RTF tickets on sale and Boomer guests on another CD

Aug 7th in NYC - got my orchestra seat. Be prepared to open your wallet - they have some VIP packages for the first 12 rows. Mr Fusion and I will be there ! Here's the site- www.return2forever.com

Boomer plays drums on two tracks on a CD entitled MEHR by Iranian guitarist Pouya Mahmoodi . Haven't received my copy yet, so I can't tell you what the music sounds like but I will when I get it. Peace, TED

Sounds like you're in for an evening again Cuz.

I owe you a phone call... thanks for the message. I've been really busy lately.

These ticket prices are serious.

I might be able to fly to Detroit,
stay at a fine hotel and take
Boomer out to a fine dinner for
less than a decent seat, here,
at the Chicago Theater.



Shows are getting out of control.

Maybe I exaggerated a little but
it really is just a little. At jazz
shows, I like to sit in the front
and to pay $565........ I could
not justify that.

How much are the "cheap" seats?

Don,

$150 - $565



That is B-------

I will wait for the DVD
and maybe fly out to
see Billy.

I was 16, when I first
saw Billy and Lenny.
What 16-year old is
able to see these
shows, today?

Hello guys,
Yes Pete,shows are out of control!!When i go to take my tickets ,there were only tickets at 88 euros or 122 euros!!! I'd love to see RTF but at this prices,it's out of question,i'll wait for a cd or dvd release of this tour...sadly.Peace,stef

Admin (Pete) wrote:These ticket prices are serious.

I might be able to fly to Detroit,
stay at a fine hotel and take
Boomer out to a fine dinner for
less than a decent seat, here,
at the Chicago Theater.



Shows are getting out of control.

Maybe I exaggerated a little but
it really is just a little. At jazz
shows, I like to sit in the front
and to pay $565........ I could
not justify that.

Pete
In a way these High Prices are the only way to achieve a Tour
of this rare group as one.

If they sell all tickets
then is sets a Example for Mahavishnu
if they did a rare tour
which could Profit them all, better.



In the RTF gig (only) London Indigo section
of the 02 Dome London Docklands
it is £65 approx.
I hope to be there.


And ths is Jazz Rock in its original design.

And Chick is getting these filmed in HiDef 5.1
for a DVD.

___________________________

Outtasight
Colin.

I'm sorry, but I gotta go with pete on this one... $150.00 - to $565.00!!! I don't think so! I have never seen these guys perform and it's someting I'd really like to do... But not at the expense of me not eating for a month or two... What a shame that many won't be able to see this legendary group all because some see a golden opportunity to heavily line their pockets.

I'd pay as much as $80.00 to go see these guys but any thing beyond that is simply out of the question.

For the love of money.... sigh.

Ok guys I just checked the site and one regular ticket for the San Francisco show is $79.74... I can live with that.

The VIP package there is $379.00... Hey, I just experienced the chance of a lifetime hanging with Billy Cobham for two weeks... I certainly don't need THAT package.

Well, considering the problems the industry is in with reproducable data holders maybe they try to get the money back through extremely high ticket prices....I don't know if that is a good idea...but the question is how to get money for music?
One problem leads to more problems if there's no solution..
Peace
Niki

Sure, Niki, but times are tough economically for everyone, here in this country at least. I have cars that are quite good on gas and this $4.00 plus for a gallon gasoline is still killin me... the club owners sure aren't handing out raises. A blue collar musician like myself certainly doesn't have that kind of money to spend on ninety minutes of entertainment. Even this $80.00 is gonna smart some. But I figure I gotta give something to the cause... But this 2, 3, 4 and $500.00 nonsense is out the doh!

For me anyway.

D.

P.S. Check your email later today or tomorrow.

Yahoo Video Link on Jazz Prices:

http://tinyurl.com/5rralm

We have an interesting situation
developing. I am going to sit back,
have a home-made mojito and
think about it.

I will keep having them until I come
up with some ideas on what we
can do about this.

I wish I could tend bar for all of
you, here and serve you some
mojito's, while we discussed this.

