RTF tickets on sale and Boomer guests on another CD

I agree that the spectrum of ticket prices should be spanned much wider, so that more people with different opportunaties to spend money do get the chance to experience that great music....I mean, Return To Forever Reunion works with the marketing strategy: Getting the old listeners back, but ALSO finding new, young audience with that music. That can't be serious enough with those ticket prices, unless you are already a hardcore fan you won't buy those expensive tickets, especially when you are young and don't have much money!

I try to get to see the band in Hungary. I could imagine the tickets being cheaper there also.

BTW, I am looking forward to Walter's concept and if it is something new, supporting the musicians and trying to solve problems for the music bussiness, I would love to be a part of it, if I can! Maybe you need somebody in Europe!
Well, who knows..

Peace
Niki

Hi Don,

I agree fully as to making it affordable for everyone, Of course I would love to see that happen. I forgot to add in my last post that I personally would never pay over 100.00 for any concert, Unless somehow Buddy Rich came back to Earth-- But for the hardcore fan...if you got the money to burn, why not.

I won't be attending the concert as a direct result of ticket prices.

And Niki, makes a good point as well. Giving the hardcore fans what they want but also try to give the possible younger fans a chance as well.

Like I stated right off in my last post, there's many different angles to look at it from. i bet if you did speak to any member of RTF they might be able to better shed some light on why the prices are the way they are...we can only speculate as fans/consumers.

It is out of control, I won't say that it isn't. But there's probably more to it than any of us really know about- working on the level these masters are.

It is a major struggle trying to make a life as a musician, and if you can get it...get it i say.
It's not unlike going to an art exhibition and seeing a painting that goes for $20,000---I'm certainly not going to buy it..but someone out there will...

I do understand every viewpoint being made here, But If I were in RTF, I'd be loving it right about now.

I don't think it comes down to these artists and they're greed. There's other factors involved we just aren't aware of.

Imagine being a fusion musician for the last 30 years....wouldn't you want to get a decent payday? i wouldn't turn it down.

That's just my take, I could be completely wrong.

D.L.

Of course you're not wrong, D.L. Your points make perfect sense... And in all likelyhood, in RTF's case this deal makes perfect sense. But they must remember those that were loyal to them when they were putting out records. Those that looked forward to getting their paychecks just so they could spend some of it on an RTF record that just came out... Those that were eager to pick up a copy but could not do so immediately because they had to hang on to their pennies till the following pay day. I know this is how it was for me... It's not that way anymore as far as I'm concerned... But I certainly can't afford $400.00 to watch these guys play music.

I mean, geez man, $160.00 for me and Audrey to attend a 90 minute fusion concert... If they even play that long! That's definately gonna smart. but I understand that I/we must support the arts if they are to survive.

But what about those less fortunate than me who bought these guy's albums back in the day and supported their music even to the point of sacrafice?.... Now because there's an opportunity to make a nice chunk of change, which I think is great, By the way, does this mean those folks simply get kicked to the curb?! Be that the case, I think it totally sucks.

But I could be totally wrong.

D.

The bands have to work out
the best venues to play. It's
tough because some of them
are not 'friendly' to youngsters
and they want to get booked,
where they can.

I'm wondering what they could
do, here, to contribute to the
future and the 'legacy' of jazz.

It seems to me, at the moment,
that they have to have a two-
pronged attack.

1. Night-Club Type Bookings:

In these, the venue can charge
whatever they think they can
get BUT with Ron Carter's plan,
students, with ID's, get in free.

The nightmare, for the venues,
comes with checking to see
that the kids are not drinking
alcohol.

They can keep the students in
a certain area and the percent-
age of students to the paying
audience would be something
like 10-12.5%. In this way, the
venue is losing only that much
in hard cash but an incentive
for them might be paid by what
could be sponsering music uni-
versities, like Berklee, as an
example. Might be something
to look into. They OWE us.



