Your Take: How Often Do You Attend Concerts?

I attend concerts bout twice a year. I’d love to go more, but with busy kids and a busy job, that’s difficult. I go see mainstream and smaller acts – I have broad tastes. I prefer smaller venues, but really it’s about the act. Shinedown wouldn’t work in a seedy dive and Blue Mountain wouldn’t sound right on a giant arena stage. I’ve never seen the same act more than once in a year. The only act I’ve seen twice in my life is Motley Crue. It depends on the particular band or singer as to what I’d pay. I can’t see myself paying more than $300, even for a legendary act, though. A fair price for a shirt is $25 or less. I can’t bring myself to pay thirty bucks for a piece of cotton with some ink on it. A fair CD price is $15 or less, but at shows they should probably be lower since there’s less overhead, and they’re selling to their base, so they should cut ‘em a break. No idea on the last question.

I go to concerts, when I am flush, once or twice a month. I perfer smaller venues, because they are cheaper, but would go see major acts if there were any that came my way I liked.

I attend a mainstream country show about twice a year, and definitely prefer a smaller, intimate venue over a stadium or arena. However, as long as I’m close to the front, I’m not sure it really matters if it’s a small or large venue. The only act I’ve made an effort to see more than once ayear is Miranda Lambert, and other than her I don’t bother with going more than once for anyone else.

I’m seeing Lady Antebellum and Kellie Pickler tomorrow night at the local fair. I’ll let ya’ll know what I think.

How often do you go shows/concerts?

I try to go to as many local shows (within a 50 mile radius) as often as my schedule permits.

Do you only go see mainstream acts or do you support local musicians as well?

Whether it’s a mainstream act or local talent isn’t important to me. Some of the best concerts I’ve been to have been by artists with little or no mainstream popularity. Case in point: Rebecca Lynn Howard’s show was infinitely better than that of Martina McBride IMO.

Do you prefer large stadium tours or smaller, more intimate venues?

Small venues totally. Stadium shows tend to be rowdy, 50,000 seat parties where the music is secondary.

Do you see the same act more than once a year?

Depends on who it is – I am seeing Reba and Kelly Clarkson twice this year. And I saw Vince Gill a total of 3 times one year – 1998 I think.

What’s the most you’ll pay for a ticket? Cover charge?

Also depends on the artist. I paid almost $100 each for Reba tickets once they included all the hidden ticketmaster charges. And I’d pay that much for Shania, Dolly, etc. if I had to. And any more than a $15 – 20 cover charge is gouging I think.

Do you buy merchandise at live events?

Yes, at least a photo or something to commemorate the event.

What do you think is a fair price for shirts and CDs?

I think about $20 is plenty for shirts AND CD’s at shows. Why some artists charge through the nose for merchandise is beyond me. Especially those artists who are always preaching about ‘keeping their ticket prices low’ then charge you more for a T-shirt than the original ticket price …

Is there anything you think would improve the experience of attending a live show?

Yes. Give me front-row seats to every show that comes through …

In central Maine, there aren’t very many opportunities to go to country music concerts. When I lived in Michigan, I had better luck, but was still a poor college student. I did get to see Vince with Jon Randall there though. I didn’t buy any of his CDs because I already had them and I don’t wear T-shirts with logos too much, so I didn’t see the point of spending money on one (though now that I’m not a poor college student, I probably would have bought one to commemorate the experience). I like more intimate settings. I don’t mean a room of 100, but small theatres are nice. There sound systems seem to be more to my liking. I went to a steven Curtis Chapman concert in Michigan in an arena and the sound was pretty deafening. It would come in waves. When I saw Vince in a smaller theatre, it was better. Then again I saw a John Berry Christmas concert and Billy Currington show in an even smaller theatre and the sound was atrocious.

If more concerts would come here, I could see myself being willing to pay a fair dollar. In Michigan, however, the Vince concert only cost me $22.50 because it was in a theatre on my university campus and all shows for students were half off. Luckily, I only had to pay $20 for the Currington concert because it was awful. His opener, Brice Long was much better.

