AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO BROADWAY THEATRES FROM MATT_G...- Page 8

[robbiej]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 4:36pm

Did someone say 'work'?

Huh.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 4:37pm

I am. I deserve a spanking.

[DAME]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 4:44pm

that excites me. I always had a afantasy about spanking Faith Prince .

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 4:45pm

Dame! You and Iris are of the same mind!

Updated On: 1/11/05 at 04:45 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 4:51pm

In order to see free theatre, I did full-time box office work for ten years for four different non-profit performing arts organizations (in Houston). THAT is how you see anything and everything for FREE as well as get paid. Not a lot of pay, but enough to live on. Believe it or not, the ticketing business is a very incestuous one (check out the list of BOMI participants someday) and I saw many shows for free across the country (including Broadway). The biggest advantage was knowing how box offices and ticketing is run. Most of the time, I know what to say and how to say it in order to bypass all the BS in finding decent seats or getting a ticket to a "sold out" show (a real sellout is actually EXTREMELY rare). In addition, I worked as an usher for a couple of different theatres. Sometimes for pay, sometimes as a volunteer, but I always saw shows for free.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 5:21pm

I agree with you 100,000% Mat_G. The state of Broadway is a sad one.

Who in their right mind thinks they can make a huge hit with $100 tickets? There are only a few Haisprays and Producers in this world.

This is a bigger problem than just keeping people out of the show. When a show fails, this fules the reason for people NOT to produce new works. Why do we only have 6 new musicals a year open? Simple..audiences don't come out at prices like this.

I don't think the producers are the only ones responsible for the prices, though. With all the unions and their ridiculous salaries, everyone is keeping theater a prohibitive exercise.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 5:36pm

FYI --

By the time this season comes to a close in May, 10 new musicals would have opened this season on Broadway (and there's a possibility that one or two others MAY make it in by May, as well).

And apparently audiences DO come out at these prices -- the week after Christmas this year was the highest grossing in the history of Broadway. Attendance is up and shows are running longer than ever. Give the people what they want (good entertaining shows) and they'll pay whatever the market allows (look at all those people who plunked down thousands to see Menzel's last performance).

There are LOTS of discounts out there -- all but three or four soldout hits make their best tickets readily available to the public (through TKTS, discounts, and rush) for $65 or less (very often MUCH less). And that's just Broadway -- there are hundreds (thousands?) of new shows every single year playing off- and off-off-Broadway that are equal (if not better) in quality to anything on Broadway, that cost $15 or $20 (you can see 95% of non-Broadway offerings for $45 or less).

Updated On: 1/11/05 at 05:36 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 11:46pm

Mr. Tuttle would rather have the cast and crew working at the poverty level and with shoddy conditions--in hopes that the producers would lower the ticket prices.

Funny thing is--they didn't lower the prices on their First National Non-Equity tours. No, they just pocket the difference.

[Craig]

Posted: 1/11/05 at 11:54pm

Interestingly enough if you look at the average ticket price actually being paid for tickets, it's not $100 per.

Fiddler on the Roof had the lowest average ticket price (for a musical) last week at $48.33.

Wicked had the highest average (for a musical) of $86.99.

Stating the obvious here - but if those are average ticket prices, that means people are paying higher, but also lower.

[marilynrita]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 12:37am

I work in a box office and while I would LOVE to just sell the tickets because those seats are empty, my company manager who is in there with me, or a producer passing by, would have my head and my job! Alas it is the rules of broadway

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 1:30am

I'm so glad to see many theater goers here who pay full price for every ticket they buy.

Oh wait..you say you didn't say that? Hmmmm...

And those discounts are very nice and Joe Average from Iowa who brings his family of four to NYC knows about these discounts (besides TKTS)? Yeah...thought so.

It very nice for the theater intelligencia to talk about ticket prices when you go through discount services that the regaular public has no clue about. And these, dear friends and unemployed Equity actors, are what we are talking about. These average people are not clued into the theater scene and would like to see a show. But they are prohibited from doing so because of these large prices.

Sondheim was correct. Theater has become a luxory item that only a few can afford. When you exlude a large part of the potential consumers, you're headed for danger.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 1:52am

well, point taken, unemployed, bitter non-Equity actor.

[etoile]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 1:52am

What?

What has lead you to believe that ..."And those discounts are very nice and Joe Average from Iowa who brings his family of four to NYC knows about these discounts (besides TKTS)?" Why would you preclude that Joe has no knowledge? Why would you assume Joe lacks the savvy to avail himself of the assistance offered at online travel sites, visitor centers, friends and family, and media sources. How many Joes are on this board? How many Joes travel to NYC on tour packages where tickets are bought at group rate discounts? How many more straws will you attempt to grasp?

And again I assert that theatre is not a luxury. It's plentiful, it's inexpensive, it's non exclusive, it's everywhere in NYC. A status Broadway show is another matter.

[JeffG]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 9:20am

Tuttle. I moved back to New York 6 years ago. Before returning, I lived in 4 different cities with your so-called average joes. Are there people who don't know about discounts? Sure. Are there people who want to guarantee they have tickets ahead of time for shows they love and don't care or mind spending the money for full priced tickets? Of course.

But if you think the average joe (your words) doesn't on average do their darndest to get a discounted ticket, then you were born yesterday, never worked in sales, never worked at a box office or something.

