is doing this for a living worth your $25?

[Jaguär]

Originally posted by Andrew WK:
   

Originally posted by Lamb007:
  I thought I had two cents to offer this subject but I checked my pockets and I had a nickel.  
 
 On the season ticket idea, it's not half bad.  The NORVA in Norfolk offers just that.  For $4,000 (yes you read that correctly),  

4000, divided by 2 people.....
 
 2000 at say $20 a show , that would mean you would have to see a hundred shows for it to be worthwhile. I wonder if that makes for a lot of ticket scalping?
 
 50 shows at $20 X2 people.... making $2000 would be great though. [/b]

I don't think that most real concert goers would or could go for this plan. Besides, too many corporate types would end up going for it. Bands usually hate shows that are full of Industry people because they are so unenthusiastic. This would be even worse. You think it's bad now with this  <img src="http://www.svenreck.claranet.de/smileys/traurig/traurig050.gif" alt=" - " />  <img src="http://www.svenreck.claranet.de/smileys/traurig/traurig050.gif" alt=" - " />. It would be even worse.
 
 And just think of all the stadiums that often have empty unused corporate seats. The venue is too small to play those games. You're only going to end up losing a lot of drink sales and leave out a lot of the true fans who aren't in a position for such luxuries.
 
 The only thing that might be a win/win deal that might work out would be some sort of an Insider's Club with a very minimal fee that would allow access to presale tickets for several days. That way, the members get first crack at high profile shows but the club and bands lose nothing once they go on sale to the public. Maybe throw in a quartly mini magazine of past and upcoming shows with pictures, articles, etc so that they feel like they are getting something for their fee besides dibbs on tickets. Maybe even a free drink coupon for each member when they sign up. Depending on the cost, maybe one free $15 or under show for non-sold out shows.
 
 All in all, I just don't think Rock N Rollers would go for something like that. Excluding sports, it's usually the corporations who keep those things going for tax write-offs, benies to clients and employees or used as a status association. Your average Rock N Roller can't come up with that kind of money all at once or would choose to hang loose and see what the year brings them.
 
 And then there would be all the extra accounting, ticketing and other related work on the Club's part. Would it really be worth all the extra bother?

[markie]

I agree with you mostly Jag, but it would be cool to be able to get into some non-sold out shows for free, espeially if they were shows you only had a passing interest in. I guess the ticket giveaway is a reasonable solution..... They should give away more tickets to non sold out shows.
 
 The club lub idea is great, but that is kind of like what volume is already......

[myuman]

Corporate types?  I'm not so sure... If the club hosts a slate like in past years, why would a corporate type be interested in no name bands like spiritualized, Super Furry Animals, Interpol, Sigur ros, or even Blur for that matter.  The corporate glitz is down at the big arena to catch Brittany, Christina, and Justin... so they can impress their grandchildren.  I still think the season pass is workable to a win win scenario.

[lily1]

how many shows actually sell out the day of, and in a matter of hours, or minutes in that case? in the last 2 years, the only one i can think of is coldplay last august that sold out entirely via presale. that was  a major rarity. other shows sold out in a day, but that was between buying at the club (like me, hell no to service charges) and people that went thru tickets.com. are there really that many shows (kosmo, eddie, thatguy, correct me if i'm wrong) that sell out that quick that would warrant some sort of special deal for regular concert goers not to get shut out of tickets? a regular concert goer would probably make sure they were on a T1 line at 10 am when tickets go on sale or hightail it at lunch to the 930 box office. so is some sort of deal needed?

[Jaguär]

All of these are very good points which is why I don't believe that any of the proposed ideas are worth pursuing. Myuman, your point about the corporate types not going for 9:30 shows is one of the points that I failed to make in my previous threads...which is one of the reasons that I believe that it would never work.
 
 Like I said, way too many 9:30 types can't afford that sort of deal or just won't bother to commit themselves that much.
 
 Lily, if memory serves me correctly, there were a number of shows that sold out way before the date of the show but it seems they were usually the ones that most of us boarders scoffed at. A lot of MTV hyped shows as oppossed to NME hyped shows. Maybe a couple cult following bands too.
 
 Also, one of the problems with pre-release internet sales is that not everyone has access to the internet at 10AM in the morning. There are lots and lots of jobs that would not allow someone that luxury. And then you have the 'traffic' problems. It's a great idea but not perfect. Sure beats camping out at some ticket box which is something I won't do. Also, not all of us live or work close enough to the club to make it worth making a trek over. But then, that's what ticket agencies are for.
 
