Do you go alone to pricey concerts?

I no longer go to concerts, though I do go to live performances by local talent. The last two concerts I attended were disappointments. One was at Newark (N.J.) Symphony Hall, years ago. I went with my husband, sister and her S.O. The sound system was terrible. I waited for so long to see The Whispers and was sorely disappointed. The last concert was a Mother's Day concert I attended with my son at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. We sat high up on a steep incline and though we could see the performers (however small), T.V. screens were posted on either side of the stage. The spotlights periodically shone up where we were and were blinding. I spent part of the concert covering my eyes.

I decided if I'm going to have to use T.V. screens to get the best view, I may as well do it from my own living room. YouTube has some great concerts by my favorite artists. Even if I still went to concerts, I'd never go alone. When I was young, I did attend a couple of Broadway shows alone.
 

Many, many concerts... never alone.
Same with sporting events, theater, etc... never alone.

A huge part of the event is the shared experience, someone to talk to about it, etc.
 

No. I go to local venues that have very talented but lesser known people and groups. For 15 the price of a big name concert, I can often have a meal and enjoy the music.
 
My wife took me to a Mozart concert a few years ago. I was extremely disappointed. It turned out to be just a cover band.

But seriously, folks... today's music sucks, and concerts are way too expensive relative to their talent, so no... I don't go to concerts.

That's one of the problems with being a babyboomer... we judge everything relative to the music we listened to when we were young, and everything today pales in comparison.
 
I like rock and blues, but I've never done a big concert. For an expensive seat, the closest I can come was one winter in Victoria, BC when I wintered alone on my boat, I saw that the Victoria Symphony would be playing for one night, maybe two. I can't remember. I bought a ticket for myself, I think it was $75. They played Beethoven's 5th at the end of the concert. I will never forget how powerful the 5th can be performed live, and flawlessly I might add. Now Victoria is not a huge city like Chicago or New York, and I've been to the Chicago Symphony a few times when I lived there. But the Victoria Symphony was a good as any I've heard. Of course, Beethoven was there, so there's that.
 
I'm too old for rock concerts. That was something my son did.
I used to go alone to Friday Night Jazz at the High Museum in Atlanta but I can't even handle that anymore.
 
HermitHogan said:
My wife took me to a Mozart concert a few years ago. I was extremely disappointed. It turned out to be just a cover band.

But seriously, folks... today's music sucks, and concerts are way too expensive relative to their talent, so no... I don't go to concerts.

That's one of the problems with being a babyboomer... we judge everything relative to the music we listened to when we were young, and everything today pales in comparison.
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There is plenty of good talent out there. Just like 50 years ago - they need a chance. And some of the old timers need to go somewhere else. Joan Baez started her political agenda with song two and the venue basically walked out. I recall some of today's country super stars as shy openers.
There is plenty of good classic, jazz and bar music around. Check some European news on concerts and updates.https://www.bunte.de/stars/star-news/david-garrett-einen-entspannten-tag-zu-haben-gibt-mir-nicht-so-viel.html
 
Now that this summer 2024 thread has run it's course, am surprised almost all senior members posting except this person, don't attend larger concerts any more. Such would not be the case if sampling older folk here in the San Francisco Bay Area that has always been a Mecca for music and since the pandemic ending has had an explosion of live music events small to large that has kept me busy for months. Especially with free outdoor live music by cover bands.

SF Bay Area Concerts, Festivals, Tickets & Tour Dates 2024 & 2025 – Songkick
San Francisco Events & Free Things to Do | Funcheap

Music here is thriving so much that the below unique multi-genre venue just opened.

https://musiccitysf.com/

Obviously a reason numbers of bands nationwide have been moving here. Most expensive concerts are not the expensive tours mentioned that tend to be non-rock genre newer generation music for bands, singers, House, and Rave events I'm not familiar with. Those high prices are also reflected in all the multi act music festivals that charge 3 figure $$$ tickets because their customers are young working class people making good money.

Back to the OP's topic, I don't recall paying more than $99 for any big concert except one (~$120) with most under $60. I do tend to buy tickets when initial pre-order sales occur instead of from resale sites or wait until the final days before events where an excess supply of resellers need to dump what they bought.
 
Victor said:
. I mean celebrity concerts in a venue where tickets are $50--150. and a lot more. I dont mean concerts in a neighborhood park or fair.
Alone, not meeting anyone. I have gone numerous times and have seen
dozens of star concerts alone, but now I no longer go. Maybe my age and cost, the long drive, and feeling very self-conscious, knowing that I am probably the only one alone. I rarely see another sitting alone. Or never. All couples.
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That is really hard. It would be so good if you had a friend to with who shares your passion for the same music.
 
I never gave much thought to Heavy Metal bands when they were very popular.
Both my sons liked and listened to many of them, just not my type of music.

Recently, I dove into Metallica's music and was pleasantly surprised.
Saw they are coming here in May for a series of concerts, so checked out the tickets.
I knew they would be high, but even the upper level is more than I've ever paid for a concert.

Asked the wife if she wanted to go with me and of course she said, 'NO WAY'.
Don't want to go alone, so called my son and he didn't hesitate, 'Heck Yea!'.

Got tickets and at least I'll be going with someone who will keep me out of the 'Mosh Pit'...
(Thinking about wearing a Tie-dye shirt and my Parrot Hat, just to throw people off and they might pass me something
to enhance the music!)
 
Apparently, the "goddess" Taylor Swift is in Toronto for a few days. I read in the paper where some last minute ticket sellers are asking $33,000 Canadian/ticket. Are people crazy or am I behind the times?

You know where they should put that "Eros" tour but I can't print the location here!
 
I did occasionally when I was younger, after my husband passed away. I wouldn't do it now. I also think that some forms of entertainment are not meant for people who are there solo, or for older people. Rock concerts and sports events are two of those. There's plenty of great entertainment on TV, you can stream anything, no driving, no crowds, and the cost is covered by your streaming fee (or adding just a few dollars).

"To everything there is a season, etc. etc."
 
Packerjohn said:
Apparently, the "goddess" Taylor Swift is in Toronto for a few days. I read in the paper where some last minute ticket sellers are asking $33,000 Canadian/ticket. Are people crazy or am I behind the times?
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$33,000. I bought my first house for less. :( Glad to be "behind the times."
THE END
 

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