You are not logged in. Please register or login.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
Re: Azoff-Axl Lawsuit Settled: Includes "comprehensive touring agreement"
Well, I think it probably comes down to money. I mean, everything does, doesn't it? If they think it's more profitable to play to half full arenas, rather than playing at packed houses in smaller venues, then I can only imagine that's the reason they choose to do it that way.
- Mikkamakka
- Rep: 217
Re: Azoff-Axl Lawsuit Settled: Includes "comprehensive touring agreement"
Yeah, you're right, Russ. If there is no huge demand for your product, then position it as exclusive and 'snobbish'. If a little less people can get access to it than how many wants to, it's better for you (and you can earn more). Much better marketing than playing half empty arenas with free ticket giveaways.
Re: Azoff-Axl Lawsuit Settled: Includes "comprehensive touring agreement"
tejastech08 wrote:Theaters are the only realistic way to go. Time for Uncle Axl to get his ego in check.
It's not even a matter of "Axl getting his ego in check". I've been screaming for theater shows since the 02 tour was booked. It's a win/win for the band, here's why;
Guns N' Roses comes to your city, they book some theater that seats between 1000-4000 seats, they price tickets reasonably, it becomes THE ticket in town. Period. I don't care what lineup of GN'R they tour with, GNR at a place a little too small creates so much positive buzz it's not even funny.
So they book this tour, radio stations give out tickets to caller X, the tickets are all over Stub Hub, etc, people talk to other people; "DUDE! You got GNR tickets! Man, I would've loved to have been able to get those!" Then you still have that "danger factor" Axl seems to love so much. Will Axl show up? What time will he do it? Will it be a whole show? Will Axl go off on someone or something?
And then best case scenario, the show goes off without a hitch (as many more have than haven't since 02), the people at the show continue the buzz. "Dude, I saw GN'R the other night, they were AWESOME! Axl's still got it!" etc etc.
Then after a couple rounds of those, you've got the cache to pull off an arena tour again if you wish. Or even be invited to more of the super popular US festivals, etc.
I'm telling you, a Guns N' Roses Theater US Tour is and has been THE best option for the band for almost 10 years now. And I really don't think it's got anything to do with Axl's ego. I just think that the people at the wheel of "the GNR machine" so to speak, really don't know enough about how to promote this band properly.
I understand what you're saying, but like Faldor said, you have to look at the numbers, really. What's the overhead for a theater vs. an arena show, what are the differences in potential ticket sale grosses, are there differences in merch sales, what kind of per show guarantees can the band get, etc.
I would hope a detailed financial analysis is being done to help determine from a financial perspective, at least, the best course of action.
Ali
- tejastech08
- Rep: 194
Re: Azoff-Axl Lawsuit Settled: Includes "comprehensive touring agreement"
I would hope a detailed financial analysis is being done to help determine from a financial perspective, at least, the best course of action.
Ali
This is Axl Rose we're talking about. Detailed financial analysis? Remember this is the same guy who spent $15 million making a single album. 
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Azoff-Axl Lawsuit Settled: Includes "comprehensive touring agreement"
Guns N' Roses comes to your city, they book some theater that seats between 1000-4000 seats, they price tickets reasonably,
I think the problem is...."they price tickets reasonably".
GNR has 8 people in the band, 7 of which I'd assume are most likely paid some form of sallary per show.
Then there's the entourage needed - stage crew, engineers, every band members personal instrument techs and so on. Various road managers and so on to ensure all travel happens on schedule. Hell just the number of people in the band creates twice as many amps and so on to haul around the nation.
These people not only have to be paid...but it creates a larger touring party in terms of per diem allowances for food, transport costs and hotel costs.
Not to mention most people would want something other than a bare bones accoustic show...so you can expect lighting and pyro costs etc.
Then you have to pay for marketing and so on.
Sure it can be done, but what I'm saying is you have to consider the financial sums and if it's profitiable to tour with an operation the size of GNR's operation at venues where you are restricting your potential income drasticly.
I personally suspect that if they sold 1000 tickets only the ticket price would have to be unaffordable to pay all those type of costs.
Theatres are better suited to smaller bands, with less complex stage sets ups. I don't know without seeing the sums involved, but I think your plan does kind of underestimate the costs of touring something like the modern GNR band.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Azoff-Axl Lawsuit Settled: Includes "comprehensive touring agreement"
I don't mean to be shitting on the concept.
It definately has some merrit to create buzz. And it would be cool as fuck for fans - imagine GNR up that close!
But yeah I do suspect that if you crunch the numbers it may not make sense from the band's perspective. It's impossible to know without knowing the exact number in the touring party, the length of the tour, the distances traveled, the type of stage setups and production used.
You might be right that it works, I wouldn't know, just saying the costs of these things can add up real fast too. Just saying it has to make sense in relation to the bands other options.
Axl is a guy who could do 1 private show for $1m or more maybe.
Or just stuff like..If it's 2 shows at 2000 people each at two locations, you have the production expenses twice, the travel from the nearby cities, double the hotel costs - vs if you do 1 show central to both those places for 4000 punters - then like it's only 1 night on the road, half the staging costs - travel is now done by the audience not you etc. Then again..maybe it's not as buzz making like you said...and some people won't travel.
It's a complex science is all i'm saying 
Re: Azoff-Axl Lawsuit Settled: Includes "comprehensive touring agreement"
When I say "price tickets reasonably", I mean "by comparison".
You've got Bon Jovi and everyone else asking well over $100, sometimes $200 for tickets these days.
Price the theater tour around the same as the 06 tour and you've still got everything paid for but you still look cool because your show is a hot ticket and creates buzz.
I saw U2 9 times on the 360 tour and only once did I pay more than I paid for Gn'R in 2010 and 2006. I don't think Gn'R's ticket pricing is very reasonable at all when you look at the overall average of what some bands charge. I'm pretty sure Bon Jovi isn't charging $200 as an average ticket price. U2 for example had 10 000 seats per show at $35. Floor seats ranged from $55 - $75. Yes some seats did cost $200 - $300 but hey the demand is there. Gn'R didn't sell out Calgary in 2010. They charge too much when you consider which Gn'R you're getting. These other bands that charge argueably more are orginal lineups more often than not. Gn'R's ticket prices are as if the real deal is touring. Imagine Bono or Jon charging $100 a seat to play with relative no names as the band members
Just saying.
Mind you the point was made earlier about number of band memebrs and road crew needing to be paid. You'd significantly lessen your road crew playing in much smaller venues. It's just a fact. less staging = less crew.
Re: Azoff-Axl Lawsuit Settled: Includes "comprehensive touring agreement"
The scope of the show would HAVE to be changed also imho. Scaled back, club atmosphere, acoustic portions of the show.
Sounds cool, the only crummy thing is, none of this conceptualizing we're doing will ever lead to Axl unveiling a new song from the vault.
Calling Izzy in for select shows would be a great gimmick too, at least to the hardcores.
Sounds cool, but me thinks Axl would have to present GN'R in fashion more akin to 1987/88, rather than 2002 or 2006.
