Broadway's shrinking audience......

[joe5]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 1:12pm

Ticket prices must drop I say ! Worst attendance in eight years ;( .



http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-23/broadway-s-shrinking-audience-overshadows-tom-hanks.html



Updated On: 5/24/13 at 01:12 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 1:17pm

Roxy? Is that you?

I will say that while this argument is as old as Dollypop, this is the first season that I really noticed it getting bad across the board. It's the first season in many many years that there's quite a few shows that I didn't see because ticket prices were just so ridiculously high, I couldn't justify it, even to sit in the last row of the house.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 1:32pm

Broadway is the next "housing bubble!!"

(Actually, I think tuition loans for higher education is the next bubble to burst.)

But Broadway prices are so varied now. There are so many discounts. Yes, tickets can cost $400 each, but they can also cost $40 each. It's whatever the market will bear.

I still can't believe stars on Broadway can make $20,000 per week. That's insane for an audience of 1,500 per show.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 1:36pm

All that, plus let's be honest here: this season sucked.

[wonkit]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 1:46pm

Opera and ballet companies have chased away a segment of their audiences by pricing beyond what people are willing to spend, even if they have the cash. What am I entitled to expect if I am paying $315 for an opera performance? Answer: who knows? Result: I'll take my $315 somewhere else.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 1:47pm

They count on people not knowing there are discounts, deep pocketed tourists or folks with expenses accounts to justify the high prices. When those bubbles burst, prices will falll.

Kinda on topic, but slightly off: I keep thnking of the REBECCA fiasco, that HAD to have 12 million dollars to open. Please! Maybe, a more modest production might have been in order. The "high production cost" excuse doesn't work for all shows.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 1:56pm

While I obviously don’t want audience attendance to go down, I do hope the decline forces shows to lower their prices. I think the biggest issue of high ticket prices was raised in the article: expensive tickets will not foster a habit of attending theatre in the next generation.

While it’s brilliant in terms of making money, the marketing for “Book of Mormon” sickens me more than any other show currently. Leaving their Chicago engagement just so they never have to offer any discounts or never not sell a seat, even if they are still making a profit, is just one example (team that with the fact that their prices are insanely high anyway and it makes it impossible for many to see the show…or, if they people do shell out the dough for BOM, they may refrain from paying to see other shows, so all of the money gets poured into one place). The fact that people are, weekly, buying tickets at $477 for a Broadway show full of pandering for laughs and relying on saying swear words over and over for laughs is beyond my comprehension (but probably doesn’t hurt word of mouth – when people are paying $477 for a ticket, most people are going to make damn sure they feel it was worth it and don’t feel like fools paying such a high price)…but that’s another topic.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 2:12pm

Over the course of the last two years, my desire to see a Broadway show has dwindled. Since moving from NYC to DC in 2000, I used to make the trip at least once a month. Now it's an, "eh, nevermind?" I think part of the reason for the change, is the lack of common courtesy by the present-day audience.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 2:38pm

Very interesting article. Thanks for posting.

When I attend a show I scan the audience for empty seats. I don't do it because I want to move but to see how well the show is selling. If it isn't full on a Friday night...show has got problems! More and more I am seeing lots of seats on the sides, back and in mezzanine. Why?...wouldn't it be more logical to manipulate the ticket prices (even if you lowered prices on nights that are traditionally less attended like Tuesday night). Full house...more people...better chance for word of mouth...encouraging people to grow to love theatre and want to attend another show...?

The one price ever increasing ticket model is broken.
When I purchased tickets to Pippin at A.R.T. the ticket prices DO change based upon the performance day!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 2:58pm

I agree with taz that this wasn't the strongest of seasons. Still, I spent more money seeing shows this year than ever before.

wonkit is right: what are we to expect when we are asked to pay so much (or told the value of a performance is so much)? If my dinner costs $137 I expect a damn good dinner. If a Broadway show is valued at $137 my expectations rise with the price.

Even TDF isn't a deal anymore. You can often buy a regularly priced seat in the rear mezz for less than TDF.

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 3:06pm

Uta Hagen was right.


This season was ridiculous in regards to prices; I missed out on many shows this season simply because they were too expensive. They should be thinking about locals too. Sure, the tourists may dish out the cash, but they're screwed in the slower months when audiences are mainly made up of locals.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 3:37pm

The defense rests.

Prices will continue their upward spiral no matter what

Updated On: 5/24/13 at 03:37 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 3:42pm

LAST SEASON had the LARGEST AUDIENCE in history. More people attended a Broadway show in 2011-2012 than in 38-30 or 56-57 or any other season you care to name. And all anyone here could do was moan that Broadway was dead and dying!

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 3:48pm

Largest audience ever??

I call bullsh*t. I could totally get behind "highest grossing season" just based on ticket prices, but no way was it the "most attended."

There used to be 30-40 theatres on Broadway running shows all at once, not 15. It's mathematically impossible.

EDIT: My math sucks. There are 28 shows running right now (not 15)! Still, how can you beat the days when there were 40?

Updated On: 5/24/13 at 03:48 PM

[BroadwayStar4]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 4:20pm

They should realize that not everyone is rich, therefore they should lower the prices. I know quite a lot of families who want to see a Broadway show, but could never afford it, and they lived in New York City all their lives.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 4:33pm

"While I obviously don’t want audience attendance to go down, I do hope the decline forces shows to lower their prices."

In all my life under capitalism, I've rarely seen that happen. Even though we are always told that's how it works.

But here's the thing tho: there is PLENTY of worthwhile theater to see that isn't about bloat and Broadway. In January I saw a bunch of stuff at the Under the Radar and the Coil festivals, like six shows, and the total cost came about the price of a single standard orchestra seat on Broadway now. And the shows reminded me yet again about what makes great theater.

[D2]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 4:43pm

^^This^^

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 6:54pm

For what its worth, I don't even think its cheap for a regular discount ticket anymore. I remember a few years back, I got third row center orchestra for 9 TO 5 for $59 and now I'm looking at tickets for KINKY BOOTS and a decent orchestra seat Will run me about $108 (and I don't have time too risk rush).

[binau]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 6:57pm

THE BOOK OF MORMON epitomises everything that is wrong with Broadway's economy today. People who are spending $200 on average to see a show are not going to be able to afford, or want to spend more money on another show.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/25/13 at 10:11am

In all honestly, the average person can not afford top $$$ for Broadway tickets. TKTS, 50% discounts & TDF are becoming more & more common for people to use. Any show with a lottery/rush/SRO are becoming more & more popular as the $140-$150 standard orchestra price just isn't in people's budget. Sadly, many tourists feel the need to pay top dollar as they simply don't know any different. I doubt we see any kind of price drop but it would be nice to not see any increase in the average ticket price for a good 10 years.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/25/13 at 11:24am

Why should the AVERAGE person get the top dollar seats? That doesn't even make sense.

This is entertainment -- whoever said it was suppose to be CHEAP? Entertainment is a luxury. Does it suck for those of us that love it and would love to go see evey show? Sort of, but life is about making choices.

These converations just go to the entitlement that has pervaded our young: just because you want something, doesn't mean you get it. I'd like a nicer car, but since I don't have the money to buy one, I have to settle for the car I do have.