is doing this for a living worth your $25?

[mankie]

Ticket prices are very reasonable for the most part. $40 to see a great band is a bargain. You can't get a decent meal in a nice restaurant for that anymore. The unfortunate thing for the club is the more expensive the ticket, the less I spend on beer and food while at the show.
 
 I think the opposite end of the spectrum is the problem, and were Seth and the bands lose out. If a ticket is $10 but the ticketbastard charges are another $7.32 or whatever it comes to. On principal I'm not going to go to that show. There's no question that I would go "check out" a lot more bands if a $10 ticket was actualy closer to $10 than $20.

[ggw]

Yeah, it's beautiful today.  Mid-70's, low humidity.  Makes me want to play hookie.

[markie]

Hey Seth,
 
 I think tickets for most shows are great value. $25 for blur is a steal.
 
 I wanted to see Cremaster, but the reviews of it put me off some what. Non-narritive films that as a series last for what, 9 hours. It really does all sound a bit wanky doesnt it? I saw images from the films at the hirshorn about 3 years back and they were beautiful.
 
 So did you go and see it? And if so would you recommend it?
 
 I thought about asking the forum about it, but I knew someone would just put it into dictionary.com
 
 what a great name.

[da'niceguys]

a number of good and interesting points have been made in this thread, and some crappy ones from crybabies too, but thats what a message board is good for sometimes,  i've got one main point to make, i would usually pay whatever to see a band at 930, if i liked the band, and if i thought the price was way to high, I'd say to myself , boy that band sucks why are they ripping me when i already buy all the cd's and support them that way...because i know its not the club who is doing it, not when sometimes i see great bands for cheap....but really it comes down to the fact that 930 is a great venue! Anything to keep me from having to go see a band at NIssan pavilion, not only is it completely generic ambience, pain in the ass parking, the staff is HORRIBLE, and you can't even get in without paying $30+ and that means being in the lawn which in 930 terms puts you in the back parking lot

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

I thought the 9:30 Club was a LARGE venue, not a small one.

[keithstg]

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
  Seth, you remind me of the 50something guy in my office who still likes to go to rock and roll shows. When he asks me if I'm going to this show or that show, sometimes I tell him the price is too steep for me. He'll arrogantly reply "Oh price doesn't matter to me. Doesn't matter if it's $5 or $50, if I want to go, I'll go." Of course, he makes 2.5 times as much as I do, so I can see where he's coming from.
 
    And Myuman...interesting idea about the season tickets. But I don't think it's economically feasible. Seth will basger us about counting our dollars, but I'm sure he would do the same thing himself and see that season passes would not make sense. 500 passes at $250 would only generate $125,000 in guaranteed ticket revenue. The club could generate that much with 6 sold out $25 shows. It would be way too much of a hassle for the club, with no financial benefits. And that's the bottom line.

I think there's a huge difference between having a budget for shows, or anything else, and just bitching about prices. I think at some point, people lose sight of the fact there is a business involved, and take ticket prices as a personal affront. Like you mentioned, the bottom line is that the 930 is a business and has to run as such. While I guess I have a budget for shows, I'l always make exceptions for my favorite bands (like Wilco at $30) as concerts are a great value compared to other forms of entertainment (someone mentioned dining out already) and the 930 is a great venue. My two cents, anyway.

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

I generally think that concerts, eating out, movies, etc are poor values for my entertainment dollar. I view these things as special treats that should be done once in awhile.
 
    Good values include a walk or jog in the park, hanging out in Dupont Circle on a sunny day, watching a ballgame or race on tv, cooking a meal that is usually better than restaurant food myself, having sex with my wife, riding my bike, or driving out to the mountains and hiking.

[keithstg]

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
  I generally think that concerts, eating out, movies, etc are poor values for my entertainment dollar. I view these things as special treats that should be done once in awhile.
 
    Good values include a walk or jog in the park, hanging out in Dupont Circle on a sunny day, watching a ballgame or race on tv, cooking a meal that is usually better than restaurant food myself, having sex with my wife, riding my bike, or driving out to the mountains and hiking.

To each their own.

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

I could also add reading a book or going to the National Gallery as good entertainment values.

[sonickteam2]

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
  I could also add reading a book or going to the National Gallery as good entertainment values.

Baltimore hookers are a good value too.  or the flask that i take to bars and just buy cokes and mix my own drinks  

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

I too was put off by the reviews for Cremaster.

[Lamb007]

I got no problem with the ticket prices.  I've gotten to see icons like Lou Reed, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Patti Smith at a small club.  I'll pay the extra dough to avoid the big venues.  
 
 My concern is my bar tabs but that's more of a "my liver issue" than a "Seth issue."
 
 Sadly, I think DC concert goers take for granted the ability to see huge acts in an intimate environment.

[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), you get two tickets for every single show in a calender year and access to a VIP lounge.  If 9:30 offered something similar, I'd be all over it.  But man, I'd hate to read the thread that would ensue.  It's especially hypocritical when this area offers plenty of free music (Kennedy Center's Millenium Stage), Fort Reno, etc.  Think a music fan in South Dakota wouldn't pay double the amount that you are complaining about to see a band they love just play their state, much less a cool club they can take public transportation to?  If these young fans are being deprived of music because of high ticket prices, why do they all have cell phones?

[mankie]

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
 
    Good values include a walk or jog in the park, hanging out in Dupont Circle on a sunny day, watching a ballgame or race on tv, cooking a meal that is usually better than restaurant food myself, having sex with my wife, riding my bike, or driving out to the mountains and hiking.

I always found having sex with your wife good value too.  

[markie]

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.