It might also be that it could
be seen as a tax deduction for
the clubs. The more I think
about it, the more sense it
makes. The fact is that the
more kids get out to see jazz,
the more of them will go to
universities to study.

2. Outdoor Venues/Fest's:

Outdoor venues of the Jazz-
Fest-type have to get involved,
too. A few years, I got into a
war with the posh Ravinia
festival, here, in Highland
Park. They wanted to charge
full price (lawn ticket) for my
2-year old child ($10). Note
that this is just to get into
sit on their lawn (No view
of the stage). They used to
allow the kids in for free.

Now, parents are going to
understand, when I say that
sad truth is that it is tough
to get out and support the
arts, when they have kids
to raise. Sitters are to get
cost a ton and we also want
to get the kids into jazz and
as young as possible.

Right now, the media is help-
ing to dicate what genre's
the kids are going into. The
action films have moved
to metal to support their
violence dominated market.

We have to take some of
that back and the fest's,
which could be corporately
sponsered (tax incentives)
could do the trick, here.

Might be something.

What do you think? Any
other ideas?

Hey D-

You're right, In fact we both are. I can definitely see both angles for sure- I guess the only way to get an answer to justify this is to get a hold of someone in the band, and ask them why? I'm gonna try and do that.

Plus the ticket sales will be a tell tale sign if they decide to do another tour, or an extension after this run.

It does suck , I won't be going. I just look at it from the point of view that I've done so many gigs for little to no money and play my butt off for everyone's enjoyment, that if I got the chance to make some good bread, I'd take it.

I can see your angle too believe me. I couldn't go see the police either when the came through.

Let's see if I can get a hold of Lenny, and ask him about it. See what he says. There's got to be a logical answer. (I Hope)

D.L.

Everyone is making good points here. The tax incentive is a good idea, though I doubt many clubs would go for it. They're in a fight just to survive, and you can see less and less places that have live music . If I were looking to go back into the cover band circuit again, I wouldn't even know where to start looking because even local bars that used to have bands are ceasing live music. At least that's in the New York area. How about chicago ?

It's my understanding that some of the shows by RTF will be taped because there are plans to release a live DVD of the tour. So for those who can't afford to buy a ticket, at least they can probably afford the DVD.

And yes, Don's right, I did spend $450 per ticket [I bought 2] to see Barbra Streisand when she did her first tour in over 20 years. That was a scalped ticket from a scalper friend who did me a favor and only charged me $100 over the regular price of $350. He was normally selling those seats for $800 each. But she was worth every penny ! Why ? Because I had wanted to see her live for all my life, and I couldn't let the opportunity go past. That was the most I've ever spent for a ticket to a show.

Some other examples: Cream @the garden $350 [reg.price 13th row], Clapton /Winwood @ the garden [$190- reg price - loge ] atlantic Records 40th anniversary @ the garden 1988 [ $235 - scalp- loge], Anderson,Bruford, Wakeman and Howe @ Jones Beach 1989 [$100 - scalp- front row] , Simon & Garfunkel Reunion @ the Paramount 1993 [ $100 - scalp- front row], but compare that with : Led Zeppelin @ Flushing Meadow Park 1969 [ $3 - reg price - gen. admission], The Who @ Forest Hills Tennis Stadium 1970 [ $6 - reg. price - mezzanine ] , Black Sabbath {American debut} with Small Faces with Rod Stewart @ the Fillmore East [ $4.50 - reg price - balcony] , Blue Oyster Cult/Flash/ Argent/Beck,Bogart & Appice @ Gaelic Park 1970 [ $5 - reg price- gen. admission

I think it's all relative . And if the Mahavishnu Orchestra were to reunite and play one show - even one show - I'd go wherever it was and pay whatever they charged - even $1000 a ticket.


Why Ted Why ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????


BECAUSE I'M A SICK PUPPY !!!! THAT'S WHY !!!!! lol


Peace, TED

D.L.,

I'd take the money too! But I'd do it while keeping those that could not afford those prices in mind.... I hear every word you're saying, bro.

