What's it Worth to You, Really? (Ticket prices)

jkmaletic · #1 11-04-2014, 12:34 AM

I understand that this may be a personal thing that some fans don't like to share, but if you are willing to share, what did/have you paid for tickets this tour and was it worth to you? I appreciate any feedback as I am struggling on whether to buy tickets for this tour. I know that everyone makes their own decisions for their own reasons regarding how they spend their money, but I'm interested in hearing about how some of you feel about what you spent to go to shows this particular tour. Maybe it can help me and others make a decision.

For example,

Was it worth it to you?
Do you have any regrets?
If you could've done something differently, would you have (i.e., buy better seats, regardless of the cost)?

Thanks for your feedback!

Jamie

Lisa W · #2 11-04-2014, 01:14 AM

I have paid the face value ($226 w/fees) for seats to the side of the stage and further out in first level loge for New York area shows so far for this tour and made a trip of it from L.A. Sitting further out was great to see the lighting effects and backdrop that I liked better than last year, but the side stage is fun to see other band and crew movements.

I have no regrets whatsoever and am also going to see them at the Forum when they come back to L.A. It is certainly a lot of money for me, but this is the only band I would spend this much to see on multiple occasions. Hearing Christine sing Songbird live again was soooo worth it to me and dancing along to Little Lies and You Make Loving Fun was well worth the cost. The Chain also seemed full force again with Chris back on the stage.

There is something about seeing the five of them together again that that is so inspiring to me that I could not pass up this opportunity. When I see them on December 6th at the Forum it will be 35 years to the day that i first saw them perform at the same venue when I was a senior in high school. This band's music has been such a part of my life for over 35 years and I love seeing them today as much as I did as a teenager. How many things can you say that about in your life?

There also seems to be a real joy about the band's interactions this tour as they acknowledge what a special situation they are in. I'm happy to be tightening my belt in other areas to take advantage of this opportunity.

Macfanforever · #3 11-04-2014, 02:05 AM

I never payed anything over $250 bucks for my tix for the Mac or Stevie shows.

I look at it this way.We only live once. Mind as will enjoy the Mac or Stevie/Lindsey or other favorite artist or band live to that matter.

I have a friend that says .Spend your money when you can or somebody will spend it for you.

Wdm6789 · #4 11-04-2014, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa W

I have paid the face value ($226 w/fees) for seats to the side of the stage and further out in first level loge for New York area shows so far for this tour and made a trip of it from L.A. Sitting further out was great to see the lighting effects and backdrop that I liked better than last year, but the side stage is fun to see other band and crew movements.

I have no regrets whatsoever and am also going to see them at the Forum when they come back to L.A. It is certainly a lot of money for me, but this is the only band I would spend this much to see on multiple occasions. Hearing Christine sing Songbird live again was soooo worth it to me and dancing along to Little Lies and You Make Loving Fun was well worth the cost. The Chain also seemed full force again with Chris back on the stage.

There is something about seeing the five of them together again that that is so inspiring to me that I could not pass up this opportunity. When I see them on December 6th at the Forum it will be 35 years to the day that i first saw them perform at the same venue when I was a senior in high school. This band's music has been such a part of my life for over 35 years and I love seeing them today as much as I did as a teenager. How many things can you say that about in your life?

There also seems to be a real joy about the band's interactions this tour as they acknowledge what a special situation they are in. I'm happy to be tightening my belt in other areas to take advantage of this opportunity.

This is an awesome little story, I wish I could have seen them back then. Anyway, to answer the original posters question, if you like the band enough, you will not regret buying tickets. I saw them a few weeks ago and it was a great show. For me, I have to be on the floor at every concert I go to. So my tickets were expensive. Two tickets in the 8th row were $1000. After we saw them, we decided we wanted to see them again, so we got tickets for a show in March, better seats actually for about $200 less than the first show. So if you like the band enough, get tickets. I just saw Paul McCartney and I was in the 14th row on the floor and I wish that I had spent the money for better seats. Again all these great bands and musicians may be getting old and I'm sure it's not the same as seeing the show back when they were young, but I'm in my 20s and I'm a big music buff, but all my favorite musical artists are in their late 60s-early 70s, they could die or retire at any time so go take advantage of the opportunity if you feel like it's something you should cross off your bucket list.

lulu28 · #5 11-04-2014, 08:08 AM

I've paid face ($200+) for both Atlanta and Knoxville. This is the first time for my daughter(10 years old and a die hard Stevie fan) and me to actually get to see the Mac. I didn't choose floor seats because I didn't want an obstructed view for my little one, so I got seats in the 100's on Christine's side for both shows. We should have a great view! Hopefully, we will get a short Stevie tour after the second leg ends and we can see her solo too. Best of both worlds! We are so excited!

louielouie2000 · #6 11-04-2014, 08:41 AM

I struggled with whether to pay $200/ticket myself. I think if I would have landed tickets somewhere in the first 20 rows I would have pulled the trigger. But that didn't end up happening for any of the 3 Texas shows. So I don't have a regret now that I didn't purchase a ticket. I'm beyond thrilled Christine is back. But I'm not forking over $200 a person for yet another oldies cash grab, especially if I can't find a decent seat. When the band has new material that's good (unlike the dreadful EP), I'll go see them again. But until then, I sleep easy knowing I've lined their pockets well enough over the years.

Speaking of ticket prices, anyone else notice how 3/4 of the arenas seats are priced at the $200 level?

