Porgy and Bess Rush Policy?
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy?
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy?#1
Posted: 1/10/12 at 12:29pm
Has anyone tried to get rush during previews? Hoping someone can shed some light.
Did a search... came up empty.
Thanks!
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #2
Posted: 1/10/12 at 12:40pm
I don't understand why shows don't at least have a policy for 1 hr. or so prior to curtain for side/partial view/rear mezz seats. What harm does it do exactly? Too bad there's no rush.
If you're a member of Audience Rewards, they have an offer going for 500 points and $25 for orchestra row T/U. Not a bad deal.
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #3
Posted: 1/10/12 at 12:44pm
I dont understand either....wouldn't the producer rather put butts in the seats, than have an empty theatre?
If young adults living in NYC are willing to just SHOW UP an hr before the show without a ticket, they obviously care about the arts, and the producers should sell the remaining side/rear seats for an affordable price. $30 is better than NOTHING... which is what they are currently getting for every empty seat.
I'm not an audience rewards member. Want to buy me the ticket, and I will reimburse you? :)
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #4
Posted: 1/10/12 at 1:00pmAs of yet they dont need a rush. Looks like they are doing well. And if people KNOW they can get cheaper tickets just by waiting, they wont pay full price. When they need to, they will.
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #5
Posted: 1/10/12 at 1:05pm
Last week they made 64% of their gross potential... 56% the week before, and 55% the week before that....
PLUS... opening night is in two days... and they still have 84 tickets available on ticketmaster...
opening night is not sold out? or at least papered and listed as sold out?
its not like they are rocking their numbers... just offer rush already.
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #6
Posted: 1/10/12 at 1:18pmJules, I know what you're saying but I have to disagree with it. The Metropolitan Opera offers rush for every single performance and they certainly don't need to for 95% of their shows.
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #7
Posted: 1/10/12 at 1:23pm
amen, Jordan. Amen.
lightguy, check your PMs - sent you one regarding tickets.
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #8
Posted: 1/10/12 at 1:53pm
The met is also a fixture. They have another show/production whether they sell this one out or not due to trusts and donors. So for them i think it is about getting every butt in the seat/dollar possible. Porgy only has one shot. If you sell things for cheap, you lessen the demand. People know they can get it whenever they want it. Thats just what i think is happening here. If and when they feel they NEED a rush, they will use it to fill seats. But for now they must be doing ok. Keeping advance in mind.
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #9
Posted: 1/10/12 at 2:27pm
I used to work for the met so I can tell you that they are ALL about the money. If they could make all their money from selling 5 seats to a performance, trust me they would.
Peter Gelb just understood the importance of not limiting the experience to a select few. And yes, even though the MET does offer cheap seats to all tier performances, they go FAST and he wanted to make sure people wouldn't be left out. And it certainly doesn't stop people from buying tickets in advance even though they know they can get rush the day of.
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #10
Posted: 1/10/12 at 2:32pm
As of yet they dont need a rush. Looks like they are doing well. And if people KNOW they can get cheaper tickets just by waiting, they wont pay full price. When they need to, they will.
This is why some shows do lotteries. It's not a guarantee (or anything close to one) that you will get tickets. But it's a cheap opportunity to see the show. Set aside the first two rows of the theatre (or the last row for all I care), but at least have the option for people who can't afford full price. Also, I guarantee you that the majority of theatregoers know NOTHING about rush policies. They come from out of town and pay full price well in advance as part of their "trip to NYC" plans. Everyone on BWW knows about rush, obviously, but we're actually the minority of theatregoers.
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #11
Posted: 1/10/12 at 3:08pm
Jordan i totally get it. And agree that every show should have a cheaper option. Art for everybody and so on. 
But, as a business model, it makes sense to not have one til you need it. I totally think the time will come. As will the TDF/TKTS listings but i bet it will go in steps. In a month when they go on tkts people will feel like 40% off is a steal...all because up til then the show was only sold at full price. I know i dont have to tell YOU this. Its more for those who think that giving away your product (which is essentially what rush and lottery is) is a healthy way to promote people to buy more expensive tickets. Thus keeping the show open. Nope.
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #12
Posted: 1/10/12 at 3:25pmI also read something about discount codes being pulled. I hope that it's not true, though, because I'm hoping to see it this weekend and don't want to spend a fortune on it...
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #13
Posted: 1/10/12 at 3:47pm
giving away your product (which is essentially what rush and lottery is)
I hardly think allocating a certain number of seats for a lottery is giving away your product. If you're making this argument, you could extend it to "selling the rear mezz seats for $55" is giving away the product. Where does it stop? By your logic, the producers shouldn't differentiate in price anywhere in the theatre. It should be all one price. But that's not the case because producers know that's unrealistic for a show that isn't The Book of Mormon. Those $55 tickets are included in the shows financial plan/budget. If you were to select seats in advance for lotto or rush, that's not giving away your product. That's expanding the pricing gradient to include another tier.
