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So, how does the currently in vogue “bands will make all of their money on the road” model work in a time of economic uncertainty? Perhaps we should ask Trent Reznor, who many people have held up as a paragon of “making it work” in the current “paying for records”-averse climate, and whose recent show in Columbus was marked by the arena’s top tier being roped off and tickets being discounted to $17 at the last minute. (I’m sure some Pangloss 2.0 out there will swoop in and tell me that there’s a good reason for this, or that he’s making it up in merch or something, but really, if the top-tier bands are booking shows in places where they have to engage in last-minute price-slashing, what does it mean for everyone else?) [DoneWaiting]
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I can’t wait to see Wired’s take on this.
recent show in Columbus was marked by the arena’s top tier being roped off and tickets being discounted to $17 at the last minute.
Jesus… in Columbus!? Trent Reznor not selling out in Columbus is like Smashing Pumpkins not selling out in Chicago.
I don’t have a snarky link to say “oh, wait…”. If Smashing Pumpkins are actually not selling out in Chicago, then any sort of commercial avenue for music is dead.
What does it mean? Concert sales are down across the board for all acts, Columbus is a weak market, the economy sucks, etc. Check numbers on NIN’s tour and you’ll see some places are great sales-wise, some aren’t.
At least he’s out there doing it and trying new things – how many other acts are?
Where was this photo taken? Also, I think many artists are way too ambitious in the venues they try to fill.
@2ironic4u: at the show i’m referring to (if you click through to the post there are other shots)
I saw him in Manchester NH and it was the same condition. No upper deck seating and I would say the seats were 2/3’s full. Kinda sad.
But I have to say he put on a kick ass show regardless.
-Dave
@2ironic4u: @Maura Johnston: Yeah… I don’t know if the photos are horrifying or depressing.
@nh_dave: Same story here at the Izod Center in NJ (the “NYC” date of the tour). If you can’t fill an arena in the most populated part of the country, what makes you think you can in Columbus?
I blame it on the fact that Trent Reznor blows.
Wow. What’s the point of last-minute price slashing if people who weren’t going to the show because they assumed they couldn’t afford it (me), don’t even know about it? I would have showed up for $17 seats.
The market doesn’t care if you have to rope off seats!
@KurticusMaximus: Thanks for contributing!
Sort of related: there was an article in the local paper yesterday about how Columbus’ 2 competing arenas result in higher cost for consumers, while each venue still struggles to actually turn a profit year after year. [www.dispatch.com]
@AL: Yup, that’s the lovely advantage of having multiple promoters in the same town. Here in New York there are 3 big ones (Live Nation, The Bowery Presents, AEG Live). They all put in bids to get the tour. The highest one gets the big and then we, the consumers, make up for it. Good times.
Trent Reznor? What is this 1993?
Pangloss 2.0: brilliant.
Saw the Breeders last night for free. There were a TON of free tickets given away over the web and radio the day of the show–I went with 5 friends and NONE of us paid. I ran into another couple and a former roommate–none of them paid. At one point I yelled “free show” and the guy in front of me said “awesome, huh?”
Granted the venue (The Wiltern) might be a little big for them, but I definitely felt sorry for the band.
Also, t-shirt starting price was $35…… although parking lot bootlegs went for $5-10…
@Cos: Yeah, I was there too via a free ticket. It was an awesome show, but I can’t imagine I would’ve paid for it.
So THAT’s what Kim Deal meant when she said “is there anyone here I don’t know personally?” As in I’m sure a majority of the crowd was comped.
@donewaiting: …and I’m sorry I missed the bootleg t-shirts!
…and if the Wiltern seemed empty during the Breeders, you should have seen the place during the Faint show a couple of weeks ago. While the floor was OK, There were maybe 60 people in the entire balcony.
And yes, I was at the Faint show for free…
@T’Challa: Damn, I live in LA and didn’t hear about either The Breeders show or The Faint show being free. How did you find out? What am I missing?
@How do I say this … THROWDINI!: I found out via Fuck Yeah Fest, but I know Indie gave out a ton…
Glad that you enjoyed the article. Hope to see you around the blog!