AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO BROADWAY THEATRES FROM MATT_G...- Page 2

[Princeton78]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 4:52pm

It seems to me...
At 1.48 when there's no line, the audience is loaded in and the theater is half full, that producers would not mind seling discounted tickets to their shows. Even if it means that they can post higher capacity percentages in the weekly grosses. I salute Broadway theaters that offer discounted tickets. It shows a real concern for the arts which is why they were there. RIGHT? Yeah, I thought not.

Rathnait and Joe....get over yourselves. I'd hate to think that you'd be so high and mighty as to cast aside the idea of people not being able to appreciate live theatre. All the stuff about hunger etc....PLEASE. Don't misinterpret and twist Matt_G's words and turn him into a heartless, uncaring person. That's not at all what he was saying and you know it.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 4:53pm

Matt, why don't you subscribe to one of the papering services. It's fairly hit or miss as far as Broadway is concerned, but when you hit it, you really hit it. For example, I've seen Night Mother (twice) and The Rivals. I had chances to see Laugh Whore, Whoopi, and several off-Broadway shows. Check some of them out.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 4:55pm

Goth, believe me. If I could I would!

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 4:55pm

Hell, I still use my student ID to get haircuts...

Manhattan is expensive.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 4:57pm

All I was saying, Princeton, is that theater is a luxury. That I spent a lot of time not being able to afford it myself. I didn't expect theaters to change their policies because I didn't make enough money to attend. I changed my life instead - took control of what I could take control of. That's all I'm saying.

Updated On: 1/5/05 at 04:57 PM

[Matt_G]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:01pm

Well Rath, theatre isn't a necessity but it's also not something one should have to change their entire life to be able to enjoy. You did it so good for you. Glad you're happy. Not everyone can do that, though. Now can they?

I didn't write this to start an argument. This was something that upset me and I voiced my opinion. If you don't like my opinion, I don't give two sh*ts.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:03pm

Rath,
All I'm saying is that you shouldn't have to change your life in order to enjoy live theatre. Even in NY or London. Check that, ESPECIALLY in NY or London. I love that Hairspray and other shows always have discounted seats available. It shows an appreciation for all. I'd be very sad if I had to change my life in order to see a Broadway show.

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:07pm

Hey, I'm not holy at all! I just think it's kind of silly to go into full on rant mode with high dudgeon factor because you think that *you* should set the ticket prices for a Broadway show-- and I had to point out that no matter how badly you WANT to see a Broadway show you don't NEED to.

There are LOADS of ways to get discounted tickets- especially for shows that are not selling well. Years ago there was no TKTS booth and people made the arguments over and over that it's silly to let the shows run half full, so they created that high price discount and it's been VERY successful. Who knows what tomorrow might bring?

I live in Chicago. I don't get to see LOTS of Broadway shows I want to see because I can't afford the tickets...the AIRLINE tickets. When you get this $20 ticket deal worked out, give United a call and see about those unsold airline seats, OK?

[Princeton78]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:08pm

*bitter bitter*
*shakes head*

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:12pm

Joe has a point, as does Matt. How many of my friends would I love to see shows with IF they could afford to just GET here. And then they have to afford to GO to the show when they finally do get here. And eat and have a place to sleep. Meanwhile I live and work here and pay inflated prices for basically everything, and pay a lot of money to live in a closet, and my major perk is being near all of the awesome stuff that happens in New York and being able to attend it and find cheap ways to enjoy it as much as I can. You give and take and make life choices based on what's good for you and what works for you at the moment. I could live in a bigger apartment, but I like seeing shows too much. Overall point is that the world is too damn expensive.

Updated On: 1/5/05 at 05:12 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:19pm

I guess I'm missing your logic here (and honestly I'm not trying to pick on you Matt).

What if I went to the local movie cineplex and asked for a senior discount even though I'm a few decades shy of 65? If they refuse to sell me that ticket for $6 (or whatever it is) and insist I pay $10.50 (even if the movie I want to see isn't sold out and that seat would be empty) are they being stupid, unfair, and just plain mean? Hardly. If discounting was that completely arbitrary, then why on earth would ANYONE of any age ever pay $10.50 to see a movie? And if all seats were $6, how would they stay in business?

In the spirit of goodwill, theatres offer discounts to students and seniors, simply because so many of them have limited incomes (and it's good for business to encourage that kind of patronage). Now, the fact that the billionaire Olsen twins have student IDs and the multibillionaire Warren Buffett might have an AARP card and thus qualify for discounts doesn't undercut the validity of the gesture.