The tax incentive is a good idea, though I doubt many clubs would go for it.

Exactly! At the end of the night, club owners want to read only one thing on the night's end tally...... KA-CHING!

They are not music enthusiast really. And that's what it would take to do what Pete proposed... I wish they would take the time to understand that unless we ALL get involved and work together, ALL OF IT goes away!

When Billy was here, he was telling me how the live music scene has dried up in NY and the surrounding areas. This place used to be the jazz captial of the country if not the world... This is where all those infamous cutting sessions used to take place. It would make players shed for months on end and return swinging for the fences, ready to knock the one on top of the mountain off of it. What's happening here?!

Ted,

spending the money you do on entertainment is your thing, man. And if that's what makes you happy then cool, nothing wrong with it. I just would like these performers to remember those of us who cannot or even will not do that.

D.

P.S. Pete, a lot of red unbld text is a little difficult to read. The white was good for the quotes or maybe even the Cyan... Just a thought.

Well, you bring up a
good point, guys.

How about the idea
of the larger-venues
establishing corporate
sponsorship arrange-
ments, where the cash
differential is recovered
and the entire operation
used for, not only, tax-
purposes but promotion,
for them?

Admin (Pete) wrote:Well, you bring up a
good point, guys.

How about the idea
of the larger-venues
establishing corporate
sponsorship arrange-
ments, where the cash
differential is recovered
and the entire operation
used for, not only, tax-
purposes but promotion,
for them?

It's a given that these money moguls want to see something for their dollar, Pete. That idea sounds interesting for sure.

If I knew the Village Vanguard was
doing that, I would be there. I would
even do a subscription. They could
book the entire year as a season,
like the major opera houses do.

Hey Guys,

i contacted the people at RTF by e mail with all of our concerns , and here's the response I got:

Hi David,

The average face value of a ticket is approximately $90.00. We don't
set the face value for the tickets. Our prices are higher because they
are ticket packages that include merchandise, sound checks, meet and
greets, and a pre-party.

Best regards,

Nicole Christie
Customer Service
www.return2forever.com / Paid Celebrity Services
4 Brussels Street
Worcester, MA 01610
508-791-6710

They would offer no explanation. Actually it was a pretty shallow response given the e mail i sent---Oh Well....
I'll wait for the DVD------D.L.

Hey Guys,

I would be willing to bet that the ticket prices are very high because RTF has an agent....and that agent is not going to settle for a deal that's not competitive with what everyone else on this level is getting---it's called fair market value, and I'm sure it's nothing personal.

I see all the points made here, and understand them all. But unfortunately, this is the world we live in. If I could change it, I would..
Can't wait to hear what Walter has in store.

D.L.

An interesting topic with valid points from everybody. Return to Forever will perform here in Finland (Europe) on the 17th of July and the ticket is 55 euros, which is about 84 dollars with the current exchange rate. With this price you also get to see some other artists like Metro Special Edition feat. Randy Brecker & Dave Weckl etc. I'ts an outdoor concert. I'll try to make it.

Kind regards,
Anders
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pori Jazz 2008
Ohjelma 17.7
Aika:
15:00-21:00
Paikka Kirjurinluoto Arena
Esiintyjät: Ann Hampton Callaway & Novosibirsk Big Band
Return To Forever: Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola & Lenny White
Metro Special Edition feat. Randy Brecker & Dave Weckl
Bob Geldof

Liput: 55 eur

Thanks for doing the footwork and sharing it with us, D.L.

Money, money, money!

No problem D,
I just wish there was a better answer than the one I got.

D.L.

Daveonskins wrote:No problem D,
I just wish there was a better answer than the one I got.

D.L.

Basically what it sounds like he's saying to me, D.L. is they set the up to $460.00 price difference for the VIP frills...

A meet and greet, stage tour, a T-shirt, first access to merchandise that's for sale, and a gift certificate.........

Well, if it works I guess...