Paul O'Neill, founder of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, got the memo about the economy and looming recession. But he obviously didn't care what it said.

He gleefully reports that this year's edition of TSO's holiday tour features double the stage production of last year, an expanded band, orchestra and choir and a weekly expense of $500,000 for pyrotechnics and special effects.

And oh yes, O'Neill hasn't raised ticket prices, which generally range from $20 to $50.

"In the beginning, some of our agents were like, 'Now Paul, because of what is going on the economy, you probably should scale down,'" O'Neill says. "'Scale down? I'm doubling the thing.' (Agents asked) 'How much are we going to have to raise the ticket prices?' (I'm like) 'Ticket prices go up nowhere.'" More