ticket prices/private reading list

[Pam]

Edit: Oops...I just saw the ticket price....not so good. :(I am truly so happy for those who can afford to go :) But I'm sad to say, :( that if this were the ticket price for my city, I could not afford to go. Two people, $350, or even if I went alone ($175) is just out of the question - I can't justify the cost.

A private reading is $300, and even that would be difficult but it would be one on one with John, and even if no one came through, I could at least ask more than one question.

The number of people attending isn't a consideration for me, because I believe if I'm supposed to be read, I'll be read in a room of 30 or 3000. I don't wish to offend anyone, least of all Get Psych'd, but I have to be honest about my disappointment in rising ticket prices. Again, I'm happy for those with fatter pocketbooks - just speaking for myself who is running on empty over here.:o

<edit: I didn't mean to hijack the original thread (http://www.johnedwardtalk.org/showthread.php?t=11909), CA "Gallery-like" Seminars announced (http://www.johnedwardtalk.org/showthread.php?t=11909) so I split this discussion off to it's own thread>

[Jude]

I'd have to agree. $175 does seem steep to me, even for a small, gallery-sized group. There are probably a lot of people who won't be able to afford it, or if they can, they might have to go alone!

[marcia]

Out of curiousity, is there anyone else here in our little community who like me is on the waiting list for a private reading? Know anyone who is on the list for a private reading? Like Pam, $175 is awfully high for me, but if the list isn't moving, maybe I should consider it my next best opportunity.

Marcia

[Jude]

I guess it's a little like a "traveling Gallery". ;) While the Gallery tickets were free, there was transportation and lodging to consider, IF you were lucky enough to get a callback.

Now, the Gallery comes to you.

Good question about the waiting list, Marcia. We haven't heard anything in a long time. :hmm:

Perhaps someone attending one of these seminars will ask JE that very question??

[marcia]

Oh, that would be great if someone gets the opportunity to throw that out there. I know he has such a busy schedule, but I passed the three year mark already, so as you can imagine, I'm pretty anxious and hoping my chance is coming up soon!
Marcia

[Jude]

By asking directly, it would eliminate all the speculation and hearsay. We would be getting it straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. :thumbsup:

[chargeit2him]

That price is a little too high ($175) :rolleyes: But there is another psychic ( no name mentioned ) who charges more than that. And uses luck of the draw , from what I've heard, to decide who gets to answer the question and or get read. I guess with her your relatives don't have to be the loudest in the room. I guess he has to take in consideration air fare, hotels etc for who ever travels with him.
Sandy

[Pam]

There are several psychics who charge more than that, but it was never a reason to raise ticket prices in the last 3 years, nor should it be now. I'm not saying that I don't wish anyone at GetPsych'd abundance - I wish them all the abundance for themselves and their families they can handle:) Everyone wants a slice of the cake, but it seems wise to provide different cake sizes that are affordable to all.

I've done the math on air fare, etc. and I still feel the price is over the top for families like mine who have sucummbed to higher property taxes, higher heating costs, higher gas prices at the pump. I see CT has been added at the new higher price too. No air fair, hotel, etc. concerns there, it's an afternoon's drive there and back.

Someone suggested that maybe he can do two seminars while in each city, one for the higher priced, smaller gallery for those fortunate enough to be able to afford it, and one larger, lower priced seminar for those who have to live on a tighter budget. Just a thought...again, I wish everyone at GetPsych'd, (and all our members and myself included) grand abundance :)

[Peg B.]

I live only about 30 min away from Rocky Hill CT,but I also think the price is way too high. ...Peg

[Sabine]

Does anyone know if the price increase also affects the gallery events in New York (the ones for which you call in on the first Saturday of the month)? :question:

[Gail]

From what I've heard, the ones we just called in for in Long Island are still $100. We probably won't be called to go until February or March. If the price goes up to $175, a 75% increase, I will really have second thoughts about going. :(

The Bridges seminars were $75. I haven't heard if they are going up too.

[chargeit2him]

The news letter , :thumbsup: which I finally received.. Still says $75

Sandy

[kimk]

I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling sad about the rising prices. I really got excited but with my husband laid off again for the 6th time, there is no way I can justify a couple hours for me at that price. I think the people who are going are very fortunate. However, even if I could afford it, I'm not so sure I would pay that price. It just seems high to me.

