Greedy Producers- Page 2

[JBC3]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 9:40pm

Matt Rogers said: "Elfuhbuh said: "You know, I don’t get this board. Bootlegs are frowned on because theatre is supposed to be experienced live.

“Okay, but I can’t afford theatre tickets,” says the bootleg fan.

“There’s rush and lottery and all sorts of discounts you can get!” BWW snaps.

So when someone goes to get a rush ticket to a show they want to see and expresses disappointment that the show in question didn’t have a sign on the door or some sort of way to tell people that they weren’t providing rush anymore, this board jumps down the OP’s throat and screeches about how the OP is entitled for wanting to rush the show in the first place. I love how the goalposts are constantly being moved around here. "

^

^

Thid. Exactly this. Especially when the original poster is a new member. If I was immediately met with snark and insults as OP was met with, I'd have been out of here day one. Now I'm used to it, not that it makes that okay."

The OP tone was entitled, whiny, and judgmental about the intention of the producers as if they were perpetuating a fraud. A more balanced message probably would have received a different response.

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 10:24pm

Pantelis the Great said: "This is the time of year, just before the Tonys, that several of the producers, even ones that are doing well at the box office, get greedy. Discounts go from 50% down to 30%, 20%, even zero. 

If I was a producer of Three Tall Women, and the show was selling near or at capacity, I certainly would not offer any discounts. This is not greed. This is a best business practice.

Updated On: 5/18/18 at 10:24 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/18/18 at 2:06am

I went to a preview performance. I woke up early, went around 11am, and was told "check back later. " Went for errands/gym came back around 4pm, he said "check back later." Okay, cool. I go home, shower, change, and come back around 7pm for a 8pm curtain. He tells me "Nothing yet, but here's hoping." So I walk over to TKTS and buy a $80 ticket sitting in front of Rudin and his producers. LOVED the show, so no complaints. But I wish I had known ahead of time, and could of bought a ticket sooner. But it is worth every $$. 

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/18/18 at 8:41am

Pantelis the Great said: "This is the time of year..."

Welcome, Pantelis. Now, gird your loins with asbestos underwear, because this board is going to roast you alive.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 5/18/18 at 9:15am

I feel like such an old BWW Fogey thinking "People weren't so snarky back in my day" (when they were).

I'm sorry you had to go through that and - while I understand the business model of doing it - hopefully producers will realize that no matter if it's Tony season or not, theatre should be for everyone. Every little discount helps us folk who don't have money to drop $150 for a 2+ hour show.

But, either way.....welcome to Broadwayworld.

Now, GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/18/18 at 9:53am

Just because "theater" is for everyone doesn't mean BROADWAY is for everyone.   I understand the OP's initial disappointment - wasting time when there would be no tix....but the rest is garbage.   No producer owes any of us a reduced ticket price.  

 

There are many other options to seeing theater at more reasonable prices.  I don't drive a Lamborghini because I can't afford one.  

[WayTooBroadway]

Posted: 5/18/18 at 9:54am

You get an amen!

Updated On: 5/18/18 at 09:54 AM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 5/18/18 at 10:05am

I didn't say the producers owed anyone anything (I even said I understand the business model of NOT doing it).    If the show is selling out then by all means - MAKE THAT COIN.   But, the point (and hope) is that shows run a long while and as many people as possible see it.   What better way than to make sure that those that can't usually afford it are given that chance?   But, as stated, Broadway is a business and people have to do what they have to do.   

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/18/18 at 10:33am

spiderdj82 said: "I didn't say the producers owed anyone anything (I even said I understand the business model of NOT doing it). If the show is selling out then by all means - MAKE THAT COIN. But, the point (and hope) is that shows run a long while and as many people as possible see it. What better way than to make sure that those that can't usually afford it are given that chance? But, as stated, Broadway is a business and people have to do what they have to do."

I wasn't speaking directly to you.  I was making general comments for the thread.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 5/18/18 at 10:42am

 

[Sauja]

Posted: 5/18/18 at 11:59am

Just to add, the rush policy they announced was “when the box office opens, SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.” Emphasis mine. They never guaranteed that rush tickets would be available for every performance, so they really didn’t do a single thing wrong.

[Pantelis the Great]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 12:27am

I’d like to thank all of you that responded (and are still responding) to my posting, especially those of you that agreed with me.

