Play By Play
Play By Play
#1Play By Play
Posted: 3/23/13 at 12:36amI have been a member of Theatermania's Gold Club. The past few months the selections have been quite disappointing. They haven't had anything exiting in a while. What shows are listed on Play by Play? Is the selection any better? I may be switching.
#2Play By Play
Posted: 3/23/13 at 8:48amI belong to both (as well as AE), and all 3 have been lackluster the past few months. That being said, PBP is better than Gold Club by a lot.
#2Play By Play
Posted: 3/23/13 at 8:52am
I'm a member of Play-By-Play and will be letting my membership expire the next time it's up for renewal. The offerings have been abysmal for the past 6 months; I can't remember the last time I used it. The service used to be great, but now it's all comedy clubs and jazz combos at Birdland. Don't waste your money.
bjh- I'm not a member of Gold Club, but it must be simply terrible if you think it's worse!
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
April Saul
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/17/06
#3Play By Play
Posted: 3/23/13 at 9:07am
You guys have me thinking: Gold Club shows I've seen in recent months are mostly off-Broadway, with a few delightful exceptions.
I thought I was doing pretty well, although there are weeks with very little and a tendency by some shows to add $20 to the Gold Club fee. I guess I'm figuring if I find a couple of shows a month I want to see, it's working. Am I too easily pleased here?
NOTE: Another poster pointed out that it was not a great idea to post the names of actual shows I've seen on Gold Club here, which I did in my original post, so I've eliminated them; although, to be fair, Gold Club lists everything it's had up there recently on their website to entice new members. So this post probably doesn't make a lot of sense now...sorry!
Updated On: 3/23/13 at 09:07 AM
#4Play By Play
Posted: 3/23/13 at 9:43amApril Saul, I think you've done very well with Gold Club! I missed Ann on there, and I've been looking for it! I joined in August and have seen 18 shows through Gold Club. I'm also a TDF member, and I've noticed that lots of the Gold Club offerings (for $4.50) can be found on the TDF Off-Off list for $9. But I do enjoy the occasional Broadway show that hits Gold Club and the thrill of the hunt in general.
#5Play By Play
Posted: 3/23/13 at 10:41am
Play by Play is awful. I don't know how they're managing to stay in business. The only Broadway shows they've had in what seems like a year, are Actors Fund performances that cost $40 - $50. The majority of what they have is Off-Off Broadway, comedy club and Jazz clubs, where you still have to pay a drink minimum when you go.
Its really turned into a horrible club.
April Saul
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/17/06
#6Play By Play
Posted: 3/23/13 at 10:49amAnother option is studentrush.org, which is open to anyone, and not infrequently has the same shows as the papering organizations, with a similar service fee!
#7Play By Play
Posted: 3/23/13 at 12:16pmI was a member of both Play by Play and Gold Club for the past 4 years. The past year-and-a-half, the offerings of Broadway productions have been sparse. I appreciate the non-Broadway offerings and take those offers frequently. However, in regards to Broadway: shows just don't use those papering services anymore. In my first year of Play by Play membership, I saw probably 10-15 Broadway shows. This year, I saw 3 (two Roundabout and 1 MTC).
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
Vespertine1228
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/30/05
#8Play By Play
Posted: 3/23/13 at 12:28pm
April is usually the best time for Broadway shows on the papering services. So many new things are opening and the audience is spread thin as producers try to fill their houses when press come to review. I look forward to reaping the benefits.
That being said, I too am considering getting rid of Play by Play when my membership expires. Looking at the list of shows I've seen in the past year with them vs. the ones I've seen with the Gold Club, there's just no comparison.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#9Play By Play
Posted: 3/23/13 at 12:32pm
A couple of Broadway shows have popped up on Gold Club the last few weeks. They've just disappeared really, really quickly.
As Vespertine said, the spring is usually pretty good for papering services (especially should be this season with SO much opening in such a short period). So I'm hopeful the offerings will get better and stay up for a bit longer! 
Updated On: 3/23/13 at 12:32 PM
#10Play By Play
Posted: 3/23/13 at 12:42pm
Funny two Broadway shows showed up yesterday. One I was very very surprised about and would have loved it have seen it (hint: a play that just opened in previews)but I was going to see Matilda so it was a no go. And the other musical went in 2 minutes.
It's going to be Tony season and full houses are needed. I expect during the month of May to go to several.
As for which group is better, they both get different things but with GC you get that pair of tickets to a show when you join. It's worth it for the first year at least.
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