How well must you like a band before you see them in concert?

Too many things have to line up to even think about going to a concert. If it's too far away, too expensive, and/or other obligations that day, there's no way I'm going. I never have time AND money at the same time; it's always one or the other.
 
No matter who it is, the venue must have proper/good acoustics if I’m gonna hear & see a concert. Merely attending a loud ruckus in a concrete can lost its charm the by the time I was 17. This eliminates most of the touring bands coming through my area.

The next important criteria is: the recordings of rhythm section have caught my ear/interest.
 
I like going to smaller venues and clubs based on the artists and vibe. I will go many times not knowing the artist - and finding some of my favorite music.
 
I have bad enough conscience for leaving my wife with the kids to play my own shows, going to other shows is pretty much once in a year events, if that even... So I have only a select few bands I will see if they ever come around here, last ones were Testament, Exodus and Death Angel, I think (same night). So yeah, it's going to have to be bands I really like.
 
For the longest time, I would have to drive 2 hours to see a medium level show. In the last 15 years or so, we had an outdoor amphitheater developed, and now we get a wide selection of concerts, those that can be done in a 10k seating arena, and with artists touring in the northeast. So it's kinda cool for those of us who grew up here, seeing some relatively bigger names play in our little town. I saw Van Halen, on their last tour with DLR and Wolfie!

That having been said, some of the shows here have typically high ticket prices, like everywhere else. And yes, the food and drinks are expensive. (That doesn't bother me as much as other folks, I figure I can suck it up and pay $7 for a water, or $12 for a beer, if I want one...tho I also am quite confident that I can go 2 hours without having a water or a beer. Those kinds of prices are typical for any big event, concert, sporting event, etc. Don't have to like it, but that's the way it is these days.)

I am gigging a lot, too, so I can't arrange to go to many shows, either.

Last year I got to see Santana, and I think the ticket was about $60, in decent seats. Not unhappy with that. That was the only show I went to see last year. (Great show!) This year, I'm gonna get to one show as well, Blackberry Smoke is touring with Whiskey Myers, and the last time BBS was up this way, we had a gig and missed it. Once we saw this show announced, we cleared that date from our calendar. I think that ticket is $80. Still more than I want to spend, but not as bad as many ticket prices I see, and I'll only be going to this one show this year.

As for the original question, I'm gonna have to like the band pretty well before shelling out the $$$ and taking the time to go to a show. And the tickets can't be that expensive. I won't go, to just "to go". I suppose if I got free tickets, I might be persuaded to go, just "to go", but even then, I'm not gonna go re-arranging my schedule for such a show.
 
As stated, it largely depends on ticket price and venue. I've all but given up on large arena shows by legacy bands, ridiculous ticket prices. I just won't do it. I prefer smaller up-and-coming bands when they play smaller venues. Sometimes Casinos will have good bands at more reasonable prices. I've seen The Cult, Billy Idol at casinos and they were great.

I've also warmed up to some festivals like Aftershock, that can be a good "bang-for-the-buck" if there are several band you like on the bill. You just have to be up for the whole festival vibe.
 
I've been a fan of everyone I have paid to see live. I've never gone just for something to do with friends or whatever.
 
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