Posted on 06/30/2006 7:26:11 AM PDT by PajamaTruthMafia
Just call her money girl - Streisand tix demand off as price skyrockets By Scott Van Voorhis Boston Herald Business Reporter
Friday, June 30, 2006 - Updated: 07:35 AM EST
The days of being the music worlds top-priced ticket may just be memories now for Barbra Streisand.
The 64-year-old crooner with a taste for trendy, lefty causes earlier this month rolled out grand plans for a 20-concert tour, her first in 10 years.
But after taking a look at her ticket prices - including $5,000 deluxe packages - even Babs die-hard limousine liberal fans may be having second thoughts.
And in the biggest shocker of all, Babs is even bombing in Boston, the heartland of blue state America.
While Boston was slated for two shots of Streisand, for now, anyway, we will have to settle for one on Oct. 22.
Its the same story across the country, where Streisand had hoped for lucrative double shows in a select list of major markets.
Instead, Streisands grand - and possibly final - tour is down to 14 shows, with doubles only in New York and south Florida.
Whats to blame?
The culprit, industry insiders say, may be the evil that liberals like Streisand just love to blast: greed.
Streisands ticket prices average $300 and quickly escalate to $750. Thats even before you get to the ticket packages.
Those start at $1,000, and top out at an oh-so-economical $5,000.
For that sum fit for a princess, you get a room at a five-star hotel, transportation to and from the arena, a pre-dinner reception and a souvenir to remember the night by.
Its prices like these that have made Streisand the most expensive act ever to hit the road.
Even Madonna, the most ruthless of the ruthless in the corporate music world, tops out with ticket prices of $350.
But Streisand and her promoters could teach Madonna a few things or two when it comes to business tactics worthy of a corporate raider.
In talks with venues, Streisands promoters demanded a $6 million guarantee per show, one executive noted.
But its not just the money that can be a headache for arena managers.
Streisand is also known for demanding things like wall-to-wall carpeting and chandeliers.
But if Streisands early ticket sales are any indication, some fans may be tired of being milked.
The promoters of her tour have held out the possibility that second shows will be added in cities like Boston.
However, its now three weeks and counting since tickets went on sale, an eternity in the hyper-paced concert business.
You only need a day or two to figure out whether you have that kind of demand, one industry executive noted.
Its not that Streisand hasnt tried to tug at the heart-strings - as well as the purse strings - of her legion of fans.
She pledged to funnel millions from her tour to - what else, the Streisand Foundation - to combat dangerous climate change and other causes.
The public speaks and at some point these ticket prices get stupid, noted Paul Munick, senior vice president for sports and entertainment at Mohegan Sun, which considered booking Streisand.
For me, I'll only pay the big cash to see Kiss or Cooper. I did see Cooper recently, front row. Eyes were not on him, but Chuck Garric the bass player. It was pretty. ;-)But Coop himself--WE'RE NOT WORTHY! WE'RE NOT WORTHY!
Any other show, I'm in the back row to avoid the mosh pit or the drunken go-go girls, but at 5' I don't see much.
I didn't know that tix were off for everyone--shows you how in the know I am these days. I figured folks like Eminem, 50 Cent and the current crop of 'yout musicians' were raking it in.
I'm not down with the youngsters these days... unless you're counting three year olds. Dora Live! at the TD Waterhouse was awesome! (just joking)
...I think of her as an elderly, grossly overweight Dixie Chick.
?????????????????
She's from Texas ??
Are you from Ireland.
She's a great singer, but these prices are too high.
Gak! What a lineup! I need a time machine, stat!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.