Triple Play Tour A Bust ??? Options

[Hoodstock]

It's starting to become apparent, with the rash of cancellations, that this tour is not exactly going well. I'm starting to wonder if Live is starting to regret touring with Counting Crows in the Triple Play.

The shows they did just with Collective Soul offered cheaper tickets and seemed to get more of a draw because of it. Here are some cancellation stories right from this site:

Live cancel their opening slot scheduled for Minnesota

Live have cancelled their opening performance scheduled for September 1st at Midway Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota (the concert will still take place though, is has not been cancelled). Chris Hawkey Power Play will be taking over Live's spot for this date. [This date was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts - since the cancellation of the Fort Wayne and Fargo shows by the Counting Crows, it just didn't make sense for Live to gather up all their gear and travel cross country just to play an opening spot for one sole date at the end of August, so this show was cancelled as a result - the Cleveland show was cancelled for the same reason] • posted by Dan on august 9th, 2007


Concert at the House Of Blues in Cleveland cancelled

Live have cancelled their concert on August 29th at the House Of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio "due to circumstances beyond their control". There will be no rescheduled date. Refunds are available at the point of purchase • posted by Dan on august 6th, 2007

Triple Play tour dates in Fort Wayne and Fargo cancelled

According to a news release posted on Counting Crows website, the Triple Play tour dates scheduled on August 30th in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and on September 2nd in Fargo, North Dakota have both been cancelled (due to "unforseen circumstances"). Tickets for the Fort Wayne concert can be exchanged for admission into the August 4th Indiana show (at the Victory Field box office) or you may contact the point of sale for a refund. Tickets for the Fargo concert can be exchanged for admission into the September 1st St. Paul show (at the Midway Stadium box office), or refunded at the point of the sale • posted by Dan on july 31st, 2007

[SJN1279]

Two shows were canceled on account of poor ticket sales and some other shows haven't sold as well as expected. However, Live has played in front of crowds ranging from 3000-7000 everynight and from most accounts been well received by the fans in attendance.

The one show I attended in Delaware had a very large crowd(6000-7000) and the band put on an excellent performance. The crowd seemed excited to hear the band perform their hits and to me the show was a complete success. Also take in account the extra pay checks Live is picking up with the hopes of possibly funding a new album, and I feel that this tour was a solid idea.

[desert37]

Two shows were canceled on account of poor ticket sales and some other shows haven't sold as well as expected. However, Live has played in front of crowds ranging from 3000-7000 everynight and from most accounts been well received by the fans in attendance.

The one show I attended in Delaware had a very large crowd(6000-7000) and the band put on an excellent performance. The crowd seemed excited to hear the band perform their hits and to me the show was a complete success. Also take in account the extra pay checks Live is picking up with the hopes of possibly funding a new album, and I feel that this tour was a solid idea.

Bands don't cancel because of low ticket sales. They (at least Counting Crows do) have guarantees written into their contract that they get paid as long as they walk through the door and play whether there are 5 people or 5,000. If they cancel, they don't get paid a cent. Doesn't make sense to cancel because of low ticket sales.

Any number of things happen in the course of a tour to cause cancellations. That doesn't make the tour a bust. That's just the way the business is.

[torcatofan]

From someone who attended one of the shows AND enjoyed it, I am going to say YES, the tour is a bust.

Shows are getting canceled; fans aren't showing up; critics aren't raving.

The bottom line is that all of these bands have run out of steam.

[SJN1279]

From someone who attended one of the shows AND enjoyed it, I am going to say YES, the tour is a bust.

Shows are getting canceled; fans aren't showing up; critics aren't raving.

The bottom line is that all of these bands have run out of steam.

The one major flaw with this tour is the bands are playing smaller markets with minimal promotion. I'd be interested to see what this tour would draw in bigger markets, and if all three bands had new albums to promote. Also, I feel that 50 dollars is a lot of money to ask for a concert. I'd like to see lower ticket options to attract more casual fans to the shows.

