Why are tickets getting so expensive - Page 3

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/11/22 at 11:50pm

Dan, 

Whatever your intent, I am still getting the sense that you think pricing is killing experimentation and I don't know how that's a different point, but maybe you can explain. Isn't that exactly what you are saying about ASL?

Regarding those ASL grosses, I think they are about where people (inside and out) expected they would be. I don't think producers will be chilled from producing ASL-like shows any more than they will be chilled from producing an even less successful show like (the non-experimental) Doubtfire or, from the same producer, the vastly more successful (and experimental) Six. I just don't think we can create neat boxes to put things in. In my experience people produce that with which they fall in love. Anyone who produced ASL because they thought it was going to be a blockbuster is, imo, nuts.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 1:33am

MysteriousLady said: "TotallyEffed said: "I personally find it shameful. Art and theatre should be available to everyone, not just the wealthy and privileged."

I agree, however championing access to "art and theatre" does not mean "every commercial play should be accessible to all." Many people seem to think it does. As long as people are willing to pay outrageous ticket prices, there will be spaces that offer commercial theater that is accessible to the few."

Nothing wrong with this but the irony shows when people are paying $1.5k to see The Lehman Trilogy. 

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 5:20am

Dollypop said: "Shall I rub salt into the wound? I have two ticket stubs in front of me: Opening night of HELLO, DOLLY! (Jan 16th, 1964) 6th Row Center. $9.90 each"

You know what I mean.  $9.90 on opening night, no less.  I have to assume your parents knew someone to get those seats.  I saw ‘I Do! I Do’ on opening night and I think I paid $4.25.  I guess David Merrick didn’t believe in giving seats away.  I think of all the incredible shows I saw before I graduated from college…were I a student today, coming in from the suburbs, I suspect I never would have been able to see much of anything.  TKTS seems only to sell discounted expensive seats; rush seats seem to be hit or miss, I.e., a kid in the suburbs can’t plan on getting rush seats. 

I guess theatre just keeps getting more inaccessible to more people.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 6:33am

I do agree it's getting very expensive.... IF you buy in advance.

The headline cheapest tix at $79 for Some Like it Hot and $89 for Kimberly Akimbo is very high. For that price you'd get a top price (non-premium) seat in the West End. That said, checking some random dates and over 90% of the Mezz/Balcony remain unsold. There will be discounts closer to the time.

I'm often in New York for work and get last minute tickets. On the odd chance I can't get rush or discounts, I pay up (Into the Woods recently).

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 8:10am

Jarethan said: "Dollypop said: "Shall I rub salt into the wound? I have two ticket stubs in front of me: Opening night of HELLO, DOLLY! (Jan 16th, 1964) 6th Row Center. $9.90 each"

You know what I mean. $9.90 on opening night, no less. I have to assume your parents knew someone to get those seats. I saw ‘I Do! I Do’ on opening night and I think I paid $4.25. I guess David Merrick didn’t believe in giving seats away. I think of all the incredible shows I saw before I graduated from college…were I a student today, coming in from the suburbs, I suspect I never would have been able to see much of anything. TKTS seems only to sell discounted expensive seats; rush seats seem to be hit or miss, I.e., a kid in the suburbs can’t plan on getting rush seats.

I guess theatre just keeps getting more inaccessible to more people."

So then I guess they shouldn’t have filmed Heathers or Waitress because that is making theater less accessible, right? What would you call a reasonable, realistic price? Prices are always going to go up. Be realistic. 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 2:10pm

Does anyone remember a time when people said "wow it sure is cheap and affordable to see a Broadway show, especially one that's popular and has a celebrity in it!"  

What else is there to say about tix getting more expensive other than people are willing to pay those prices? And for the millionth time, there are discounts galore out there. 

This is a good NY Times article summarizing about 90% of what's being said in this thread, and it's from 2017. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/08/business/broadway-theater-ticket-prices.html

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 2:57pm

As tickets prices have increased, I have wondered about a couple of things:

1. How much of the increased prices are a reflection of the increase in the actual cost it takes to produce a show? Are the percentages in ticket increases equivalent to the percentages of operating cost increases?

2. Are producers more likely these days to prefer selling fewer tickets at higher prices rather than filling a house at lower prices? I could be wrong, but I have felt like this has been more of the trend recently as I look at the weekly grosses. I’m sure this is different for every producer (and obviously, the endgame is always to do whatever makes the most money), but as someone who knows very little about these kinds of monetary decisions/strategies, I’m curious if there are any benefits to this pricing model? Does it end up actually bringing in more money, does it maintain a certain “status” to keep prices higher, etc.?

