Jersey Boys Raises Prices- Page 2

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 9:32am

Interesting article about the great tourist year it was in the city this year.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/12/27/new.york.tourists.reut/index.html

That, combined with the fantastic year it was in the financial industry with record bonuses, and there will be no shortage of people who can afford and are willing to pay these new prices.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 10:40am

I didn't say it was going to make Off Broadway more affordable, But if Off Broadway tickets stay at 85 dollars and Broadway tickets soar to $150 - Off Broadway will suddenly seem a lot more "affordable" by comparison.

One of the stigmas that helped "kill" Off Broadway was that rising production costs largely forced Off Broadway ticket prices to match those on Broadway. Theatregoers, especially tourists, won't pay Broadway prices for Off Broadway theatre, regardless of quality.

But the sudden surge of Broadway prices has more to do with supply and demand, than rising production costs - and if the trend continues - I think there is a definite opportunity for Off Broadway to recapture some of its audience.

[mattnyc2]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 11:25am

130 bucks! Holy poop that's alot of dough. I remember when I first took a trip to NYC while in high school back in '98 we got orchestra tickets for like 60 to 80 dollars. It's amazing to see how much things have changed in my short lifetime.

[avab802]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 3:08pm

Good thing I have absolutely no interest in seeing this show. Hopefully other shows will not follow suit, although I can't see many of the shows open now being able to sell $120 tickets. The only one that really comes to mind is Wicked, *maybe* Mary Poppins. But as someone mentioned already, it's probably in Disney's best interest to keep the prices the same for all of their shows. If Beauty and the Beast tickets (for example) are cheaper than all the other Disney shows it's implied that it is of lesser quality.

As prices have gone up, I've definitely become more selective about what I will pay full price for. I pay full price for 2 or 3 shows per year, those "must-sees" that I've looked forward to since I first heard about them. Other than that I just try for rush/lottery seats or look for discounts. If I can't get a ticket cheap enough for my liking, I don't see the show.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 4:33pm

There will always be people willing to pay top dollar for a hit show. And don't forget about all those corporate people who are on expense accounts, so their companies pay for the tickets, not the person individually. The day will come when ticket prices are $200, then $250. There are plenty of wealthy people who don't care how much a ticket costs. Its really a shame, because shows that are not mega-hits will really suffer. Ticket prices really should be regulated somehow because its obvious that pure greed has taken over. Its really a disgrace that JB is charging $130 for partial view. While I might be willing to spend the money to see a "must-see", I would never accept anything less than center orchestra, in the first 10 rows. Why would anyone be willing to spend that kind of money on mezz or partial view orchestra when for the same money they could sit in great seats? There really should be gradations in price ... like in the old days, when front orchestra was the top price, rear orchestra less, and same for mezzanzine. Can you imagine spending almost $100 to sit in the last row of the balcony? I wouldn't.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 4:35pm

Pure greed? Try supply and demand. Most Broadway shows never make their money back - how is it greed to try to pay your bills, so you have money and investors available to produce the next show?

Why don't people here get that Broadway is a business like any other, that needs to sustain itself in order to survive? If people are willing to pay those prices - and obviously plenty are - why shouldn't the productions get what they can?

There are plenty of discounted seats for most shows eventually.

Updated On: 12/28/06 at 04:35 PM

[Fosse76]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 4:51pm

"Pure greed? Try supply and demand. Most Broadway shows never make their money back - how is it greed to try to pay your bills, so you have money and investors available to produce the next show?"

It is greed, plain and simple. Shows that aren't making their investments won't raise prices, because they know that higher prices will erode the audience even further. The only shows that do this are the big hits. How many underperforming shows do you know of increasing their ticket prices (I don't mean the usual year-end price-gouging either)? Those are the shows that are offering major discounts. But when a show is a hit, the producers get greedy and jack-up the prices (literally too...didn't this practically annual gouging start with The Producers?)

[Sylar2]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 4:53pm

Hey--- the mob has to make money some how ya know!

[Anthony3]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 5:18pm

the price raise is ridiculous!

[mpw607]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 7:32pm

It is not only supply and demand. Producers have to balance profits from hits with losses from flops. Dodgers may be making megabucks on JB, but didn't they suffer a run of flops beforehand? Any one in business knows you can only invest in new projects out of the profits from your existing business.

What's with all this moaning about "greed" (= producers making a profit for a change)? I thought America was the land of free enterprise, but the attitude of some here towards profit is more like communist Russia!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 7:39pm

The greed whining is from people with no money who feel entitled to see Broadway shows. I feel their pain, but frankly, Broadway has always been an elitist hobby.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 7:42pm

JERSEY BOYS isn't the first show to raise prices. I believe THE COLOR PURPLE went to $116.25 (on weekends, at least) some time ago. I don't remember much discussion about that.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 7:47pm

If it wasn't elitist hobby already, it soon will be

Pretty soon it will be the haves & have nots. This will only speed up the closing of struggling shows. Instead of a theater goer seeing JB & another, they will see JB & nothing else

Anyone want to hazard a guess how long this proce will hold before another general round of price hikes. I say no more than 18 months