[Heather]

I don't know how any of us here would be able to determine whether or not the tour was/or is a bust. None of us know how much money the tour is making or what kind of deal the bands had worked out. For all we know they could have all made plenty of money off of this tour. These days how many bands do you go see that are playing in front of THOUSANDS of fans at $50 a pop? Not many, that's for sure. Yeah the bands aren't as popular as they used to be but there are still people coming out to the shows and each band is still being exposed to fans of the other bands. I don't really see how anyone would think that a tour like that is a bust.

[lynn32701]

Unfortunately I have to vote "yes."

Conceptually, I think it was a great idea! The whole ballpark feel was cool. Ticket prices were a little hefty but what show isn't expensive anymore? Smaller cities seem to not be able to accommodate bigger city shows, at least a venue that holds 15,000 fans (and it's expected to fill all those seats and then some). Plus having the cities not be as spread apart allowed fans to travel to one but not another. Example - Louisville - Indy - Fort Wayne. Maybe if they hit fewer cities but all over the country, the interest would be higher? Does anyone remember how well the "original" tour with CC/LIVE went in 00? If it didn't do as well as expected, why would they attempt again?

Again, great concept and was thankful I got to see them last weekend in Indy.

[Heather]

I think the fact that they played smaller towns was a good idea. I know at least in my case I always have to end up traveling pretty far for every single show that I go to. This time the show is less than an hour from me. I would think that maybe that would be the case for a lot of fans that maybe normally wouldn't travel very far for shows. The show sort of came closer to them so maybe they would be more apt to go. Plus I'm sure they never expected to fill every seat in the stadium. Minor league ballpark tours are becoming pretty popular I think and I'm sure they thought it was a cool way to do a tour. I remember the 2000 tour that they did but it's hard to compare the two since they were playing much smaller venues on that tour.

[Nedra]

I wish I could say...

They've not played California.

[FishOutaWater]

They are playing this 3 band $50 show a half an hour from my house in one direction and then a few weekes later (i.e. tonight) a half an hour from my house int he other direction. How many people could possibly turn out in Aberdeen Maryland? I find that show to be a little strange. But I'm going tonight!

[ShowalittleLove]

I would say yes financially but I prefer their own headlining tour. Financially if they get 5,000 people @ $50 each for $250,000 I think the tour would be a financial succesfull. I beleive LIVE charges anywhere from 20-40K for a performance. Obviously the Crows would get more along with other expenses but still plenty to book the bands not including concessions. They do get paid as long as they show up, so I can't believe the concerts were cancelled due to low ticket sales. They are playing small markets in small cities, so 4,000-8,000 seems like a good turnout to me considering none of the bands have current radio hits. I like that they don't always play the same places, it keeps me interested to see different venues and they do get to play for larger crowds with the Crows, so fine by me. I do personally like the smaller venues where they headline and play a longer set though. Anyway I'm just grateful they still play the US since they are so much more successful overseas nowadays.

[lynn32701]

I do personally like the smaller venues where they headline and play a longer set though. Anyway I'm just grateful they still play the US since they are so much more successful overseas nowadays.

I agree! The concerts earlier this year in Orlando and St Pete were freakin awesome! Over 2 hours of only LIVE - and only LIVE fans. Smaller venues, more intimate, kick ass time!

Didn't get better than that!

[Hoodstock]

I wish I could say...

They've not played California.

I wouldn't complain. There were a lot of good west coast bands back in the day that never toured east side!

For example, I would have loved to see STP more!!!

[Heather]

Well if any of the other shows are any thing like the show I saw in Frederick Maryland this week, this tour is not a bust. The place was jam packed. The field was so full they were no longer allowing people on it after a certain point and almost every seat was full in the stands, people were even hanging out on the steps for a better view. I was shocked to see that many people there for a show on a weeknight at 6:30 in the evening in the boondocks. I guess touring to obscure towns wasn't such a bad idea after all if any of the other towns drew a crowd even nearly that large.

[Saviour]

I believe it's a much better idea to play small venues that are packed than larger venues that are half full or less.

It's also a better idea to have less expensive tickets to draw fans casually or semi-interested in the band rather then getting fans of other bands not really interested in seeing Live.

This tour is a bust! It would have been better to do a smaller venue tour just with Collective Soul opening.