‘How much is too much?’
That’s the dilemma all of us face when big name performers arrive with mind-boggling concert prices. The xx, Foo Fighters, Mayday, all have concert tickets prices averaging upwards of $160.
Case in point: $500 for Britney Spears concert tickets. That may have finally crossed the threshold, pissing off many fans who expected more affordable prices to catch their reviving idol.
One netizen even claimed that she’d rather fly to Bangkok to catch Britney’s stopover there instead due to the exorbitant prices here.
Yes we know it’s unrealistic to compare ticket prices in the US, where it is cheaper and easier to tour a production, compared to flying out an entire entourage half way across the world.
But even within Asia itself, where the destinations are literally a couple hours away, Singapore tops the chart for regional concert ticket prices.
A fresh name like ‘5SOS’, though foreign to this region, should be charging prices similar to the Kuala Lumpur show since it’s a mere bus ride away. Perhaps traveling entirely to another country to catch the same gig is worth the time and effort after all. (Note how local ticket prices are almost 4 times more expensive as the Tokyo show)
So Why The Crazy Prices In Singapore?
Where It Happens
The xx previously held their 2013 concert at The Star Vista, a known premium hotspot for concert-goers. Naturally, with all things premium, the price wouldn’t be anything less. Afterall, Singapore is an insanely expensive place to rent venues.
On the other end of the spectrum, the recent The Maine concert held locally was a dream come true for their fans at only $89 for standard tickets. It wasn’t the best location with the biggest capacity, but it did its job.
Ultimately it boils down to the maintenance and grandiose of the location regardless if the country it’s being held in.
Actually Getting Them Here
Unfortunately, most of our favourite global acts are native to the US and Europe. So it makes sense that running a show all the way in Asia would be substantially more expensive.
Not only does the organizer of the gig have to ferry the talents over, but also bring along a barrage of equipment. This is a massive logistical feat, with equipment handling charges, air fares for the equipment and et cetera. What about the entourage that comes with the act? Lady Gaga reportedly tours with her an 80-people strong entourage to make sure everything runs smoothly, think about the finances that make it possible.
Local Permits And Taxes
In defence of your beloved pop stars, the devil lurks in the details of ‘hidden’ charges. There are plenty of other nitty gritty details that go into the success of the show, which incur costs such as licensing charges, royalty and entertainment fees, just to name a few. Aside from that, organizers have to engage vendors for the sale of the tickets, which, imposes another additional charge. All these costs are then woven into the price of the tickets.
Extravagant Stage Designs
It is safe to say that the backbone of every concert experience is the alluring back drop that makes the very moment you spend with your idol, timeless.
U2’s 360° Tour, for example, saw the organizers erect a gigantic structure called ‘The Claw’ every time they performed in a different destination.
This claw-machine like monstrosity was only possible with the $750,000 a day budget, amounting to a 23 million – 31 million set up EVERY TIME the band performed. They’d better expect a crowd when the tour amounted to at least 110 performances worldwide under this structure – thereafter also being crowned as the highest grossing tour in history, with sales reaching 730 million dollars.
Supply And Demand, Duh
Just like any other goods or services, when there’s high demand with limited supply, prices go up. It’s an inevitable trend. Unless people suddenly collectively lose interest in Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles, expect nothing to change.
That being said, exploiting the yearning hearts of the fans isn’t something new; take the Coldplay concert tickets fiasco that happened earlier this year for example.
If someone is desperate enough to buy at ridiculous prices, someone else would most definitely be more than willing to sell them at ridiculous prices. Once again, supply and demand.
At The End Of The Day, It’s A Major Gamble
No matter the popularity of the band, there’s always a risk involved. The organizers may or may not have a sold-out show despite the ‘popularity’ of the act. It’s a delicate balancing act between the demographics of the audience and whether they are well-received at this part of the world. The low frequency and high set up costs of particular acts visiting Singapore drive up the prices of the tickets.
This is especially true if it’s an artist’s first time round in the region and the organizers don’t have a clear idea how much they should charge.
So before you whine about the ticket prices for your favourite acts’ gigs, try to remind yourself the miles they travel to get to you.
Well, at least that’s what I’ll be telling myself when I purchase my next concert tickets.
