U2 Tour Dates - Now Official!- Page 102

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 6/16/05 at 9:36pm

I don't miss Ellie. Not one bit. Little blonde twit...

(*waves* Hi Ellie! - once she reads this)

If I do wind up buying seats, it'll probably be the $110 ones (jesus, that's $220/pair BEFORE ticketbastard charges!), but my dad has already said that he's not really a concert person because "I want to actually hear the band, not a bunch of people screaming." and the only band he'd love to hear is The Beatles. I didn't take that opportunity to tell him about the possibility of Paul McC at MSG in October. He, uh, doesn't actually know about my New York trip yet. The money situation hasn't gotten any better, and since school's in question for the fall, he may put a gun to my head if I tell him I'm flying across the continent to see "some band".

Updated On: 6/16/05 at 09:36 PM

[mabel]

Posted: 6/16/05 at 9:41pm

Uh oh...are you still working at your nightmare of a job? At least if you've got some income coming in for the summer...I don't know, maybe that'll ease the burden a bit, you know? It's still many months away.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 6/16/05 at 9:45pm

It's only 4 months away. I'm still working the nightmare job, and was actually called to work on a film set today, but had to turn it down because I was already scheduled for 4 F*CKing hours at the job. Sucks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that X3 works out - if I was going to miss U2 for anything, I'd prefer that it's because I'm chilling for 18 hours a day with Hughie! Somehow I don't think dad's going to take it well when I tell him I need to pay my plane ticket to New York. I need to be able to make enough to cover rent and the trip, plus pay off the credit card bills from Europe. :-/ Good lord. I can't think of any other band that I would fly across the country to see.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 6/16/05 at 9:48pm

Oh yeah, I still am working at that nightmare job at the pharmacy. And some bitchy woman threatened to hit me after I responded to her comment that I'm a "stupid troublesome girl". I can't wait to quit.

[mabel]

Posted: 6/16/05 at 9:53pm

*sigh* I'm sorry, Tiff. Hopefully it'll all come together by October. Maybe you'll get a crazy good deal on a flight?? You know you've got a place to stay for a couple of days, so at least you can cut back some cash there. I'll stop pushing McCartney...don't want to add to the potential probs (I'm afraid I might be a bad influence on ya, Tiff).

What?!?!? Someone threatened to hit you at work??? What the hell?!?!?

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 6/16/05 at 10:04pm

Don't stop pushing McCartney! (You should.) But don't! (No, really. My bank can't take it.) Keep selling him! (Aie!)

Well, really, Paul won't be too much of a problem - $60 isn't a biggie. It's the $530+ that the airfare is costing me that's the real killer. I'm hoping there'll be a seat sale if I fly out of Seattle, which can save me a few hundred bucks.

And yeah, some bitchy middle-aged Chinese broad was snarking about me to her daughter right in front of me (in Cantonese) while I was dealing with their refund, and when I calmly informed her that I understood what she was saying and to knock it off, another girl in the line told the bitchy broad to shut up and not say that about me. Then they started screaming at each other, the bitchy broad threatened to hit the girl, and threatened to hit me when I intervened and said I was calling security.

This is the SH*Tty part about going from immigration to this - in immigration, that type of behavior means I put someone in custody. This position of subordination means I have to grin and bear it. I hate people.

[mabel]

Posted: 6/16/05 at 10:13pm

Well, I'll only push McCartney if I come up w/ a great deal! We'll leave it at that for now.

Hopefully flying out of Seattle will work out. Would you be able to get there easily??

I'm sorry to hear about your SH*Tty situation at work. Sounds like I've actually got a pretty decent deal (besides the creepy cube-mate w/ his harpsichord music...actually, today it was Gothic chanting). At least all the people I work w/ are decent, and I don't have to contend w/ the crazies that roam the streets.

I'm off for the night. I have go into work early tomorrow so I can skip out early to head into the city.

Night, Tiff.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 6/16/05 at 10:18pm

Asleep at 10pm??

Night Mabs!

