For example, when compared against ticketing statistics from ten years ago, today’s data shows that 5.9 percent of the national audience base remains unticketed, a figure that’s almost indistinguishable from 5.7 percent in 1995. Furthermore, of that 5.9 percent, only 2.3 percent are first-ticketers – meaning that, if given the opportunity, they would make their very first ticket purchases, but lack either the necessary funds to do so, do not have adequate access to ticket outlets, or suffer from the rare affliction known as TM Phobia, otherwise referred to as the unnatural and illogical fear of Ticketmaster.

However, the 5.9 unticketed statistic only reflects the percentage of the audience base who are actively seeking tickets, and not those who receive tickets for free. Otherwise known as the “comp” factor, it fails to include those who might have been given tickets for upcoming tours such as Modest Mouse, Alanis Morissette or O.A.R. Included in this statistical abnormality are social/economic/professional sub-groupings such as professional athletes, entertainment celebrities and really hot looking sorority babes.

But what do the numbers mean? Especially when you consider that the original unticketed figure of 3.9 percent does not include those who might obtain their tickets for shows for Marty Balin, Plain White T’s and Y & T by way of less than legal means, including fraud, counterfeiting and blackmail. However, most analysts believe that politicians represent yet another statistical abnormality and should not be included in the survey sample.

Of course, despite the current figures, the total economic picture rarely lends itself to brief descriptions as portrayed by numbers, charts and graphs. Other factors must be considered, such as whether a proposed reduction in the amount of service charges for arena shows by acts such as Green Day and Eminem might result in further inflation. Or how a lowering in the price of hill seats for amphitheatre shows by Jimmy Buffett and Velvet Revolver might cause gas prices to go up, or result in an increase in beer prices coupled with a reduction in the size of paper cups. In short, nothing is as simple as it may appear.

What does the future hold for the economy? Will a healthy percentage of the audience base continue to buy tickets for Neil Diamond and Dave Matthews Band? Or will they follow the lead of a small, yet rising number of senior citizens who have chosen to purchase concert tickets from Canadian ticket outlets or offshore online ticketing entities, thus resulting in an overall lowering of U.S. ticket sales? Or as one economist put it, predictions about the future based on past economic numbers are often misleading, if only because the future has yet to happen.

Coming up later this week: How will ticket sales for Paul McCartney’s fall tour affect President Bush’s judicial nominations, especially in regards to those judges who would rather see Ringo instead of the Knighted One? Stay tuned.