Jujamcyn to NYT: When Theater Returns, We Will Use SeatGeek Instead Of Ticketmaster- Page 2

[windowwaving]

Posted: 2/3/21 at 11:11am

Ticket fees to me are like resort fees at hotels. If it was included in the ticket price, I would feel much better. It's when a $30 ticket almost doubles because of ticket fees, that's where it bothers me. Let's say a ticket fee average is $20 (I'm sure it's much higher), for a 1,000 seat theater, that's already $20,000 per show. It's even crazier for concerts. From a business perspective, it just doesn't feel like I'm getting that kind of value to warrant the fee.

Also tickets have cost the same for me whether I buy them online or at the theater. I think the only exception has been for lottery.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/3/21 at 5:50pm

If anything, let it be an awakening for the dinosaurs of Telecharge/Shubert Org to reimagine their old site into something modern.

Interesting that this is the second time in 5 years (well, 4 operating years) that Jujamcyn has switched ticketing sites: they used Telecharge until 2016.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/3/21 at 5:50pm

If anything, let it be an awakening for the dinosaurs of Telecharge/Shubert Org to reimagine their old site into something modern.

Interesting that this is the second time in 5 years (well, 4 operating years) that Jujamcyn has switched ticketing sites: they used Telecharge until 2016.

[morosco]

Posted: 2/3/21 at 7:34pm

There are a few things to keep in mind as to why ticket fees can be so high. 

With most ticketing companies there are usually dollar amounts added into the base service charges that aren't kept by the ticketing company or used in any way to cover the costs of processing the transaction or maintaining the ticketing company's website. Most venues, promoters/producers are getting a kickback from each ticket purchased online. These are commonly referred to as per ticket "rebates" or a "bump". Shows and ticketing companies won't usually disclose this common practice. Many times yet another fee is added to the service charge that goes directly to the artists (think concert industry).

Also included in the online service charges are the bank card fees associated with processing the online transaction. Customers don't normally pay extra to use their bank cards when they are in person at the box office.

The restoration or facility fee is usually rolled up into the service charge.

Service Charge breakdown will usually look something like this:

1. Base service charge increased by
2. Promoter/producer rebate increased by
3. Venue rebate increased by
4. Artist rebate increased by
5. Restoration fee increased by 
6. Credit card processing fees

 

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 7:04am

HogansHero said: "They are definitely trying to legitimize themselves. They have a number of sports teams including, as I recall, the Cowboys which can be legitimizing. Likewise, Stubhub took over from TM for the Yankees so the two biggest sports franchises in the country have gotten a divorce from TM. What Jordan did was bring that trend into the utter legitimacy of the admittedly smaller world of theatre."

 

Just FYI, I don't know about the Cowboys but what you said about the Yankees is not accurate. Probably 3 or 4 years ago, the Yankees as all other MLB teams have done signed an exclusive agreement to make Stubhub the sole reseller of tickets. The wording they use is the "Official Fan to Fan Ticket Marketplace of MLB.com". However, if you want to buy tickets from the Yankees directly, as opposed to on the secondary market, you are sent to TM to select your seat and complete the transaction just as you always have. So while TM and the Yankees are sleeping in different bedrooms, they're still on speaking terms and have agreed to stay together for the good of the children.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 9:27am

right you are. Boy did I misremember that one!

[Wick3]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 9:36am

This pandemic would have been a good time for Jujamcyn to develop its own ticketing platform to save money long-term rather than outsourcing them. 

Since Telecharge is owned by Shubert org, I always considered the telecharge fees to all go under the same umbrella and think of it as a donation to the Shubert organization to keep its Broadway theatres available to amazing theatre productions.

As for Ticketmaster, I always felt they focused more on their big name concerts throughout the country rather than the Broadway community (hence why the customer service more often than not was disappointing.)

[Lot666]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 9:42am

While perhaps not the most tech savvy company, I appreciate Telecharge for their willingness to provide true customer service. The same certainly can't be said for Ticketmaster, whom I should be happy to avoid doing business with ever again.

My concern with the new Jujamcyn concept is that they will only offer e-tickets. I have an extensive archive of printed concert and theatre tickets which I treasure as souvenirs (along with their corresponding Playbills), and I would not want to see that archive die.

Updated On: 2/4/21 at 09:42 AM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 9:54am

A couple of points:

1. The divergence of opinions here about TC vs TC is a function of how one uses the services. For online interactions, TM of course has better tech (although, from how it sounds, nowhere near what SeatGeek will offer), but for telephone service, TM can't touch TC which is, in essence, an extension of the box office. If all you want to do is buy tickets, I think TM wins, but if you have an issue with those tickets, TM will prove pretty clueless. 