[mabel]

Posted: 6/16/05 at 10:25pm

I'm not going to sleep yet, but I'm heading downstairs to my room...no computer, alas. I'll probably listen to some of my Boston show (Elphie sent them to me), and since I'm going into work at 7:30am, I'll probably have to get up around 6:45 to pull myself together...I don't even remember the last time I was up before 7am! Besides, I was running on about 5 hours of sleep last night after the concert (getting in after 1:30 and winding down from the concert and getting up around 7 for work.)

A longer explanation than necessary, but it is crazy to go to bed at 10:30, so I felt the need to justify!

[mabel]

Posted: 6/17/05 at 2:34pm

Why it's tough to get a ticket
By Gary Strauss and Anthony DeBarros, USA TODAY
1 hour, 51 minutes ago

How hard is it to get good seats for a hot concert act?

In a year that's shaping up as the largest collective of A-list touring acts since the mid-1990s, demand for tickets is so intense that nabbing a great seat - make that any seat - is nearly impossible by conventional methods.

Months ahead of concert dates, superstar draws such as U2, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen are mostly ultra-fast sellouts, underscoring overwhelming demand from a huge fan base of teens to baby boomers.

Combined with the selling efficiency of the Internet and swelling competition from scalpers, "your chances of getting a great seat after a concert goes on sale are almost non-existent," says Arizona State University economist Steve Happel, a concert business expert. "Tickets are gone in a heartbeat."

Because lots of tickets are snapped up by scalpers, marketers, promoters, tour sponsors, bands, fan clubs and sports stadiums, which often give preferential treatment to team season-ticket holders seeking concert seats, ordinary fans are often last in line.

Concert sellouts mostly are a hallmark of older, established male rock artists and country stars such as Toby Keith. Though Madonna, Cher and Janet Jackson have had top-grossing concert tours, most female artists, as well as contemporary, urban and hip-hop performers, generally do better selling CDs than concert seats, says Ray Waddell, senior touring editor for Billboard magazine. "There've been some hot hip-hop tours - 50 Cent and Eminem could be huge this year - but most never equal what they do at retail," he says.

Across most genres, many bands and promoters are still smarting from 2004, when high ticket prices and lackluster fan interest led to several money-losing tours. This year, Clear Channel Communications, a major tour promoter and venue operator, is slashing some prices to lure fans.

Still, dinosaur bands such as the Rolling Stones and Motley Crüe continue to command top dollar: more than $400 for face-value tickets. And die-hard fans are willing to pay several thousand more to an increasingly sophisticated network of scalpers.

"There's a cadre of wealthy fans pushing up prices of popular acts," says Princeton University economist Alan Krueger, who helped coin the term "rockonomics."

Long among rock's top-grossing live acts, the Stones have sold out 32 North American concert dates on sale so far. Four others are near sellouts. The band is adding shows to meet demand and might expand its tour to 50 shows, says veteran tour director Michael Cohl.

All 28 of McCartney's U.S. shows were fast sellouts, as were several shows added to satiate fans.

U2 sold out all 110 North American and European concert dates, most of them within minutes. By the time U2 ends the tour at Portland's Rose Garden Dec. 19, its global windfall will surpass $300 million - the biggest single chunk of this year's $3 billion concert market, says Gary Bongiovanni, editor of industry tracker Pollstar. The Stones and McCartney tours could each reap $100 million, he says.

Where do the tickets go?

Traditionally, most fans got the best concert seats by camping out in front of venues and buying tickets as soon as sales opened. That time-honored technique is proving increasingly frustrating.

Bruce Voelker tried landing four $50 floor tickets for U2's Philadelphia show by having a relative line up hours before the box office opened. Only one ticket, far from the floor, was available when he reached the front of the line. "Everyone's competing for the same concert," says Voelker, 28, a biologist in Baltimore.

Most buyers are funneled through Ticketmaster, which sold nearly 100 million tickets last year to live events and other entertainment through the Internet and a far-flung network of sales outlets and call centers. "When you have the Internet and thousands of outlets, seats sell out virtually instantly," says David Goldberg, Ticketmaster's head of strategy.

Says Waddell: "These days, everyone has cell phones and computers to tap in. There's an intensity that wasn't there five years ago."