Just my 2 cents....and that's about all I got these days!! :rolleyes:

[AnnieB43]

I must agree about those ticket prices.....I have seen John at many seminars over the years, as well as a gallery group event in NY. THere is no way I can afford $175.....especially with such odds in a group of 250 people.....not to mention travel costs, etc. I just can't justify it.

I'd be curious to see if attendance at seminars is affected by the price increase. I know a price jump like that quickly elimated my ability to be able to attend. I'd rather wait until I could have the opportunity for a private reading.

[JBannister]

I wanted to add my 2 cents to this.
After seeing John in S.F. last Friday, I woke up the next day and impulsively put a ticket for the smaller seminar on my Visa.
Now I'm having second thoughts. For someone living on disability that is an outrageous amount of money. When Monday morning came and my property taxes came in the mail, and my tooth reminded me I need to make a dentist appt., I remembered Christmas is coming, and saw my heating bill was about $400, I thought - What the #^#@*!!! was I thinking?
I'm going to give this some time, but I may just be selling my ticket.
Too be honest, the more I think about it, the more I'm a bit miffed at the price.

[Pam]

I'm sorry Julie. The last thing I or any of us, I'm sure, wanted to do was to make anyone upset. I'm sure they have their reasons as to why they raised the price -- I just don't know if he realizes how this is affecting some people. I have to assume that he doesn't live in the same financial world that I do - that some of us do - and that he just doesn't realize how it will affect some of us. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt here.

I know the price will not deter some of our members, and to them I say sincerely, that I'm happy they can afford such an exerience. I'm sure the $175.00 seminars will sell out quickly, no problems.

[JBannister]

Oh Pam, not one person here made me feel bad about the price - it was something that had been going through my mind ever since I was handed the flyer at the seminar on Friday.
Just as an aside, I understand that it took a few days - about 5 or 6 - for the tickets to sell out.

[doodledink]

Okay, since we're all contributing 2 cents to this... I agree that the price does seem a bit on the high side at first glance. I don't know that I'd pay $175 to go. But... that's probably more because of how many I've already attended and the fact that I already made the trip to Long Island and paid the Bridges $75. (If given the choice between paying $175 here in my home town or $75 plus travel to go to NY, I'd probably choose NY everytime... LOL!)

However, I thought that I might just throw out a little math here to help us understand the possible logic behind higher cost of tickets in other cities.

If you consider that they still have to pay for a venue, (I think the cost of a meeting room that holds 250 people here in one of our hotels is around $1000 to $2000 for a night) plus the cost of travel. (Remember it isn't just John. He usually travels with about 5 or more people .. plus himself... So.. airfare for 5 -- at least $400 each... $2000.) Then you've got 5 hotel rooms ($150 each average?--- $750) and at least a few meals for everyone (my company's meal per dium is around $25 per meal... $400 or so) plus there's the transportation (rental cars, limos whatever... $200 or more)... plus the cost of the set up etc at the seminar and the wages of the workers at the seminars... $2000?. That's already getting close to $10,000 just in the costs that I can come up with. One thing I've learned over time is that business travel is expensive and putting on seminars such as what Get Psych'd does takes a lot of manhours and planning.

Although I'm certain that John and his company are getting a profit margin off of these events, I'm also pretty sure that it isn't as great a margin as we first think it is when we see the ticket price.

"...and that's all I have to say about that." -- Forrest Gump
:)

[Pam]

I don't believe the facts relating to John or his business are at issue here. I will risk repeating myself (and I think everyone will agree with me): no one here would deny John incredible wealth. Period. It's not about why he is raising the price. In fact, his margin is none of my business, and not something I have ever even considered.

My statements are about ME. About MY ability to pay my bills, and then come up with that amount of money. I'm simply saying *I* can't afford it, with absolutly no reflection on John, or anyone at GetPsych'd. Obvsiously, I'm not alone in this.

[teresa02]

I think at the end of the day it's down to choice.

As us Brits have said many a time before, it has cost all of us a small fortune to see John. But when you have no choice but to get on a plane and get to NY to see him, then you do it!

You are lucky (dare I say that?) that you have such a great man in your country, somebody who people respect all over the world, and someboy who many people from all over the world will travel to see. Many a British JE fan has never had the opportunity to see him live, yet there are many people on this board who have seen him a number of times.

We are so thankful for Johns planned trip to the UK, but if he had waited too much longer then I (and I'm so sure many other Brits), would be making the trip over to the States again. Tracey and Ann went this year in May.