2. Paper tickets are going to go the way of the dodo bird. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 9:58am

So I like to keep ticket stubs as well. Just something I like it have. A couple years ago in the UK, I noticed a lot of venues switch to mobile ticketing but figured out if you just go up to the box office with your credit card and ask to pick up the tickets they’ll print it out for you. I’m sure it will be the exact same thing here.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 10:12am

There are already venues here in the US, pre Covid, that are mobile tickets only.  They will not sell and/or print a paper ticket., even at the box office.  While speaking of the UK, are their paper tickets still larger and more elaborate than the US counterpart?  I attended a Billy Joel/Elton John concert in Scotland, years ago and my ticket was larger and had their faces on the ticket.  Since I didn't keep tickets, I either threw it away after the show or gave it away.  I'm sure it would have made a collector very happy.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 10:16am

Yeah all tickets there are bigger than here and, like show programs, all different sizes which make storing them interesting. Some are just enormous but I do love having them. I haven’t imagine a venue telling you they won’t print one (not arguing with you, just can’t imagine it) since still not everyone has a cell phone and sometimes cell phones don’t work.

[Lot666]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 10:32am

I've purchased tickets from Ticketmaster for which there was no way to obtain a printed version.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 10:38am

Our Arena has gone 100% mobile.  Doesn't bother me because who wants to see a Jacksonville Jaguar game?  But our newest venue, Daily's Place (4500 seats) went mobile tickets also.  When I questioned  this and stated about not everyone having cellphone capability,  they told me their research showed the majority do and a small percentage do not and since it is more efficient time wise,  they will continue to use mobile only.  I stated then I, like many others can't purchase a ticket for a concert.  I was told it was 2019 (this is when our conversation was) and for me to buy a smart phone.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 11:16am

Sounds like something that would happen in Jax. lol

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 11:20am

But also, and just thinking this through, football is a lot different than theater which has a typically much older audience. My point being I think that a switch to 100% mobile ticketing will have to be a gradual process. Can you imagine getting into City Center behind 600 80 year olds who each have their own ticket on their own phone in apps they don’t know how to open?

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 1:19pm

Jordan Catalano said: "But also, and just thinking this through, football is a lot different than theater which has a typically much older audience. My point being I think that a switch to 100% mobile ticketing will have to be a gradual process. Can you imagine getting into City Center behind 600 80 year olds who each have their own ticket on their own phone in apps they don’t know how to open?"

Jordan, this needs to be mentioned louder! I can agree with you. Hell, half the time some blue hairs can't even hold out their physical tickets properly for a scan.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 1:37pm

For the short run, which I'd peg at 2025, I expect there to be parallel systems (paper vs. mobile). I think most people recognize that we are in the last few years of not needing a smart mobile phone (or whatever technology replaces it) for a lot of things more essential than theatre tickets. A few other things: (1) long before tickets go 100% mobile, ticket stock is going to be eliminated so if the box office gives you a "ticket" it is going to be the same piece of paper you can print out for yourself at home. Hence the interests of stub collectors ("stub" itself being quaint now) will be vanquished. (2) the number of "old" people who are unable to navigate their mobile phone is dwindling and will not be an issue in a few years. (3) by the time we go all mobile, it will be achieved via NFC so old people will not need to navigate.

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 1:37pm

fashionguru_23 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "But also, and just thinking this through, football is a lot different than theater which has a typically much older audience. My point being I think that a switch to 100% mobile ticketing will have to be a gradual process. Can you imagine getting into City Center behind 600 80 year olds who each have their own ticket on their own phone in apps they don’t know how to open?"

Jordan, this needs to be mentioned louder! I can agree with you. Hell, half the time some blue hairs can't even hold out their physical tickets properly for a scan."

I'm sure the distribution of older folks among broadway audiences skews higher than football, but the average age of broadway audiences (40) is younger than NFL audiences (47.)

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 2:02pm

itsjustmejonhotmailcom said: "fashionguru_23 said: "I'm sure the distribution of older folks among broadway audiences skews higher than football, but the average age of broadway audiences (40) is younger than NFL audiences (47.)"

Stats are tricky things. Taking your age averages as correct, I think you'd agree that kids represent a significant factor in that calculation and if we changed the focus to average ages of ticket buyers it would alter the comparison. Also, when we are talking about older folks, we are not anywhere near those averages. Finally, I think if you ran the data for commercial Broadway, the old people factor does not come into play nearly as much. Even a show like Hamilton does not have a lot of the old people you are referring to. 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/4/21 at 2:47pm

itsjustmejonhotmailcom said: "but the average age of broadway audiences (40) is younger than NFL audiences (47.)"

It's actually 42. Which  as a number alone, isn't a big difference from the one you cited, but as an averageis actually a big difference. But the NFL average includes television viewers, which easily has an effect on the average, since younger demographics aren't watching TV as much as older adults.

[Wick3]

Posted: 2/7/21 at 9:27am

The article stated: "He said that beyond selling tickets, its technology could be used to allow customers to order food and drink, arrange transportation, purchase merchandise and get other information. SeatGeek will also allow tickets for Jujamcyn shows to be resold through its platform."

I recall ticketmaster allowed Broadway tickets be resold through its platform as well. When I watched Hadestown, I remember a few days before getting an email from Jujamcyn asking whether I wanted to preorder any beverage for a slight discount. 

I'm guessing if Jordan Roth really wanted these features for Jujamcyn theatres he could have inquired Ticketmaster to see if they're possible. Or maybe he has used SeatGeek in the past to watch football matches and loved the experience? lol anyways either way I really hope this works out for both Jujamcyn and its customers.