The Breaking Point - An Informal Poll

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 6:31pm

This thread was born out of the Wicked raises ticket prices one

The question is simple: At what point ( ticket price) do you stop going either because of financial limitiations or because you just think it is a rip off ?If you still go, do you cut back & be more selective?Do you go no matter how ridiculous the prices prices are ?I always wondered what other posters felt

For me, $ 100 is the limit. If I can get discounts or sit in cheaper seats I go. If not, I do not go. $ 100 a ticket is the limit for me

OK lets hear from everyone

Updated On: 10/17/05 at 06:31 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 6:37pm

It definitley depends on the show.

And I'm going to Spamalot on December 18th (110), Wicked on october 30th(110), and See What I Wanna See on Dec. 2(60). So, after this, Im done for a little. I love theater and think live theater (especially Bway) is incredible, but I do (even though Im paying for the tix) think 110 dollars a ticket (for most shows) is a rip off. But then again, it depends on the show for most. 110 for Wicked is well worth it. I felt like I should have payed an extra 10 dollars when I saw the show the first time because you really felt like you got your moneys worth and then some. And then there are shows in between. Like Spelling Bee. Loved it, loved everything about it, thought it was awesome and gave it a rave, 5 star review on my blog, but is it worth 110? No. Then, there are the ****ty shows like Good Vibrations. If it was still running, would I pay $110 to see it. Abso-freaking-lutely not.

So, for me, I'd agree and say 100 is the average most I'd pay for a show. $110 is worth it for very few shows nowadays. And that doesnt mean that the ones not worth $110 suck, because they don't. It's just...I dont know...Its hard for me to explain.
Updated On: 10/17/05 at 06:37 PM

[Popular]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 6:40pm

I agree it depends on the show and also who is in it...
also, on whether or not I've just gotten paid and am feeling impulsive or not.
Updated On: 10/17/05 at 06:40 PM

[theatreguy]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 6:41pm

I'm all about discounts and student rush. I can't remember the last time I paid full price for something. And I don't expect to anytime soon. Even shows that are sold out and people are paying several hundred dollars for, like SPAMALOT and THE ODD COUPLE, I can just get standing room for $20 and see the exact show. Sure, I have to stand. But I'd rather do that than pay an extra $100.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 6:46pm

When I was single, I used to do standing room. It can not be done when you are married

Thanks for your input

[Sunfish]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 7:14pm

I can't do standing room because of physical limitations. Being an out-of-towner, I can't grab the short-term discounts because they don't always line up with my trip times. So I've paid the 100 bucks in advance on a few shows and have tried to use the discounts at the box office to get last minute decent seats. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. $110 would have to be a pretty special show. And if they all go to that price and higher, I may have to just stop my NY trips...it is already a bank-breaker with hotel costs.

And like others have said elsewhere, it is particularly discouraging when you buy the tickets in advance and get pretty undesirable seats. But when you are out-of-town, there's not the luxury of trying the box office day-of to see if something has opened up. Unless you really don't care what you see.... which most of us do, when there are limited slots available.

I don't know what the general tourist will do, but this Broadway lover might be making some changes. Terribly depressing but...when you can't afford it, you just can't.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 9:57pm

Thought this would generate more interest. Thanks to those who responded anyway

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 9:59pm

Why on earth can't you do SRO tickets if you're married? Does a wedding ring make you unable to stand for long periods of time?

[timote316]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 10:34pm

For me, its completely about the show/cast. For example: I would not pay any more than the $45 or whatever it was for the student tix (not the lottery, the other student tix available) at Rent to see the current cast; however, for the OBC reunion, I'd pay more (my limit would depend on the seats).

[Pinguin]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 10:37pm

I'd never pay more than 50 dollars for ANY ticket, and that's for a show or cast that I really want to see...and I won't buy student tickets that are more than 26.25. I think Little Women or something was trying to sell me a 30 dollar ticket, and I quickly refused.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 10:49pm

I've never paid over 100 and trust I never will. I'll stand with all the single people, LOL!

[liotte]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 10:58pm

Normally I will not pay more than $30, I'll do lottos, student rush, standing room. With the exception of one show that closed recently in which I bought $50 tickets to multiple times (for great orchestra seats), and perhaps Rent OBC reunion, I'm sticking to a low budget. I see shows way too many times to pay full price.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/18/05 at 12:00am

It depends on the show. $105 would probably be my breaking point. And I'd pay that only once or twice. If it's a special concert with several people I'd love to see perform together, maybe $125 - $150.

[meagan9848]

Posted: 10/18/05 at 12:22am

$100 a ticket is a stretch for me...still in school, I pretty much live on student rush and lottery tickets.

BUT

There's usually a show each season I become attached to for one reason or another. This season it was Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I've seen it 4 times, all for $26.25, so when I was searching telecharge for John's last show, and it brought up Orchestra row AA, I bit the bullet and bought the full price ticket.

Even with Wicked I try for the $55 tickets every time. I've paid $100 a few times, and won the lottery once.

Even for Spamalot and Spelling Bee, I'm planning on standing through them. I'm sure I will love the shows, but when the option is there to see it for $25, I'm not going to pass it up.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 10/18/05 at 1:04am

Well, be sure to wave to the rest of us single people standing there with you, and remember, If you are married no standing for you, go buy two very expensive seats, LOL!

[Liz_Bennet]

Posted: 10/18/05 at 1:06am

I've never paid top price for a ticket. My parents have on occasion given me top price tickets as a gift (well, once). But I really don't have any problem sitting in the back or standing or waiting for rush. When my parents took me to shows, we were always in the rear mezzanine or balcony so I just got used to the idea that was where I sit, just like so many other people assume that orchestra's the only spot for them. I'm more or less fine with that because I can see four times the number of shows than I could with full price seats.

I sat first row at the National Theatre in London this summer, and fifth row at Piazza, and it is almost making me reconsider. But it has to be just the right show, and it's more of a treat that way anyhow.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 10/18/05 at 6:24am

The last time I paid full-price for a ticket was Spamalot in March. I rarely pay full-price. I use TDF, TKTS, standing room, BroadwayBox, Theatermania and papering services.

It's usually the shows that I pay full-price for that I regret seeing, like Spamalot...

[mominator]

Posted: 10/18/05 at 7:25am

"When I was single, I used to do standing room. It can not be done when you are married"
MR Roxy.... Both my husband and I have doe SRO.
A many people have said it depends on the show. DRS, Spamalot, Wicked are shows with very large ensembles.
New shows have so much money (other peoples) invested in them that sometimes the ticket prices have to be a bit more expensive.
As far as new shows coming in to NYC, I will be first in line for ACL! No matter the cost.