I know a British guy who sat up all night waiting for the Australian tickets to go on sale just to make sure he and his wife could see John. And that's a 24 hour flight from here like it is for most of you guys, I think :shrug:

I'm not having a go, and maybe it's sounds a bit bitter, but I'll say it again, $175 is less than a ticket, a plane trip and a hotel room.

I understand that there are other seminars that are not charging this much, so hopefully you still have the option of seeing him at a reduced ticked price.

No offence intended - I'll shut up now! :lwink:

[Irishrose]

Teresa you are absolutely correct. It is choice.

Pam is correct too - that is alot of money for ONE seminar. I could not afford it - even if I wanted to. BUT, I could begin a savings account and drop a buck or two into it for a future time :D .

I guess the bottom line is that if there is a will, then there is a way.

Blessings and happy savings,

[doodledink]

LOL! That's EXACTLY what I did for the Bridges one I attended... It's amazing how much money you can tuck away when you skip going out to lunch everyday!

[Pam]

Yes it's all about choice - I choose to eat and pay the mortage, instead of going without either, which is honestly, what I'd have to do! It's embarassing, but it's my situation :o Call me a poor financial planner if you must.


I'm not kidding folks, the economy and rising prices is taking it's toll here in Middle America. (Remember, I'm the one who couldn't afford to go to a workshop and was going to pawn my electric guitar to go?) It's hand to mouth here. I'm not trying to get sympathy, I'm really not, I'm just stating my facts. It wouldn't matter if someone was offering these workshops at a loss, if I can't afford it to begin with, it doesn't matter what the costs are on the other end of the bargain.

[Pam]

Has anyone here, who was on the list for private readings, been called for their reading yet? This goes into the choice too. The cost for a private reading, vs. a "small gallery" is something to take into consideration.

[MNT2BE]

I'm on the list Pam and no, I have not been called. ( I'm actually OK with delay). But I think I know what you mean, the cost of the small gallery is not much less than the private reading, unless that has gone up as well.
xxx&ooo
Beth

[Tracey123]

Iv heard John say you cant pay him for what he does but you can pay him for his time..his time seems to be getting more expensive..i wonder who thats down to?..him?..his people?.. i hope he dosnt get too expensive or a lot of people arnt going to be able to afford to go see him which will be a great shame.

Tracey123

[littlebear777]

hi all...
actually, I have been called back to a gallery-like this past october 28, and one december 14th..had to decline for reasons...so I have been put back on the list... I have found get psyched prompt in communicating, and am honored...even these events, however are $100...
---peace always mindi

[kimk]

That's basically what's happening here in Silicon Valley. The economy is taking a toll on us "tech" people too. For instance, we're paying $2.50 or more for a gallon for gas :eek: and unemployment is at an all time high here.

So, all I was bringing up was that I am not in a position to pay the price. I also think that since I have seen JE 3 times and got incredibly lucky in that I had a reading in a seminar of about 2000 people, the price is just too high for me. Yup, I could save, but I guess I have a long list of things to save for and my family may not agree with a seminar as a good investment at this time. *Of course, that's not a judgement on any choices other people make. *

I also want to point out that I am very, very thankful for the people that do go and come back here to give such thorough reports. It's so nice to read and feel like I got a little of the essence of the evening too.

[Jhoelle]

Hi I have been on John's waiting list for a private reading since Feb 2001 and haven't heard anything. In 2003 I emailed John's office and they confirmed I was still on the list and it would be in about 1 year. That would have been Feb 2004 and I have not heard anything. I emailed them again a few months ago, just to get peace of mind that I m still on the list and I have not heard back. I will wait as long as it takes but I just would like to know if the list is getting shorter or if he is even working on the list. I am not upset I just would like to hear some info. I am attendin the Orlando seminar in a few days so if I get the chance to ask him about it I will and I'll let ya'll know.

Jill

[Gail]

Jill, look for my sister, Debby, at that seminar. It will just be her and a friend.

[Pam]

Let us know what you find out Jill, if they answer via email or if you get the chance to ask the question live. I think many of our members are on the list, and are very willing to wait patiently, understanding that John's schedule is very heavy and that his work is important. But just knowing where you are on the list, even if it's very far out, helps the waiting. I'm not on the list, but I have many close friends that are, and I understand their concern.