So You Want to Go to a Concert: Tickets

My father has told me stories about concerts he's been to in the 70s and 80s. While his list of performances he's attended are impressive, the most interesting aspect of these tales are how inexpensive the events were.

He tells me that he saw the Rolling Stones for six dollars. He tells me how he saw Aerosmith for no more than ten. He even tells me how his friend paid for his Boston ticket so he could break a fifty.

Then, I look at my track record of concerts. I saw Aerosmith for $150. I saw Radiohead for around $90. I saw Foo Fighters for about $70. In fact, I've only been to a few concerts that were under $50.

Tickets have gotten more expensive. And not just a little more expensive. Going from ten dollar Aerosmith tickets to $150 tickets is quite a leap.

As my father had told me, "concerts were just something that everybody did back in the 70s and 80s. It was fun and it was cheap."

Now, though, concerts have gotten so expensive that you pretty much have to save up for seeing your favorite band.

"I saved up for a long time to see Coldplay," says James Morgan, "The tickets were over a hundred dollars. But, they're my favorite band, you know? People will do crazy things for their favorite band."

There are explanations for the increase, though.

From the year 1963 to 1970, the Beatles recorded thirteen albums, plus singles that never made it to albums. That's almost double the amount of albums as years the band was actually together. Throughout the 60s, Bob Dylan put out two albums a year every other year. The Rolling Stones put out fifteen albums in the 60s and 70s alone, not to mention they're still rocking to this day.

Contrary to popular belief, recording one hit album does not make you rich. It may make you famous, but not rich. The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones put out an album or two a year because they weren't doing much touring. The albums were what they were relying on to make money.

Even Nirvana didn't get rich from their album Nevermind as Kurt, Krist, and Dave were still living in their parents' basements when the record hit it big.

Compare that to a more modern band now. In twelve years, the Killers have released three albums. Black Sabbath had released ten albums in this same amount of time. Bands today tour much more than they did back then, with the Killers spending most of their time on the road as opposed to the studio.

Not only do bands make money from ticket sales, they earn it from merchandise as well. As time has gone on, everything has become more expensive, even for the rock bands. Which, in turn, means that they must charge more money for their shows to be able to pay for the studio and equipment to make another album that they'll have to once again fund from another expensive tour.

In fact, 80% of a band's income comes from touring. They only make a small profit off of album sales after managers, producers, agents, record labels, and taxes take their cut.

Going to a concert is an experience and one that everybody should take part in first hand. There is no greater feeling than being front row for your favorite band as they sing your favorite song. Forking over the money sometimes feels hard, and I've done it many, many times. But in the end, it's always worth it and I've never regretted a single one of them (besides maybe Taylor Swift).