Since there aren’t many concert opportunities here, we attend bluegrass festivals a lot, which are obviously more local acts–though Rhonda Vincent was at one of them and Ralph Stanley was at another (the poor guy was really cold in our Maine August evening weather).

I try to get out to a local bar and catch a local act at least once a month, often more. I catch one or 2 mainstream acts a year. I’d rather catch the shows at a smaller venue. You have a better chance of meeting the band. I don’t like to pay anymore than 65 bucks for a ticket but if its someone I really want to see I’ll pay whatever. I always try to pick up a shirt/cd especially is its a local act. I think 20 bucks is fair for a shirt and 10 for a cd.

I live in a podunk town now so whenever anybody comes here I try to go- if nothing else just to get out of the house.
In the last 2 years we got the CMT tour with sugarland, little big town, and jake owen. We also got carrie underwood with josh turner as well as george jones.
Coming up we have the CMT tour with Jason aldean and lady antebellum. I’m not crazy about either band although neither is bad. But you can bet i’ll be there.

I go to Jamboree in the Hills every year, where I see about 20-24 performers. It’s a mixture of local up-and-comers, legends like Loretta Lynn and Merle Haggard, newer stars like Little Big Town and Rodney Atkins, and big name headliners like Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Brooks & Dunn, and Sugarland. A four-day ticket costs $130-$200. I usually end up buying a couple CDs there, generally ones by newer artists that I’m not likely to find locally. I don’t buy food or drinks there because we bring our own.

Outside of Jamboree, I attend about maybe 2 or 3 major concerts per year, at stadiums or arenas. For those, I’ve paid as much as $100 a ticket but generally it’s more like $40-60. Usually I buy food and drinks and sometimes a t-shirt. I won’t pay more than about $15 for a shirt, though.

During the fair season in the summer I make it to a show about once a month. Lastly, I go to local bars or clubs about once every month or so to listen to some of my local favorites. I haven’t bought CDs or merchandise at those shows, but I have gone to the artist’s website later to get a CD. For fairs and bars/clubs, I’m willing to pay $10-25 for a ticket or cover charge.

There are a few local bands that I have seen a half-dozen times or more. Sometimes I see major artists twice in the same year, if I see them in a concert and again at Jambo. That was the case with Gary Allan this year.

we go to branson to see alot of country shows.when we are not going to branson. we go to concerts.this year.we have seen Kenny Chesney Trace Adkins Toby Keith and just last night we were at a Rascal FLatts concert with Taylor Swift who open for them. it was an awesome concert

I attend concerts infrequently, although I have tickets for two next month- Elizabeth Cook and Patty Loveless. I rarely see mainstream acts, with the excpetion of Linda Ronstadt, but really, I don’t think she is considered mainstream anymore. I saw Loretta so many times I lost count, back during her prime, and the ones I consider legends, Tammy Wynette, Skeeter Davis, Joan Baez, Asleep at the Wheel, Johnny Cougar. I recently saw T Graham Brown at a free concert, part of a summer series. I didn’t mind paying $20 for his CD because I know he wasn’t making any money on the concert. I will buy the occasional T-shirt. I often buy CDs at the concerts because most of the artists I see need the financial support. Most mainstream artists tickets are priced above what I consider them to be worth. Not really a matter of being able to afford it, I really prefer a simple concert to an extravagant spectacle. Looking forward to seeing Unknown Hinson soon.

I’ve never been to a concert, but my city gets most of the big ones, I just never go because it’s expensive to buy tickets, for me that is.

Well I only started going to concerts 3 years ago and it started out very sporadic with 1 in 2005, 2 in 2006, 10 in 2007 and another 10 this year.
Four out of the ten concerts I went to this year featured artists from this country (Scotland), but the rest were American. Will be going to see a Folk/Pop artist from the town next to me in December though.
I don’t mind larger venues but smaller places are definately better. The only time i’d say a larger venue was better was when you see Dolly, because the atmosphere is just fantastic. Smaller places give you a better chance of getting to meet the artist though.
Last year I saw Jace Everett twice, but the first time he was the “surprise” opening act for Julie Roberts. The second time was great because it was a REALLY small place, maybe 50 people were there and we got front row and got to meet him after – plus he noticed my Willie t-shirt at some point and decided to play Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain.
The most i’ve payed for a ticket is £65 to see Dolly (and i’ve seen her twice now). There’s few artists i’d be willing to pay that much to see but she is more than worth it. The least i’ve payed was £9 to see Jace Everett.
I usually try to get a tshirt or a cd.
Most of the t shirts i’ve bought have been between £10 & £20. The ones Dolly & Willie have are really good quality. CDs, it depends on the venue. Some places charge £20 for a single disc, others under £10.
Only thing I could think of to improve the concert experience is a better chance of meeting the artist. Some places need to be better organised when an artist does actually take the time to come out and meet fans, as some fans can be really arrogrant and rude, pushing and shoving you out of the way. This goes for the merchandise stands as well!

