Aerosmith: Lawn or Nothing?

Anyone that really knows me can attest that Aerosmith is my favorite band. When Aerosmith announced a summer tour with Sammy Hagar, I was ecstatic! Two awesome acts on one bill. What a great night it will be! Even better, the tour is stopping in Cincinnati, Ohio meaning the drive won't be too heinous during the work week *and* my stop happens to be in early September so temperatures should be perfect for some outdoor fun.

After the initial excitement of the announcement wears off, I always trot on over to Ticketmaster to check on prices. Aerosmith always has high ticket prices, but man. With fees, this tour is averaging something like $50 or $60 for the lawn! At a major shed - such as Riverbend in Cincinnati - it's nearly impossible to see anything on the lawn. Spending $60 a head to just be in the vicinity of my favorite band is a bit much. Don't even get me started on the pavilion prices.

So now I don't know what to do. I can't pass up seeing Aerosmith and Hagar. After all, I'm terrified this will be Aerosmith's last tour. Still, spending $120 bucks to stand on the lawn with my husband isn't ideal. I hate the thought of spending $400 for pavilion for the both of us. The older I get, the more it pains me to spend money frivolously. Five years ago I would have shucked over the $400 without a care. Now I think about how much $400 a month will grow when invested in an aggressive stock plan.

When I interviewed Joe Litvag, a senior VP with AEG Live about Rocklahoma earlier this year, we chatted a little about ticket prices. Basically, Litvag agrees that ticket prices are high but defended the prices because 1) the band basically sets them (he said) and 2) the market can bear it. Which is true. I'm sure the pavilion for Aerosmith/Hagar at Riverbend will sell out, meaning thousands of people have no problem dropping $200 each for a ticket. I would mind less if I was paying the actual sticker price for a close seat (around $155) but a million bogus fees really sours it for me. Why should both my husband and I each have to pay a mandatory $3.50 charge for parking - when we will be in the same car?!

So now, after writing all this, I'm back at the basic conundrum: do I buy lawn and be happy I'm there or suck it up and go pavilion? My gut is telling me to wait until day of show and just see if any seats are discounted because that does happen from time to time. I can always grab a lawn ticket at the gate I suppose.

Do you plan on seeing the Aerosmith/Hagar summer tour?

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Comments

[Metalboy!]

Don't wait. Pay.

There's no use in trying to beat City Hall.

Like you said, Al, how many shots are you gonna have to see Aerosmith now.

In 2007 I forked out $350 a ticket for 4th row seats for Aerosmith and Motley Crue on Joe's and Mick's side, and as soon as I found our seats, I knew they were worth every penny.

And I felt like they were worth even more after Mick was makin' goo-goo eyes at my chick (hey, it's a compliment!) and Tommy crouched down at the end of the stage and offered us shots off his bottle of Jager.

And then Aerosmith came on and just absolutely killed the place. I've written about it before here, but in this case, $350 got me Tyler holdin' his microphone in front of my face twice to sing back ups in front of 20,000 people during "Jaded"...

For Aerosmith now, after all we/they have been through, go for it. If the only way to get within point blank distance to watch your favorite band is to over do it and double it in the cashish department, bite the bullet and go for it.

I guarantee you, you will not regret it. Especially for Aerosmith who are quite simply "magical" and absolutely stunning live!

[Metalboy!]

p.s. And also at that close range you are assured to have Sammy "crank up that Les Paul in your face..."

[JT]

I have no problem with lawn seats if the price is right. $50 ain't right. That's way too much for my blood. But Riverbend's lawn is not that terrible if you get to the show early enough. Plus with all the big screens, there's not really a bad seat in the house.

Will I go to this concert? Only if I get free tickets (which I won't). I saw Aerosmith a couple of years ago, and they didn't blow me away. I love 'smith, but in concert they just didn't do it for me. And Hagar, don't really care about him so no, I won't be going to this show.

The Cooper show in Dayton is the one I really want to see, but I don't know if I'll fork over that money either. I've never seen Alice live, and really want to, but I just can't justify spending so much for a concert with only 1 or 2 decent artists on the bill.

[lovebombbaby]

be thankful you're not in the uk, thats not expensive, thats the normal price of tickets over here!!!

I get where you're coming from though, I've seen bon jovi on every tour for the last 15ish years, but this year I refuse to pay £45 ($60) to be at the back/top tier or £100 ($150) to stand on the floor (at an indoor arena, where they're playing all month, and are the only dates in the country)

[Sweet Lou]

I was going to rant, but whats the use. Guarantees and ticket prices are out of control. Obviously Aerosmith's days on stage with any form of rock n roll dignity. So ya gotta either bite the bullet and pay up or miss the show.
I can't STAND the lawn, I'd rather just party in the parking lot during the show, it amounts to the same except I pay for drinks at cost (by BRINGING them LOL). I'd spend the extra $300 for that one final hurrah! Cuz $120 is a waste for virtually hearing a live record with a bunch of drunks around. If the tickets were comp'd I definitely take the lawn, but $50 a pop with handling charges (meaning YOUR computer printing YOUR tickets on YOUR paper with YOUR ink) is sickening. The real reality of all of this...you can't beat City Hall and ticket prices ain't gonna come down.
ooops went on a "little" rant there....take it MetalBoy! peace

[stuff]

In the UK Aerosmith were £100 ($140) for the general admission area and £90 for the top level seats in the O2 (like an ice hockey arena).

