Posted on 06/30/2006 9:29:41 AM PDT by edzo4
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 world’s 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.
It’s the same story across the country, where Streisand had hoped for lucrative double shows in a select list of major markets.
Instead, Streisand’s grand - and possibly final - tour is down to 14 shows, with doubles only in New York and south Florida.
What’s to blame?
The culprit, industry insiders say, may be the evil that liberals like Streisand just love to blast: greed.
Streisand’s ticket prices average $300 and quickly escalate to $750. That’s 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.
It’s 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, Streisand’s promoters demanded a $6 million guarantee per show, one executive noted.
But it’s 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 Streisand’s 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, it’s 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.
It’s not that Streisand hasn’t 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.
If only Jimmy were a conservative, my world would be in perfect rhythm. I'd even let him keep the manatees on his platform. Come on Jimmy...come on over from the dark side.
yep, too bad he is confused, money does that to people sometimes.
We adopt a manatee for each of the kids every year at Christmas. It is cheap and the grandkids get a kick out of it. We did it for our own children as well. Kind of a long standing tradition.
That's alright. It's working as designed. I mean, if us 'little people' could afford to attend her concert, then who would do the waitstaff and busboy and concierge and valet parking and bathroom attendant and sous-chef duties, just to name a few, and for so little money?
Has Babs lost her edge? Usually her concert tickets are sucked up by her leftie cronies regardless the cost... She'll have to spew some more hate to get herself back in the limelight and drum up sales.
Ah but it is not just a concert......it is an adventure! lol
I remeber the days of $25 tickets... and that was a LOT!
A family of 4 could fly to Walt Disney World, stay in a WDW hotel for 7 days and have 4 7 days passes for less than that. Sorry Babs, I'd rather hang out with Winnie the Pooh than with you.
perhaps we need to launch a congressional investigation into ticket price gouging
we should also look at hitting babs with a windfall profit tax, hehe :)
Kudos to me Carolina brothers.
I know! And he is friends with PJ, too! At least he was when "Holidays in Hell" was written.
mecha-streisand - darn - you beat me to it
Man, I think the first concert I went to, The Moody Blues, was around $17.00 at the Cow Palace. Then again, skiing, even at Heavenly was $25.00 or less.
Where do you usually attend the concert? Buffett is HUGE here in Cincinnati! The venue is right on the water so people go out in boats to listen for free. It is a madhouse!
I cannot wait until we can afford to go! LOL
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.