Updated On: 12/28/06 at 07:47 PM

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 7:53pm

Yes, but isn't it also true that Broadway ticket prices have risen (especially in the last few years) far faster than the actual rate of inflation? If indeed "Broadway has always been an elitist hobby", the fact remains that it's far truer today than ever before. The "whining" we see nowadays seems more justifiable to me since these prices really are unprecedented, even relatively speaking.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 7:55pm

Mr. Roxy - that is of course not true. Broadway is doing an all time booming business:and that is extending to multiple shows, not just JERSEY BOYS and a couple of others. It wouldn't matter if plays like COMPANY and LITTLE DOG LAUGHED were charging 40 dollars for tickets, they would still have problems selling out. There will always be certain in demand shows that can charge a premium. And those in demand shows will always be the "main" show tourists want to see.

By your analysis, HAIR would have killed off Broadway in 1968, because it was the only mammouth hit in a season of also rans. Premium seating has always existed: in 1968 it was just called "scalpers."

And there will always be "struggling" shows: the good news is that in our current Broadway environment we have ten shows waiting in the wings for every Broadway theatre.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 8:00pm

You see more negative feedback from this price increase than previous ones

The move is sheer greed. Dress it up however you want it is greed & will hurt in the long run. Do you think there is ever a point where you will agree ticket prices are too high or is it the skies the limit? I am curious

Do you seriously believe if Company charged $ 40 as opposed to $111 it would not be doing better business? You do not think that $ 111 to see actors doubling as the orchestra turned people off. For $ 40, Id take a shot. For $ 111, no way

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 8:08pm

If you want to talk greed - go to the Unions who keep driving up production costs. When you look at how few Broadway shows ever turn a profit, I don't blame producers for raising ticket prices when they have a chance to make money.

And it isn't greed - as has been said countless times through this thread - it is called "supply and demand." If you don't want to pay the prices - don't. If enough people stop paying them, the increases will stall. But as long as there are people who are willing to pay - I don't begrudge producers for charging any price they can get.

Stop complaining about prices and look elsewhere if you can't afford to see JERSEY BOYS - Off Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, regional productions: affordable theatre is everywhere. And for the true theatre lover, the best experiences are rarely found in a Broadway house.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 8:12pm

This thread is ridiculous. Thank you MB and mpw for your voices of reason.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 8:13pm

Margo Channing says Off Broadway is dead, and she should know.

Umm Margo Channing is a he...

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 9:32pm

Short of being Donald Trump, I doubt if even you could see 25 to 30 shows a year @ 2 tickets full price.

I can afford it but feel it is obscene.If you are comfortable with this, fine. Many on this board are not

Do not think the unions ( a big part of the problem ) see this as a chance to grab more money which will inturn give the producers excuse to raise prices yet again

By the way, you never answered my question about is there any price you feel would be too high or is any price they want to charge fine witth you. How about $ 150 for an orchestra seat? What about $ 200?

By the way, I did not start this thread. Look at the responses & see how many are against this increase & how many support it

As far as the thread being "ridulous" how so? Discussing the increasing cost of tickets & the potential for lost audience is a perfect topic for discussion. It is a hell of a lot better as opposed to what song is cut out of the Hairspray movie or any other lightheaded topic

Updated On: 12/28/06 at 09:32 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 9:46pm

And when people finally realize that JB's is BEATLEMANIA with a slight book and people singing offstage for the lead they can still get $60 at the TKTS booth.
Sorry I just didn't get this show.

LOL! You aren't really that far off base. I don't really get it either. It was enjoyable but it is rather like a Lifetime or Hallmark movie of the week.


The greed whining is from people with no money who feel entitled to see Broadway shows. I feel their pain, but frankly, Broadway has always been an elitist hobby.

I disagree with that. I saw Ethel Merman in "Hello, Dolly!" and it cost $7.50 for an Orchestra ticket. I was far from being "elite" way back then since I was just a kid.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 9:51pm

Jimmy, I assume you mean your parents weren't elite as I can't imagine you as a small child raiding your piggy bank to go see "Miss Merman..."

But even then, if you really did see DOLLY in the orchestra at 7.50, it was a half price ticket. Orchestra tickets for DOLLY were over 15.00 by the time Merman played the role (up from a top ticket price of 9.40 in 1964 when it opened...)
Updated On: 12/28/06 at 09:51 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 9:56pm

It was a Sunday matinee. No half price tickets back then. I paid for it myself as I had a paper route back in the day.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 9:57pm

They actually did have half price tickets back then but no TKTS booth. Were matinees really that much cheaper than evening shows? I can't imagine the prices were really half off for matinees.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 10:15pm

It was my first Broadway show so I didn't know about discounts. I remember walking up to the box office and getting the ticket about 30 minutes before the show began. I went 4 more times including the final performance. I will try and find the stub but for some reason I remember it being $7.50 each time I saw it.

Ticket Prices hit $17.50 in 1977, according to

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/print/p-1960-1979.html

Ticket prices hit $17.50 -- the top price for a weekend night performance to see Liza Minnelli in "The Act."