Please chime in with ideas on a
solution for these ticket prices
and not just for jazz but really
for all music and the arts and
perhaps even sporting events.

We have touched upon some-
thing big, here, I think.

Regards,

Well I got 20th row RTF tickets and they cost me $137 each. The band cost was $125 . Other $12 was all the service charges these ticket agencies add to the cost of the ticket. But they have to make money too.

What we all have to understand is that nowadays the only real place for a musician to make any money is in touring. The live show. With record companies , the big discount houses, and illegal piracy all taking a chunk out of the recorded product, an artist is making zilch from record sales anymore. And if you include the lack of radio play for an idiom like jazz or fusion, that means even less record sales and no income from airtime residuals. Because there is no radio play at all.

If anyone knows whether an artist gets residuals from airplay on satellite radio stations like XM would you let me know? I'm curious.

Why do you think Billy still tours like he does, literally all over the world ? Becaus e he has to make a living , and touring is the most profitable thing to do. It costs money for him to tour, travel, hotels , food , equipment rentals, etc. and that also causes the ticket prices to be where they are. Though Billy is not as expensive as these other acts.

I can't justify the high costs of ticket prices to everyone because each person has a different level of importance in regards to seeing someone live. For me, if I love an artist's music, I want to see that person live. And I will decide how much they're worth on an individual basis.

When I look back at all the hundreds of shows I've been able to see, I'm very gratified that I did what I did. The enjoyment in my heart has been worth every penny . I also think about the artists who I've missed seeing, who then broke up or disbanded, or even worse died ! For example, I turned down an invitation to see the Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1965 because at the time I was heavily into the Young Rascals. Needless to say , they never played NY again, and though I've seen Paul 3 times and Ringo 6 times in later years, it wasn't all of them !

Similarly, I didn't go to Jimi Hendrix with the band of Gypsys at the Fillmore East for the New Years Eve run in 1970. How many times do you think I've kicked myself in the ass because of that. Did I know he would die ? I had tickets to see Janis Joplin at the Pavilion in Flushing Meadow park , where I had seen Led Zeppelin in 1969 for $3. She cancelled that show. The next time she played New York was at the Garden with Johnny Winter in 1970. I didn't go. Then she dies , too. I turned down seeing Pink Floyd at Hunter College Auditorium in 1970 when they were touring in support of the album Meddle. The place held about 1,000 people. My friends told me what I had missed. I did see Floyd eventually on the Animals tour.

I didn't see Ray Charles when he played a week at the Blue Note. I intended to see James Brown at BB Kings , but then he passed away.

My point is that you never know what's going to happen. So for me, I really have to think about it , when I pass up an act that I want to see. Especially if I've never seen them before. Because I may never get that opportunity again. Peace, TED

Thank you, Ted.

Please keep the views
coming in. It's all good
and will help to bring
about understanding
and encourage new
ideas and perhaps
even approaches.

Regards,

Pete what
price do you think they should be
for this Ultra Rare group?

In the Music Business
it is all change now
as I am sure we all know.

_____________________

Outtasight
Colin.

Colin,

Don't get me wrong.

RTF really IS legendary.
They are on the same
level as MO, to me. It
was/is historic, what
they achieve(d).

I want to support them.
Believe me. I do. When
I read Ted's price, that
sounded OK to me. I
am willing to pay that.
That is in line, with
opera prices, here.

I guess this is going
to come down to each
venue and these out-
door venues are an-
other animal, altogether.

It's clear that touring
is all they have, besides
some kind of corporate
sponsorship.

I remember (I can't
find it, right now) Ron
Carter was talking about
how jazz was dying and
he felt is was because
youngsters could not
get out to see live shows.
He had an idea to allow
students, with Student
ID's, to get in free. I have
to find that, somewhere.

It's an idea.

I have to think about this
some more and maybe
have some more mojito's.

http://www.tasteofcuba.com/mojito.html

Have one for me, too, Pete!!!

"When guns are outlawed, then only outlaws will have guns"... Only a select group will be able to afford these prices. I don't want to see ANYBODY that badly.

