“Who can afford to go to multiple shows?” says the anonymous tour manager. “Two tickets to a show, you’re talking probably about $200 with fees and everything. You go to a meal around the show, you’re talking at least $100 or $200 for a nice dinner. Then you got parking and babysitters, then you add the VIP stuff to that and you want to make it a special night, you’re talking $500 to $1,000 a night for a couple to go out. It’s capitalism at its best.”
It’s a vicious cycle. More groups are skimming artists’ revenues off the top. So ticket prices rise. Then customer’s demand more glitzy superficial features to justify the value. That adds cost and raises prices more. Rinse and repeat.
The best artists to listen to live are your local sounds at your neighbourhood stage.
Do they, though? That’s not what I see in my friend and family group.