With hotter acts, phone and online ticket hunts are often futile. Soon after the electronic sales gates opened for McCartney's Atlanta concert in September, "there were no seats, even in the nosebleed section," says Glenn Hughes, an ad executive in Murray, Ky.

Hughes, 54, managed to buy two $125 tickets to McCartney's Tampa show. With airfare, hotel and incidentals, Hughes and his wife, Patricia, will spend more than $1,000.

McCartney's 58 shows in 2002 pulled in about $125 million, the year's top-grossing act. But he and other big-name artists are doing fewer 2005 shows. Springsteen, who is on a solo acoustic tour, is opting for smaller, more intimate venues, which further drains a limited ticket pool.

Just how many tickets are held out by artists, promoters and venues and never made available to the mass market is closely guarded. Ticketmaster says sales are proprietary. Clear Channel declined comment. Waddell estimates that up to 20% of tickets are held back. "They go to bands, promoters, (venues), sponsors, radio promotions and record labels," he says. "These are generally the best seats."

His estimate may be low. "In some buildings, you might need 2,000 tickets for the fan club, 2,000 for radio stations and the band and 5,000 more" for companies such as American Express that use pre-sales for marketing, Cohl says.

Sports coliseums and stadiums may be ideal for packing in huge concert crowds. But stages, equipment and other limitations cut seating. Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va., holds 61,500 fans for University of Virginia football games, but for the Stones' show Oct. 6, there's space for just 51,000.

Moreover, arenas and stadiums owned by professional teams or managers often allow season-ticket holders first crack at concert seats.

Boston's Fenway Park holds 36,298 fans for Red Sox games. Seating is limited to 30,000 for the Stones' August shows. Red Sox season-ticket holders grabbed 12,500 a show after Stones fan club members had their shot; only about half were left for general sale.

The MCI Center in Washington, D.C., holds up to 20,675 fans for Wizards NBA games. Seating at U2's shows Oct. 19 and 20 will be limited to 18,000. Season-ticket holders and U2 fan club members were first in line, leaving 12,000 a show for general sale. Both sold out in 30 minutes. For the Stones' MCI show Oct. 3, just 15,000 seats were available for general sale. They were gone in 20 minutes.

Coldplay: Sold out in 10 minutes

Coldplay sold out two September Madison Square Garden shows in 10 minutes, says band manager Dave Holmes. The Garden can seat 20,000, but seats weren't sold behind the band's stage, reducing the gate to 14,000. Fan club members got 1,400 tickets. "The rule of thumb is the first 15 rows go to the fan club," Holmes says.

Ticket holds for the band, guests, concert promoter and band label Capitol Records - also considered choice seating - left about 10,000 seats for general sale. "We try to take care of our fans, but we still get complaints," Holmes says. Marketers also grab chunks of tickets for pre-sales. American Express won't release specifics but says it had "thousands" of pre-sale tickets for several Stones shows. "There were enough to make it worthwhile for card members," spokeswoman Judy Tenzer says.

Tour sponsors such as Ameriquest, the mortgage company underwriting the Stones' U.S. shows, also get tickets, typically 100 to 500 a show, for promotions, employees and clients. "They're supposed to be good seats," says Ameriquest marketing chief Brian Woods.

There'll be even fewer seats for average fans at the Stones' show Nov. 4 in Anaheim, Calif., near Ameriquest's corporate headquarters. "We've got over 10,000 employees here," Woods says. "How can we sponsor a tour and not allow every employee to see the band?"

Ticketmaster tries to prevent scalpers from edging out fans by limiting purchases and setting up optical barriers to prevent scalpers from using automated computer programs to gobble up blocks of tickets. "We take a lot of measures to ensure everyone has fair access, but it's a constant cat-and-mouse game," Goldberg says.

But security experts say it's not hard for hackers to circumvent anti-scalping security measures. "An intermediate-level programmer can script something relatively easy, and it costs almost nothing to set up a scalping system," says Joe Stewart of security monitor LURHQ.

Moreover, scores of consumers who obtain the pre-sale password code Ticketmaster and band Web sites typically require often put the codes up for sale on their own. Online auctioneer eBay currently lists 270 auctions just for pre-sale concert-ticket access passwords.

