#1
Posted: 9/2/08 at 10:27am
I was thinking about what the optimal level of ticket sales on Broadway was from my PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE (i.e., what's best for me).
Obviously, you don't want them too low. If every show loses money, producers will stop bringing shows to Broadway altogether, so you'll have no new productions to enjoy. Your favorite show will close too quickly, as well. You also want shows to do well so that actors have work and the institution continues in general.
However, ticket sales (in general) that are too good are bad for me, at least, and I'm sure many on here. If shows are selling out, there will be little to no discounts, rushes, or lotteries that allow many of us to see shows when we couldn't otherwise. Also, it decreases the amount of new works being brought to the stage if there aren't any theaters available. I know I cringe a bit when a mediocre "touristy" show, like Little Mermaid or Grease, opens because it will fill that theater for years and prevent it from being used by something I might like more. I'm sure many people on here wouldn't shed a tear if Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia!, and others closed tomorrow because it would open up a theater for something new.
Obviously, in a perfect world, we could have our favorite shows run at a nice 80% capacity forever so discounts are usually available but the show does well enough to stay open, and, at the same time, our least favorite shows would fade out quickly to open space for something new. In my opinion, a good compromise would be ticket sales a bit lower than they are now, so that long running juggernauts wouldn't run quite as long, there was a little more turnover on Broadway, and discounts are more available.
I know there are some people here that want every show to do well, and others are ruthless in hoping that shows they don't like close within a week. I'm curious about how people stand on the issue in general.
Obviously, you don't want them too low. If every show loses money, producers will stop bringing shows to Broadway altogether, so you'll have no new productions to enjoy. Your favorite show will close too quickly, as well. You also want shows to do well so that actors have work and the institution continues in general.
However, ticket sales (in general) that are too good are bad for me, at least, and I'm sure many on here. If shows are selling out, there will be little to no discounts, rushes, or lotteries that allow many of us to see shows when we couldn't otherwise. Also, it decreases the amount of new works being brought to the stage if there aren't any theaters available. I know I cringe a bit when a mediocre "touristy" show, like Little Mermaid or Grease, opens because it will fill that theater for years and prevent it from being used by something I might like more. I'm sure many people on here wouldn't shed a tear if Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia!, and others closed tomorrow because it would open up a theater for something new.
Obviously, in a perfect world, we could have our favorite shows run at a nice 80% capacity forever so discounts are usually available but the show does well enough to stay open, and, at the same time, our least favorite shows would fade out quickly to open space for something new. In my opinion, a good compromise would be ticket sales a bit lower than they are now, so that long running juggernauts wouldn't run quite as long, there was a little more turnover on Broadway, and discounts are more available.
I know there are some people here that want every show to do well, and others are ruthless in hoping that shows they don't like close within a week. I'm curious about how people stand on the issue in general.
