Live Concert
Concerts, sometimes called shows or gigs, are usually live music performances on a stage in front of an audience. Concerts come in many forms; they may be performed by a single individual, orchestra, or musical band and in various settings. Live performances are sometimes held in private homes, small nightclubs, concert halls, parks, etc. and can be either outdoor or indoor. Concert tours are also a common and popular way of performing live, where bands travel the country, or the world, to perform at different locations.
Before modern day advances in music recording, concerts were the only option to listen to music, and the only way a musician could make a living. Yet, even with easy and affordable access to music now, live performances remain popular and in demand. Hundreds of thousands are spent on many popular performances and a ticket can often go for hundreds to thousands of U.S. dollars. The most expensive concert tickets ever sold were reportedly for Led Zeppelin’s reunion concert in 2007, which were auctioned for £83,000 for a pair.
Notably, Michael Jackson’s 30th Anniversary Special, September 7th and 10th in 2001, reportedly earned him 7.5 million USD per show, which is estimated to be around $150,000 per minute. The best seats of the concert were $5,000, the most expensive for pop music ever, and tickets to both shows sold out within five hours. The concert featured appearances from many celebrities and performances of other popular artists such as, Usher, Whitney Houston, Liza Minelli, and Britney Spears.
Sometimes revenue is gained through concessions or merchandise sold at the concert venue. Some concerts offer free admission while others vow to donate any portion of ticket sales to charitable causes.
Different types of genres of music attract similar fans with regards to style and behavior as the musical performer generally sets the “scene” of the venue. Some artists enjoy putting on special theatrics to make their concert a memorable event and do so by using any of the following, or a combination of them; special stage lighting, image magnification, pre-recorded videos, unique artwork and costumes. Many popular musicians incorporate back-up dancers into their act, sing-alongs, and sometimes even moshing. Some performers who are well known for their theatrics are Madonna and KISS.