[peteram]

"Some of those concerts are outrageously expensive," Rinaldo says. "That goes back to the artist and the artist management and the booking fees.....The demand I'm getting from these agents, I'm still shaking my head. How can you expect me to pay this high guarantee when everything's crumbling?"

I read something similar in the Gainesville (FL) Sun last weekend. I live in Orlando and I remember that the 80's and 90's were full of top name artists performing in Gainesville. Now, barely anyone is booked into the University venues because of the same reason - The agents want too high of an up-front guarantee. Normally cash-strapped students would be hard-pressed to shell out premium dollars for a concert (i.e.: $50 to $85.00 per ticket).

Eventually the law of supply and demand will kick in and the artists/agents/promoters will HAVE to lower their rates or just not tour at all. There comes a point where people start saying "Gee, There's a lot of other things I could use that $60.00 ($120.00/couple) for."

[My Favorite Headache]

I live in Orlando as well and have seen some decent shows at house of blues. I am seeing Rush at the new Ford Amphitheater in Tampa in 2 weeks and in West Palm the next night. I am seeing them 15 shows this summer on a road trip that took me almost 7 months to plan.

Then they added 2 nights at Radio City Music Hall in mid-August and the tickets start at 127.50 not including service charge.

Outrageous.

[Old Professer]

From the sounds of my busy street and the system freaks who travel it, music has been replaced by the metronome's amplified trip-hammer.