* How often do you go shows/concerts? 2-3 times a year

* Do you only go see mainstream acts or do you support local musicians as well? Mostly mainstream.

* Do you prefer large stadium tours or smaller, more intimate venues? Smaller settings like local festivals, casino shows, 6,000-10,000 venues.

* Do you see the same act more than once a year? I have in the past.

* What’s the most you’ll pay for a ticket? Depends on who
it is.

* Do you buy merchandise at live events? My wife does.

* What do you think is a fair price for shirts and CDs? shirts, $15-$20, cds $10-$15

* Is there anything you think would improve the experience of attending a live show? An easier way for Joe Sixpack to get decent tickets.

* How often do you go shows/concerts?
As often as I can. I work a lot but usually about one show every other weeks.

Do you only go see mainstream acts or do you support local musicians as well?

Both! If they are good who cares? I just want to hear some good shit, I don’t care if you’re famous.

* Do you prefer large stadium tours or smaller, more intimate venues?

Definitely the smaller the better. I stop attending Festivals all together because they’re too expensive and the sound blows. Too crowded too.

* Do you see the same act more than once a year?
Absolutely, if they’re good!

* What’s the most you’ll pay for a ticket? Cover charge?
Ticket would be $60 but only if it’s a GREAT act in a GREAT venue

* Do you buy merchandise at live events?
If it looks cool.

* What do you think is a fair price for shirts and CDs?
Shirts? No more than $25. CD’s? $9.99

* Is there anything you think would improve the experience of attending a live show?

There should be more non-smoking venues. Also, the people working the door/venue should be cool and not be jerks to the people PAYING to attend a show in their venue. Shows should begin on time and there should never be more than 20 minutes between bands. If it’s a local, small club then that time should be reduced to 10 minutes. Also, music being played between acts should in some way go along with whatever band is playing that night. I went to see STP a few weeks ago and bluegrass was being played beforehand! It was weird.

How often do you go shows/concerts?: About once a month or every other month. Unfortunately, most of the great venues near me are 30+ miles away, and gas shortages/prices may cut into that schedule.

Do you only go see mainstream acts or do you support local musicians as well?: I wouldn’t call my tastes “mainstream”, but they’re not local.

Do you prefer large stadium tours or smaller, more intimate venues?: Give me a small bar any day of the week. I think the last arena concert I attended was Garth Brooks about 10 years ago.

Do you see the same act more than once a year?: Generally, the touring acts don’t reach my neck of the woods (Atlanta) more than once a year. But once a year is a good schedule for my favorites.

What’s the most you’ll pay for a ticket? Cover charge?: I paid $40 to see The Pogues this spring, but that was a rare event. Generally, if it’s over $20, it had better be someone I really like and know they’ll put on a good show.

Do you buy merchandise at live events?: Mostly CDs, occasionally T-shirts

What do you think is a fair price for shirts and CDs?: $15 for a CD, $20 for a shirt. Lately, some acts have been charging $10 for a CD, which I loooove.

Is there anything you think would improve the experience of attending a live show?: My favorite venue, Eddie’s Attic, has a strict policy against talking or getting rowdy while a performer is singing. It doesn’t detract from the artist/listener relationship, and it doesn’t annoy my by having some idiots talking about their day while someone I paid good money to see is trying to perform. Why even go to the show if you won’t listen to the music anyway?

Good job on the answers. I’ve enjoyed reading them.

The random winner of the Jamey Johnson album is Stormy. Congrats!