Do famous people in the audience sell tickets to a show?

[BETTY22]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 8:28am

I am loving the pictures of LEOPOLDSTADT welcoming The Clinton Family, but wondering if famous people in the audience sells tickets?

Also, do stars pay for their house seats or are the complimentary. 

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 8:34am

I mean, just like with anyone, people who see a show can tell their friends about it and spread through word of mouth. With certain celebrities, they have a higher profile and might influence people more than your average Joe. Some might even come aboard as a producer to help push the show (Jennifer Hudson, Billy Porter, and Alan Cumming for ASL come to mind)

With regards to paying for seats, who knows? Sometimes they get comps because they have friends in the show - sometimes they might pay. When I saw DANCIN’ for the last time, Todrick Hall was there and his seats were comps (which I knew only because he dropped the stubs in the aisle and I saw them on the floor on my way out)

I know when I met Mrs. Clinton at POTUS, she had a whole security detail with her so I can imagine things like that have to be arranged with the production and theatre in advance.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 8:55am

I think it definitely worked for Hamilton and others to pique an audience’s interest, but you need substance, uniqueness, fun, etc. to back it up, if you want the show to last. 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 9:15am

The one thing we definitely know they often do is generate a quick hit of free media exposure which, in turn, might sell some seats.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 9:17am

I think famous people at a show can be a ticket-selling strategy but I think there are also just a lot of famous people who love Broadway. 

I do take note of which shows seem to have an industry/celeb buzz about them (Just For Us right now or Some Like it Hot last Fall, for example) and I'm sure those shows want me to be taking note of that buzz and want it to influence me to buy a ticket. 

With the Clintons at Leopoldstadt, I can't imagine it's any sort of ploy simply because it's the last week. I'm guessing they just watched the Tonys and saw it win or it had been on their list, but kept getting overlooked and they finally went because it was closing. 

[Kad]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 10:22am

While I’m not sure of how many people think, “Oh, this celebrity I like saw this show so I’ll buy a ticket, too,” what is helpful for these shows is that when a celebrity sees them, it simply gets them easy press.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 10:38am

JasonC3 said: "The one thing we definitely know they often do is generate a quick hit of free media exposure which, in turn, might sell some seats."

This. It's one of those things that's neutral at worst or helpful at best, even if it never goes beyond an Insta post. If many different people are consistently & genuinely posting about how much they love a show, that helps WOM. Daniel Craig in front of a step-and-repeat for Shucked can't hurt.

As a general rule, if a celeb asks to attend the show, they're going to pay; if the show asks them to attend, they're going to be comped. But there are exceptions to every scenario.

• If a show is selling out or if this is an ultrarich person, that's a reason to make them buy House Seats.
• If a show is trying to do some sort of partnership with the celeb or inviting them in the capacity of being an "influencer," they might be comped. Talkshow hosts will similarly be comped & arranged by the press agent. I've seen Dana Bash at a couple of shows recently; that's not going to generate sales, but it's never bad for a prominent media figure to have seen your show.
• Sitting political figures typically purchase house seats and their security is arranged with the venue beforehand. Or, they're attending as a guest of someone else who's paying (such as an investor friend).
• Opening Night is a separate matter, where the press agent & producer have an allocation of seats for celebs who are invited/comped. Actors or others involved could also invite celeb friends.

Updated On: 7/4/23 at 10:38 AM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 11:11am

When I saw COME FROM AWAY, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family were in the audience but I truly doubt they were selling tickets in the box office or were working for TodayTix. 

[inception]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 1:57pm

We're there as many photo ops/ press releases about celebrities visiting shows 20 or 30 years ago?

I've been watching re-runs of Cheers the last few months as one of the channels I get started playing it.  I got to wondering about when Chicago first opened with Bebe Neuwirth, and if any of her former co-stars from that TV show ever visited?  Was it even a thing back then, if they did visit, to make a press release about it?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 3:03pm

inception said: "We're there as many photo ops/ press releases about celebrities visiting shows 20 or 30 years ago?"

The internet & social media has made it so much easier for this type of content.

To cite one person specifically: Bruce Glikas (who photographs for Getty and BWW) is willing to show up at curtain call to take backstage pics of the right actor. So that helps a lot. There are obv other photographers as well, but he is largely responsible for a lot of post-show photos. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 3:16pm

inception said: "We're there as many photo ops/ press releases about celebrities visiting shows 20 or 30 years ago?

I've been watching re-runs of Cheers the last few months as one of the channels I get started playing it. I got to wondering about when Chicago first opened with Bebe Neuwirth, and if any of her former co-stars from that TV show ever visited? Was it even a thing back then, if they did visit, to make a press release about it?"