And can you imagine spending that kind of money and they have a bad day and put on a rotten show?!!! Oh, man! I can see the headlines now: Middle aged black man gunned down by 10 police officers after breaking into box office and going jungle berserk at half hearted RTF concert.

In my case it would a situation of paying now or paying later. At those prices, I'd pay now and miss out.

With all that said, $125.00 is really not that bad.

But I hope they play their costly *sses off.

D.

So Don, are you gonna cough up the $80 and get a cheap seat, or what ? Peace, TED

Absolutely, maybe, Ted. I don't have a big problem with that.

Hi guys,

This subject can take on a variety of views, both from the musician standpoint, and the consumer. I do think that the ticket prices are getting out of control, but I looked at the V.I.P. package at the Mann Center here in Philadelphia, and I have to say it's a pretty good deal. if your a fan of these guys.

For $399.00 You get access to the soundcheck, a tour of the stage, get to meet the band, get great seats at the show, access to the merchandise before the show starts, and a $40.00 gift card as well.... Now to see these Masters play and get to hang with them and see the stage and gear etc, close up is a rare thing. When you consider that any member of this band could easily get 100.00 a ticket on their own, It's Fair I believe for this particular venue. Maybe the prices fluctuate because different venues have more overhead costs to consider.

Being a working musician myself, i would not turn down the opportunity to make as much money as people were willing to pay. I kind of view it like pro athletes... get as much as you can, while you can in this business. Do you think A-Rod is worth the money he's getting to play baseball?? It's insane..

The musicians profit has been cut into so drastically from every angle, that like Ted says, the touring is most of the bread and butter.
Unfortunately, travel costs, and every other expense that goes along with touring, has to trickle down to the consumer/fan.

Revolt against the big record companies!!! (hahaha) I don't blame Chick, or Staney, Lenny or Al ....They're masters and they should get paid.

Or just get the DVD.............D.L.

I will be seeing RTF on Aug 6 in Boston. Bought the $80 tickets. Interesting thread. Yes the ticket pricing situation has gotten out of hand. But as others have so correctly indicated... today's artists, at least in the genres of music we tend to like, can only make money touring. All of the points made here have been valid.

As for a solution for high ticket costs, traveling expenses for musicians, income for artists...well, I have solved all of that. My new Internet venture should be operational soon. But, if I told you now what it was, I would have to shoot you ;-)

Note to Ted: Shhhh.

Regards,

Walter

Since I've been sworn to secrecy by my good friend Walter, I can't "let the cat out of the bag" regarding his upcoming venture.

I believe I can say that it is a brilliant idea, and will make a big change in the music business. This has been in the planning stages for well over a year, and I wish I could financially afford to be involved.

I'm sure when Walter does decide to announce its arrival the members on this site will be among the first to know. Peace, TED

I do not not mind the VIP
packages. That is fine. I
think it is important to
have accessibility.

Of course, we know, who,
will get that access. Again,
there is no way around
that. Money talks.

My issue is at the bottom.
Charge the $400, up top
but keeping the bottom
at $25. Don't close the
door on people and if
it is outdoors (lawn
seats, for instance), I
want it even less and
kids for free.

Dave,

Great points indeed... But I have to wonder how much of this is really serving the need of the artist and how much is just out of sheer greed. by Ted's own admission, he paid close to if not $400.00 to see Barbara Streisand. And I believe there were tickets even going for over $1000.00. This sort of makes me think of that popular riddle: Why do dogs lick their **ls?... And the answere is because they can.

Does Barbara Streisand need the high ticket prices? Somehow, I don't think so. The Walmart jeans made in some sweat shop in China could very well be the same shop where the Bill Blaas blazer is made. But you can bet you won't be paying $13.99 for that... Not with THAT label on it!

From my perspective as a player, I couldn't care less about a guided tour across the stage to see the band equipment.. But I understand that not everyone will experience my perspective. So I guess all that stuff is good for somebody.

I think Pete said it best. Go ahead with the $400.00 ticket package, but don't forget about the $25.00 ticket guy that wants to simply see the show. Give everyone who wants to and can afford to see this historic, musical, colaboration to some capacity, a chance to do so.

I'm feelin you, Pete.

Don.