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.
Then the arena people bill FEMA...
Oh, at first I thought someone said I'd have to pay $350 dollars to watch instead of being paid $350 to watch Madonna? You're serious?!!? I'd have to PAY!!! to watch Madonna??!! Excuse me, I'm having a laughing fit. I wouldn't pay a lot less than $350 to watch anybody.
The way to do Bubba is plan in advance, fly somewhere where there aren't quite as many Parrotheads, stay in a hotel and make it a four-day weekend.
Get lawn tickets for a Thursday show, and you'll be out only a few hundred. Done it many times: best show of his I saw was in Northern Virginia in 2000.
All the action and most of the fun is in the tailgating, anyway.
...oh, and Irvine is a very nice venue. You can squeeze an entire week out of Orange County with the Angels, Disneyland, etc.
My handle is actually a slight tip of the hat to "Tin Cup Chalice".
Liberals lack the ability to feel shame - there's no other explanation.
We have been doing Jiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyy for at least 15 yrs now, every year. The only year we missed was the year his Mom was sick and they cancelled Irvine. We went anyway on our own "Where's Jimmy?" tour. rofl
Since we always start our yearly vacation with his concert anywhere besides Nevada, Ariz., or California is really out of the way for us.
We have a blast!
Truthfully I envy you for being able to go. The closest I got to one of his concerts was possibly sitting on the deck of a some tropical hotel drinking while his song was on. I think that going to his concert would be an amazing experience. Good for you. I am glad that a FREEPER is enjoying one of his concerts.
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