#51
Posted: 6/20/07 at 3:36pm
It is greed. Nothing more. I've often wondered why shows can all charge the same price when some are obviously so much cheaper (Chicago's a great example. I also bring up Company).
The way I see it is that it's like any other retail. Not counting rear mezz/rush/SRO/other ways of getting cheap seats, I see it breaking down into 3 or 4 price levels. Comparing it to retail, it looks like this for me:
1. Full price tickets (IE "new arrivals" in retail)
2. First coupon code, maybe 25% off (in-store promotion)
3. Second code, maybe 30-50% off (end of season clearance)
4. TKTS (sent to outlet/liquidator)
Therefore, $110 is always the opening price. Unless the show is a sellout, in which case good for them (Lord knows it's tough to make $$ on B'way), the prices will always go down. If you want those shoes in your size at the beginning of a season, you have to pay full price. If you want first pick of seats, you have to pay full price.
Am I saying I support $120 tickets? Hell no. But think about it. These tourists come in and pay full price for the shows, thereby offsetting the cost of discounts and rushes for the producers. IMHO, high prices are part of what makes low prices available for us.
As for premium seats, I can't say I'm a fan. I think it's bull, and it's creating even more "class" separation at the theatre. It's not so much that I take issue with having different price levels (rear mezz is less than orchestra already) but the fact that they then sell these regular price day-of if they don't sell at premium. It's obviously a bullsh*t markup that isn't the ACTUAL price.
In the end, it's supply and demand. As long as some people are willing to pay $120, that's what they'll charge.
The way I see it is that it's like any other retail. Not counting rear mezz/rush/SRO/other ways of getting cheap seats, I see it breaking down into 3 or 4 price levels. Comparing it to retail, it looks like this for me:
1. Full price tickets (IE "new arrivals" in retail)
2. First coupon code, maybe 25% off (in-store promotion)
3. Second code, maybe 30-50% off (end of season clearance)
4. TKTS (sent to outlet/liquidator)
Therefore, $110 is always the opening price. Unless the show is a sellout, in which case good for them (Lord knows it's tough to make $$ on B'way), the prices will always go down. If you want those shoes in your size at the beginning of a season, you have to pay full price. If you want first pick of seats, you have to pay full price.
Am I saying I support $120 tickets? Hell no. But think about it. These tourists come in and pay full price for the shows, thereby offsetting the cost of discounts and rushes for the producers. IMHO, high prices are part of what makes low prices available for us.
As for premium seats, I can't say I'm a fan. I think it's bull, and it's creating even more "class" separation at the theatre. It's not so much that I take issue with having different price levels (rear mezz is less than orchestra already) but the fact that they then sell these regular price day-of if they don't sell at premium. It's obviously a bullsh*t markup that isn't the ACTUAL price.
In the end, it's supply and demand. As long as some people are willing to pay $120, that's what they'll charge.
It's just a message board. Let's not take it too seriously.
