Would anyone pay $5 to buy tickets before they go on sale?

[beensince1987]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 12:01pm

I got this email from TheaterMania for Allegiance with George Takei. I haven't heard anything about this show but I guess producers are betting this would be very hot tickets. You can download their cast album when it comes out but would you pay $5 for privilege to get tickets before anyone else?

http://www.priorityaccess.allegiancemusical.com/theatermania

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 12:04pm

Apparently some idiots would…

Allegiance Priority Access Thread

[beensince1987]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 12:18pm

Ha! I totally missed that thread. Thanks Clyde

[darreyl102]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 11:05pm

I don't see why the person doing this would be an idiot. I mean, for certain shows (Not really this one), I am sure a lot of people would have taken advantage of this- the shows that sell out super quickly or are really hard to get tickets to- I mean, it's just 5 dollars.

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 11:49am

I'm sure we can all agree that this particular show is not going to sell out - a la "Book of Mormon," "Jersey Boys," "Wicked," etc..

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 12:24pm

Oh my... as the aforementioned idiot, I should point out I would probably not do this for most shows, at all.

But I know the Allegiance creative team, several members of the cast, and have been to a few readings and events for this show. I saw this as a potential proof point of interest in the show that they might get to use to show potential investors: XX number of people have already paid $5 to purchase tickets as soon as they are available (which would show more commitment than a free mailing list subscriber).

So, if I didn't have some history with the show, and friends on both sides of cast/creative, I wouldn't do it. But if it shows interest and raises the chance of them coming to Broadway, $5 is trivial and an easy decision for me. And, if they do come to Broadway, I'll get the cast album for free after purchasing a ticket? Win-win.

In most cases, I'd never consider it.

Updated On: 3/10/14 at 12:24 PM

[loliveve]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 12:56pm

oasisjeff- I bought one too, and I don't know the creative team. I figure it's a creative way to seek lay investors. And considering my number is over 5000, that means they now have at least an extra $25,000 to fund the show.

Would I do it for all shows? Nope. But I support innovative marketing ideas, and it will include a download of the cast recording if one is ever made... in which case I will most definitely get my money's worth

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 3:13pm

Thanks, Oasisjeff for your first hand info on the show. Hope it comes to New York very soon.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 5:21pm

And think of it this way, those who have an AMEX and take advantage of the pre-sale offers through AMEX are paying a lot more than $5 for that privilege by way of their annual fee.

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 6:09pm

Not all American Express cards have an annual fee. Some do, and some don't.

[brdway411]

Posted: 3/11/14 at 12:17am

I get pre-sale emails all the time, usually with a discount. Fortunately I live close enough I look up the tickets I want online on what ever ticket site they are available on. Then just go to the box office and get them there. I get the tickets I want without the expensive surcharges. When I first started seeing this $5 presale thing on Facebook, I just had to laugh.