They did not sell out. Have seen some tickets going today - day of show less than half price.

I think they overpriced it. But, I guess when it is rumoured the band asks for $1 million a show the promoter has to charge big prices.

[kari]

AEG LIVE IS FULL OF S**T! I know how the innerworkings of this industry happen and the PROMOTER SETS THE PRICES! What the AEG LIVE VP forgot to say was, the BAND SETS THEIR GUARANTEE and the promoters are the dumba**es who agree to it, so there go your SKY ROCKETING ticket prices b/c they need to make sure they are making $$$ to pay for the band guarantees. With a band like AERO, I bet they are making close to HIGH 6 figures per show (if not $1m even), so say one market doesn't fair so well, one loss can really set a promoter back. It's all very tricky but bottom line is the promoters agree to the ridiculous guarantees, so in turn yes, I guess the band would have say in the ticket prices.

it's all BULLSH**T!!! I wanted to go to vegas but airfare is through the roof and that's b/f I even buy a ticket.....NO WAY am I missing this tour but what pains me is that instead of catching it two or three times, I'll go see it once b/c I can't afford to see it multiple times! HAGAR and AERO together are totally worth $200, but what about the markets who do not know who is playing with AERO yet???

People keep dishing out the $$$$ for the tickets so high ticket prices are HERE TO STAY and will only get worse!

You want to talk about blood boiling, fan rapage.....AERO FORCE ONE, VIP PACKAGES!!!! AERO jacked these prices up YEARS ago but the dumba*** fans keep paying it....$1450 per person for a ticket and to meet Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

ok, i'll get off my soap box for the day...I'm having my Monday on a Tuesday apparently.

[kari]

on a positive sidebar note: AERO & HAGAR playing together are probably close to being my BIGGEST MECCA of a live show! My two favorite live performers of all time AND to top that off, I'll be able to see them in Houston, the day after my Birthday so BRING IT! I'll deal with tickets later and hopefully it'll work out!

[bryon]

It's a shame. Bands don't make enough $$ selling records now, so they depend on touring for their income, which has raised ticket prices.

And this seems especially true for older, established acts. Many fans of older bands are all grown up and have enough expendable income that putting down $200-$300 for a night out isn't a big deal. The promoters & bands know this, so they hike up the prices.

[j haynes]

i am still deciding if i am going to the show....
if aerosmith wanted to do something about prices they
could.....
they always charge out the a$$...hopefully they will show up this year unlike last year in cincy...
i am looking forward to the mayhem festival.....
all day ticket in first(sec300) row for only 46$...
sorry but korn does something to control prices....
i am happy the care....

[bryon]

I've got tickets to Mayhem as well. First section seats for $55. And lawn tickets are only $20. Great deal!

[Bob]

Oh come on now! the dwindling records sales argument to justify stratospheric ticket prices is a cop-out. Ticket prices have been out of control for at least ten years, and record sales were just fine back then. Sadly, the dude from Eag Live is dead on. Ticket prices are this high because we allow them to be by paying them. We, the consumers are ultimately to blame for ridiculous ticket prices. If we had all banded together and stopped buying tickets when promoters and bands started getting greedy, and TicketMaster started tacking on fee after fee, we could have killed this cash grab cancer before it had a chance to grow.

I personally would not shell out that kind of money to see any band because, if I do, then, in my mind, I'm part of the problem. I know that I as an individual won't have any effect on ticket prices by not paying them, but at least I know I didn't cave to the greed machine. somehow, I doubt that any member of Aerosmith is worrying about where his next meal is coming from, but yet they seem to have no problem with price-gouging regular people who do have to watch their spending. Why on earth would you support that?

[Ace Steele]

Allyson, Your press credentials writing for the website, PLUS AOL, PLUS your other job, what is it? Writing for Noisecreep? A well placed set of phone calls to Aerosmith's management,publicist, & record label should yield you at least pair of tickets & passes. You are "WORKING PRESS" after all. Good luck.

P.S. Just last week, I said the same thing to a friend... "Aerosmith? At these prices, lawn or consider me uninterested."

[MZip]

I have to agree with everything you had to say. Ticket prices have gotten to be rediculous in price, but as long as people keep paying, the industry will keep taking your money. We used to see 10+ shows/year (maybe its really I am getting old?). I just refuse to pay the high prices anymore.

Second, the Ticketmaster charges have gotten out of control. Really? $14/ticket in "convenience fees" for a $25 ticket (finally a ticket price I was willing to pay). I had to pass again, as the fee's are nuts. And what is with the charging me $1/ticket to print them out myself? Nonsense and greedy!

I also share your feelings about the lawn - perhaps I am a concert snob now, but if I can't get a pavillion ticket, I don't go anymore. Crappy view in the sun with morons throwing clods of dirt and grass. Anything in the pavillion at Pine Knob (yes I know it's DTE now, but it will always be Pine Knob) is a great seat.

Guess I will stick to seeing the local and the cover bands at the bar...

[bumblefootboy]

it would be a cold day in hell before i would pay those prices, especially for lawn tickets.

[Rich]

Here's something funny - I paid $12.50 to see Aerosmith in 1982. You remember that version don't you? When Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay were in the band? Of course, I think they had to cancel the tour shortly after that show because Steven Tyler was generally to stoned to remember the words to many of their songs. Guess there's been a little inflation in ticket prices since then.