Once Recoups- Page 2

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/13/12 at 10:57pm

Once does have rush($34.50/$39.50) and SRO available($30). After Eight, I've never heard you complain about the ticket prices for Book of Mormon, Wicked or The Lion King, who's prices are much higher than Once's.

[bdn223]

Posted: 8/13/12 at 11:26pm

Yes but to play devil's advocate aka After Eight's side when you pay 135 for Wicked and Lion King you around 75% of that is going toward running costs while when you pay $147 to see Once only around 40% is going toward running costs.

[After Eight]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 2:32am

"After Eight, I've never heard you complain about the ticket prices for Book of Mormon, Wicked or The Lion King, "

You've never heard me cheer, either.

Bdn makes a valid point, as well.

[westcoast_wannabe]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 4:53am

The same principles of capitalism that justify producers raising ticket prices on hit shows also motivate them to discount the tickets of less successful shows. Yes it's frustrating when the ticket for the seat you want, for the show you want, is beyond your budget but honestly how many shows have you seen using discount codes, the TKTS booth, rush, etc... as compared to the shows you've had to skip because the ticket price was too high?

Personally I don't think any seat (premium or not) at any show is worth more than $100 but Broadway shows are a high risk investment and I don't begrudge producers for capitalizing on thier successes which are few and far between.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 5:20am

Seeing how many shows have been grossing over a million dollars a week, with a few over two million dollars, it's hard to think that prices are driving people away to the detriment of theater.

Bring It On has lower ticket prices -- so far, they aren't filling the house.

I'm not saying I LIKE the prices, but it IS supply and demand. I don't like paying cable tv prices, but I want my cable. I don't like the idea of paying 15K for a new car -- but that's what they cost.

I see approximately 30 to 40 performances a year. Are some of my choices based on what I can get on a discount? Yes. But we are a rare breed. MOST attendees of b'way, don't know about discounts -- except for TKTS. They go once or twice a year and see one show each time and expect it to be an expense.

Are there shows I miss because of price? Not too darn many. In recent history, I can only think of missing Hugh Jackman's show. Still regret missing it, don't regret not shelling out the money.

It's a choice. If you think its too expensive, don't go. But whining about prices isn't going to change anything. The producers will always only derive profit through it's audience. Whether it takes 21 weeks or 121 weeks.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 9:32am

>When 'Book of Mormon' opened last year in the spring, a year earlier than Once, but the same time of year, I didn't think any other show would ever recoup quicker than BOM, which made all its money back by October last year. So Once recouped two months quicker.<

Mormon also cost twice as much - a reported $11 million capitalization, versus Once's $5.5 million. Still - a fantastic achievement for Once. Very happy for them.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 9:39am

To quote Jackie Hoffman: "F*CK the silver lining, I'll always find a cloud. Not only will I find one, I'll criticize it loud!"

[Jonwo]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 9:55am

Mormon's recoupment is still impressive considering its cost of $9-11m and the fact it was in a 1100 seat theatre. Most successful shows have taken a year or over to recoup.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 7:03pm

So Once has grossed $19.590.204 since the show has opened, if we deduct $5.500.000 from that, the cost of the show, then divide by 24 for how many weeks the show has been open, we get the weekly operating cost $587.091 or is that wrong?

[bdn223]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 7:16pm

Its prob about $500,000 even realise Tony campaigns can be expensive amd so can the tv performances which Once has a ton of. Those costs are not included in the initial $5.5million. Also realise that advertising fluxuates and they have been doing a ton of it.