Music In The Zoo Ticket Prices…

It’s no question that seeing concerts at the Minnesota Zoo’s Weesner Amphitheater is one of the more intimate outdoor places to see shows in Minnesota in the summer, and clearly it’s been a hit as they celebrate their 20th season this year.

However, it’s also one of the priciest venues around as well.

Shows at the Zoo have always been more expensive than you’d pay to see the same band anywhere else in town, a fact that even Sue Mclean or the zoo themselves would not deny. However, the last few years, and made even more painstakingly obvious this year, it seems like prices have skyrocketed even higher on average.

There are currently 26 shows on the Zoo’s schedule this summer. They may add a couple as they usually do, but for our sake we’ll use that number. The least expensive show (and only show priced under $30) is currently The Pines, with no opener listed as of yet, but I’m sure it’ll end up a very solid local bill. While The Pines are one of the better local acts around, it’s worth pointing out that The Pines played on a bill at the Zoo in 2009 with arguably two slightly larger drawing locals, Solid Gold and Jeremy Messersmith, for $18. At the time I recall noting that it was not just the cheapest show on the zoo’s summer schedule, but also quite a deal for those 3 acts. I know about inflation, etc. all that, but a 37% price increase in three years? That seems high to me. Don’t feel like I’m picking on The Pines at all, they deserve it as much as any local act, but they’re an easy target for this analysis.

The most expensive show this year is actually a 3-way tie at $67 for John Prine, David Gray and Barenaked Ladies with Blues Traveler and Cracker. Of those three shows, the one that is easily most justifiable at that price is a triple bill of acts whose heyday (hey, even if you’re a huge fan you can’t really disagree) were in the 90’s. If you’re a fan of even just two of those three acts, I’d imagine $67 is more than worth the price of admission, and if you’re a fan of all three then it’s likely a steal. John Prine is a legend and easily worth that ticket price. David Gray however, while I dug his first four albums (and especially the Lost Songs 95-98 compilation), has been on a downhill slide into Coldplay-ville since 1998’s ‘White Ladder’. Even though he is still a draw for many, tickets for his show at the State Theater last year were $49.50. Now I know that venue size is nearly double and that anyone with even a simple grasp on math and economics can recognize that the demand will likely outweigh the supply in his case. Same goes for Feist and Low Anthem… that show would likely be at the Orpheum or State Theater otherwise, but I feel it’s still worth pointing out that for a couple of dollars LESS than their show here at the zoo ($47), you could see her open for Bon Iver at Red Rocks just outside of Denver. Again, a much larger venue, I realize that, but that’s not my point. Tickets for the rest of Feists’ summer tour range between $23 in Arizona to $50 for the closest seats at Radio City in NYC. Sidenote… I was rather happy to see that tickets to Feists’ show here is at least $8 lower than the marginally less talented Florence & The Machine charged for her debut Twin Cities show last summer at least.

There are certainly plenty of shows on the lineup that I feel are a steal, even at their high prices. The most obvious of which is Los Lobos and Steve Earle for $47. Earle charges upwards of that for his own shows in town, so you add on Los Lobos and it’s a no brainer. $58 for a legend like Emmylou Harris in a small and intimate outdoor venue like that is also a good buy, as she too would likely be playing the State or Orpheum and they’d likely be charging MORE for the top tickets.

One show (or should I say two shows) that completely baffles me how they’re charging so much for is Brandi Carlile. Tickets for her two night stand in June are $58. I know she has a new album coming out and is part of the Cities 97 group of artists, but she played at the MN State Fair with Amos Lee and The Watson Twins for $31 just 2 years ago.

Keep in mind that unless you’re able to drive to the Electric Fetus to buy tickets locally for only a $2 per ticket surcharge, you can add in another $15-20 PER ticket in Ticketmaster fees. Now that’s not Sue Mclean or the Zoo’s fault necessarily, but at this point there are plenty of viable options for ticketing that doesn’t require Ticketmaster. Such as Ticketfly which venues like the Varsity Theater use, or Etix, which while they’ve had a few kinks for very huge demand on sales, has been quite successful in selling tickets to First Avenue shows the last year. Those sites all have their own fees as well, but they’re not QUITE as high as Ticketmaster and at least don’t line the pockets of the fat cats as much as TM does. It’s worth noting that Ticketweb, who the 400 Bar and The Cedar sells tickets through is owned by Ticketmaster, but thankfully still has lower fees.

While I’ve seen some amazing gigs at the zoo over the years and there’s a handful of shows I would LOVE to see at the Zoo this summer, I can honestly say that I will be lucky if I’m able to attend even one show at those prices. The thing is, most of the shows will have no problem selling out even at those prices, but it’s abundantly clear the zoo series is aimed solely at the 40-60+ crowd who have a lot more disposable income than the the 18-30 year olds. I realize their lineup has always appealed to the older crowd anyway, but they usually have at least one show that not only appeals to a younger crowd, but is also priced for them as well. Examples in the past are Guster and Ben Kweller playing two shows there in 2007 for $26, Andrew Bird and Chris Koza in 2006 for $20 just to name a few off the top of my head.

To some concert goers those ticket prices may not seem high compared to the newly opened Brick’s lineup so far, or to larger arena shows, but they ARE still quite high considering what the same artists would charge at other venues in town. What is the solution? I’m not really sure there needs to be one, because as I already said, I doubt many of these shows will have problems selling tickets. As much as I HATE tiered pricing in many ways, I’m wondering if it wouldn’t be nice for at least some of these shows to have a lower ticket price near the top of the venue for those who would love to check out a show but can’t afford the $50-80 after fees for most shows.

Some nerdy numbers for you to chew on:

Highest ticket price this summer: $67 (for three different shows, $102 for “VIP Box Seats” for the BNL / Blues Traveler / Cracker show)
Lowest ticket price this summer: $28 for The Pines with opener(s) TBA
Average ticket price this summer (not including VIP box seats, as I don’t know how many of those they sell per show, so assume this number is ever so slightly higher): $46
*Note* I’m going to try and find FULL pricing for the past few years lineups to add here soon. I only have quick access to the shows i’ve attended in the past.

My take on which shows are over/under priced or that are priced just right:

Priced right: Mary Chapin Carpenter ($44), Rufus Wainwright ($38), John Prine ($67), BNL / Blues Traveler / Cracker ($67), Ziggy Marley ($38)

Over: David Gray ($67), Brandi Carlile ($58), The Pines ($28), Gavid DeGraw and Colbie Caillat ($56), DeVotchka ($31… if they have a great opener then i’d say it’s worth it)

Under: Taj Mahal and Blind Boys of Alabama ($47) Los Lobos and Steve Earle ($47), Emmylou Harris ($58), Robert Randolph with JJ. Grey and Mofro ($38), Dark Star Orchestra ($30), Tower of Power ($35… their shows at the Dakota (albeit a much smaller venue) run between $45-70).

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p>Update I noticed that the Pines show ended up being $22 and the great Lucy Michelle & The Velvet Lapelles are opening now. Whether or not my whining had an effect on the ticket price, I’m not sure, but happy to see that show being more affordable for the masses.