Good Sales; Bad Timing

I’ve read a multitude of stories in various publications, most recently Nov. 29’s In the Know column, about how millennium eve concerts are falling apart because of lack of ticket sales.

Well, this may be true for outrageously priced concerts like the Eagles/Jackson Browne affair at Staples Center or sure-yawners like Jewel’s hometown show, but such is far from the case of all large events planned for New Year’s Eve. Pollstar’s Gary Bongiovanni is quoted that Barbra Streisand, who will be performing at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, “seems like the only one who isn’t limping along with sales.”

Well, Mr. Bongiovanni, I’d like you to check your records, because a certain Vermont-based quartet has already managed to sell 50,000 tickets (with plans to release an additional 15,000) at $150 a pop for a series of shows on a remote Indian reservation in the Florida Everglades. Now, that’s no hometown show and it certainly ain’t Vegas, baby. Those are real phans!

TODD MERRIMAN

Newport Beach

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Has it ever occurred to you that the reason people are avoiding the so-called millennium concerts coming up is because the new millennium is still 13 months away?

Nine hundred and ninety-nine years do not a millennium make. The new millennium starts on Jan. 1, 2001.

PAUL SMITH

Newbury Park

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Americans have more common sense and a better system of values than promoters give them credit for. It is indeed reassuring that, much as we love our entertainment and entertainers, we draw the line somewhere.

EDITH WOOD HARVATH

Buena Park