Nederlander Organization

This will probablly be removed by the moderators, but I wanted the opportunity to express my distain for the Nederlander Organization and their lack of customer service. I attended a June 8 performance of Evita and sat in the upper mezzanine. Several times during the first 12 minutes, the performance was disrupted, for me, by the sound of slamming doors, due to late arrivals. I had sat in the upper mezzanine in the past at the Marquis, and had never experienced this problem. I was going to complain at intermission, but decided it may have been a fluke. To my disgust, the same thing happened again during Act 2, slamming doors from late seaters. I am a volunteer usher, and know when working in pairs, to control patron noise, once the performance starts, one ushers stands outside, the other inside. Then the ushers have control of the doors and are able to quiet patrons. This of course, was not the case. At one time, I even saw the usher slam the door. I complained afterwards to who I thought at the time, was the house manager. He immediately offered for me to see the performance again, but due to other show commitments, and being from out of town, this was not possible. I didn't really want to see the show again. I wanted them to understand they had a problem and they needed to address it to management and staff, so it wouldn't happen again. He dismissed me and stated "I can't control when a customer uses the bathroom". I of course, knew that, but his staff can control the problems that may arise from it. When I got back home I contacted the Nederlander Organization, informed the secretary, Alice, of my complaint, and asked for a member of management to contact me. Day after day, no response. I ended up calling back four times asking for someone to contact me. I was told Herschall Waxman would return my call. No response. The fifth time, I left on their machine, asking for "a professional person to return my call and address my complaint" I got a message back from Alice stating that Mr. Waxman would only respond to me after a written letter. I did this and mailed it the middle of June. Guess what? No response. I don't want my money back. I just want the opportunity to discuss a legitimate complaint and be taken seriously, without being dismissed. Anyone else have any problems with this theatre group? Suggestions?

Updated On: 7/6/12 at 09:28 AM

NDR, thank you for your response. I was actually hoping that more board members had a similiar experience or could offer suggestions on dealing with the nonresponse from Nederlander. I can't pursue it any further, since they are a private company. But, if at least one person came away from my thread with a negative opinion of them, then I won't feel like they gave me the shaft.

Updated On: 7/6/12 at 06:09 PM

BUMP...so many more can read this thread and form their own opinion about this shameful company that runs much of Broadway.

Updated On: 7/8/12 at 01:40 AM

Thanks, Morosco. This is a great idea. But no matter where I looked, I could not locate email addresses. The only officers I saw listed was Robert M Nederlander and Robert L Nederlander. (I might have the middle initial wrong. Trying to remember it from memory). They are listed with a general phone number in California. My ideal resolution would be that someone who works there and also reads this board contacts their superior and says there is a negative thread about us being reviewd by over 1500 people. If they care about public relations. I may get a reply. I'm not counting on it. But thanks to Broadwayworld.com, I at least, got my say.

Updated On: 7/8/12 at 09:18 AM

Fascinating there's is only 1 person who can respond to complaints at the Nederlander Organization. Further fascinating that the organization makes you jump though hoops (got a message back from Alice stating that Mr. Waxman would only respond to me after a written letter) in order to be heard. Well I don't believe either of those scenarios. Seems like they are just giving you the runaround in hopes that you'll go away. Shame on them if that's indeed the case.

That's crazy! Jujamcyn responded to me/others immediately via Social Media. They make customers feel like they mean something. Sorry to hear about Nederlander. I feel like it's only good business to address your patrons. Especially those, like yourself, who only get to travel in to see a show once in a while. Those of us who live in the city take that for granted sometimes.

Ghostlight 2, Simply offering someone the option to revisit the show is not a resolution to a problem, merely a easy way to rid one of the complaint. Yes, I didn't want or have the time to see the show again. After a discussion was made with the house manager, on how they could improve or eliminate this problem, he immediately responded with "I can't control when people use the bathroom". That of course, was not the issue. It was how his staff dealt with it. In closing, it was my experience and money that was affected. So it is my choise on how I deal with it. Reading your many threads and responses over the years, I have been witness to your complaints and rants, over what I thought was "trivial". But that was your choice to do so. Don't be a hypocrite or act like your any better.

When I saw Evita in early May, I had the same problem. It really pissed me off. I complained to the house management after the show. Guess what they gave me as an apology? A free T-shirt. In my opinion, the house management should be fired and replaced with people who actually respect their patrons.

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