It is interesting how many of you read what you want to read and ignore what is written. To protect the guilty, I will call each one of you a non-OP. I’ve alluded to the fact that I very rarely get involved in these kind of “blogs”. I actually had to look OP up. I had to admit to that, because George Washington is one of my heroes and I can’t tell or imply a lie. Why am I responding, again? Please, re-read the first sentence in this paragraph and because I enjoy using sarcasm, puns, double and triple entendres, and I haven’t had any practice in a long time.

First, I started by stating, “SEVERAL” producers. I realize that some of you may have problems with multi-syllable words, but several, is not many, or most or all. I also, stated “it’s their prerogative!” to stop lotteries, rushes, et al, anytime they wanted to. I just pointed out that they do it during Tony time, when they have their audiences but the larynx, both of them. Yes, I know larynx isn’t a plural word. It’s interesting that shows like Wicked, Hamilton, Frozen, Mean Girls and several other shows still have their respective discounts even though can sell every seat, every day. I would like to thank and give kudos to those producers. I will address ticket pricing in detail, down and dirty later.

A non-OP, actually more than one, stated that l believed that I was “entitled”. The only thing I’m entitled to, is my opinion; just as all of you are.

Another non-OP responder stated, that he/she wasn’t a producer. I assume that he/she also meant that he/she did not work for a producer. That same non-OP was the first to respond to my original posting, within 5 minutes with a very negative review. Not a producer?

Another non-OP asked which show did I go to that night? Carousel, remember, George Washington. I walked across the street from TTW to the Carousel rush line; I was nineth on line. Several others joined the rush line after me and from what I could tell we all got rush tickets. I hope that helps prove that I was pi$&ed off because there weren’t any posting on the TTW doors and not because I believed I was entitled to get a TTW rush ticket. There were others on line that came just for TTW.

One non-OP was concerned that the attacks on a first time OP would scare me or something similar. I assure you my skin is very thick. If you don’t see me often in the future, is because, as stated earlier, I don’t normally blog.

A “millennial”? Sorry, wrong again.

And now to get down and dirty about pricing. I’ll start with agreeing with those of you who stated the producer’s job is to make as much money as he/she can for the investors. Caution: remember what happened to the goose that laid golden eggs. There are shows that before they open you know they will be hits and do very well at box office from the beginning. But, the reviews of the journalists can have a big influence on the box office. And there shows that are expecting do well but they don’t for no known reason. For those of us that try to see all the broadway shows and many off broadway shows, we try to find discounts which include rush, in person and digital lotteries, TDF, TKTS booths and others. The others include the companies that get hundreds of comp tickets from shows that are not doing well, who then sell the tickets to their subscribers for usually under ten dollars. Why do the producers do that? Because they want their theaters to look full. Why? They don’t want the journalists who are there to review the production and the audience that paid full price to sit in empty theaters. And, I have to assume for the actors to look at a full theater. Is this comping of tickets ethical or is it a necessity? It’s time for the “believers” and the “non-believers” to respond. Some of those shows probably should not have made it to Broadway.

Yes, I’ve paid less than ten dollars for tickets and I’ve sat next to people that paid about $175. I’m not showing off or trying to prove anything. If I didn’t buy those tickets, someone else would have.

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 3:19am

Pantelis the Great said: "I just pointed out that they do it during Tony time, when they have their audiences but the larynx."

Not sure why in your original post (and now) you seem to think this is happening because of the Tonys. Three Tall Woman has been increasing in demand for quite some time, long before there was a single nomination, just look at the grosses, where the average ticket price has increased for the past 6 weeks, right around the same time it started playing to 100% sold out houses. This show found an audience before it was up for a single Tony.

Plus, with so many shows opening late in the season, wouldn't an onslaught of new shows make it harder for each of them to gain traction in a now-packed market?! The only thing that typically changes the trajectory of a show is a Tony win. Few people treat them like the Oscars and hurry out to see all the nominees before the awards.

Also, I'm not sure why you think comparing the rush/lottery policy of a limited run play to popular open run musicals is similar, as the former almost never makes its money back, so if this one can, then we should encourage it to do so, so we get more of them.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 6:52am

No one said not to buy discount tickets....most of us here do it all the time. The point is whining when you can't get them....no matter what the reason. The producers never have to discount tickets. If you won't see a show that doesn't discount, so be it.

