1$ Baggage Check at BILLY ELLIOT

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 1:28pm

Hi, everyone.

Just wanted to let you know there will be a 1$ for any largue purses, backpacks, messenger bags, "murses" and luggage at BILLY ELLIOT. Picked up my ticket for Friday night last evening and discovered this.

Figured I'd save you all the grief of a mandatory bag check...


EDIT: According to the slip they're giving out when you get your ticket, YES, IT IS MANDATORY.

Updated On: 9/30/08 at 01:28 PM

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 1:35pm

What is a murse? Oh a man purse....LOL.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 1:50pm

LOL. Shush you!

[jordangirl]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 1:52pm

How are they defining "large"?

[Okayfine]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 2:30pm

Most Bway shows have a $1 per item fee at the check room. Have for years.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 4:03pm

Yes, but most aren't mandatory.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 5:02pm

Is it mandatory to check your bags or is it mandatory to have your bags checked ie inspected?

[winston89]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 5:08pm

It is mandatory to have your bag inspected. However, it isn't mandatory to check your bag. There were a lot of times during my senior year of high school where I would go to a wednesday afternoon performance when my school let out early. My backpack always got checked. But, because it was big and bulky and was going to be a problem for me and those around me I would check it. The one thing that did bother me is that when I went and saw Mary Poppins, I had to pay 4 bucks to check my bag. I have been to some Nederlander theatres where the price to check it was free. I think the one dollar fee is usually applied at Shubert theatres.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 9:24pm

Out of the 23 times(yes I said 23) I have been to the Gershwin I have only had my bag(backpack) looked into twice. Once I had a bottle of water and a soda right on top and they said nothing about it. At the Palace they look through it. At the Neil Simon they stuck a probe thing in it...LOL. But for actual baggage check I never carry anything that big when I am in the city. But I know that some people can't make it to their hotels in time either.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 9:43pm

I guess facility fees will not go as far as they used to.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 10:58pm

I've had bags inspected from time to time. No biggie. I'm just curious as to if this "large" check is a requirement and if so what constitutes "large". Because with purses and stuff, large really is in the eye of the beholder. Example, a lot of people have "messenger bags" that are used as purses (think the ones they sell at [title of show]. Is that considered "large"?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 11:06pm

Winston, at BILLY ELLIOT they are making it MANDATORY to check large bags.

Sorry!

[trekchristi]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 11:20pm

Do all theatres have places to check bags? I had gone shopping before a show and bought some shoes and didn't have time and we had to bring the bags with us and they took up so much room...

So it's a bit embarrassing when they look in your bag. I was in London seeing Les Mis and I had a pair of Puma's in my purse in a because I walked all over the city in a bag because I wanted to wear nice shoes. At least the guy that looked at my bag didn't give me a hard time about it.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 11:34pm

"at BILLY ELLIOT they are making it MANDATORY to check large bags."

Thanks, that's all I wanted to know. The term "check your bag" has two meanings. It's not entirely impossible for a place to charge you for inspecting your bag. Outrageous? Yes. Impossible? No.

[winston89]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 11:37pm

I think that if The Imperial is making you check large bags then you shouldn't have to pay. I understand that it is different if you are choosing to check your bags that you have to pay to do so. But, if they are making you do it then you should do it for free.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 11:42pm

Exactly Winston. If they require it, you shouldn't have to pay.

I still want to know what their idea of "large" is. Do they have something in the lobby where you can go by and check the size of your purse to see if it fits?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 9/30/08 at 11:52pm

MLB's idea of "large" is a 16" X 16" X 8". I'd imagine the Imperial is probably following the same guideline. There are these boxes at ballparks and if you can't fit your bag inside you can't bring it into the park.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 12:18am

Here's what they gave me:

"As a result of heightened security in all public places, please avoid bringing outside food, packages, luggage, backpacks, etc., to the theatre, as all such packages are subect to inspection and MUST be checked. There will be a $1.00 charge for EACH CHECKED ITEM. No bottled liquids will be permitted into the theatre.

We also ask that you keep your ticket stub available for inspection at all times. Your cooperation will be sincerely appreciated.

Children under 4 years of age will not be admitted.
All patrons must have a ticket to attend. (Gee, ya think???!!!)

The use of cameras, cell phones, and other recording devices inside the theatre is strictly prohibited by law."

[petitpain]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 12:54am

its a result of the skyrocketing fuel charges

american airlines charges $25 for the first bag, so $1 is cheap!

wait.... this thing doesn't fly...

[JbaraFan1]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 2:29am

What do they charge for checking your fly?

[jordangirl]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 8:37am

Here's what they gave me:

"As a result of heightened security in all public places, please avoid bringing outside food, packages, luggage, backpacks, etc., to the theatre, as all such packages are subect to inspection and MUST be checked. There will be a $1.00 charge for EACH CHECKED ITEM. No bottled liquids will be permitted into the theatre.

We also ask that you keep your ticket stub available for inspection at all times. Your cooperation will be sincerely appreciated.

Children under 4 years of age will not be admitted.
All patrons must have a ticket to attend. (Gee, ya think???!!!)

The use of cameras, cell phones, and other recording devices inside the theatre is strictly prohibited by law."

Wait a sec... Isn't that what they were giving out at Equus too? I didn't notice a lot of people checking bags...and I know there was at least one backpack and some shopping bags at seats around me opening night.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 11:00am

They are going to have a fight if they expect women to check their purses...unless they have bonded employees...

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 11:28am

No fights. If they're adamant about not checking a bag they'll just be escorted back to the ticket office for an exchange or to the door.

Things are scary out there folks. We can't keep on operating as if all was fine in the world. It isn't and hasn't been for a long time. We've had this policy in effect for all our shows at the theatre I work in for a long time now.

[Okayfine]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 11:48am

It is USUALLY only mandatory if the bag is so big that you can't fit it under your seat. I can't imagine why they'd force yu to check a bag that doesn't create a fire hazard, unless, as mamie says, it is about security.

To the person who said he/she didnt believe there ought to be a fee if you are REQUIRED to check your bag, I see your point, on principle, but disagree. It is a service which requires staff & insurance & all that fun stuff & it is also a deterrant (sp?) People bring LUGGAGE (literally!), for pity's sake, which they think they will store in the back or on the stairs or wherever & that is not possible. Large bags simply should not be brought to the theatre.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 10/1/08 at 11:58am

I definitely agree large luggage should not be brought in (before I moved up here, I used the luggage check at the Marriott).

But for purses etc that do fit under the seat, just a little more care in inspecting them.

Granted, as I said earlier, I'm fairly sure the same info went out with Equus tickets and I really didn't see any difference in the things allowed in the Broadhurst.