Dear Jimmy Buffett …..
Dear Jimmy,
I love you so. I have been a Parrothead since my first live show at the age of 13. I have been to every New Orleans JazzFest and concert I could, and my friend’s and I have driven all over the US to see you. I adore the way you always remember the Gulf Coast and how you sing about your love for so many of the places and people that are near to my heart as well. My very BFF’s and I are coming to JazzFest in NOLA to see you in May, and we plan to be in our usual spot at the front of the stage. You lived with my very good friend the Breland family during your days in Poplarville, and even wrote about it in your book A Pirate Looks at 50. We reunited James Hal Breland with you at a concert in New Orleans back in the late 90′s. My first blog page ever? A Parrothead in Poplarville. I was one of the first to stay at your new Margaritaville Hotel in Pensacola and I go back whenever I can.
I was so excited to see your spring tour was bringing you close to me in two cities, Nashville and Atlanta. Until I went to buy tickets.
$157.00 each plus fees? REALLY? And in the last section before the lawn? At that price I expect to be sitting in a recliner onstage next to Mac Macanally. And the Nashville tickets are just as expensive. Factor in gas which is now approaching liquid gold status, a hotel room and the overpriced adult beverages I’ll buy and frankly I could take myself to Margaritaville for the same price. I did manage to find some lawn tickets for $56.00 each, but that’s not the seats I want. I bit the bullet this time and got the seats I wanted, but this will be the last time.
I know that you don’t set the price of the tickets, but I would think you’d have some sort of control over them. And as much as I love you, I’m really not enthused to eat ramen noodles and cheese sammiches for a month just so I can sit four sections back from the stage to see you. So you’ve finally priced this Parrothead out. I’ll take my lumps this time and enjoy the show and the overpriced tickets, and I know I’ll have a fabulous time at Da Fest, but this is it. The end of a glorious run. I’ll always be a Parrothead, but this chick will be wearing her grass skirt and coconut bra at the house from now on.
And in a funny twist, this was on Radio Margaritaville when I got in the car after the ticket sticker shock…..
Yea dude, so did I. Now you got it.
5 Responses to “Dear Jimmy Buffett …..”
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A cajun gulf coast girl trying to wade through widowhood, college and adventures in retail with the help of two terriers, chocolate and lots of wine. Always on the lookout for a little lagniappe.
Check out one of my favorite addictions, Pop Salad!
I once made a similar rant to Rob Thomas about the same kind of fleecing only I didn’t bite the bullet. Turned out though, when I linked it to him on Twitter he read and responded on Twitter. He blamed his promotions company for setting ticket prices and that it was out of his control. Bad idea. The rest of the day, all of his twitter fans were reading my post and siding with me that his excuse was lame and Shenanigans on his part. Because he hires his promotion company, he chooses to allow them to do that.
Jimmy Buffett though? He has a little more control I’d say over something like this. I too wanted to see him on this tour here in central florida but the price of tickets are so outrageous I had to pass. He has been around long enough, he is 100% in control of what he does and charges. If he says differently? I say bullshit.
Remember Garth Brooks last tour? When he played damn near every city in America, multiple nights in most cities? Yeah well I wasn’t a big fan so I didn’t go, but all his tickets only cost $25. Including any imposed fees. He required it to be that way and it was.
I think Jimmy needs to stop acting like a pirate. I’m sure the show will be great though!
oh how i know that pain! every year i swear i am done and every year i bite the bullet.
well this year i am trying the plan i have wanted to do for the last five or six years. see, we always ride out on a tour bus incredibly early for tailgating. i never remember the entire concert anyhow, even when i am only 20 rows back. every year i swear i am just gonna stay in the parking lot and party. THIS IS THE YEAR! come join me…
Dude – those prices are ASStronomical!
The only Buffett show I went to was free (for me) – I can’t deal with all the people and crowds (and some drunk old lady wanted to kick my ass – until I nearly kicked hers)… Seriously – that’s just too much for a show.
The artist, along with their booking company/management, sets how much their guarentee is per show. The promoter sets ticket prices based on that. The artist can’t control the fees a venue/promoter charges (in most cases), but they CAN control how much bank they are making per show, which directly affects the ticket price.
I freaking love your way with words!