Of course there are people who aren't hip to the many offers out there. But rest assured, those people at TKTS, booking groups, using two-fers, broadwaybox, playbill/theatermania clubs and so on are you're average joe's too.

p.s. I won't mention that apparently a dictionary is also a luxury item too

I'm not saying ticket prices aren't high. But as so many have said, there is more to theater than Broadway. There is more to theater than NY. How many of the people griping about ticket prices and the lack of new, original works FAILED to attend shows at the Fringe or NYMF? Or if you aren't in NYC, the local fringe festival nearest you.

It's easy to be an armchair critic. Updated On: 1/12/05 at 09:20 AM

[MaTakeALookAtMe]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 10:47am

Yes, apparEntly dictionaries are a luxury item for a number of us, Jeff...

For the average person who has limited interest in theater the prices do seem expensive. For instance, if my parents decided to go to NY and said "what th hell we're in NYC , let's see a show"...they'd definitely say it is a luxury item. But for people who know and care...the slightly above average joe-- that know how to take advantage of discounts and who appreciate theater, it is well worth the price. Updated On: 1/12/05 at 10:47 AM

[ChiChi]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 12:44pm

I can see every side of EVERY argument on here. I read these boards a lot, but seldom to I say anything. So here goes...

I honestly cannnot agree with the philosophy that "Theatre is a Luxury." I don't think it should be. It should be a way of life. If you watch Broadway: The Golden Age (and granted it was a different time) various people speak of the fact that at one time Theatre WAS a way of New York life and you didn't have to break the bank to be a part of it.

I don't know. I don't think the seats should be free, but they are incredibly expensive which changes things a great deal. It becomes less about artistic appreciation and more about proving your economic status.

[robbiej]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 12:48pm

But here's the deal. 'Theatre' doesn't mean 'Broadway'. And, as MANY MANY people here have said, you can see a great deal of truly wonderful, artistic, daring, thought-provoking and NEW theatre in NYC for less than $15.

So, no, theatre should not be a luxury. And it isn't.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 12:49pm

THEATRE isn't a luxury. But maybe Broadway IS. I'm not saying it's right, but haven't you people noticed that we live under capitalism?

If you love theatre, you FIND theatre. You don't just complain that Broadway is too rich for your blood. You go and you find theatre you can afford. And if you aren't doing that, then I say you don't love theatre, you aren't very creative, and you don't know what you're missing. And believe me, I am no fan of the capitalist structure, at all.

There. I said it. I am off to the BMW dealership to offer them 1200 bucks for a 2005 that's just been SITTING on the showroom floor for months. Obviously, it's not selling, and I'm going to offer them cold hard cash. I'd be shocked if they don't take it. 1200 in the hand is worth nothing in the bush, I always say.

And if they don't take it, well, how dare they?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 12:50pm

Kiss me, robbie!!

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 12:56pm

i see you're still avoiding bush, namo. for a fan of richard locke i find this apalling!

[apdarcey]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 1:03pm

"And for shows like SPAMALOT, LA CAGE, BILLY CRYSTAL, HAIRSPRAY, TWELVE ANGRY MEN, WHOOPI and PACIFIC OVERTURES...

Thank you. By offering not only "student rush" but also discounted general admission tickets, you understand what I said above. And I will continue to go back and see your shows again instead of the others which I will quietly sit back and wait for them to close."

matt, just an idea, but why don't you save money by not seeing some shows multiple times and save the money so that you can see shows that don't offer discounts? that way you can have a better chance at seeing more... andrew

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 1:16pm

I saw a splendid production of Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapine Agile starring our own Robbiej(he was brilliant)on MacDougal St., it cost me 15 dollars.

Namo is correct, good theater is not a luxury, and it's out there.

Regarding Broadway itself, the New York of today is NOT the NYC of old, when Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman shared a 60 dollar a month cold water flat on the East Side. It's 2005, things cost a great deal of moolah, yet wonderful theatrical rewards are ripe for the picking, and very often MUCH less than a ticket to La Cage.

[etoile]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 3:19pm

So, Namo, how did you make out at the BMW dealership? Did they take your offer? If not I have an idea for you. You can learn to cultivate a few friends willing to provide you with some of the niceties of life. I know you might have some compunction about that, but it does seem to work for some people.

At the very least you might snag some theatre tickets.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 3:21pm

etoile, I've actually heard that you can do that without even having met the people beforehand! Imagine?

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 1/12/05 at 4:44pm

"Who in their right mind thinks they can make a huge hit with $100 tickets? There are only a few Haisprays and Producers in this world."... Have you priced Bd'w performers solo concerts lately? Other than cabaret, they run about $60+ with a fraction of the logistics and staff. Everything in this world has doubled in price. Shows are no different.

"This is a bigger problem than just keeping people out of the show. When a show fails, this fules the reason for people NOT to produce new works. Why do we only have 6 new musicals a year open? Simple..audiences don't come out at prices like this".
There are more shows then ever waiting in the wings. People will always come...it's Broadway. You save up. You try to get a good discount (yes, the average joe is smart enough to know that).


"I don't think the producers are the only ones responsible for the prices, though. With all the unions and their ridiculous salaries, everyone is keeping theater a prohibitive exercise." . Whose ridiculous salaries? Surely there's a minority of "stars" riding the money wave that may fit in this tax bracket. The rest are strugling just like everyone else. Unions, while far from perfect, are responsible for helping raise the standard to just above " bare cost of living" in almost every industry. Price out the union dues and balance out the money you've invested in training, agents,dry spells between shows etc. and tell the average Equity actor they are overpaid.

As was mentioned,,, great theater is everywhere...find it or save up for Broadway like everyone else.