Bway League WILL Release Weekly Grosses Report

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 4:20pm

I’m very glad they’re reversing their decision not do this.

Updated On: 10/27/21 at 04:20 PM

[Huss417]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 4:29pm

The overall figures for last week are higher then I thought they would be. But glad to see.

"For the week ending October 24, a total of 26 shows played 174 performances at 85.16% capacity. Total attendance was 176,073 and total gross was $22,164,602."

[kwoc91]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 4:30pm

From what I read in that press release, it sounds like they will not be releasing grosses by show, correct? Just a composite of total grosses?

It's been a long day at work so I could be completely misreading it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 4:32pm

Ok, I just re-read it and yeah, it’s not a show-by-show breakdown more of a big picture type thing.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 4:36pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I’m very glad they’re reversing their decision not do this. "

YES!

[adotburr]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 4:50pm

I think there is a typo in there. It says, "In the 130 weeks since Broadway has been reopen..."  I'm guessing the author meant to write 10 weeks? Or 13 weeks? When was Broadway's official reopen date? 

Regardless, I'm happy to see grosses back. I do  wish it was by show but I'll take what I can get. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 4:59pm

Wow, really got my hopes up there for a second. Jordan, maybe worth editing the thread title to clarify? 

Don’t get me wrong - I’ll be looking at this every week, and it’s better than nothing. But still such a cop-out.

Updated On: 10/27/21 at 04:59 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 5:01pm

^ 100%

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 5:02pm

Probably better marketing albeit unsurprisingly naive. It is not rocket science to figure out that less than 20% of the shows account for over 50% of the aggregate. That ratio will go up and the line charts may come back to haunt the naive marketers.  

Transparency=good. Obfuscation=bad. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/27/21 at 10:36pm

That's a nice capacity % since Broadway reopened.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 12:58am

I still don’t know why people care so much either way (unless they are producers/have stake in the shows?). You knowing the exact dollar amount a show made on any given week doesn’t really change or impact anything.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 1:03am

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "I still don’t know why people care so much either way (unless they are producers/have stake in the shows?). You knowing the exact dollar amount a show made on any given week doesn’t really change or impact anything."

You don't have to know, and you don't have to care. Different people care about different things in this world. Most people in this world don't care about the theatre at all. They don't think that anything that happens on a stage really changes or impacts anything. Should that dissuade you from being interested in theatre (as I assume you are since you post here)? To some of us, stakeholders and not, the minutae of the business of Broadway is fascinating. You are welcome to play in one of the other sandboxes. 

[A Director]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 3:55am

HogansHero said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "I still don’t know why people care so much either way (unless they are producers/have stake in the shows?). You knowing the exact dollar amount a show made on any given week doesn’t really change or impact anything."

You don't have to know, and you don't have to care. Different people care about different things in this world. Most people in this world don't care about the theatre at all. They don't think that anything that happens on a stage really changes or impacts anything. Should that dissuade you from being interested in theatre (as I assume you are since you post here)? To some of us, stakeholders and not, the minutae of the business of Broadway is fascinating. You are welcome to play in one of the other sandboxes."

Indeed, HogansHero, there are many who post and worry about Grosses, yourself included, who are like vultures ready to swoop down to devour the corpses of closed shows.  That's what you and others live for.

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 4:25am

^thats totally uncalled for, while there are vultures here, Hogan isn't one of them.

Additionally, there's nothing wrong with discussing the business side of things. I find it fascinating. 

Updated On: 10/28/21 at 04:25 AM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 7:15am

A Director said: "HogansHero said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "I still don’t know why people care so much either way (unless they are producers/have stake in the shows?). You knowing the exact dollar amount a show made on any given week doesn’t really change or impact anything."

You don't have to know, and you don't have to care. Different people care about different things in this world. Most people in this world don't care about the theatre at all. They don't think that anything that happens on a stage really changes or impacts anything. Should that dissuade you from being interested in theatre (as I assume you are since you post here)? To some of us, stakeholders and not, the minutae of the business of Broadway is fascinating. You are welcome to play in one of the other sandboxes."

Indeed, HogansHero, there are many who post and worry about Grosses, yourself included, who are like vultures ready to swoop down to devour the corpses of closed shows. That's what you and others live for."

Caring about grosses doesn’t make anyone a vulture. For fans of a certain medium, they are interesting stats. Is Box Office Mojo, a website dedicated to film box office frequented by vultures? No, it’s data and stats that film fans enjoy. Same goes for theatre. Many people love and are interested all the aspects of something. No need to judge them. 

 

[Rainah]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 2:41pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "I still don’t know why people care so much either way (unless they are producers/have stake in the shows?). You knowing the exact dollar amount a show made on any given week doesn’t really change or impact anything."

It's interesting, that's all. It's fun to see shows rise and fall and sometimes rise again. It's fun to see the impact of various elements like stunt casting, awards, or marketing efforts, and what is and isn't successful. It's fascinating to see trends, changing tastes, etc in the theatre world.

Might as well say "why check the sports scores? Knowing how many points your team scored on a given week doesn't change or impact anything". Sure, but it's fun to follow along and cheer on your favourites, be impressed with incredible moves, shake your head at ridiculous decisions, and otherwise enjoy the ride.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 3:25pm

Let me be clear since I obviously wasn’t in my original comment (guessing by the lame attempt to be a condescending Mean Gay followed right after it):

I place no judgment on anyone or is interested in that facet of the business. I too find it interesting and enjoyed looking at the numbers every week. My reaction was aimed at those who were acting as though the Broadway League was doing something almost criminal by choosing the withhold the information. I mean, that first thread announcing it was full of truly bizarre reactions. That’s who I’m asking, “why do you care?” to.

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 5:41pm

IMHO percentage of seats sold isn’t terribly helpful when we know that many seats are highly discounted or paper. We need percentage of gross potential. And musicals for the most part always do better than plays (except now Lehman) so the overall average will trend higher

we know this is a challenging time and kudos to those shows weathering the lean times.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 6:37pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "My reaction was aimed at those who were acting as though the Broadway League was doing something almost criminal by choosing the withhold the information. "

I don't really see anyone calling it criminal. I have called it naive and stupid as have many others here and elsewhere but maybe you are not referring to me. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/28/21 at 6:45pm

It was never a deep reason for me, I just liked seeing how shows were doing both long running and new. It was always fun reading those threads with predictions from people.

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 10/29/21 at 1:07am

It looks like the average ticket price (across all shows) is $125.88.  I believe my calculation is correct (total gross/# of seats filled), but someone correct me if not.

I'm truly surprised it's that high, with all the discussion of shows struggling and papering.  I know that figure doesn't say anything about individual shows.  And, I'm sure there are several shows still getting premium prices that offset the shows struggling to sell seats ...

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/2/21 at 12:28pm

I’m curious how the west end is doing in comparison to Broadway?

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 11/2/21 at 12:33pm

After looking at this week's grosses, I really wish they would do show-by-show, how it used to be.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/2/21 at 12:40pm

Great thread, thanks for the clean up 

[ellbellthomps]

Posted: 11/2/21 at 12:41pm

Yeah, this weeks numbers are notttt good. I wonder why they aren't releasing show by show anymore?