Some concerts try to thwart ticket brokers from buying up blocks of tickets some encourage it by selling group rates. While it's illegal it's still a common practice for concert & theater ticket sellers in NY to accept "ice" an extra added on ammount of money paid to box office workers. This is prohibited in the theater I work in and you will be fired if it is discovered that you engage in this practice. Almost anyone working with shows also get allotments of what are called house seats either deeply discounted or free these are almost always great seats and quite often wind up on ticket services going for top dollar. Industry people trade in favors it's a way of life performers from some shows or their agents and publicists call other shows or concerst and tickets are bought for family members secretaries, maids, family friends. If a ticket is very hot the network of connected people buzzes with who do you know thats connected to anyone connected with such and such. It's always someones brothers, mothers cousin is a bass player who played with them when they were on their reunion tour and his agents sister needs 4 ...well if there are 20 to 30 people working just with the crew multiply that times 5 and then the publicity staff multiply it again and then the immediate family members add another 20 to 30 and the ad agency and promoters add 20 and the financial backers add 40...amazing is'nt it. If there is going to be a televized concert all of the folks connected with that are good for favors of 3 and 4 tickets each. On a regular basis I'm offered tickets for practically anything thats running in town & usually only for weeknights 9 outta 10 I turn them down.. going out becomes work after work. The last way to great seats is going to a ticket broker who can tell you where the seat will be in advance this will cost big bucks. Any other ticket broker if they are legal in your state are doing nothing more than calling the box office and placing an order for you and charging you a service fee and somtimes a steep one. Hotels here often charge their guest as much as $175 for a ticket they could have purchased themselves for $79 they often become outraged when they realize that they have'nt gotten anything special sad on 1 level business on another. The same hotel just charged you $2 for a $25 cent phone call and $6 for a cup of coffee it's how they make their living. During the recent theater strike here I was told by a woman that the hotel was trying to sell her a pair of $158 tickets for $500...the pitch was you'll never do better on your own...well you would'nt do any worse either. The new Young Frankenstein is selling premium tickets for $450.....the theaters have gotten into the act now also.

They were always a favourite group of mine. I saw them in person many times and have a lot of their concerts on VHS and DVD. I also have all of their songs on CD. Did I tell you I am a huge fan of theirs? I even saw Peter and Paul in a concert last fall. It was great but bittersweet without Mary.

We are going to Lollapalooza in Chicago for the third year in a row--more rock and alternative. It's a huge festival, in Grant Park, and everyone stands at every show. There's not much shade, and lots of drunks especially later in the night. If it rains, it's muddy. But I have seen so many great acts, discovered some new music, and generally have a good time with hubby and the kids. Parking is up to 35.00 at the Grant Park garages, I hear. It's somewhat of a chore, but mostly fun. I would love to be able to sit for a show, I'm getting too old to stand all the time.

I think it's horrible what they have done with the Pops concert. We always tuned into one of our PBS stations to watch the concert...all 2 hours of it. And I love the 1912 overture. About 3-4 years ago, the Pops signed the contract with CBS, who only televises the second hour, with the fireworks instead the the main concert. Now, we only get to see the tail end of the 1812 overture, not even the full performance. You would think that the Pops would give people who can't attend a chance to see the highlight performance...all they would have to do is to start it 5 minutes earlier.