Prince keeps things affordable at the Forum at $25, but how close does that get you?

Let's face it. The live music business is one that fans and media approach with a skeptical eye, albeit one that's deserved after years of increasing ticket fees, last-minute fire sales and ticketing systems that seemingly play into the hands of the secondary market. So, when artists and promoters do something right, such as Prince offering about 85% of the house at $25 a pop -- a figure that includes service fees -- a hearty well-done is in order. 

Three of Prince's 21 Los Angeles dates went on sale this morning, and if anyone was curious as to how a superstar such as Prince could price more than half the Forum at $25, the answer looked to be apparent as soon as one went to make a purchase. There were, of course, the $25 all-in tickets, but the next tier was a drastic hike. Those who wanted to guarantee a seat outside the Forum's upper deck (the colonnade section) would have to spring for a $205 ticket. 

What's more, those $205 tickets were running deep into the Forum's loge section. If one wanted to ensure one of the absolute best seats in the Forum, Ticketmaster directed you to its Platinum Ticket section, which offered premium loge seats for as high as $450.

But again, there is good news in all this, as Pop & Hiss is not interested here in criticizing an artist for pricing more than 80% of the house at $25. A spokeswoman for promoter Live Nation confirms that there are in fact loge seats available for $25, and those are, no doubt, among the first to go. So those who are gambling on snaring better seats for one of Prince's forthcoming 18 gigs, there is hope, although what percentage of the loge is selling for $25 is unknown.

On the other extreme, however, Prince die hards who perhaps wanted to sit near the floor or close to it could surely forget about anything under a few hundred bucks. Any searches lower than the loge were turning up packages that started at $526 and ran to $781.

So yes, the majority of Prince seats come at the low cost of $25, and hopefully more artists are watching and will follow suit. Yet the excitement that a superstar would be selling $25 tickets is tempered a bit by the fact that the best seats are drastically higher, and there's seemingly no middle ground.

Or perhaps it's simply an honest reflection of the American economy, with studies showing that the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen. In that case, Prince can quote John Lennon at the gigs, as the Beatle once famously asked those in the cheap seats to clap their hands while instructing the rest to "rattle your jewelry." 

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-- Todd Martens

Photo: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[SoCalGal]

I saw Prince from both the second and third levels at Staples. Still an amazing show. The big screens are always great.

[Brian]

I don't know where you got your information, but I bought floor seats for $25 this morning. Floor section F, row 9. I know a lot of people on the floor for $25.

[GG]

Bought two colonnade section row 1 tickets and that's great for me! I've seen over 100 shows at the Forum in my 40 years and have been in most of the sections there. I don't need to be next to the stage for most concerts now. Been there done that. I'll leave it to others too enjoy. Today's tickets cost me $50.00 NO FEES!!!!!! Unheard of!

THANKS PRINCE!

[Kampy]

We got floor tickets for $25 each, 11th row

[JD]

I got loge seats for $25, no problem. Took a while to get through, but there were plenty of $25 tickets in lower levels.

[KZinCC]

This isn't really about Prince as much as it is about the price of concert tickets overall

I went to see the Who, my first big concert in about 1973 at the Fabulous Forum and sat in a decent loge seat for $6.50. According to two different inflation calculators, 6.50 is about 32-33 dollars today. I'll let others go into where exactly the 12 fold increase over the rate of inflation goes.

It's fortunate for me that none of the acts that get the overblown rates appeal to me.

[blaine]

Floor, Section H, Row 9 - $25 - I guess we got lucky, either way for $25 it really doesn't matter where you sit. One can barely go to a movie these days for under $25...

[cabdriver]

3 row floor here for $25. Prince is the man. They are there. Good luck to everyone on the other shows. I hope he keeps the $25 price going for the fans.

[hcb]

Yeah, I don't know where they got this info either. There were plenty of loge seats for $25.00. I guess a little of investigation would go a long way in writing the truth, instead of trying to create a story that isn't there. But that's what journalism is all about today; be first, be the story.

[Craig]

What do you base your information on? I got 9th row seats for $25 each with no fees. And he played several encores opening night with fans from the upper areas allowed to sneak on down for a more intimate setting. By far the best bang for your dollar ever! Please make sure you have your facts correct before writing such a skeptical piece. 85% of the venue went to $25 dollar seats which by far includes the "middle ground" that you assume got looked over.

[James]

I had a great loge seat last night, and it was $25.00. For that $25, I got 3 hours and 20 minutes of Prince with appearances by George Lopez and Sheila E. The show was mind-blowing, and I can't count the encores, even after the house lights came on. There were certainly no less than five.

Yes, the show started at 9:00pm, and yes, Forum parking is $25 (cash only), but it was still an unimaginable bargain. I already have another $25 for next Friday in the colonnade section, and after last night's show, I know what a deal that is.

[Ray]

This article is bogus. The only tickets that have been for sale have been $200+ for nosebleed seats. I thought the LA Times was above tabloid-style falsities.

[Jules "RaspberryWoman"]

Hello P fans...can you help me out a bit...I am trying to buy tickets (the $70 ones because i want to be as close as possible & thats all i can afford) I am trying for (see the chart in the link) http://stc.ticketsupply.com/seating/450/the-forum-prince-12082.jpg ORANGE 12 ...I am thinking If I got ROW A Seat 1, that would be the closest right? I cant seem to find if the rows start A (bottom) to Z (higher)...So please help out! I am getting tickets Early tomm morning. XOXO email me at julesinwonderland@yahoo.com THANKYOU & STAY FUNKY!