Montclare · #7 11-04-2014, 09:07 AM

I paid face value ($210) for floor seats (row 16) the first time around and didn't regret it. I immediately wanted to go again the next night but they were sold out. I would have sat anywhere at that point. I just bought for the next show for floor row 11 at $311. I wouldn't have bought for anymore than that, but since there's an aisle in front of me (ie no tall people blocking my view) I had to do it. Let's just hope these tickets are legit.

I agree with what everyone else has been saying- you don't know how much longer they're going to be around, Christine is back, etc. Plus, I enjoyed the first show so much, I just had to do it again, and even though $311 is a lot, I just had to do it for those seats.

FM77 · #8 11-04-2014, 09:18 AM

I went to MNPLS and Chcago. LA, PHX, Lincoln, NYC and KC to go. I would see every show if I could. I am so excited to see them all together, likely for their last tour.

I think if you can see them once, go. Don't buy $200 seats if it isn't practical for you. Just get in and go.

Danigirl · #9 11-04-2014, 11:36 AM

All in all I paid 250.00. In December I will have to pay for gas, a hotel and normal expenditures that a short trip calls for. I intend to budget another 300.00 to be comfortable. I won't spend money on t-shirts/souvenirs, but I probabaly will enjoy some beverages and enjoy myself since I will have just completed another semester. For me, seeing FM is something I HAD to do within the next couple years. An investment in people and music
That feed my soul. Having Chris back (something I never ever expected) is priceless and resolved any buyers remorse I may have felt.

Totally worth it for me, I don't purchase books, CDs,etc. And sacrifice to be able to afford the trip and tickets. I don't go to concerts regularly, so this is a treat.
Oh and I will add, that I have NEVER seen them live. I will NOT spend that Kind of money again. "That's Enough For Me"!

kak125 · #10 11-04-2014, 01:47 PM

I think I have seen the Mac live about 7 times now and its always worth it! There is some sort of magical thing that happens when you see them live where you just want to keep going back time after time.
For the Pittsburgh show recently, I paid the most I ever had for a ticket which was $319 for 3rd row but it was like the best thing ever to see Christine McVie up close once again. My good friend went with me and it was her first time seeing them and she was like freaking out she was so excited and happy. I don't think I have ever seen her smile like that in her entire life. We already are planning on seeing them again in Cleveland but I keep hoping somehow along the way they eventually come back to Pittsburgh to the First-Niagara Pavilion.
Its crazy when I was watching them a few weeks ago I kept thinking how the first time I saw them I was only 20 and didn't have a care in the world and now at 37 its like seeing them takes me back to that time when things were just so easy and simple. If I could go to a concert every single day I would be like in total heaven -ha!!

SteveMacD · #11 11-04-2014, 02:42 PM

It was worth it to see them two times with Christine back, but not five times, which I could have easily done. Not at those prices.

AliceLover · #12 11-04-2014, 03:35 PM

In this situation, money is not even a factor, IMO. I'm a teacher, with a steady job plus two other jobs. I don't have kids or anyone to take care of. So, I don't think twice when spending for this. I don't mean $1,000. But I have to be up close. I've seen both Boston shows and I have two more to go!

jkmaletic · #13 11-04-2014, 03:49 PM

Thank you all for your responses. I have seen FM before, several times, but not with Chris. I'm still undecided. Thr closest venue for me is San Diego (10 minutes away from my house), but for whatever reason tickets are fewer and more expensive than the ones offered in LA (about 2.5 hour drive). I found a pair for friday 11/28 at the Forum in L.A. for $299 each. They're located one tier up from the floor, towards the back of the venue. I was all excited about it, but when I went to buy them I couldn't pull the trigger. I have the money, it's the principal of it. So I decided (for now) to wait and see if some miracle happens for the San Diego show. I just can't pay that much money for so far away.

elle · #14 11-04-2014, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkmaletic

Thank you all for your responses. I have seen FM before, several times, but not with Chris. I'm still undecided. Thr closest venue for me is San Diego (10 minutes away from my house), but for whatever reason tickets are fewer and more expensive than the ones offered in LA (about 2.5 hour drive). I found a pair for friday 11/28 at the Forum in L.A. for $299 each. They're located one tier up from the floor, towards the back of the venue. I was all excited about it, but when I went to buy them I couldn't pull the trigger. I have the money, it's the principal of it. So I decided (for now) to wait and see if some miracle happens for the San Diego show. I just can't pay that much money for so far away.

my advice - go see them with Chris, Jamie. it's worth it. don't spend what you don't have, don't get yourself into debt or anything, but buy what you feel you can afford without much problems, and go see them with Chris. you will be pleasantly surprised, i was - it is a very different show this year, and for the better!

Steviegirl · #15 11-04-2014, 04:32 PM

I agree with much that has been said. We paid 179.00 for our tickets--on Lindsey's side in the 100s for last year and this year, and we were pleased with those. Unless I'm in the first five rows on the floor, it's too hard to see because I'm not tall.

I think of it as my hobby/treat that I know I'm going to spend the money on, so I just resign myself to the expense, which usually involves some travelling and a hotel, which I try to make a nice hotel, so it's like a little mini-vacation. I try to visit one Relais and Chateaux property every year, but this year, I'll substitute that with two (maybe three) FM shows. Zero regrets. Stevie AND JOHN(!) in witch hats on Halloween in Keith's beautiful DC?! What's better than that?