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #14
Posted: 1/10/12 at 4:31pmIf you say so BJ. I think you took a real liberty there with "my logic." 25$ seats in a broadway house IS giving away your product.
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #15
Posted: 1/10/12 at 4:49pmSays who? The difference between $55 and $25 (which doesn't have to be the rush price... plenty of shows are doing $35 or even $40 these days) is not that much. And we're not talking an entire section of the house here. We're talking two rows MAXIMUM.
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #16
Posted: 1/10/12 at 5:22pm
First off im not arguing against rush i use it regularly. Just wanted to reiterate that.
If you think in terms of making the nut for the week, it is alot. If an actor is making the minimum which is like 1700 (esitmated), divide that by 8 and its about 200.00 bucks a performance... Sigh you know what nm im too tired for math. You're right lets sell the orchestra for 25$. Its not that much different from premium prices by "your logic." See what i did there
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #17
Posted: 1/10/12 at 5:44pm
You're right lets sell the orchestra for 25$.
Really? Is that what I said. Wow, I must have been on drugs because I don't remember saying that at all. Oh wait, I didn't. And what does the actor salary have anything to do with seat price? That's hardly the only expense the show has.
Also, my statement wasn't logic at all... it was fact. Just because you don't appreciate having your logic commented on doesn't mean that every statement made by everyone else is equally ridiculous.
Right now, the last rows of the rear mezz go for $55. Let's say you took the row in front of it and made the side sections into rush seats. That side row (consisting of 28 seats) is going for $85. Let's say you made those seats $35 rush or lotto seats. That means you're losing $50 per ticket, which is $1,400 per show. At 8 shows a week, you're losing $11,200. While that number sounds like a lot, it's peanuts compared to most things in the theatre. The show made $862,527 last week. The difference in price I just mentioned would have brought it down to $851,527, which is still WELL above the show's weekly nut. That would bring their gross percentage down from 64.53% to 63.7%. LESS THAN A 1% DIFFERENCE. It's really not all that much. It must be a sad feeling to feel too tired to do simple math at 5:30 in the afternoon.
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #18
Posted: 1/10/12 at 6:12pm
Nope its not sad, its boring. like i said you're right. Yay BJ. Thanks for keeping it above the belt.
Updated On: 1/10/12 at 06:12 PM
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #20
Posted: 1/10/12 at 6:22pm(Not trying to get involved in the argument) That point about the grosses is very interesting, bjh! Now I only wish the producers would agree and offer rush!
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #21
Posted: 1/10/12 at 10:35pm
bjh, I applaud you in your facts and example.
I wish they would at least offer regular seats at cheaper prices than $55-65. Some people I know who go to the theater only occasionally have heard of Porgy and Bess but aren't able to/willing to pay that much for their tickets. Like it's been said in the thread earlier, it would be so much better if there were some seats available (whether as regular priced seating, rush or lotto) that were $25-35, it would be a lot more manageable. I've heard from some people that thought this show was high-brow or elitist, and they seemed to believe that the ticket pricing was proof of that.
Please note, these aren't my thoughts but those I've heard - I have purchased my own pair of tickets for $95 each and am excited for the production. :)
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #22
Posted: 1/11/12 at 11:37amI was really hoping that this show has a rush policy since my husband I love theatre so much and try to see as much as we can. I think it is great that most shows have a rush policy but understand from a financial perspective if the producers don't want to. I really want to see Porgy and Bess and almost payed $89 per ticket but I am glad I was able to buy them for Broadway week and got both of them for $89! Can't wait to see the show next week!
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #23
Posted: 1/11/12 at 12:01pm
@broadwayfan777- hold out long enough. rush will be offered...
rush tickets are for a specific class of people. All of you who have already purchased tickets? rush is not created for you.
The producers are OBVIOUSLY correct in not offering them now... WHY? because all of YOU people still spend the money on the tickets.
Me? I truly cannot afford it. so I wait. and rush WILL come. this is not the next lion king. unless they ARE elitist bastards, they will eventually offer more affordable priced tickets. and I will choose some random Tuesday morning, buy my $30 ticket at the box office, and enjoy the show that night for less than half the price y'all paid.
there is no financial reason not have rush (like bjh showed us with his math skills, there is only a 1% difference financially with rush tickets).
the reason to NOT have rush at this point is completely a marketing strategy.
and rush/lotto is not GIVING AWAY YOUR PRODUCT. thats just dumb. in my socio-economic class, paying $30 is still an expense... thats 2 packs of cigarettes....
Porgy and Bess Rush Policy? #24
Posted: 1/11/12 at 1:05pmIn reality, I won't hold out, because I need to see it this weekend or I'll never see it. So I'll end up paying way more than I should for it and probably regret it, but I need to see Audra and Norm in these roles.
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