 Kind of ironic how an album called Think Tank would turn us all into some sort of 9:30 Think Tank.    

[Jaguär]

Damn! Wrong button.  

[Seth Hurwitz]

the only thing a yearly ticket would really accopmplish is to force people to commit to going to a certain number of shows per year. but people that have that kind of money and inclination would probably go to that many shows anyway. and cashflow is not really an issue for us.
 
 we've actually discussed the idea of selling a "VIP" area where people who have bought tickets can hang unobstructed (like the coat check area maybe). but I find the whole "VIP" concept offensive. I want the 930 to be "equal access entertainment" (except, of course, for me and my friends).
 
 but what does everyone else think of that?

[lily1]

if you're going to make a vip area, make it the are where the guests of the opening band are allowed to watch the show. that little deck area right across the stage from the area where the headlining artists' guests get to watch the show. i'd be all over that.
 
 but then again, i rather like the democratic/darwinian method of getting there early to secure your spot right up front. its a general admission club, which is one of its biggest assets. you can get as close or far from the artist as you like.
 
 
 

Originally posted by Seth Hurwitz:
  we've actually discussed the idea of selling a "VIP" area where people who have bought tickets can hang unobstructed (like the coat check area maybe). but I find the whole "VIP" concept offensive. I want the 930 to be "equal access entertainment" (except, of course, for me and my friends).
 
 but what does everyone else think of that?

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

Totally agree with you, Seth. You're running a rock and roll nightclub, not a country club.
 
 

Originally posted by Seth Hurwitz:
  the only thing a yearly ticket would really accopmplish is to force people to commit to going to a certain number of shows per year. but people that have that kind of money and inclination would probably go to that many shows anyway. and cashflow is not really an issue for us.
 
 we've actually discussed the idea of selling a "VIP" area where people who have bought tickets can hang unobstructed (like the coat check area maybe). but I find the whole "VIP" concept offensive. I want the 930 to be "equal access entertainment" (except, of course, for me and my friends).
 
 but what does everyone else think of that?

[kosmo vinyl]

can i be your friend?
 
 don't think the VIP area would really be hit with many of the regulars here, seeing as most of them like to hang out in front of the stage.  and isn't that what the backbar is for anyway.
 
 my thoughts on the subscription plan is that i wouldn't want to commit to certain number of show a year.  i would however be willing to pony up a membership fee for the privledge of being able to buy presale tickets direct from the club throughout the year without having to pay the tickets.com fees.  obviously the number of tickets available this way would have to be limited, but then again not everyone in the 9:30 fan club would be getting tickets to every show.  rules would have to be in place to prevent ticket brokers from taking advantage.  it would be nice if older members would have priority in requests for tickets over newcomers.  then again all of this sounds like similar clear channel tatics.  but it could save fanclub members time and money.

[Jaguär]

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
  Totally agree with you, Seth. You're running a rock and roll nightclub, not a country club.
 
 LOL. Reminds me of someone that I use to know.
 
 Yeah, I don't think most of us would find being set up back in upper rafters as being all that desirable. Now, if you had Woods in his white jacket waiting on them, GGW might go for it.

[jadetree]

I don't think there should be any vip section, fan clubs or any advantages for anybody (unless of course you are friends with the owner).  I think the current way it works is pretty damn good.  Buying tickets at 9:30 and the variety of ways you can do it is very convenient compared to a lot of other places.

[lily1]

yeah, that's true jadetree. the box office hours are far more accessible at the 930 clubthan say the black cat, where you have to wait until 8.30pm when they open up for the night, or iota, which does no early ticket sales.  
 
 i love that i can just hop over there after work, get my tickets, and continue on my merry way. whatever you do seth, don't change the box office hours.

[markie]

Yeah. Really the 930 works just fine for me. The longer you leave it alone, the happier I will be.
 
 Although I would love to watch a show from Seths balcony sometime, just to see what it is like.....

[Lamb007]

The concept of a VIP section is offensive and decidedly un rock and roll.  But if you asked me if I'd pay $$ to have a guaranteed excellent vantage point without lining up an hour before the doors open, I'd probably be one of the losers who'd shell out for it.  I'm no "corporate type," but I go to at least a half dozen shows at 9:30 every month.  I tend to be not only a late arriver, but a short (as in undersized) late arriver.  Not a good combo.  So knowing I'd have a perch awaiting me would be cool.  And I don't care if the kids in Dropkick Murphys shirts give me the finger or fire spitballs at me up there in my ivory tower.  I'm old but I still like a rock show.  Just can't "ROCK" like I did in my 20's.  Seth could just rent me a stool on his balcony.