Would be curious if anyone has insights!

[JasonC3]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 3:00pm

In my experience, I'm finding discount offers that allow you to select your own seat (i.e., codes from BroadwayBox, TheatreMania, Playbill, et al) are fewer than the years before the pandemic.

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 4:40pm

I want to take my family to see the Knicks but they charge too darn much!  And why can't my wife have a Prada bag??? NOT FAIR!

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 5:29pm

hearthemsing22 said: "Jarethan said: "Dollypop said: "Shall I rub salt into the wound? I have two ticket stubs in front of me: Opening night of HELLO, DOLLY! (Jan 16th, 1964) 6th Row Center. $9.90 each"

You know what I mean. $9.90 on opening night, no less. I have to assume your parents knew someone to get those seats. I saw ‘I Do! I Do’ on opening night and I think I paid $4.25. I guess David Merrick didn’t believe in giving seats away. I think of all the incredible shows I saw before I graduated from college…were I a student today, coming in from the suburbs, I suspect I never would have been able to see much of anything. TKTS seems only to sell discounted expensive seats; rush seats seem to be hit or miss, I.e., a kid in the suburbs can’t plan on getting rush seats.

I guess theatre just keeps getting more inaccessible to more people."

So then I guess they shouldn’t have filmed Heathers or Waitress because that is making theater less accessible, right? What would you call a reasonable, realistic price? Prices are always going to go up. Be realistic."

I am talking about live Broadway theatre.  Passions are not going to be created by watching taped shows on TV.  Not saying there is not a place for them, but it is not the same thing.

[Piparoo]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 5:54pm

Possible unpopular opinion follows - 

I’m okay paying Broadway prices, and I’m not wealthy. Last week I purchased tickets to Sweeney for next year in the AMEX presale and they were $250 a piece, all in for a Friday evening performance in the sixth row center of orchestra. It’s certainly not cheap for the four of us to see a Broadway show, when we must be particular about seat and date selection. But, damn I’m happy to pay it for the chance to share communal catharsis and maybe, just maybe, theatrical ecstasy. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 6:07pm

Jarethan said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Jarethan said: "Dollypop said: "Shall I rub salt into the wound? I have two ticket stubs in front of me: Opening night of HELLO, DOLLY! (Jan 16th, 1964) 6th Row Center. $9.90 each"

You know what I mean. $9.90 on opening night, no less. I have to assume your parents knew someone to get those seats. I saw ‘I Do! I Do’ on opening night and I think I paid $4.25. I guess David Merrick didn’t believe in giving seats away. I think of all the incredible shows I saw before I graduated from college…were I a student today, coming in from the suburbs, I suspect I never would have been able to see much of anything. TKTS seems only to sell discounted expensive seats; rush seats seem to be hit or miss, I.e., a kid in the suburbs can’t plan on getting rush seats.

I guess theatre just keeps getting more inaccessible to more people."

So then I guess they shouldn’t have filmed Heathers or Waitress because that is making theater less accessible, right? What would you call a reasonable, realistic price? Prices are always going to go up. Be realistic."

I am talking about live Broadway theatre. Passions are not going to be created by watching taped shows on TV. Not saying there is not a place for them, but it is not the same thing."

Then I guess people will just never be satisfied. I'm not wealthy by ANY means. At all. I just take advantage of ticket deals (BroadwayBox. lotteries, rush-although not so much right now), off-Broadway, off-off Broadway. I'm also one person so I do understand it's different for everyone. But darn am I glad they do film shows because there is a demand for that and it does offer more accessibility. 

What do you think would be reasonable prices? Please explain. No one has answered that. Aside from the person with the Hello Dolly! tickets. Like what-in todays day and age-would you call a reasonably priced ticket? Especially if you're front row at say, one of the most in demand shows, like The Music Man or Hamilton. What is your solution? 

[Wick3]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 8:03pm

If this means the producers pocket the money and not scalpers, then I’m ok with this.

With few exceptions, I don’t buy tix in advance anymore because of the no-refund policy.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 8:07pm

Wick3 said: "If this means the producers pocket the money and not scalpers, then I’m ok with this.

With few exceptions, I don’t buy tix in advance anymore because of the no-refund policy."

 

Did you never attend a Broadway show pre-Covid?  There weren't any refunds then, either.

 

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 8:16pm

Greed.  No other word.

 

 

[teatime2]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 8:58pm

My frustration is when producers would rather let seats go empty than lower prices close to showtime. I tried to see part two of The Inheritance with over 100 unsold tickets an hour before the show, and they wouldn't lower the price under 79 dollars. A majority of those seats went unsold. Wouldn't they rather lower those prices close to the show and have those seats filled? That's a win-win. 

