LeAnn Rimes is coming to the Salk Institute for a special performance with the San Diego Symphony on August 25. But if you want to see the country-pop megastar perform, it's gonna cost ya.
Tickets for the event go on sale on July 9 and start at a wallet-bursting $250. If those prices aren't enough to make you blink, you might want to try one of Salk's "sponsorship packages," which range from $2,500 to $75,000. Lest you think you're getting ripped off, it should be noted that the high-end package includes reserved parking, a table for you and nine guests and something called "supper," which is apparently a fancy version of dinner.
If you're planning to search under your couch cushions to see if you left a spare $75,000 lying around, you'd better do it fast: Salk's costly "A Concert Under the Stars" events actually sell out every year. Glee star Idina Menzel performed there last year with equally staggering ticket prices, but the Gleeks still came running.
The prices may be steep, but Rimes' fans would argue that she's worth every penny. The country singer has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and has two Grammys, three Academy of Country Music awards and 12 Billboard awards under her belt. She's actually the youngest-ever recipient of a Grammy and was the first country artist to win for "Best New Artist." If an artist of that caliber isn't worth telling your kids they can't go to college, who is?
So start liquidating those assets, because it'll be August before you know it. Of course, it should be noted that the money raised from Salk's Concert Under the Stars series goes to fund biological research at the Institute and its community education programs. Though, seeing how much money people can be convinced to drop on a concert seems more like a nefarious pyschological experiment than a biological one.
SoundDiego associate editor Chris Maroulakos is also the managing editor of the San Diego music blog Owl and Bear.