Mega hits can afford to be generous. Struggling shows have no choice. Those in between have to look at their bottom line...like a limited run play.

Updated On: 5/21/18 at 06:52 AM

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 7:17am

I agree with the OP. A couple of things irk me and one is the removal of Student tickets replaced by a lottery for everyone. And the lack of day seats (rush). Students, specifically, students of theatre should be afforded discounted tickets to all theatre productions and be excluded from ticket fees. They are the future and it's becoming more and more problematic with stunt casting for students to get tickets. 

Also over here in Europe, some regional theatres would prefer to have a load of empty than offer day seats or what you call rush. 

Anytime I do day seats it is always hardcore theatre fans, academics or students, who either can't afford or couldn't get a ticket. These are the guaranteed audience for a show and should, in my opinion, be respected. 

 

The other thing is access seating, not just for people in wheelchairs and also cognizant of the fact that a person with a disability might not be able to afford the prices of regular prices. 

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 9:47am

I haven't rushed anything in awhile because if there's a cheaper box office option I've been saving my time and getting those instead.

Three tall women had $47 seats so I grabbed a pair of those. I'm in the last row of the theatre but I saved a bunch of hours of my time for not that much more money.

I do agree with OP in the sense that it wouldn't kill them to throw a sign out the night before that says no rush available today so people don't waste their time for no reason.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 9:54am

Rush has always been something of a crapshoot- that's kind of the point. In exchange for paying less (generally) than full price, you don't get to choose your seats and the tickets may not be available.

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 10:45am

Gizmo6 said: "Students, specifically, students of theatre should be afforded discounted tickets to all theatre productions and be excluded from ticket fees."

Why would students get a pass on fees?! A $25 isn't enough of a break if it still has a $1.50 fee tacked on?

[nmlhats]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 10:56am

I get that it's all about supply and demand. I'll even bend a little for inflation accounting for a small rise in prices over a period of a couple of years. But the front row mezz tickets I had for Hamilton in March 2017 for $199 are now priced at $350 face value. It really is just pure greed after a certain point. Producers know they're going to sell out the house for this show every night for the foreseeable future...and apparently they determined an adequate, profit-making price point for those seats at $199....but they still feel the need to almost double the price now. 

Updated On: 5/21/18 at 10:56 AM

[raddersons]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 11:04am

Blame "The Producers". They were the first show to really start price gauging on Broadway. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/26/theater/for-the-asking-a-480-seat.html

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 11:19am

nmlhats said: "I get that it's all about supply and demand."

It doesn't seem like you do.

[nmlhats]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 11:36am

haterobics said: "nmlhats said: "I get that it's all about supply and demand."

It doesn't seem like you do."

The tickets are taking a little longer to sell out with each NY release....so I am not sure it's provable that the demand has actually increased over that time. I would say that the longer availability indicates a slight slackening of demand, even if the end result is still a sellout. In addition, the overall supply since I bought those tickets in June 2016 (for March 2017) has increased dramatically if you include the non-NY components.

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 12:21pm

nmlhats said: "The tickets are taking a little longer to sell out with each NY release....so I am not sure it's provable that the demand has actually increased over that time."

This is only true for premium seats. The regular priced seats sell out immediately every time.

Also, if demand for premium tickets 9 months out is slightly down, but they eventually sell out anyway... seems like a non-issue. Until they are reducing premium seats to regular price two days out before showtime, then they are in demand.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 1:10pm

And let's not lose site that these "greedy" producers put up their money to attempt to bring theater into our lives.  How many flops have they financed?   How many more shows will they be able to finance in the years to come from this particular windfall?

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 5:35pm

dramamama611 said: "And let's not lose site that these "greedy" producers put up their money to attempt to bring theater into our lives. How many flops have they financed? How many more shows will they be able to finance in the years to come from this particular windfall?"

Along that line of thought, we see so many "the show is booming, they should throw us a bone" posts about discounts.

Have you EVER heard someone say "the show is struggling, so let me ungrudgingly pay a premium price because I believe in it" to help it stay afloat?

I haven't. But I certainly hear a lot of "they have so many empty seats, they should pay ME to go..."

Not saying the "here take my money to stay alive" should be a reality, but some people feel entitled to discounts whether or not a show is doing well, and the "it's booming" argument holds little water as an actual reason why when they would just as easily claim the opposite.