Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?

[gfaustswa]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#1

Posted: 8/7/14 at 4:26pm

I work for an airline and will be on a New York overnight tomorrow. My crew is planning on going to see Rocky. Since it is closing next week, does the merchandise go on sale at the theatre? Or does it basically boil down to supply and demand. I'm guessing it's a supply and demand issue. Thanks!

Updated On: 8/7/14 at 04:26 PM

[haterobics]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#2

Posted: 8/7/14 at 4:28pm

I've seen both happen... shows with excess inventory running a sale (usually if you buy more than one item, etc.), and other shows seemed to run a tight ship and were selling out of full-priced inventory at closing.

[gfaustswa]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#2

Posted: 8/7/14 at 4:32pm

Thanks haterobics! If they do a buy more then one item sale, sure hope someone else on my crew wants something! If they just charged normal prices, I wouldn't care. But some of that stuff is really expensive.

[nasty_khakis]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#3

Posted: 8/7/14 at 4:36pm

I sold merch for two different companies for 3-4 years and only once did we ever put something on sale and even then it was "one shirt for $30, two for $40" which was a PAAAAAAIN to keep track of to settle up at the end of the night. One show let us sell things to the staff/crew/actors for cost, but that's it.

Now with online stores, they figure they can sell the rest of the inventory there or at the flea market for charity/tax deduction.

I'm by no means saying shows never have sales, but I worked around 20 shows and never did.

[gfaustswa]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#4

Posted: 8/7/14 at 4:39pm

Thanks for the info too nasty_khakis. Not what I wanted to hear, but good to know! I understand the tax credit they would be looking for. Good to know.

[neonlightsxo]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#5

Posted: 8/7/14 at 4:39pm

I've never seen lower prices, no.

[adamgreer]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#6

Posted: 8/7/14 at 4:43pm

Most of what they have left will end up on a table at the flea market!

[gfaustswa]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#7

Posted: 8/7/14 at 4:49pm

Only time I ever saw it happen was at Ghost a couple years ago. It was closing and on certain t-shirts, it was buy one get one. I guess I can keep my fingers crossed!

[IndyTheatreGeek]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#8

Posted: 8/7/14 at 9:05pm

Jesus Christ Superstar had reduced items the last weekend. That was the only reductions I've seen at the end of a run.

[nightnic001]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#9

Posted: 8/7/14 at 9:40pm

Indianapolis was the closing stop for the Addams Family tour and with every purchase you got a keychain or a tote bag.

[quizking101]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#10

Posted: 8/7/14 at 11:42pm

WOMEN ON THE VERGE sold posters for $5 on their closing night, and A TIME TO KILL sold their posters for $5 during previews (not expecting to sell many or for the show to last long).

Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm

[Cupid Boy2]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#11

Posted: 8/7/14 at 11:44pm

I think a sale on merchandise generally only occurs when there's an extreme surplus of a particular item. The best example I can think of is the souvenir programs for the Finnian's Rainbow revival. They were printed so late in the run that they hardly had the chance to sell any at full price, which led to their price dropping to $5 in light of the great surplus.

[mikem]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#12

Posted: 8/8/14 at 5:14am

It's highly variable. I was a little surprised that nasty_khakis only had stuff on sale for one out of 20 shows; my general impression is that discounting's more common than that, although it may vary significantly by merchandiser. In general, if there is a discount at all, it is for just one or two specific items. But the stuff can be very cheap. I think I got a poster for Venus in Fur for $3.

I saw Rocky last weekend, and they were having a special where the program book was cheaper (I think half-price) if you bought it with a (full-priced) T-shirt. But the magnets were $5, down from $10 in an unadvertised discount (they changed the price list without any "SALE!" type signage). I didn't look that closely at the price list and some other items might be cheaper as well. (I bought a magnet for $5. I wouldn't have bought it for $10, so the sale worked for me!) This week's specials might be different (or non-existent).

"What was the name of that cheese that I like?" "you can't run away forever...but there's nothing wrong with getting a good head start" "well I hope and I pray, that maybe someday, you'll walk in the room with my heart"

[emilyfaye48]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#13

Posted: 8/8/14 at 10:50am

Closing weekend of Leap Of Faith window cards were $1, mugs $3 and I think tshirts were $10. Scandalous had two for one tshirts closing night, too bad they never made the Scandalous wine glasses I dreamed of...

Without bread we'd just be hungry but without theatre we'd be dead

[Pianist3912]

Does merchandise go on sale at theaters as shows draw to a close?#14

Posted: 8/8/14 at 3:32pm

I work merch for Rocky and can say that a few of the smaller items have dropped in price, and some major items (windowcards, mugs) are already sold out completely.