Current state of various "papering services"

[lily carver]

Posted: 1/22/23 at 7:30pm

I know not to mention either a specific service or shows but I want to know if anyone else is seeing super crappy options with services. I only belong to one ( I used to belong to two) and generally there are at least a good number of off and off off Broadway plays, concerts etc but in the last two plus weeks it has been awful and January has usually been a good time. I am not expecting Broadway just some interesting preferably plays but also music to see and almost nothing, never seen it this bad.

I am trying to understand if it is the particular service I have or just that theaters are holding back ( given a lot of shows have a lot of empty seats) You can follow up here cryptically without mentioning specific service or show or send me a private message.

 

Thanks

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 1/22/23 at 7:33pm

I feel like it’s just the state of things right now. Even TDF has next to no offerings.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/22/23 at 8:30pm

Papering is the greatest sign of weakness for a show. They won't do it unless totally necessary. And even then, it's usually better to use something like Show-Score, which has larger partnerships for trade and can yield additional attention, as opposed to the Gold Club or Will Call.

Processes and theories behind discounting are always changing. Even today I was looking at Access25 tickets for Encores. In the past, those have included some very nice mezz seats; for DEAR WORLD they're all in the balcony. So now I'll wait a bit to see if anything better comes up. Things change.

Updated On: 1/22/23 at 08:30 PM

[macnyc]

Posted: 1/22/23 at 8:57pm

I belong to three clubs, and the offerings at all three have been abysmal lately. It surprises me because, as the OP points out, usually January is a good time. Plus I know that some shows have been struggling. I get the feeling that comps are still out there, but they’re not coming to the clubs. I have never seen it this bad, honestly. 

 

Updated On: 1/22/23 at 08:57 PM

[lily carver]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 10:54am

Thanks for the info and glad to know it is not just "my" service. Alas on my budget even a $50 TDF ticket is a stretch I can only do once in a while so I rely on the seat filler services for most of my theater. Fingers crossed that some things will pop up.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 10:59am

I think its the weather honestly. More people are out and about than usual. With all the flops gone, and new shows still to come, there’s not too much that’s struggling. It seems like business is booming on broadway. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 12:44pm

A lot of new shows start previews in late Feb and March. Not an expert here but I thought producers resort to papering when there are a lot of unsold tickets during previews and they want word of mouth to increase.

[lily carver]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 2:25pm

The vast majority of the offerings are NOT Broadway shows and I find it hard to believe that all plays, concerts, shows etc don't have a lot of empty seats at the moment. The great thing about these services for an impoverished theater/arts person like me was that I could try out some wonderful work I would probably never have thought to see but right pickings are beyond slim

[Alex M]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 2:32pm

Showscore really be offering up tickets to shows that even the 8 dollar handling fee is too much for. 

Updated On: 1/23/23 at 02:32 PM

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 2:43pm

Is SS better than PbP?

[macnyc]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 3:55pm

Broadway Flash said: "Is SS better than PbP?"

I can't answer that because I don't have Play by Play, sorry. But Show Score is now owned by TodayTix, and of course the emphasis for that company is to sell tickets, not give them away for the price of a handling fee.

My theory is that comps nowadays are being distributed through the various Broadway unions and to colleges. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 4:25pm

PbP is not great right now.

[kwoc91]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 4:33pm

As Wick3 mentioned, I expect things will pick up again as the spring shows start their preview periods. 

[MsPiety&Rectitude]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 6:08pm

WillCallClub member here and the offerings have been measley lately, very little of interest to me. I figure if I go to one show a year it pays for itself and I tend to go to 3-4 a year through WCC. But yeah, now is not an exciting time on there.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 7:21pm

Also Showscore has jacked up their "service" fees for Broadway shows to 20-25$

Will Call Club has been awful for awhile and the people behind the scenes have always been a mess, will not be renewing thats for sure

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 7:51pm

I think there is a good point in the weather observation. As we experience climate change, our conventional wisdom about good and bad times evolves. It used to be that January was bad business because of the winter. Shows closed, others didn't open, no one wanted to rehearse over the holidays, and on the most miserable days, people wouldn't even come out for free. Add to that that a lot of people who have to deal with it are saying that the number of rotten apples in the papering crowd has increased post-Covid and still others are noting what a lousy job traditional papering does at getting younger and less white bodies in seats, something that is seen as critical. So yes there are a lot of reasons but I'm sure when we get another dog that can't sell tickets but keeps on running, we'll see more paper made available. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/20/23 at 4:39pm

What about TE? I’m thinking of joining.

To that end, the new season is starting soon. Any pop ups? I know many shows right now have not sold much in the way of tickets and are starting soon (Shucked, Dancin’, Fat Ham, PP Goes Wrong and Room to name a few)

[lily carver]

Posted: 2/20/23 at 5:19pm

I can't speak to a specific service but TE is not the one I belong to or started the thread over
I will say things have picked up lately. I went to a wonderful concert at Carnegie Hall last week and keep missing ( as in they are gone before I can get them) several off Broadway shows I would go to

[seussical93]

Posted: 2/20/23 at 7:52pm

I’ve had a few of them and TE is my favorite of them as far as having the most options.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 2/20/23 at 8:08pm

I have TE and Gold Club and I do think TE has better options overall, though I appreciate that Gold Club emails you whenever new offers are added so you don't have to keep checking. The options seemed to have picked up a bit since this thread was first posted and I've seen a few shows in the last couple of weeks through these services. I think TE will also send you an email with a sample of current offerings if you're curious before you subscribe. 

Also for those that have multiple, have you noticed a difference in seat locations between the different services? 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 2/26/23 at 9:08am

If I cancel for a show that I booked, will they refund me?

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/28/23 at 3:26pm

Do people pay a yearly fee for showscore?

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 6/28/23 at 11:46pm

Broadway Flash said: "Do people pay a yearly fee for showscore?"

Show Score has a free tier where you can start getting offers after rating 5 shows I think.  You can also pay a monthly fee (there's a couple different levels) for things like later cancellation, cheaper prices, etc.