Festival Prices

KT666 · February 15, 2009

Does anyone else think the prices for festivals are starting the verge on the ridiculous. Only ten years ago the prices were half what they are now - I do not think inflation has risen at quite this rate. Has anyone else noticed those little extras that they are charging for like car parking, early entry etc which by the time you get the actual ticket price you are looking at nearly £200, and thats not evn factoring in petrol or travel costs. What annoys me more is the quality of bands seems to be decreasing - lets hope this year is the exception.

It is also the prices in the festival that get me - I have noticed at Download this year (not sure about last year as went to Rock am Ring instead) you are not even allowed to have the tops to your plastic bottle - is this so when you have spilt it all you are forced to buy a bottle for over £2 (as the free water will have run out).

Anyway, rant over but just wondered if anyone else felt the same.

Edited February 15, 2009 by KT666

luckysalt · February 15, 2009

If the demand is there and people will pay the prices, then they will charge those prices, to be fair with so many festivals, its become a price war between the festivals when it comes to booking the acts, and then thats passed on to us

alex89 · February 24, 2009

I worked out travel ticket food drink and general spending I'm looking at £300 I can go to Spain full board for a week for that

Salt_On_Everything · February 24, 2009

...but you can't see loads of killer bands and get stupidly hammered with loads of mates :lol:

edit - but yes, festivals are stupidly expensive, but i always find it hella worth it!

Edited February 24, 2009 by Salt_On_Everything

biffoire · February 24, 2009

Festivals are still amazing value for money. Tickets go up 5 or 10% each year but you come to expect it. It's like the beer prices. The quicker you come to terms with it the easier it is to deal with.

WildChildRockChick · February 28, 2009

I used to go & see a lot of bands (most of them probably) individually in my younger days. When I knew what was what & who was who!!!

But with the demise of the smaller venues (Im a 'Marquee Veteran') and encroaching age & it's accompanying responsibilities I find I don't have either the time or money (or energy?!) to be out 6/7 nights a week seeing bands so I find the festivals a good alternative.

Expensive? Yes, but only looked at in isolation. £160 plus additionals (car parking etc) so nearly £200 = 4ish x Wembley / O2 gigs, you can't count spending money as at say£50/gig over 4 gigs (drinks/travel/cabs - probably more than £50/gig to be honest) = £200 minimum = about a weekend's spending money for me. Plus at a festival I see a shed load more than 4 'main' bands and I treat it as a holiday and have a real good time along with a large number of my mates.

Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Oh, for sure!

Oh - this year's line up? Quality!

Edited February 28, 2009 by WildChildRockChick

biffoire · February 28, 2009

Ticket to DL = 180 notes

Experience of having the best weekend of your life with yer best mates = priceless.

You can put a price on experiences and festivals with mates are the memories you will always remember!

So, well worth it!! Besides, what else would you be doing that is cheaper or better?

Lithium05 · June 28, 2009

Generally speaking when it comes to a festival line-up I look at the bands I want to see, and work out how much the cost would be to see those bands seperately. Using Sonisphere as an example:

Metallica - £50

Linkin Park - £40

NIN - £30

Alice In Chains - £20

Feeder - £20

Airbourne - £20

The Used - £20

Zebrahead £10

That's well over the ticket price and that's just a random selection of bands I like who are playing, not all of them!

Download this year was free for me, but still would have justified the ticket price, before factoring in the non band related parts of the experience.

Though I honest to god can't pick much in the way of musical reasons that I'm going to Reading this year... I still might sell my ticket closer to the time to be honest!