Scalpers see pure gold

For years, fans often got choice tickets by joining band fan clubs. But scalping networks also buy fan-club memberships - a cost-effective method for obtaining face-value tickets for resale - a concept U2 didn't grasp until its botched pre-sale fan-club sales effort. U2 offered up to eight tickets to those paying $40 to join its fan club. But a small ticket pool and competition from scalpers overwhelmed supply, prompting U2 to pay back fan-club fees. U2 drummer Larry Mullen weighed in with an apology during the band's acceptance speech at February's Grammy Awards.

"For scalpers, U2 is the Super Bowl," Waddell says.

The Stones charge $100 for "platinum" fan-club membership and a chance for pre-sale concert tickets. Members can preview seating availability online. "If you don't like the seats, you don't have to buy the membership," Cohl says. "We're hoping to match hopes and reality."

Coldplay doesn't charge fans to join its club. About 500 scalpers posing as fan-club members have been blocked from buying tickets so far, but Holmes concedes many use access to resell tickets.

For those whose concert dreams remain unfulfilled, scalpers are an increasing supply source. About 20 states prohibit ticket resales or require broker licenses, but anti-scalping laws, mostly misdemeanor offenses, are lightly enforced.

Up to 30% of hot concert tickets probably are sold by scalpers, fueled largely by growing Internet sales, Happel says.

Scalpers and ticket brokers take in an estimated $1.5 billion a year reselling concert tickets. Once confined to local brokers and shady scalpers hawking tickets outside venues, resellers are well represented on the Internet, which has spawned hundreds of online marketers such as TicketsNow and StubHub.

Two front-row tickets for the Stones' Boston show Aug. 21 are selling for $7,410 on ticketsnow.com. The company also developed "plug-in" software that allows brokers to link to a central selling database. "Business is booming," founder Mike Domek says.

Competitor stubhub.com, another Internet site that serves as a clearinghouse for buyers and sellers, says soaring ticket prices in the secondary market simply reflect supply and demand. "If it's a great seat, that ticket will trade at a price regardless of restrictions and price caps," says StubHub co-founder Jeff Fluhr. StubHub profits by tacking on a 25% surcharge - 15% to sellers and 10% to buyers.

Many resellers are small-time entrepreneurs who might take offense at the term "scalper" because they pick up a handful of extra seats to offset the cost of their own. Annual ticket auctions are growing more than 50% a year at eBay, the electronic storefront for thousands of sellers, spokesman Dean Jutilla says. EBay currently has listings for about 100,000 tickets, 90% for sporting events and concerts.

$4,250 for two U2 tickets

This month, there have been 3,450 eBay listings for U2 tickets. Highest price paid so far: $4,250 for two seats for the show May 21 at Madison Square Garden. EBay has 2,880 listings for McCartney's tour. Highest winning bid: $4,299 for two seats at his Anaheim show. Among the 7,600 eBay listings for Stones tickets, fans have bought three separate pairs for nearly $4,000 apiece.

With fans willing to shell out thousands, scalping becomes tempting for musicians, too. As the drummer for Semisonic - opening act for headliners Matchbox Twenty and Sheryl Crow - Jacob Slichter frequently got free tickets.

"One show we had tickets to were going on eBay for $3,000," says Slichter, author of So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star. "It was tempting to sell, but it seemed sacrilegious."

Most musicians concede there's little to stop scalpers. "Scalping has been around forever," says Jimmy Buffett. Front-row tickets to Buffett's show Sept. 4 at Chicago's Wrigley Field are being offered by online scalpers for $1,560.

"I don't have any answer to it," Buffett says. "I'm doing less dates, and there are fewer tickets, and that's the problem. It's the law of supply and demand. If people didn't want to sit there, it wouldn't be happening."

[mabel]

Posted: 6/18/05 at 11:49am

I went into the city last night to catch a benefit concert for the Housing Works Book Store/Cafe. We caught three acts, and it was a pretty decent evening, music-wise. Not so great sight-wise...I'd definitely have to get there early should I decide to go back again (I guess they do a benefit concert every month...July's got Jason Mraz).

