I had opportunities to see Stevie Wonder, Rolling Stones, and David Bowie at small venues a couple of years ago and didn't because I didn't feel like spending the $150-$200 ticket prices. I've been kicking myself ever since and I don't have any real cap anymore. I spend $70-$120 regularly to see bands that I really want to see and I'd go much higher for a big name artist that I really love at a small venue. I've spent thousands of dollars for vacations that were planned around musical events (eg Jazzfest, carnaval) but the appeal of the trips was much more than the concerts themselves and I don't think I'd fly anywhere just to see a typical single band concert.

I flew back to NYC last year to catch Ike Reilly for two nights. I was also prepared to fly in for the CBGB's anniversay festival, but got snowed out and flights cancelled.

best post in thread by far.

You know, when Tom Waits did that thing with Kronos Quartet, my friend misunderstood that to mean that they played together -- I would have paid well over US$100 to have seen that.

I paid $0 to see local poet Thax Douglas scare 3 girls away from a party I hosted a few years back at my previous apartment.