There was no social media 20-30 years ago. There was barely an internet as we now know it 30 years ago. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 3:37pm

JSquared2 said: "inception said: "We're there as many photo ops/ press releases about celebrities visiting shows 20 or 30 years ago?

I've been watching re-runs of Cheers the last few months as one of the channels I get started playing it. I got to wondering about when Chicago first opened with Bebe Neuwirth, and if any of her former co-stars from that TV show ever visited? Was it even a thing back then, if they did visit, to make a press release about it?"


There was no social media 20-30 years ago. There was barely an internet as we now know it 30 years ago."

.......I don't think anyone was claiming otherwise!

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 10:21pm

"I've been watching re-runs of Cheers the last few months as one of the channels I get started playing it.  I got to wondering about when Chicago first opened with Bebe Neuwirth, and if any of her former co-stars from that TV show ever visited?  Was it even a thing back then, if they did visit, to make a press release about it?"

My guess is that some of the "Cheers" cast probably went to see her in "Chicago" and I don't think the show bothered to make press release about it in the 1990's.

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 10:24pm

I know a famous person going to a particular show does not make me want to buy ticket for that show. 

[perfectpenguin]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 5:30am

I saw Prima Facie then a few days later Mark Ruffalo did, and a few days after that Tom Holland. Maybe MY post on Instagram influenced them to see it (unlikely).

But to answer your question, for me at least, no. I don’t see a show because a celebrity saw it. I see a show if the summary on the website interests me. I’m struggling right now with seeing A Shark is Broken- while the idea sounds interesting, I don’t see how 3 men on a boat talking for 90 mins can be interesting. But I’m not going to see it because Tom Holland saw it and said it was good. 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 11:27am

I think it's possible that a younger generation could be influenced to see a show if one of their idols has seen it and raved about it (what with influencer culture).  But otherwise the only times I could say having a famous person helped would maybe be just to elevate the profile (like RBG going to What the Constitution Means to Me).  Not sure if this actually happened, but if there were any notable trans people that went to Some Like It Hot and said they enjoyed it, I could imagine that would take out some of the worry about the cross dressing aspect of it?

[gibsons2]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 11:47am

Clintons attend theater a lot and have been spotted at many Broadway shows, including those that weren't big hits. NYC based celebs attend theater all the time, I don't think their presence would affect anyone's decision  to purchase a ticket.

Celebs being cast is a much bigger factor in a decision to buy a ticket. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 12:02pm

It's all brand awareness and a nice bonus on top of actual press strategy. Some buyers might view it as an endorsement or stamp of approval. Any producer counting on that type of press to boost their show in a significant way will be in for a rude awakening.

The tabloids writing "Common and Jennifer Hudson spark dating rumors cozying up at A STRANGE LOOP in London" (a real headline from yesterday) could lead some casual readers to look up the show and buy tickets. "Beyonce sees DEAR EVAN HANSEN" gets the title out there in the media to people who don't always read about theatre.

Updated On: 7/5/23 at 12:02 PM

[Voter]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 12:23pm

Celebrities with 5M+ followers on Instagram and a fan base? Yes.

Tik Tok influencers with 5K+ followers? No.

[kingfan011]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 2:07pm

Lets hear stories everyone. What favorite were you sitting near?

[perfectpenguin]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 2:16pm

kingfan011 said: "Lets hear stories everyone. What favorite were you sitting near?"

Lea Michele and I were at the same performance How to Succeed. Naturally she was front row orch and I was last row mezz. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 2:22pm

I can honestly say that has never inspired me to purchase tickets for a show. 

[gibsons2]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 2:47pm

kingfan011 said: "Lets hear stories everyone. What favorite were you sitting near?"

I didn't sit next to her, but Julia Roberts was at the same Pretty Woman performance as me back in 2018. It was a special Garry Marshall tribute performance that day. Since I sat in the aisle seat at the back of the orchestra, Julia walked by me several times, she sat in the front.  I remember paying quite a lot for this ticket, but at the end seeing one of my favorite actresses was worth the price of admission. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 2:58pm

Hillary, Bill, and Chelsea Clinton at Come From Away.

Camryn Manheim at Hedwig. 

John Cameron Mitchell at Lady Day.

Audra McDonald at Murder Ballad.

Mariska Hargitay at Hamilton. 

 

 

 

 

[ifonlyilivedinNY]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 3:27pm

I’ve worked in tv/film for over 20 years dealing with famous people. I typically tune them out, but I have used them for my theater loving heart. When a Tony winner asked what I wanted as a wrap gift I definitely said tickets to a Broadway show. This gift jump started my multiple visits to NY to see more shows. LA is great for touring shows but nothing beats the intimacy of a NY theater.