Is Telecharge Trying To Pull Something?

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 10:36pm

I won't know the full details until I speak to a supervisor tomorrow. But, I got a message left on my machine concerning a ticket I purchased for my friend for Sister Act, June 8 (evening performance). The seat is Rear Mezz, Row K, Seat 102. I purchased this last November and it has been paid for in full. I got sketchy details from the represenative, but she told me this seat was no longer any good. They were trying to "accomodate" me with another seat for the same performance, but actually more expensive. When I questioned why...I was told because of the staging (???). The only thing that comes to mind is possibly a group. They are trying to bump my friend's seat to accomodate them. Does anyone have any information on why this seat would no longer be any good? I would think since it is Tony week the mezz would be full. Your thoughts?

[BwayTday]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 10:40pm

I believe that they block off the last few rows of the mezz, so it could be that. Although they could have started selling them.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 10:44pm

I think they started selling those seats after opening night.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 10:52pm

But I purchased the ticket November 2010.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 11:00pm

Last week and this week they've been selling the entire rear mezzanine. Starting next week they're going to keep the rear mezz closed Tuesday to Thursday and only sell those seats for weekend performances. So it appears that everyone who has a ticket for Rows K-R is going to be refunded and/or moved to another seat.

[abstract19]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 12:34am

I just bought a ticket for June 1 in Row K! I hope that's not true for all performances. Hopefully, they extended it for Memorial Day...

[theatreguy]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 1:11am

For the matinee or evening? They may still have the full rear mezz open for Wednesday matinees, I haven't checked on that.

[abstract19]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 1:28am

Matinee.

I would hope that they would know a week before rather or not they are going to sell those seats. Or rather to stop selling them as the case may be.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 3:40am

1. They aren't pulling anything.

2. They wouldn't move you for a group. I've brought MANY groups to b'way theaters and there are often others sitting in the middle of us. (Bizzaringly enough, one time there were a group of 5 seats smack in the middle of my 100 seats that obviously were not ours. Lo and behold in walks my two sisters-in-law and my 3 nieces! Totally coindentally!)

3. When talking to a supervisor, I would do your darndest to get whatever seat they can give you for NO additional cost. That is the LEAST the production can do since you purchased the ticket in good faith.

4. Remember, this isn't Telecharge's doing at all -- they just have to deal with it.

[LiveLoud22]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 4:21am

Just outta of curiosity, what's the incentive to roping off parts of the Mezz? It seems silly to me that such a policy would be implemented this close to the summer/annual influx of tourists pining to see a musical. And, for that matter, why not leave the Mezz seats folks previously purchased be? I'd assume it's a bit of a pain to relocate/refund people.

[LiveLoud22]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 4:21am

Just outta of curiosity, what's the incentive to roping off parts of the Mezz? It seems silly to me that such a policy would be implemented this close to the summer/annual influx of tourists pining to see a musical. And, for that matter, why not leave the Mezz seats folks previously purchased be? I'd assume it's a bit of a pain to relocate/refund people.

[LiveLoud22]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 4:21am

(Double post, finger twitched on the submit button, me scuzzi) Updated On: 5/26/11 at 04:21 AM

[Mark_E]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 6:27am

Those are generally the cheapest seats, so if there are less cheap seats to purchase people have to pay out for more expensive seats.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 6:29am

Which is now a triple post! (you could have just gone in and edited the 2nd one to read what your third does.)


Incentive? Lack of sales. The Palace is HUGE -- I don't mean to say that sales are horrible -- but it's hard to fill ALL those seats. This way they move the audience all forward filling all the seats in the front of the mezz avoiding a large ugly gap. If I remember correctly, there is a curtain already installed up there just for this reason.

If they were able to sell ALL those tickets for all performances, trust me, they would! If they begin selling out to the roped off capacity, they may indeed re-think opening it for all performances.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 8:43am

..... so confused ...... does mama think that Sister Act is playing the Palace???????

[kdogg36]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 10:03am

I think it's more likely that mama made a very small mistake. It didn't cause me any confusion at all.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 12:40pm

I spoke to a supervisor today. A nice gentleman named Ray. Theatreguy is correct. They are keeping Rows A through J in the Mezz and eliminating the rest. The Telecharge represenative was incorrect. They were not trying to sell me a more expensive seat. They were merely moving my friend's seat up (Row F in Mezz) for the same price. They wanted to refund and repurchase the ticket for the same price. But since the credit card I had used for the original purchase had been closed out and a new number issued...there was the problem. The charge did not go through since it was a closed account. Still seems like alot of trouble. If the Mezz was remaining open, why not let the people sit where their tickets were and not sell any remaining tickets. My friend's ticket was center, not sure where he is now.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 4:43pm

LOL! I was SO sure we were talking about PRISCILLA! I have no idea WHY I thought that...the OP clearly states Sister Act!


Well, the reasoning is the same for why! (Silly me!)

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 11:46pm

So when exactly is this going into effect? I have friends seeing the show rear mezz (I think they said row K actually) next Thursday night. Hopefully they'll get an upgrade!

[Patash]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 11:22pm

Glad that they are moving her to a better seat without an extra charge (as it should be). But they're giving you row F instead of K -- who cares how center it is when it is in the mezzanine. I sure wouldn't complain about being moved some 5 rows forward!

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/28/11 at 1:24am

Patash, If the seat is all the way at the end of the row that's not a good seat, to us. I don't care if its the Mezz or front row of the Orchestra. I would never BUY a ticket at the end of a row. The only way is it was FREE. And since HE paid for the ticket moving up five rows is not that great to him, if he is at the end of the row. He would have rather stayed where he was. His money...His perogative.

[spike3]

Posted: 5/28/11 at 9:43am

the Broadway is a very large house. The show is not selling as well as they had hoped, therefore by blocking off the rear mezz it doesnt look like the show is not selling.Its all in the visuals.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 5/29/11 at 1:44am

This thread is reminding me of a theatre in Toronto (the Canon Theatre) that has a "fake" wall that goes between the front and rear balcony. It's use for smaller shows, and when they don't fill the theatre. Last time i was there, and it was out was during the tour stop of Spring Awakening.

Question: when Lesat was playing at the Palace, they closed the second balcony. Was that because it wasn't selling well (I know it never sold well), or was it because of the sight problems the plaque the balcony? (Btw, saw Legally Blonde in the very centre, front row of the second balcony and didn't find any sight problems).