[kurtal]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 9:37pm

Jarethan said: "Dollypop said: "Shall I rub salt into the wound? I have two ticket stubs in front of me: Opening night of HELLO, DOLLY! (Jan 16th, 1964) 6th Row Center. $9.90 each"

You know what I mean. $9.90 on opening night, no less. I have to assume your parents knew someone to get those seats. I saw ‘I Do! I Do’ on opening night and I think I paid $4.25. I guess David Merrick didn’t believe in giving seats away. I think of all the incredible shows I saw before I graduated from college…were I a student today, coming in from the suburbs, I suspect I never would have been able to see much of anything. TKTS seems only to sell discounted expensive seats; rush seats seem to be hit or miss, I.e., a kid in the suburbs can’t plan on getting rush seats.

I guess theatre just keeps getting more inaccessible to more people."

$9.90 in 1964 is $89.32 today.  

[inception]

Posted: 9/12/22 at 9:48pm

hearthemsing22 said: ".

What do you think would be reasonable prices? Please explain. No one has answered that. Aside from the person with the Hello Dolly! tickets. Like what-in todays day and age-would you call a reasonably priced ticket? Especially if you're front row at say, one of the most in demand shows, like The Music Man or Hamilton. What is your solution?"

If I am on a budget, I simply don't think it is reasonable to regularly sit in the front row, or any prime orchestra seat.  It has to be a special purchase.  

I'm happy to sit up in the mezzanine for most shows.  Perhaps people who only see shows in New York don't realize just how good mezzanine seats in a Broadway theatre are compared to seats in many of the huge theatres where shows play on tour.  I saw Book of Mormon in Portland, Oregon from an orchestra seat that was about 4 city blocks from the stage.

[Wick3]

Posted: 9/13/22 at 12:36am

teatime2 said: "My frustration is when producers would rather let seats go empty than lower prices close to showtime. I tried to see part two of The Inheritance with over 100 unsold tickets an hour before the show, and they wouldn't lower the price under 79 dollars. A majority of those seats went unsold. Wouldn't they rather lower those prices close to the show and have those seats filled? That's a win-win."

I'd think producers normally sell those seats for 50% off at TKTS.

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/13/22 at 12:57am

RUkiddingme said: "Greed. No other word.



"

Next thing people will start wondering what capitalism possibly be!  Escandalo!

Producers owe you nothing. Tickets prices WILL continue to rise if audiences buy them, is all.

Updated On: 9/13/22 at 12:57 AM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 9/13/22 at 1:58am

blaxx said: "RUkiddingme said: "Greed. No other word.



"

Next thing people will start wondering what capitalism possibly be! Escandalo!

Producers owe you nothing. Tickets prices WILL continue to rise if audiences buy them, is all."

 

We’re all very aware of this. We don’t have to like it  and we’re allowed to discuss it. On a discussion board. You’re not going to convince anyone to embrace ticket prices skyrocketing.

 

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 9/13/22 at 2:25am

teatime2 said: "My frustration is when producers would rather let seats go empty than lower prices close to showtime. I tried to see part two of The Inheritance with over 100 unsold tickets an hour before the show, and they wouldn't lower the price under 79 dollars. A majority of those seats went unsold. Wouldn't they rather lower those prices close to the show and have those seats filled? That's a win-win."

If it becomes common practice and commonly known that you just have to wait till an hour before curtain and you can snag a $79 or cheaper seat, then fewer people would be willing to pay $150-200 prior to that. And in a 1000 seat theater, all it takes is 70 or 80 people if not fewer, to hold off spending more knowing they can get it for less an hour before showtime to make any gain from selling those last 75 or 100 seats cheaply completely disappear in total gross receipts. I would imagine they've analyzed every conceivable pricing model including dropping the price dramatically right before curtain to move the last group of seats and if a particular show is not willing to do that, then they are doing what they feel will maximize revenue while maintaining price integrity and not making people who paid more feel like fools for doing so..

Updated On: 9/13/22 at 02:25 AM

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 9/13/22 at 6:58am

blaxx said: "RUkiddingme said: "Greed. No other word.



"

Next thing people will start wondering what capitalism possibly be! Escandalo!

Producers owe you nothing. Tickets prices WILL continue to rise if audiences buy them, is all."

How do those boots taste?

[fbueller]

Posted: 9/13/22 at 7:23am

Because we are paying Patti LuPone’s salary.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 9/13/22 at 8:30am

fbueller said: "Because we are paying Patti LuPone’s salary."

HAHAHAHA that’s great