The first act was some guy and girl doing some acoustic music. I forget their sames...Peter Bradly-something, and Clara...I don't know. They were okay, but were a little too mellow for me (at least after a long week, and an early wake-up that morning...that and not really being able to see them from where we were sitting).

The second group was The Redwalls. I've never heard of them, but I guess they have an album on Capital coming out Tuesday, and they were on Conan last night. They were pretty good. I thinhk the sound was a little off, so I'd be curious to hear their music w/ a better mix. I checked out their website this morning, and find it hard to believe they're as old as it says. The bass player looked like he was 14 (20?!?...I think not!) They kind of traded off singing...the first guy (guitarist) was very old school Dylan-esque. Pretty good though. If they have the CD somewhere cheap, I may pick it up.

The headliners were Antigone Rising. I don't know if any of you have heard of them, but they're an all girl band who I saw open for Adam Pascal almost 5 years ago, so I was excited to see them again. Their new album is another one of those "only at Starbucks" jobs. It was funny, because I hadn't really heard anything from/about them in a couple of years, and when I was packing up to head back to NY for the summer I had Leno on, and they were the musical guest that night. So, apparently they're kind of making a bit of a name for themselves (well, as much as a CD at Starbuck's and an appearance on Leno equates "making a name for yourself")

I guess that's about it. Talk to you later, folks!

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 6/19/05 at 11:08am

Sounds like a fun night, Mabel! I haven't heard of any of those groups but I'll look out for them now.

That article was interesting. If only there were some way to completely eliminate scalpers and give fans more of a chance to get good tickets at reasonable prices.

Here's a review of our Alanis concert from the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/arts/music/17alan.html?

[mabel]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 8:30am

OK, I know we said we'd only bump when someone had something to contribute, but I've gotta toss in a pity bump here. We've never been further back than the 4th page, and I'd like to keep it that way!!

So, here's my tidbit for the day:

Brandon Flowers Hopes to Sing with Bono

Killers frontman would love to join U2 on stage.

By Krista Desens

NEW YORK, NY Monday Jun.20.2005 /netmusiccountdown.com/ -- When the Killers open for U2 in Europe this summer, Brandon Flowers hopes Bono will invite him onstage for a song.

The Killers frontman confessed to RollingStone.com: "I really love the song 'In a Little While,' from All That You Can't Leave Behind. And I'd die to just be onstage with them and sing that one line, "And when I go there" [from The Joshua Tree's "Where the Streets Have No Name"]. That's the part for me."

So is there any U2 song Flowers WOULDN'T want to sing? He says, "I was in the car...singing 'Pride.' I have some lungs on me, but I cannot hit those high notes. So I hope Bono doesn't call me out for that one."

-----------------------------------
Tis all.


ETA (because I didn't want to bump this again, and I didn't want to start a thread or anything, buuuuuuut) IT'S 7:10 AND I'M STILL AT WORK!!!! WHAT THE F*CK?!?!?!?!?!?!? HEEEEELLLLLLPPPP MMMMEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Updated On: 6/21/05 at 08:30 AM

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 12:33pm

I read that article in Rolling Stone and loved it. In a Little While is one of my faves.

Here's a bump for Mabel. Sorry you're a slave to the grind.
ETA: Wow, that's HUGE. And I don't know how to make it smaller. Oh well. Sorry! Updated On: 6/23/05 at 12:33 PM

[mabel]

Posted: 6/23/05 at 12:42pm

YAY!!! That really is huge, but it's totally worth it, because I find it so highly amusing! Jason and Toca, the wee little specs!

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 3:20pm

Bump!
And I actually have a U2-related post! Bono is on Meet the Press on Sunday to talk about the One Campaign. Set your VCRs!

[mabel]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 4:20pm

Oooh!!!! Thanks for that, Elphie! I'll definitely have to watch...oh, damn. I'm going to be in the city Sunday morning! Blast!! Maybe I'll be able to figure out the timer on the VCR.

