How Much Would You Pay To See Prince, Billy Joel, Dave Matthews, Tom Petty, and James Taylor?
If you said "$15K, obviously!" -- this one's for you. The Wall Street Journal offers up good news for people who like absurd news:
This summer, promoters are offering a new service for VIP concert-goers: eliminating the riffraff altogether.Think that's a lot? Don't worry 'cause Bulldog Entertainment (the genius organization behind the series) will soften the blow with to-die-for amenities like free parking!A new five-concert series called "Social" will debut in East Hampton, N.Y., in July, with a pass to all five shows costing $15,000. (Tickets aren't available for individual shows.)
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The Social lineup is hardly cutting-edge -- it includes Prince, Billy Joel, Dave Matthews, Tom Petty and James Taylor.
Actually punters also will be treated to celebrity-chef prepared meals and "seating will include daybeds, ottomans and Moroccan pillows." But for $15,000 they better include a live set by three or more Beatles.
Posted at 10:04 AM
That shizz better come with a handy.
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"But for $15,000 they better include..."
two grams of blow and a personal Prince lapdance.
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that shit is insane. i wouldn't pay that much if they resurrected Bonham for a Zeppelin reunion show in the hall of Valhalla. on the other hand, free parking? pretty enticing...
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This actually saddens me. I respect all of these artists for their integrity in this business. They've all historically tried to keep their ticket prices reasonable, and haven't ever resorted to commercializing their music. It's kind of gross that they're signed up for this "lifestyle" event. Lifestyle of douchebags. I wonder if Prince and Billy Joel thought this up during the Superbowl...
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Who needs free parking? Nobody could afford to keep their car after paying for this.
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I'd expect this kind of behavior from the rest of them, but et tu Petty?
Yuck.
Hope they have fun with those crowds.
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wow, ottomans! i thought they were extinct.
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Have a music-industry friend who was working on a project with the guys who dreamed up this concert series. Apparently they had to put a cap on the number of tickets people could buy because some of the high-rolling Hedge funders were trying to buy up blocks of 50+ tickets each, just to, you know, have more than the next guy.
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I'm picturing a pissed-off Tom Petty playing to a group of suits who are on their Blackberrys for the entire show next to their bored trophy wives sitting on cashmere chaise lounges, drinking $200 top shelf cosmos and painting their nails...
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Fifteen thousand dollars sounds about right. I'd do it for fifteen thou.
Oh, wait—me pay them?
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True Jay, except Petty might have a hard time getting mad about the crowd when he's supposed to be receiving at least a mil for the one show, according to that article.
I'm guessing that kind of money will give you pretty thick skin.
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The fact that there are people rich enough to do that in this country is a serious ethical problem.
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I'm going just to see Billy Joel. Wait. He's on tour now? I can get a ticket for under $200?
Hold on a minute. I can get a Billy Joel concert on DVD for $20? I can get free parking in my garage? Looks like I have a new plan.
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"Punters??" You had better be English. Otherwise you're what we in America call "a douchebag who needlessly deploys other countries' slang."
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Look, don't be such a mezza fanook. Let the guy show off his foreign slang if he wants. Ma donn!!!
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Wasn't 'The Last DJ' a rant by Petty against the music industry for things like this? I love TP, but are we verging on hypocrisy here?
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Ever think about how many of us are reading from London? Carry on, we quite like it. But keep your bloody 15,000 concerts to yourselves.
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i thought that said bonnie prince billy for a second
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Disgusting.
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I predict a fight in the seats à la the Boston Pops w/ Ben Folds.
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all of these dudes already play private parties for cash - so this isn't anything new. most of your fave artists do it and the guests are whomever the party host invites. this is just an extention of a private party that all of these rich folks can go to. the people who go will be folks who don't blink at the pricetag - not you and me. what's the diff between this series and beck playing a corporate party for some a-holes?
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Beck is an a-hole also, as is anyone who would play a corporate party. This sounds like quite possibly the worst concert I've ever heard of, both in bands (I do love Petty, but what the fuck?) and in atmosphere.
Also, I have to agree with the slang police on this one: please, no more "punters," "bloody," or "quite." I respect England, but it just sounds totally queer for an American to use those kinds of words.
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"Riffraff" hello!
Who the hell would want to hang out with a crowd of stiff-faced, over-scented sociopaths who perceive themselves to be better than others because they were stupid enough to pay out their butt's for these tickets and have a few extra bucks in their pockets. Gimme a break...
The only one of this bunch that surprises me is Billy Joel.
Tom Petty is a hypocrite...talks out of all ends...the clincher was that $1 million batmitzvah gig he did for that war profiteer's daughter...good going Tom.
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see you all there
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Guess it's not about the music anymore!
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Nice!!!
www.BillyJoelForum.com
www.BillyJoelFan.com
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Geez folks, pull up your bloomers and call off the dogs Ma Barker. For these musicians, this is thier job. They get paid to play whether its for 15,000 or 15 people. Why shouldn't they? If you were offered to do your job for 10x what you make now you'd say. "no thanks, I wanna keep it real" ?!?!
Sure it'll be a dull audience..so why do you care??
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Why do you think it will be a dull audience, people with $ an be just as much fun as those without...hum, maybe even more!
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If I could afford it I would go and so would you. Do your homework, www.discoversocial.com the ross school gives a shit ton of money to poor hampton kids (they do exist) to go to school and this concert benefits that scholarship fund.
I wasn't able to get close enough to see Roger Waters this summer for the asking price of $500, so what?
Get off your high horse and go wash my truck or flip my burger bitch.
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Anyone rich or wanna be rich that would shell out $15,000 to see second sell out musicians on passe daybeds (am I supposed to sleep, camp out???)
The greedy Mothers who thought this gig up and the musicians that agreed to become part of the elite hedge fund HOG-Fest should all hide their head in their Bentley leather seats.
Do you know how much $15,000 would buy for the lower income people that will be cleaning up the excess that these slobs discard....you all should be ashamed of your self...and by the way, i will never go to another one of these artists concerts again....ever
Bulldog??? Bullshit
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