Sold out shows

[Barcelona]

I thought I knew the DC's rock scene pretty well to guess pretty accurately which shows might sell out pretty fast (which helps me decide whether I should buy the tickets through ticketmaster, which I also hate). However, I don't trust myself anymore. Interpol has been announced for a while and it is still not sold out. The same thing happens with Belle and Sebastian. And I guess with Travis (although I won't go their show, don't like them). I guess shows in DC (except for Marylin Manson and a few other MTV bands) don't sell out that fast.

[Bags]

Yeah, but I've been surprised before.  
 
 And sometimes I just don't get it.  Belle and Sebastion sold out DAR not too long back.  Isn't that much bigger than 9:30?

[ggw]

I think Sleater-Kinney was a big draw for that DAR show.
 
 Shows in DC have always seemed a little slow to sell out.  It could be lack of good radio or the fact that many people try to avoid service charges by waiting to buy tickets at the door.

[Mobius]

I figured one reason club shows sold comparatively slowly is that everything's general admission so there's no rush to buy tickets early.  It is odd how rare it is for any show to sell out on the first day, or first week, or even first month.

[Bags]

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
  I think Sleater-Kinney was a big draw for that DAR show.
 

You're kidding, right?  From my seat about 1/3 of the way back in the orchestra, I saw one girl singing along.  It was such an awful, awful venue for them.
 
 But when B&S came on, all hell broke loose.  And we're talking going from bitchin' girl punk to 'lovely' dancy sweet twee music.  It was really funny, because it all seemed upside down to me!

[Bags]

Originally posted by Mobius:
  I figured one reason club shows sold comparatively slowly is that everything's general admission so there's no rush to buy tickets early.  It is odd how rare it is for any show to sell out on the first day, or first week, or even first month.

I think you're right.  That's certainly my M.O.  Whereas, if there might be seats, I'll buy a ticket right away.

[Jaguär]

Some of it has to do with making a commitment. Not so much that people are commitment phobic but that there are often other options for the week, or even that night. And YES, those damned service charges will hold people back. I know I've often waited to buy a ticket until I could get to the box office, which isn't the easiest thing for me living out of town.
 
 With Interpol, the novelty has worn off and most of those who wanted to see them at least once have seen them. I'm sure they'll pull a good sized crowd and probably sell out but possibly not until the night of. Honestly, I'd be surprised if Travis sells out but that's mostly because of the price of the tickets. A lot of their fans will not attend solely for that reason. I'm pretty sure B&S will eventually sell out but probably much closer to the date and maybe not until the night of.
 
 Some of the sold out shows have fans from the radio, MTV, or other means that don't interest most of the selective Indie crowd. For one thing, it seems that the Indie crowd tend to be more Euro-centric and we are in America, which would naturally be closer to the pulse of American mainstream, therefore, selling more tickets.

[Guiny]

I just bought my first Interpol CD, i had to see what all the hype was about, unfortunetely i havent been able to listen to it cause i bought the new Iron Maiden one also, priorities.......

[mankie]

Didn't they have a pre-sale and all that nonsense for the B&S show at DAR? I'm sure that had a lot to do with the early sell-out.
 
 I had tic's for that one but couldn't make the show, so went and bought them early this time and got the gratuitous (sp?) red hot poker up the bum in charges only to find out it's not selling out as quickly this time.
 
 I wonder what the demographics for their fans are....when I was outside at DAR giving my tickets to this gorgeous looking bird     it seemed to be a lot of college 'emo' wallies.

[Jaguär]

Originally posted by mankie:
  Didn't they have a pre-sale and all that nonsense for the B&S show at DAR? I'm sure that had a lot to do with the early sell-out.
 
 I had tic's for that one but couldn't make the show, so went and bought them early this time and got the gratuitous (sp?) red hot poker up the bum in charges only to find out it's not selling out as quickly this time.
 
 I wonder what the demographics for their fans are....when I was outside at DAR giving my tickets to this gorgeous looking bird  

[Bags]

Originally posted by mankie:
 I wonder what the demographics for their fans are....when I was outside at DAR giving my tickets to this gorgeous looking bird      it seemed to be a lot of college 'emo' wallies.

You hit it, Mank.
 
 The DAR crowd, to me, seemed to be a lot of college age "emo hippies" -- girls who 15 years ago would have been doing the twirly dance a la deadhead shows, but in 2002 they're emo.  It was really fascinating.

[twangirl]

FYI Interpol will be sold out well before the date, like probably by mid-next week,  Travis will be sold out by the end of this week, and Belle & Sebastian is getting close as well.

[Jaguär]

Originally posted by twangirl:
  FYI Interpol will be sold out well before the date, like probably by mid-next week,  Travis will be sold out by the end of this week, and Belle & Sebastian is getting close as well.

Well, she just told us!
 
           

[PR_GMR]

twangirl, where do you get this information? Do you work for the club or something? Just wondering.   :cool:

[twangirl]

I have been the booking manager here for the last 12 years.