guess what extended....- Page 5

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:07pm

So are they offering everyone who had tickets for the final weekend exchanges?

The article says they're only exchanging tickets to people who had tickets for the final performance, so why aren't friday and saturday onsale?

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:08pm

"But trying to put an economics-lesson spin on scalping? Really? lol."

Despite the danger of sidetracking this thread:

Tell me one thing that's wrong about what I wrote. Ticket sales that sell out in minutes are inefficient because the people that want the tickets most don't necessarily get them.

I understand the cries of "it keeps all from the richest people from seeing the most desirable events." And when tickets exceed prices that some people can afford, it's unfortunate if they can't get to go even if they would most want to go. But it's far from the cut and dry "That mean man is trying to rip me off and make a buck" anticapitalist mentality that many people hold.
Updated On: 3/26/08 at 03:08 PM

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:09pm

Oh my God, please just close this s***.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:10pm

So it looks as though the extension doesn't really effect anyone, since the tickets are all spoken for, right?

For the last performance, yes. But 4 performances (Fri night, Sat mat & night, sun mat) are not on sale, and people with tickets to the second/third/forth last performance are downgrading to tickets further removed from the closing.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:11pm

TonyVincent -- I guess we're both suffering from the same problem today. Chill.

The obvious catch is that no, the people who can afford to drop thousands of dollars per ticket are not necessarily the ones who want to go the most. (But hey, that's capitalism.) They're the ones who have the most money; and being able to afford something isn't an indication of how badly you want to go. The willingness to spend that kind of money comes from being able. Plenty of people who don't have it lying around might be perfectly willing to if they did. (Example: I went to Rent 10. I had the money, at that point. Doesn't mean I didn't know people who wanted to go as much or more than I did who couldn't.)

I'm not saying it should or shouldn't be done, but the philosophy that the people who HAVE the money to spend are the ones who WANT to go the most is twisted.

Updated On: 3/26/08 at 03:11 PM

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:47pm

Yes, I agree that while willingness to pay and desire to go are positively correlated, they're not perfectly correlated. Unfortunately, neither is ability to go on Ticketmaster to buy them at retail.

If we accept that whoever gets the tickets online are not necessarily the most hardcore fans, but just the people lucky enough to get them (which could include professional scalpers), would most of us turn down the thousands in free money to flip these things if we had the chance? I can't say I would turn it down. Would I give preferential treatment to people that would truly enjoy it? If I could, sure. But me not buying extra seats could mean a professional scalper gets them just as much as the person for whom this event would be life-changing.

I'm not trying to rationalize. I'm just being realistic.

Last request--has anyone else called the BO to exchange tickets for performances OTHER than the final one yet? Were you guaranteed seats to a specific performance? Thanks.

[AvenueQResident]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:47pm

It'll keep extending forever. And ever. Ever.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:48pm

It'll keep extending forever. And ever. Ever.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:49pm

Tony, I already edited my post with an apology, since i missed the sarcasm ! But in my defence, since you are quite new, I couldn't have known about your sense of humor yet, so I took what you said literally !
And on the side note, I'm all for free economy etc. But this is a Theater board, and we are all united by our love of theater ! So, exploiting that love, in order to make money, however justified it is, is a disturbing subject for most of us ! Maybe we are dump, but I think most people here, would gladly offer an extra ticket we had, for face value, to another Theater Lover, than sell it for a big amount of $$$ to a rich guy !!

Peace

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:56pm

No worries Greek, I certainly understand your anger :). I thought, in the context of everyone making fun of coolkid, that no one would take me seriously I'll be sure to post more often so you get used to my sarcasm. This is a theater board--it's supposed to be fun. So, unless provoked, my posts will always be good natured.

Unfortunatley, I am both a theater lover and a capitalist, so sometimes they both tear at me a bit. Let's just say I'd be more likely to share a final ticket for Rent with another theater lover, but would be more likely to make a buck off of Mamma Mia!

[Tom1071]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:59pm

Is anyone surprised?

[FIERCEY516]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 4:00pm

I'm so over RENT.

for me, the show only exists now to serve as a platform for new Bway performers (see: the amazing Antonique Smith or the delightful Mr. Christopher Hanke who is featured in "Cry-Baby")

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 4:01pm

Hey, watch what you say about Mamma Mia LOL

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 4:03pm

No, of course you're being realistic. I get that. You can make money, so why not? It's not something that I, personally, would be likely to do, but it is making realistic use of the system.

Willingness to pay and desire to go are correlated, yes. But the problem is that willingness to pay comes tacked with an ability to pay. And that is not always correlated with the desire part of it.

