feb 24, 2007 14:39:04 GMT -5
That sucks, dude.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Feb 24, 2007 15:29:58 GMT -5
Twenty years of dreaming and hope washed away in a page refresh. So much rage. So much heartbreak. I'm the real king of pain. So to salvage the thread, who would you pay top dollar to see in concert?
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Post by Bixby Snyder on Feb 24, 2007 15:43:06 GMT -5
The Beatles, Thrice, Grateful Dead, and Pink Floyd (just bought tickets for Roger Waters, and thats probably as close as i'm gonna get to Pink Floyd)
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Post by mightyjack on Feb 24, 2007 16:07:01 GMT -5
Went through the same thing trying to see Paul McCartney. Ticketmaster's a cruel, sick, twisted joke.
Otherwise, everybody I'd kill to see are dead (Beatles among the top). But If XTC ever decided to tour that would be a must see.
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Post by GodoHell on Feb 24, 2007 19:45:47 GMT -5
Maybe an invisible hand was trying to save you the disappointment, Samptari.
XTC reunion tour--I wish, MJ.
The only thing that would get me to pay today's anal-raping, exorbitant ticket prices would be a zombie Bob Marley.
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Post by Phantom Engineer on Feb 24, 2007 22:18:58 GMT -5
I used to go to a lot of concerts, including The Police in the early '80s. But there's not a lot that draws me out anymore, to put up with the cost and the crowds. And I'm sure the Police tour will be fine, but it's still just a concert. And there will likely be a DVD to fall back on.
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Feb 24, 2007 22:46:56 GMT -5
I know I'm probably in the minority here, but other than the star shock of actually seeing the person, I've almost always been let down by live shows. Not that the music is bad, but just that most pop stuff for me doesn't really have much of a greater impact live. There are a few exceptions, but they had more to do with the venue and the atmosphere of the fans (like when I saw Pearl Jam on their first tour, or the Dead Milkmen just b/c of the crowd unity, or a bunch of small bands). But even the great pop/rock guys I've seen live really didn't do much for me other than the "wow, that's really him" factor.
Now, classical music...to see the full on production of a symphony working together or the intimacy and subtlety of chamber music is something else altogether. But I'm probably in the minority on that as well.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Feb 24, 2007 23:08:52 GMT -5
In general, I'm kind of done with live shows as well. They don't have the appeal they once had. Very few artists today put on a show worth seeing (Ben Folds, RUSH, and Dada are the only 3 in the last 10 years that impressed me). There's only 2 or 3 bands I'd even be remotely interested in seeing now, mainly because I missed them during their heyday.
Like The Police. Or Genesis.
Which is why missing out on tickets today stings so much.
Heh heh, "stings".
Shoot me.
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Post by mightyjack on Feb 25, 2007 11:37:33 GMT -5
I mostly agree, but it is something special to see an old favorite. The Simon and Garfunkel reunion was pure heaven for me. My ex told me that I never stopped smiling the whole time.
It was the same way when "most" of the original cast of "Jesus Christ Superstar" went on tour. Sure, Jesus was like 55 years old, but it was soooo cool to see them together on stage again.
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Post by Crowfan on Feb 25, 2007 15:43:31 GMT -5
That really sucks Mr. A.
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Post by mrsphyllistorgo on Feb 25, 2007 16:15:37 GMT -5
I'd pay to see Cowboy Junkies or The Clumsy Lovers, but they are smaller and Canadian, so I doubt Ticketmaster would sink its fangs into them.
Bummer, Mr. A! Maybe you could find tickets on Ebay or such, but the price would undoubtedly be even more exhorbitant. At least you'd know the money was going to your specific scalper.
I ain't gonna play Sun City!
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Post by CBG on Feb 25, 2007 17:38:54 GMT -5
I know I'm probably in the minority here, but other than the star shock of actually seeing the person, I've almost always been let down by live shows. Not that the music is bad, but just that most pop stuff for me doesn't really have much of a greater impact live. There are a few exceptions, but they had more to do with the venue and the atmosphere of the fans (like when I saw Pearl Jam on their first tour, or the Dead Milkmen just b/c of the crowd unity, or a bunch of small bands). But even the great pop/rock guys I've seen live really didn't do much for me other than the "wow, that's really him" factor. Now, classical music...to see the full on production of a symphony working together or the intimacy and subtlety of chamber music is something else altogether. But I'm probably in the minority on that as well. Not at all. I'm with mummi on this one. I remember thinking when I was young that I didn't like live shows because they didn't 'sound' like the record I had been listening to, and very often sounded bad. I didn't go to any concerts growing up, so I went crazy when I was discharged from the military in '83, goin to concerts. I've seen some great shows, and had some great experiences... I don't know, it's like mummi said, once you get past a certain, "Oh, wow, that's him/them", it's no biggie. After a few of those, you start to get that feeling before you even consider purchasing the ticket. I don't believe there's anyone I would pay the kind of money you mentioned above to see. I had a similar experience buying B-52 tickets back in 1990, I've never gone back. Not only is there sticker shock from the initial pricing, by the time they tack on their handling percentage, and taxes... DVD will be out next month. And I thought this thread was gonna be about Mr.A spending all night waiting in line, only to have them sell out as he got to the window, and going berserk and having the police called...sorry Mr.A.
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Post by Phantom Engineer on Feb 25, 2007 17:48:35 GMT -5
I remember thinking when I was young that I didn't like live shows because they didn't 'sound' like the record I had been listening to, It always amused me when people complained that the live show didn't "sound like the record." I always loved it when the artists rearranged the songs, did something creative and unexpected with the old chestnuts. I guess it depends on what you're looking for.
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