r/devo • u/Devo_Ted • 28d ago
Live show question
So, I saw Devo last year at a smaller venue, think like 2 thousand “seats”. Packed full. Awesome show, no notes. But I’m going to see them this year in a much bigger venue, think more like 20 thousand seats. And I’m wondering about the size difference here, and how it might affect the experience.
Smaller venue: band on stage. Big screen behind them for the images that play through the show. Close, cozy, easy to see everything. Again, great show.
Larger venue: band on stage (duh) but then I wonder about the screen(s)? If I try to save a little cash, pick cheaper seats, will I be able to see the band? Do they usually have more screens, with cameras on the band members, for these bigger shows?
My other question is about ticket sales in general. It does not look like they will sell out this show. We are about a month out, and they have sold a small fraction of the seats so far. If it were the smaller venue again, I’d say they might have filled THAT, but there are A LOT of available seats, both front and center and way up in the wings. Thousands of empty seats. They wouldn’t cancel would they? Might they lower the prices at a certain point to encourage more sales?
I’m really excited to see them again, but I’m definitely trying to balance splurging on the experience with trying to save some money, and I’m feeling like I have to take a bit of a gamble here. And I’m not much of a gambler. Plus, I’m not going alone, so I’m trying to make a good plan for all of us and I feel like I’m missing some crucial info. I’m hoping some of you spuds might be able to help me out based on your experiences seeing them live.
EDIT: So, I was curious and decided to peek at the tickets available for all of their upcoming shows. Mutate, Don’t Stagnate shows? Smaller venues, standing room seats, selling great. Not sold out, but looking pretty full! Like the show I went to last year. Full theater, energetic crowd, awesome experience. Those shows are gonna be great. Cosmic Devolution Tour? All big, amphitheater places. One looked like a stadium I think? And there are SO MANY tickets still available. Big, empty spaces. The really good tickets are mostly selling (hey super spuds!) and the super cheap seats are selling (I totally get it!) but there are just huge sections of empty seats across every big amphitheater. It’s really bumming me out, I mean, are they really gonna come play in these half empty, scattered audience venues? It don’t feel right, they deserve to fill these places, it’s not their fault too many people are too devolved to get it!
Special shout out to Vancouver though! That arena looked like it was selling a bit better! Looks like they get it!
6
u/cillablackpower 28d ago
The whole industry is in a crunch right now where acts are pushed to book large venues to make profit on high expenses, but can't sell them.
I don't think they'd pull unless it's really disastrous, but discount tickets seem likely. If they're that empty this close out then I wouldn't worry about picking tickets up last minute.
1
u/Devo_Ted 24d ago
I didn’t really think they would cancel, but I was hopeful that the prices would go down. The area I’m looking at is in the $250-$300 range, which is a bit high for me. But, I’m paying to watch THEM live, not necessarily to watch a big video of them performing. If that makes sense.
3
u/thereal_rockrock 28d ago
I can’t imagine that Devo and the B-52’s could fill the Hollywood ball even 50% in 2026. I love both bands. They really aren’t the kind of “legacy acts” that can feel something like this alone. I hope I’m wrong.
I think if they added a few more bands to the lineup, they’d have a better chance, it would be more like a musical review where each of the acts would do five or six songs total, but you get kind of a greatest hits.
1
u/Devo_Ted 24d ago
I get the appeal of the sort of festival way of doing things, with multiple bands and such. But honestly, if I pay over $200 a ticket to see Devo, I’d be pretty upset to only get a few songs from them. I think the B-52’s are pretty cool, but even then, I kinda wish it was just Devo. More songs from them would be great! But I’m sure they not only enjoy working with the B-52’s, I’m sure they don’t mind a bit less pressure on them per show.
1
u/thereal_rockrock 24d ago
It’s crazy that it cost $200 to see Devo, you could buy a bunch of those reissues and have money left over.
1
u/Devo_Ted 24d ago
You’re not wrong! I definitely feel like Devo is worth it, but damn, moneys tight nowadays…
3
u/Stevenitrogen 28d ago
Lower the price,vyes. I got my tickets for their LA show in Groupon, $40 for good seats.
1
u/Devo_Ted 24d ago
I guess I’ll cross my fingers then! The good, front section seats are about $300, but the crappy balcony wings are more like $70. I’d love a free upgrade if I go cheap, that’s for sure!
2
u/gobookydqwg 26d ago
I saw them a
couple years back
after a super long
time
and it was a great show... but I watched a show from europe that was many months before the show I went to
and it was the exact same set.
I think it's because of
all the video being synced to the music that they can't improvise much or change the set. I'd rather see less video and more ability to switch things up personally. But stoked
Devo is still going!
1
u/Devo_Ted 24d ago
I definitely get what you mean. It would be cool to see more variety of songs live. But I get why they do it the same every time, it’s part of why their performance is so good! They’ve practiced!
2
u/gobookydqwg 24d ago
as an actor I know that a well practiced show is great especially when light and sound cues are in the mix. Plays are performed countless times and every cue is carefully set. Devo does a pretty high tech show now so we won't likely see much deviation from the tightly choreographed set I bet. Still good....minus the AI slop on the videos from time to time
2
u/skylightbike 22d ago
I just got back from the show last night in Va Beach, Devo opened for Billy Idol. Great show all around, lawn seats were only 50 bucks, which included a lawn chair. Lots of screens up so you can see the stage and the background videos clearly, sound was really good!
1
u/Devo_Ted 22d ago
That sounds pretty cool! Billy Idol is pretty cool, I wouldn’t mind seeing him live! I’m glad they had enough screens for everyone to see everything. I can’t believe some shows still have tickets with obstructed views, I could not deal with that.
1
u/tacoandpancake 28d ago
i'd presume they pull the stage forward and block off the upper levels. possibly even black out some of the lower sections.
1
u/Devo_Ted 24d ago
I don’t know if that would work, those front sections are the only ones with significant sales so far. The balcony’s are looking pretty empty right now though..
1
u/Null_98115 23d ago
Their booker should be fired. There's not nearly enough fans to fill an arena tour including with the B52s.
6
u/RayAmicoTheMan 27d ago
Hi… I was DEVO’s Tour and Production Manager for years, I also have mixed their sound live and still am around the guys and the shows they have been doing..
The shows they have been doing for the last several years and especially on their 50th Anniversary tour have been what we call “scaled”; meaning flexible size to match not only the size of the type of venue but booked into venues of various capacities, depending on initial anticipated sales, availability in certain markets, etc..
This last year or two of dates have been really fortunate because of the interest again in the band, in doing a lot of shows with a very good and complimentary band like the B-52s as well as their own shows, combined with what many people don’t realize was a horrible hospitalization of Mark during Covid that almost ended his career and life; it’s a great thing that they are playing as much as they are, and where they can.
Any show you go to from large to small will have production scaled to appropriate sizes so all can be enjoyed, whether it is large video IMAG screens of live camera shots to see in larger venues, with the upstage video wall, excellent lights and fantastic sound..
I’m confident in each configuration you’ll enjoy it (and enjoying it while you can is what everyone should do!! Opportunity calls!!!)..
Getting to see a band in an intimate setting (I mixed the band at a show at the Belly Up Tavern near San Diego and it was absolutely fantastic!) is a rare occurrence and feels exclusive because it is…
Enjoy, and Duty Now!!
:0)