Who has access to house tickets?- Page 2
Who has access to house tickets?
Joined: 12/31/69
#26re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 12:06pm
Andrew's scenario is totally valid and based on his (her?) actual experiences...
...and even though CJR's explanation is correct... the rules, as well as "the way it's done" CAN be bent. That's also been my experience as a box office manager.
A lot of it depends on the "situation" and the house seat availability at the time of the "situation."
EDIT: So you're both right and everybody wins! Yay!!!!
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Updated On: 1/14/06 at 12:06 PM
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#29re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 1:43pm
For what it is worth:
When Wicked was in Los Angeles, I had a family friend who was in the Orchestra at the Pantages - he had previously gotten what he called "house seats" for other shows at the Pantages. We paid full face, but were able to get about 10th row center.
Early on, we asked if he could get us house seats for Wicked, and he indicated for this show, as a member of the orchestra, he could not get us any tickets. No one in the orchestra was given access to what he called "house seats."
And, it is well documented that Stephanie Block had to go to the lottery quite often to get tickets for friends.
I am not saying that there will not not be house seats available for the show, but it may be that for a limited tour run like Wicked, where it is sold out long in advance, there are not as many as otherwise would be in the normal course.
But, in general, I would defer to others on this board for general info, because, other than my specific experience, I don't know nothing about no house seats.
#30re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 1:52pm
Yes, house seats are (generally, with almost no exceptions) not comp seats.
I'm sure the "Wicked" situation in L.A. was VERY tight with house seats. I know they did have them... because I sat in one myself, but this is the land of V.I.P.s, and trading favors, so I'm not surprised at your story at all.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#31re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 1:57pm
Well, now I am just dying to know what favors your traded for that seat!
#32re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 2:04pm
LOL!
Honestly... no favors. It's all about who you know, as cliche as that is.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#33re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 2:24pmDamn - I was hoping for some good dirt!
#34re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 2:42pm
CJR (or whoever...) I'm still incredibly confused.
You said anyone in the public can get house seats if they have a credit card. How exactly does one accomplish that? Do you stroll up to the box office and ask for house seats? I always thought you had to have someone associated with the show put the request in for you.
CJR
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/03
#35re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 5:15pm
First off, this thread didnt turn into a 'who you know thread'. Coming off in that respect wasn't my intention. Aside from which, it has nothing to do with my "knowing people". Theatre PR is what I do for a living.
And in response to adamgreer, no you can't go through the box office. I left my answer vague enough for a reason.... if everyone knew exactly how to get house seats they *would* be completely available to the general public. That was why I said in one of my posts that house seats are technically not available to the general public.
I reitterated several times its not who you know (though it DOES help tremendously sometimes)..... it's what you know, in this case anyway.
"You're every gay man's wet dream!" ~ MA
Updated On: 1/14/06 at 05:15 PM
If in Heaven you don't excel, you can always party down in hell...
#36re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 5:23pm
FYI - for Wicked house seats, if you manage to get a hold of the office and person who is in charge of them, they are in such high demand you WILL be asked who your contact is. And if you name someone and they're contacted (they will be) and its proved that you don't actually know them, your request won't be processed.
There is quite a back-up for Wicked house seats... you can put in a request but won't know about tickets up till a week before. Which is not ideal if you're planning on flying in. Of course, the "higher up" the person you know is, the closer to the top of the list you can get. It's always suggested to put in house seat requests for matinee's or tuesday, wednesdays or thursdays.
Also, you can put in a request for a house seat now for, lets say, a show in March... but the box offices can't accept those requests until the first of that month, so in this case March 1.
It's a lengthy process, and for Wicked, I know they go through a lot of checking to make sure they're not just handing them out to the general public.
beckie_nyc
Understudy Joined: 1/10/06
#37re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 6:32pmHmm. When we went to the box office in November to get Wicked tix, the guy actually offered house seats without us even having to ask. Am I missing something?
That's the trouble with this song. It goes on and on and on.
#38re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 6:58pm
I cannot speak to the NY show - only the Tour Stop in LA.