I don't really see re-selling tickets on eBay for thousands of dollars as generously motivated by the desire to keep them away from the scalpers or get them in the hands of people who really want them. I see it as a selfish move by which you can make some money. One that happens to be able to be passed off by the potential positives you can find in it. By "oh, well, at least professional scalpers don't have them," or "I'm selling them to real fans!" Those things are true; I'm not going to argue the realism there. And I don't know you; maybe you are some sort of rare, extremely kind, generous soul who really does think that way. But in general, I'm pretty inclined to doubt it. Most people are not that good natured. But whatever, it's not really worth arguing. Just my two cents. And frankly, if my only option to go were to buy a ticket from someone off of eBay for a thousand bucks, knowing what was going on, I don't think I'd be able to do it.

Updated On: 3/26/08 at 04:03 PM

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:02pm

I agree with your second paragraph. That's what I was getting at.

I wasn't implying that buying/reselling to "those that want it" would be generous. Obviously it would be for financial gain, and I have no shame in saying I might do that. What I was saying was that, to counter the argument of "you shouldn't buy more than you need so real fans can buy them," my point was real fans might not get them anyway. If someone's going to make a buck off of it, why not it be you?

I guess the most morally admirable thing to do would be to buy as many as you can, then sell them at face value to the people you find that would appreciate them the most, in an effort to keep them out of the hands of greedy scalpers. I guess the money's worth more to me than the opportunity to do that (who knows that the person you sell to won't turn around and sell for a profit anyway?). But I applaud others who feel differently.

Alright, I think we've reached an understanding/compromise, I think we can put this to bed. :)

[Mark_E]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:06pm

How soon do you reccon we will need to book for the week beginning August 18th? Don't wanna spent loads on ticks.

[misschung]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:17pm

Well, it gives you a whole extra summer to see it.

lol, I do know that. What I actually meant was for that final performance, but I wasn't clear at all.

Anyway, I wonder why that weekend isn't available for sale yet. I guess we'll wait and see.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:38pm

And the sad thing is the show and the theatre is in the worst shape it has been in--- ever. I just saw it and with a few exceptions of strengths that have been in the show for years, it is extremely weak and messy. Hopefully some of the replacements will beef up the show for the final weeks and Grief will make a visit to the Nederlander.

I had tickets to the June 1 matinee, and of course got screwed out of them. I also have two ADDITIONAL tickets.

SO if anyone wants tickets between June 2 and September 4th below face value, lemme know the date. I'll exchange them and sell them to you for below face value.

I'm done with this mess. There is no way I will plan on scheudling a trip to NY for the 5th to the last show. It's too difficult to play this game when you live out of town.

[Rentfan931]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:39pm

yay to Rent extending???

[ByTheSea920]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:55pm

I'm actually happy about it extending, because I might be able to get to New York this summer to see it now! I've never seen it on Broadway, and now maybe I'll get a chance to! I was SO disappointed when I thought it was closing before summer.

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:56pm

Let me guess Rentfan, you bought tickets to June 1st on ebay?

[foreverfoxfire]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 7:00pm

I had tickets for May 31st matinee, fourth to last show. I'm furious; some of you can relate.

Who can I call to complain about this/annoy? I've already hit Ticketmaster and the Box Office. Ticketmaster said there was nothing they can do; the box office was not helpful.

How are people invited for the invite-only performances? Do I have to sleep with a producer, or what?

The same people who gave us the lottery now give us this. A lot has changed in ten years.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 7:11pm

The impression I got was that after all the exchanges were, done whatever (if anything) is left would go on sale to the public.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 7:12pm

Okay... so the last performance is the 7th, yet Ticketmaster AND the box office are both selling tickets thru the 4th only?

Makes sense.

[tonio]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 7:22pm

If we think logically about the press release-the final few days are not on sale (won't be on sale) yet because they are offering a ticket exchange for everyone who bought tix for the original closing date. Those folks have to bring their tix to the box office with proof of purchase before a certain date (march something). I would think this process would take some time to sort out (the release gave a set date).

On top of this, the production would have held off a certain number of tix for alumni and family invites.

I do believe that "final" week was close to sold out-and it looks like there will only be one show on that sunday (6:30pm curtain?) so there has to be some space made on the final few days.

For those of you who are ticked that there was an extension-sorry, too bad, it happens. Those of who follow theatre closely or are connected to the biz always knew there would be at least one extension. It was true for Les Mis, Cats, Saigon...
I would guess that if sales remain really strong through the summer, they could extend again-through New years eve perhaps. I personally think anything beyond that would be A) pointless and B) crying wolf. Say what you want about the show...whether you love it or loathe it, but an extension means that many more weeks of employment for a whole host of people-how can anyone begrudge that? (although some will :) )