news We want your input on Bumbershoot's tickets!
Every year we receive amazing feedback on the Festival. Your input has led to the addition of a third comedy stage and our Comedy Pass system, just to name two of the many improvements that came directly from you. As the 40th Bumbershoot rapidly approaches (yes! it’s this year!) we look to you again.
Recently, many of you have had specific suggestions about Bumbershoot’s ticketing structure, and we would like your input on some very specific ideas for the Festival’s tickets going forward—including the price of admission. We’ll be taking your comments very seriously and hope you’ll take the next 8 minutes of your time to help us make the most informed decisions possible for you, the loyal fans of Bumbershoot.
posted January 12 '10 at 12:05PM by Shaun in survey, tickets
Discussion — Add to it
Commenting is closed for this article.
Amanda said…
The tickets should not exceed 100.00 for full price three days.
We should go back to 30.00 one day passes, and 80.00 three day passes.
on Jan 15, 11:35 AM
Calla said…
In past years, the one day tickets have risen 5 dollars each year and I think the quality of bands is sinking. Can we please go back to local independent bands and cheaper tickets?
on Jan 18, 05:09 PM
Mad Dog said…
I think Bumbershoot is a great deal, price-wise. Other festivals cost a lot more and have less variety of arts. That said, please don’t charge extra for the Main Stage.
on Jan 19, 09:59 AM
J-lon said…
Keep bumbershoot a place for arts to be celebrated. I know its hard to make things happen these days without throwing big sums of money out, but Im we can keep this festival close to its roots. $100 for the weekend is very reasonable, if the mainstage is included.
on Jan 19, 01:54 PM
Chels said…
I think the $100 3 day pass is pretty reasonable. not to mention the fact that if you’re truly in need of a discount, all you have to do is sign up to be a bumberfan, buy your tickets in advance and they’re only $80. Plus, comedy/mainstage/secret show passes are always free, so i think its pretty reasonable all the way around.
on Jan 20, 10:33 AM
Carlos said…
I think $100 is a good price for the fest, and I can even see it going up to $120-$150 without it losing its appeal. Sasquatch is what, over $180?
What I hope they don’t do is go to a two-tier price scheme, where you get everything but mainstage for say, $100, but if you want mainstage too (but guaranteed) it’s $200 or something.
on Jan 21, 12:03 AM
Jamie said…
I agree with Calla. The price of Bumbershoot tickets is increasing while the quality of the Mainstage and other stage acts is decreasing. I’ve gone to Bumbershoot once in the last 5 years and that was because Beck was playing. I have literally laughed out loud when I saw some of the lineups. Nickelback? Jewel? Seriously?! I also think that the ticket pricing has gotten ridiculous. It should be no more than $20/day, including Mainstage access. Period. People are cutting back on luxuries right now and for me Bumbershoot is a luxury. I would rather pay $100 and see one solid concert than pay $100 for a 3 day pass to see nothing special. Also, please bring back the 4-day pass. PLEASE.
on Jan 21, 07:54 AM
Mad Dog said…
$20 a day? Seriously? You can’t see even one medium-to-major act anywhere else for that. At Bumbershoot you get, what, 12-15 venues for 11-12 hours a day? I think $100 for the three days is a GREAT deal, but keep the mainstage included.
on Jan 21, 10:04 AM
Jamie said…
Yes, $20/day. It was like that a few years ago and they had acts like Public Enemy, Nas, Wyclef Jean, The Roots, Loretta Lynn, etc. etc. etc. Quality acts that were there because they were incredible performers, not because they had the current #1 album according to Billboard. I used to pay $100 for a four day pass. It was worth it then because the acts that were performing were worth that amount of money. Nowadays, they’re really not. Especially not the Mainstage acts. One year they had a mainstage act that I could have seen for a $10 cover a few weeks before at a bar in Ballard. Sorry, but why would I pay $50/day for a ticket when I could see the same performer for 1/5 that price?
on Jan 21, 10:32 AM
Mad Dog said…
Seriously? Last year Franz Ferdinand put on an amazing show. You can’t see them for $20 anywhere. And the Yeah Yeah Yeahs? Not to mention that Michael Franti was pretty entertaining too. But in previous years, Elvis Costello, Neko Case, Beck, Crowded House, Offspring, Paramore, Marley Bros, Liz Phair, Josh Stone, Pixies, Blondie, Garbage, Decemberists, these were all great Mainstage shows and very few if any could be seen for $20. Plus there were, like, 12 or more other stages too. Bumbershoot is awesome and with all the stages and talent it’s a great deal for the price.
on Jan 21, 12:38 PM
Jamie said…
But wouldn’t it have been great if you could see those acts for $20/day?
My husband saw Beck there in 1997. For free. He also could’ve seen Nirvana there in 1992. For free.
Go back and look at the lineups for the early 2000s. There were just as great of acts as you mentioned for significantly less money. Maybe the performers are asking for more compensation for performing. Maybe Bumbershoot is trying to make more money. There are maybe a million different reasons why they’ve been jacking up the prices of tickets, but I, for one, will not be attending another Bumbershoot if ticket prices don’t go down significantly. I can’t afford to spend the money on a ticket plus hotel plus gas plus parking for three days. I could a few years ago.
It’s just not worth the money for me. Most of the acts you mention, with the exception of Elvis Costello, The Pixies and Beck, don’t interest me. I’ve seen a good many of them before.
on Jan 21, 03:54 PM
Mad Dog said…
Yes, of course it would be nice to see those acts for $20 or for free. It would be nice to get a hotel room for $30 and rent a car for $5 a day too but those won’t happen either.
I still think Bumbershoot is a great deal, I just want the main stage to stay included in the price.
I already have a hotel booked for the 2010 Bumbershoot. And I’ll be buying a ticket as soon as I can. I’ve been every year for the past nine or so and wouldn’t miss it. Sorry if you can not afford it, I’d suggest watching when tickets first go on sale and sign up to be a Bumberfan. Those are usually the cheapest tickets. I think last year it was only $60 for the three days if you bought really early. Or you could just go one or two days?
Even if it cost the same or a little more, I’d love to see them bring back the fourth day.
on Jan 21, 04:03 PM
Jamie said…
I actually am a Bumberfan, which is how I found out about this. :)
I’m always hesitant to buy the tickets so early because I’m not sure what the acts are going to be. I’ve been burned a time or two with acts that I didn’t care for or I’d already seen so it was kind of a waste of money for me. Bummer.
I agree that the mainstage should be included in the price. I just wish the price would be lower like it used to be. :)~
on Jan 21, 04:22 PM
Susan said…
Keep the one tier ticket structure. Do lots of good local acts. How about more variety of arts? What happened to modern dance and ballet? I use to describe Bumbershoot as like the Bite of Seattle but for the arts. A place where you could see all kinds of art including opera, and then decide if you like it and want to see that again by buying tickets to a show. I have gone to Bumbershoot every year since 1985! Love it every year!!!
on Jan 21, 10:22 PM