Small Orchestras / Large Orchestras

[morosco]

Small Orchestras / Large Orchestras#0

Posted: 8/3/04 at 10:55am

Why do musicals with small orchestras have the same ticket price as shows with large orchestras?

[chauvelin128]

re: Small Orchestras / Large Orchestras#1

Posted: 8/3/04 at 11:00am

There are a lot more things that factor into ticket price than the number of people in the orchestra. Besides, the size of the orchestra depends heavily on the show...RENT isn't intended to be played by a thirty piece symphony orchestra, just like Phantom of the Opera wasn't written for a three piece jazz combo.

[WOSQ]

re: Small Orchestras / Large Orchestras#2

Posted: 8/3/04 at 11:01am

...because they can.

And if a musical charges less, often the buyers will ask if it is not as good as the others! A friend worked a ticket desk in hotel lobbies and he told me this was a common reaction.

I realize both of these answers sound flip, but alas, they are also true.

Go figure.

"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher

[morosco]

re: Small Orchestras / Large Orchestras#3

Posted: 8/3/04 at 11:07am

Yes...true there are a lot more things to factor in, but it still seems to make the producers argument (that musicians are too expensive) debateable.

[BWayBoy88]

re: Small Orchestras / Large Orchestras#4

Posted: 8/3/04 at 11:10am

Producers want as much money as they can get. If a show has a small orchestra than they arent going to sell tickets for $75 when the show down the street is getting away with selling tickets for $100.

[Plum]

re: Small Orchestras / Large Orchestras#5

Posted: 8/3/04 at 11:19am

The Produvers, I think, started the trend of making every ticket $100+. All the other shows followed suit so they could look just as good- they didn't want The Producers looking like the classiest ticket in town. And hey, if tourists will pay, why not charge more? Most shows don't recoup anyway.

[PitPro2004]

re: Small Orchestras / Large Orchestras#6

Posted: 8/3/04 at 3:21pm

Orchestra sizes are dependent on A. the instrumentation that the score calls for and B. the size of the house, though this is now debatable since it was what 802 fought over durring the strike last year. Usually the composer will let the orchestrator know what his music requires and it goes from there.

"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium!"