Since I'm here...I got some U2 DVDs yesterday. One of them is from the Boy tour...it is HI-LAR-I-OUS!!! I LOVE it. I wish I had easier access to a burner so I could make you guys all copies. They all look so young...well, they are so young! Bono was a riot, boucing around. *sigh* Twas good times!

[Jezebel]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 6:52pm

It's finally happened! I have a seat for Monday's concert! I'm so relieved and excited. Their first show was tonight - the Slane concert and Rattle and Hum are on TV...I can't wait!!!!!

[mabel]

Posted: 6/24/05 at 7:08pm

OOOOHHHHHH!!!!! HOORAY!!!!! I'm so excited for you, Jez!!! And it's so exciting that you're going to DublinIII. I bet it's going to be insane! Woohoo!!

(have you gotten the CDs, btw??)

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 6/25/05 at 3:05pm

That's awesome, Jezebel! I'm so happy for you!
Where did you find a ticket? Where are you sitting?
Oh, and after the concert, remember to label setlist spoilers as such.

[Jezebel]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 6:42am

A friend's brother had a pair he couldn't use - so I stepped in! I was cutting it a bit close too, so I'm delighted as you can imagine. There are 250,000 of them floating around so it really shouldn't have taken me this long! I really can not wait. The concerts on Friday and last night went down a storm, and Dublin is going U2-mad! There's theme nights on TV, every second song on the radio is U2. The gardai have closed off the roads around Croke Park, and people have been camping out to get the best spot. I have a seated ticker (in the Hogan Stand), so I can avoid that. It would have been nice to be at the very front, but with a crowd that large what are the chances of that?
The weather has been fantastic as well, so it really is the perfect weekend. (And we do need good weather in an open-topped stadium!)

And no Mabel, the Cds haven't arrived yet, but not to worry - I'm sure they're on their way! I've actually been away on the other side of the country since Thursday though, so maybe they'll be waiting for me when I get back on Monday. I'll let you know when they arrive. And thanks again for all your help with my ticket search!

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 12:14pm

Sounds great, Jezebel! I think in that kind of venue it's nice to have an assigned seat, because it seems like you'd have to camp out for a while just to get a semi-good spot in the GA area.

Don't forget everyone, Meet the Press tonight!

I found this video of Live Aid in 1985 with a funny video of U2's performance. Ya gotta love Bono's mullet and skin-tight leather pants.

Live Aid performance

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 2:23pm

Hey guys, just popping in really quickly. Miss y'all a lot. I've been doing PA work for the last week, pulling in 15/16 hour days, and then squeezing in shifts of my crappy job in between shoots (seriously). I'll be taping Meet The Press!

[mabel]

Posted: 6/26/05 at 7:07pm

Oh, Jez! I'm so excited that you managed to get tix. I would imagine the Hogan Stand'll be pretty great! Better than the Canal (either the seats way at the far back, or literally on the canal!) I do hope you CDs are sitting there waiting for you. I don't know why stuff I send overseas seems to take FOREVER to get there. I sent it middle of the road, get there w/in a week post (not crazy $20 2 day delivery, but also not $1 get there in a couple months by boat) *sigh* Just drop me a PM when ya get them.

Tiff, how's the PAing been going? Anything a little more interesting??

I'm off. Gotta get some food...I just got back from visiting a friend in the city for the weekend. We didn't really do much of anything. Lost the lottos we tried for on Saturday, went to the movies to get some time in the AC (alas, no air on at the movie...go figure!) and the "free" club we went to after movie hopping was asking for a cover. I guess we were making up for that last time we got together in the city when we had that insane run of good luck (w/ her internship/job/free grad school, below face Gavid DeGraw tix, amazing train karma, etc). Oh well, it was still fun...We had a primo view from the study lounge in her dorm to watch the Gay Pride Parade this afternoon, so that was good fun.

Later folks...Jez, I'll be watching the setlist for your show at work tomorrow! I hope it's a good one!!!

[Jezebel]

Posted: 6/27/05 at 2:14am

I'm sure it will be, Mabel - is it ever not?! Up early now for the five hour drive back to Dublin for the show. U2 will be the soundtrack to the journey naturally. This is going to be fantastic.