I don’t think any k-pop fan located in America has been lucky enough to see their fave actually plan out a well organized tour with good prices, actual good benefits, and in a timely manner. This year has been filled with groups announcing concert dates at the last minute with no information and no notice, and it’s finally starting to show in how these concerts are selling. Recently three groups have gone on tour, P1Harmony, Ateez, and TXT(using them as an example since I have experience with them especially). I remember trying to get tickets for P1H and ATEEZ and the stress I would feel.. Seats would disappear in front of your eyes, you’d try to check out then get kicked because somehow it’s already sold, and you’d end up with seats in the back. This year? I managed to get seats on the second row on floor of P1Harmony 6 hours after their sale, something I’ve been trying to do since 2022, waiting in the waiting room for hours while using multiple devices. Again, last year Ateez tickets disappeared right in front of me every single time I tried to click. Easily got floor this year. I wasn’t there for actual TXT sales, but I remember checking in later in the day or a couple of days later and everything was sold except for the absolute worst seats with obstructed views and resales going for upwards to 1000 dollars. Now? They’re all struggling to sell tickets. It’s not just a them problem, smaller groups have especially been struggling, but it’s been shocking to see for bigger groups.. Or is it really that shocking? In 2022, same venue, I saw Seventeen in the lower bowl for around 300-400 dollars for TWO tickets. For around the same seats, TXT are selling them from anywhere 330-900 dollars for one ticket. If I wanted the same seats, two tickets, I’d be paying upwards of 1800 dollars or a minimum of 660. I know someone is thinking, “Why do the tickets range from 330-900 for the same area?” And I really can’t tell you why. No, these are not platinum tickets. Platinum prices are actually going for the same amount, if not a smaller amount. For the floor, general admission by the way, the tickets are 477 and ~900 dollars. Depending on how much tickets are sold, your height, and whether you want to waste time camping, you’re paying 900 dollars for the view of someone’s head and to be in a cramped, sweaty pit of people. ATEEZ is a similar story but with seated floor, vip prices starting at 477 and ending at 1200. Last year for P1Harmony floor, I paid around 400 dollars for two tickets, this years it was over 670. They are actually one of the few groups who gave us around a month I think before sales. I had time to think and decide whether I was going to pay for them, and since I decided to sell tickets for another group earlier, I am using that money for them. But one thing that I will absolutely never support are the vip packages which are sold separately, the prices being $100(merch package), $250(soundcheck), and $350(send-off) without taxes and fees. If you wanted a good seat, the best vip package, which will also be the thing that gets you a good chance at an interaction at send off since people are lined up by where they’re sitting, that’s $765 when taking into account the fees that boosted send off to $425. The vip packages are more expensive than the seats! But this makes them around the same prices as TXT with soundcheck being more expensive, but send off being less if you combine both benefits and tickets on the floor, both ridiculous. I think the benefits have made companies a lot more bold with prices. I’ve never personally had send off, but I do know from videos I’ve seen it’s basically the most rushed fansign of your life and most people don’t even get a look in their eyes from the members or an acknowledgement of them existing. People are paying 900-1200 for a chance at an interaction, and every single year they’re shortening the times of send off and removing benefits such as taking selfies together. If you’re one of those fans who truly love interactions and just go for them, we aren’t judging here, support your local nugu and get into smaller groups. I paid 130 for two tickets at 82Major, and was able to take pictures with three of the members individually on my own phone. I was so close to them during the concert that I saw their SWEAT, and this was after I ended up getting to the venue late. I have had sound check, and I can confidently say it’s not worth the price, ever. I only got it because I wanted floor seats and specifically saved up for Ateez, but their vip packages aren’t separate. You get 3 songs and my soundcheck lasted around 15-20 minutes. It didn’t feel any more fun or interesting than the actual concert, there wasn’t any fun anecdotes from the members or anything special, they just perform 3 songs and said songs were songs on the actual, regular setlist. That was just about the prices, benefits, and this is already a long post, sorry… But my god, why is everyone going on tour at the same time? I’m not sure if kpop companies have some disconnect about fan culture in America, but I would say a good chunk of fans, I’m gonna go 70-90%, stan multiple groups and are the same people going to these tours. I know fanwars make it seem like the opposite, but a huge amount of Stays are Atiny, a lot of Atiny are Moas, a lot of Moas are Fearnots, a lot of Fearnots are Blinks, etc. Even if they don’t define themselves as being in a fandom, chances are they at least like a couple of songs and people will buy tickets on the strength of knowing a few songs. With that being said, multi fans cannot be in two places at the same time. What made HYBE think to have a TXT concert and Le Sserafim concert on the same day in the same state? TXT sales have suffered especially for that day. Neither can they afford so many tickets. I love concerts and I specifically save for them, but if I were to buy anything else, I’d be out of my budget, so I’m done with them. All in all, it’s been ridiculous. I want to note that this isn’t a diss at the groups mentioned, I don’t know how they personally feel about the prices and they aren’t even the ones setting up the prices themselves. But this isn’t just a diss at Ticketmaster either, we can’t keep only blaming Ticketmaster y’all, this is about the companies. FNC, Hybe, and KQ are to blame and it’s scummy behavior. TL;DR: Tickets are way too expensive, tickets aren’t selling anymore because of this, the benefits don’t match what you’re paying for, and too many groups are touring at the same time. submitted by /u/No-Committee1001 [link] [comments]
