Tony Nominations vs Tony Wins

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:39pm

Looking for input here.  If a theatergoer is on the fence about seeing a particular show, are they more apt to see the show if it receives Tony nominations?  Or does the average person wait to see if it receives Tony wins?  My reasoning is purely selfish.  As I stated in another thread I am coming from JFK to Blackbird box office approximately 9:30, hoping for a Wednesday evening (May 1 rush ticket.  As we know business has just been okay for this play.  With the three nominations, will business increase or will the average theatergoer wait to see if it receives the awards?  Curious about what the board thinks.

Updated On: 5/3/16 at 10:39 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:46pm

Nominations are not known for making a huge difference at the box office.

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:46pm

If you're specifically asking about Blackbird, it closes June 11 so if anyone waits to see if it wins any Tonys to see it, they'll be disappointed. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:49pm

LOL....I totally forgot that!

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 11:08pm

I didn't know it closes on June 11.  So my new question is will the nominations improve business greatly?  Dramamama states no.  ChiTheaterFan your opinion?

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 11:15pm

Anyway I notice on Audience Reward you now need 2,000 points + 42 dollars to redeem a ticket for Eclipsed as opposed to 1,000 points + 42 dollars last month.

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 11:18pm

I'm not very knowledgeable about these things, but I can't imagine it making a huge difference for this show. I think the people who want to see it will do so either because they have heard about it and want to see the play, or because of Williams or Daniels. I don't think it's one where someone hears it was nominated for a Tony and decides to see it where they wouldn't have before. I would venture a guess that musicals are more likely to enjoy such a boost, but even then, I imagine it's not huge. (Of course for musicals, who knows if this year will be different since no one is waiting to see what will win, and no one can get tickets for the presumptive winner...  Maybe nominations will be a factor.)

 

This is just a nominally-educated guess from word of mouth and such. There are others around here who know way more than I. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 5/4/16 at 4:09am

ArtMan said: "Looking for input here.  If a theatergoer is on the fence about seeing a particular show, are they more apt to see the show if it receives Tony nominations?  Or does the average person wait to see if it receives Tony wins?"

I think you mean theatergoers who prefer to buy rush tickets?  

I've seen Blackbird on TKTS for a while now --- so even if you don't get a rush ticket, if you really want to see this play, you can most likely buy a ticket from TKTS. Good luck!