Supervisor Kathryn Barger has heard it many times, even from some of her friends.
“I can’t afford to go to the Hollywood Bowl,” they tell her.
That’s one of the reasons why Barger asked several Los Angeles County departments to promote something many people don’t know about: $1 tickets for people to see and hear the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.
On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays the Bowl has 1,052 seats available at $1 to attend live, orchestral music played under the stars, according to Barger’s motion approved by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Aug. 6. The seats are in sections W, V and X.
Those who are interested should log on to hollywoodbowl.com to reserve tickets. For many LA Phil events in August the one-buck seats are already gone, but many were available as of late Wednesday. For instance, $1 tickets for “Carmen & Carnival,” with Gustavo Dudamel conducting on Thursday, Sept. 5, were still available, a quick check revealed.
Over the entire 2024 LA Phil season at the Bowl, 40,597 dollar tickets were available, her motion stated. Even for seats closer to the stage, tickets are not sky-high. About 40% of tickets to L.A. Philharmonic concerts at the Hollywood Bowl cost $37 or less.
The L.A. Philharmonic is expanding the program by adding 12,000 additional $1 tickets, Barger announced in a media release. The L.A. Phil also provides tens of thousands of complimentary tickets to neighborhood groups and community nonprofit groups.
The county’s Department of Parks and Recreation, which operates the Hollywood Bowl in coordination with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Department of Children and Family Services and the Public Library, were directed to launch social media and traditional media promotional campaigns. Barger wants people who walk through those doors to know about an inexpensive way to enjoy a night out and unwind.
A look at the newly renovated shell atop the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in 1945. (Photo by Arthur Fast, LA Philharmonic Archives)
“During these tough economic times, many L.A. County residents are focused on simply surviving, so attending arts performances may fall by the wayside,” said Barger.
“With the weather at night, it is the perfect time to sit under the stars and that will bring your temperature down, especially as to what is going on in the world today,” Barger added.
The cost of housing cuts into a household’s budget for entertainment. About 77% of extremely low-income families in L.A. County pay more than half their income on housing costs, Barger reported. Also, it costs L.A. County families 16% more to buy clothes for back-to-school and for food than families in the rest of the country, Barger reported.
A 2023 Otis College Report on the Creative Economy found that ticket sales for performing arts were 75% of what they were pre-pandemic nationwide, demonstrating a drop in attendance at live performances, the motion stated. In short, people who struggle with their household budget write off going to the Hollywood Bowl, when it can be quite affordable — if they know about the bargain tickets, Barger said.
“You can buy a $1 ticket, then take the shuttle bus to the Hollywood Bowl and enjoy a concert,” she said. “And there is no bad seat there. Every seat is good.”
During the 2023 season, nearly 343,000 people took a shuttle to a concert, the motion stated.
Buses are available in many locations for $7 round trip. Those with LA Metro TAP cards or a Metrolink ticket can show their cards or ticket stubs for a free shuttle ride. Or take a Metro rail or Metro bus to the Bowl.
The Bowl is also one of the few venues where you can bring your own food. Many carry in baskets of fried chicken, or sandwiches and pop — even wine — thereby avoiding paying for expensive concessions.
“This is a nice way to get exposure to music for young people,” Barger said. “We have many foster parents who would love to do something very affordable.”
The $1 tickets are not good for other concerts called “leased events” held at the venue, she said.