Producers of shows (that aren't selling out) generally make half-price tickets available at TKTS, offer discounts through the various theatre clubs, and in some cases have very low priced balcony seats (and the discounts will become even deeper and more plentiful during the next month or two as business drops off). Any of those methods would allow someone to see the vast majority of Broadway shows for as little as $25 and certainly no more than $50. I'm sorry, I just don't see how them offering all of those options, but not allowing a non-student to buy a student discount seat for $30 or whatever, makes them stupid, rude, cruel, mean etc .......

[Craig]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:20pm

The point I was also trying to make is that if a show were to make an exception, they have to be fair and do it across the board. So, yes Matt - today your scenario makes "sense" on why they "should" give you a ticket for less. Unfortunately, we don't live in a bubble (since I know you like Wicked references) and unfortunately policies are policies.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:23pm

Well, I'm done posting on this thread. I stated my point and if you guys don't agree with it, than that's fine. It's not going to stop bothering me that some shows feel it's right to let anyone who wants to see their shows do so and others feel they need to limit access. And also as I said before, if they don't want my money, I know plenty of other people who do.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:31pm

I agree with Joe that theatre is a luxury....but it should be tangeable luxury if anything....

Matt_G is absolutely right - theatre prices have spiraled out of control. True enough, MAtt's idea wouldn't save a show, but it would allow the producers to make a little money before a show washes up.

[Craig]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:40pm

This is probably going to set Matt off but it's not aimed at him..

There are people far more deserving in this world of the experience of live theater than anyone, who by the very nature of being able to log on here and post, is entitled to.

[etoile]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:51pm

No one needs to change their life style to see live theatre, especially in NYC. Spit in any direction and it will land on a stage. Just don't expect it always be a Broadway stage. Look down the pages of Theatermania to see how many shows are available for $25 or less. They many not be to everyone's liking, but there's still some damn fine professional theatre to be found at an affordable price.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:53pm

Craig, to say what I think you mean you'd have to move the comma to after the "who"

"anyone who, by"
instead of
"anyone, who by"

Otherwise the sentence means something other than what you intend it to mean.


There's the Grammar Nazi in me coming out.

Updated On: 1/5/05 at 05:53 PM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:53pm

Wow Craig,
That was really, really low.
Are you sure you're here for the love of theatre? People who come and post on your site love theatre. To imply that some of them are not entitled to see theatre is disgraceful. What kind of message does that send? Who is entitled? You? People who agree with you? People who are rich? People who have white collared jobs?
I work very very hard for my money and enjoy splurging on theatre. I do not proclaim to be a drama critic, I am not rolling in money,I do not rub elbows on a regular basis with Heather Headly and Harvey Firestein. I do not even live in Manhattan. But I know that I am 'entitled' to Broadway theatre, as is anyone who wants to experience it.
Really ashamed of that last comment Craig. Really dissapointed.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:56pm

sry, i really couldn't understand that - i mean, i got the general drift of it....

but it's true, look at some of the people who post here.... Updated On: 1/5/05 at 05:56 PM

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:57pm

I agree 100% with what Margo said.

Just go for the cheapest ticket in the theatre and go with that instead of the 100 bucks for orchestra and/or front mezz. Usually rear balcony/mezz tickets can be in the 20 or even 15 dollar range which is VERY affordable. Just bring your binoculars.

Updated On: 1/5/05 at 05:57 PM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:58pm

So what?
So they don't deserve to see "Wicked" and you do?
Gimmie a break.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:59pm

Chinkie, find me a Broadway house where the cheapest seat is $15 and I'll find you an BKLYN fan who's over the age of 13.

Truth is the average price for rear mezz is around $50 - $60 which is still too much for me and others.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 6:00pm

AMEN MargoChanning! I agree 100%

[Princeton78]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 6:02pm

Chinkie azn jai...
Matt_G was saying that few theatres have cheap tickets in the rear mezz/balc. etc. That's what he was crying out for. So many shows sell tickets that are 100 or 75 and nothing else. It's a bit ridiculous.

Updated On: 1/5/05 at 06:02 PM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 6:03pm

"So they don't deserve to see "Wicked" and you do?"

Princeton, was that for me? I meant there are people who would like to see Wicke and actually know Good theatre, but can't see the show because of the tkt costs.....