But, if there were house seats not spoken for on the day of the show, perhaps you just got lucky.
#39re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 7:03pmYeah, its my understanding they won't be offered at the box office unless no one claims them and there is no Cancellation line. So if there was no cancellation line, that would make sense. Because those tickets go straight to that line about 10 minutes before the show, which is when most ppl in cancellation get their tickets.
beckie_nyc
Understudy Joined: 1/10/06
#40re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 7:20pmWell, we were at the box office during our lunch break, and weren't asking for same day tix (just good seats whenever.) We got offered house seats for $ 250.00 and decided to buy regular full priced tix for March instead, since we were in no rush (did the same thing w/Spamalot in June which worked out quite well...) Am totally confused about house seats now.
That's the trouble with this song. It goes on and on and on.
#41re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 7:32pm
Again, I have been focusing on the Tour.
With regard to BW, maybe the demand has softened a bit since it was so insane.
Don't know. I did not think the house seats were the $250 tickets. Seems kind of pricey. Maybe demand has softened on the most expensive tickets.
Someone else can probably answer your question much better than I.
#43re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 8:20pmyeah, those were premium not house seats. regular tour prices are $65 - $80 i believe.
CJR
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/03
#44re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 8:23pm
House seats are full price orchestra tickets. If the cost was any more than a regular full price orchestra seat, then it was a premium ticket.
Little Wing, that's very true about the Wicked tour. However, for Wicked on bway, I've definitely put through house seat requests for 'nobody important' with 'no contact.' So I think it just depends.
BTW house seat requests can be handed in before the 1st of the month. Frankly, the sooner they're in, the better. Ive done requests over a month in advance for different shows.
"You're every gay man's wet dream!" ~ MA
If in Heaven you don't excel, you can always party down in hell...
beckie_nyc
Understudy Joined: 1/10/06
#45re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 8:28pm
Guess you're right. He said 'House Tickets' though. Maybe to make it sound better? What's the difference between 'house' and 'premium'? There are only so many center orchestra tix anyway...
That's the trouble with this song. It goes on and on and on.
Updated On: 1/14/06 at 08:28 PM
Understudy Joined: 12/31/69
#46re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 10:59pm
you know what? now I AM confused! CJR..YOU are SOMEONE! if YOU are making the request and YOU are in PR then you are connected to the industry, right? i am pretty confused. it doesn't really matter though. i am very well connected so i don't really care but i feel bad for the people involved on this thread who are misunderstanding these posts.
anyway, meagan is taken care of...all is good!
CJR
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/03
#47re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/14/06 at 11:29pm
There isn't anything to misunderstand.
And yes, I am in PR. Yes, I do have the connections. My point was that I put through house seat requests all the time for people with NO connections. Saying it had nothing to do with my connections was absolutely true. And just because I put through the request doesnt mean they were connected to me... just means the request happened to land on my desk or was for one of my shows.
Nothing on this thread was ever about my personal/professional connections aside from the fact that I do know what I'm talking about.
"You're every gay man's wet dream!" ~ MA
If in Heaven you don't excel, you can always party down in hell...
musicalsFan
Broadway Star Joined: 3/3/04
#48re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/15/06 at 8:33am
... people with NO connections
They had enough connections to know who to call/write/email to put in their house seat requests in the first place.
The very fact that CJR can't/won't tell us in point-by-point detail on this message board exactly how someone with NO connections can request house seats says that this is something the-powers-that-be don't want the general public to know.
If anyone can do then every one should have access to information on to how to do it. That it is restricted knowledge says that it isn't REALLY meant for every one and is really meant for those with connections.
Nothing that has been written here convinces me otherwise.
beckie_nyc
Understudy Joined: 1/10/06
#49re: Who has access to house tickets?
Posted: 1/15/06 at 9:09am
There's a level of membership at the Actor's Fund that includes access to house seats. Other theatre not-for-profits have this, too (just can't think of any right now.)
That's the trouble with this song. It goes on and on and on.
Videos