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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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More Broadway - What do you expect to pay?
Someone was posting on facebook about how she wants to see Newsies but can't believe that $93 per ticket is being promoted as a "deal".
Her friends are chiming in agreeing. I said the show was well worth it. I saw it at the papermill and spent less, but DH spent a fortune getting us great seats as a birthday gift.
Anyway, I know we all look for deals, and I have seen some shows for $50-60 bucks (and of course $20 HipTix), but I don't think $100 is so out of line for a show that has a limited run. I'm sure if it were running longer, eventually you'd see some discounts, but it's only a 12 week run.
What do you expect to pay? Is $100 out of line?
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Posted 2/7/12 11:37 AM  |
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AngnShaun
Sisters
Member since 1/10 21015 total posts
Name:
Ang
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Re: More Broadway - What do you expect to pay?
For a limited engagement show like Newsies i would expect to pay that... were paying more actually $122 for the end of April.
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| Posted 2/7/12 11:39 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: More Broadway - What do you expect to pay?
Posted by AngnShaun
For a limited engagement show like Newsies i would expect to pay that... were paying more actually $122 for the end of April.
I think DH spent over $150 on 4th row seats for my birthday. I asked for good seats to newsies for my 30th birthday.
I was trying to explain it's a limited run. They're acting as though it's an insane amount to be asked to pay. I'm just thinking, do they have any idea how many people have to get paid for that one show?
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| Posted 2/7/12 11:43 AM |
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PearlJamChick
No one sings like you anymore.
Member since 7/10 9264 total posts
Name:
Petticoated Swashbuckler
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Re: More Broadway - What do you expect to pay?
Like I said in one of the other Broadway threads, I go to pretty much everything for free...I can't remember the last time I paid for a show.
That being said, when I leave a show, I always think to myself "would I have been annoyed if I paid top dollar for my seats?" ('top dollar' meaning ~$100, not premium seats which are mad  ) and I would say that a good portion of the time, yes, I do feel that $100 is an acceptable price. With many shows, though, you can get cheaper seats within the theater, or discounted seats in the Orchestra...there are ways to get less expensive seats.
Limited runs are always a different story. There is no need to offer discounts because demand is greater than supply.
Theatre ticket prices help pay a LOT of people's salaries...not just the actors. I think a lot of people forget that.
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| Posted 2/7/12 12:15 PM |
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Jax430
Hi!
Member since 5/05 18919 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: More Broadway - What do you expect to pay?
I expect to pay about $120 (before fees) for full-priced tix, but usually aim to find discounts. Broadway is expensive, but I remember when $100 was expensive for top price. It keeps going up!
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| Posted 2/7/12 12:38 PM |
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Eireann
Two ladies and a gentleman!
Member since 5/05 12165 total posts
Name:
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Re: More Broadway - What do you expect to pay?
I expect to pay between $100 and $125 typically; anything less than that is a score. 99% of the time I sit in the orchestra, so it's never going to be cheap. We don't treat ourselves extravagantly in any other realm really, so we don't mind.
My DH and I always ask ourselves, "Did we get $100 worth (or $5 or $500 or whatever the particular item costs) of enjoyment out of that?" When it comes to Broadway shows, our answer is almost always yes.
However one HUGE exception is Lion King tickets. They cost us $150 each and I wanted to die...and NO we definitely did NOT get $150 worth of enjoyment out of it, but we took our kids so I suppose they were worth it for that reason only. We are paying a similar price for Book of Mormon, but I am cool with that.
Oh, speaking of Book of Mormon...I accidentally purchased two premium seats and I actually became short of breath and light-headed when I scrolled down and saw that I had spent $850!!!!!  Thankfully, the lady on Broadway.com had mercy on me and refunded me.  I can't imagine any show being worth $425 unless you could afford to set $425 on fire.
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| Posted 2/7/12 12:41 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: More Broadway - What do you expect to pay?
I would have freaked out over the $850. I just can't afford that!
We have usually been getting very cheap seats in order to see more shows, that's been our philosophy, but after some bad experiences in the rear mezzanine lately I told DH I will NOT sit there again.
From kids RUNNING down the aisles during the second act of How to Succeed to be first in line for Dan Radcliffe's autograph to the guy behind me who took not one by two phone calls during the show, to the lady loudly proclaiming about Billy Elliott "But we know he got in", I have HAD it with the rude and uneducated people back there.
ETA The same genius at Billy Elliott spend the better part of the first act asking her DH (phone call guy) if they were "real people" on the stage and asking him what was going on and what they were singing about. "I know, but is it real people, or is it a movie"
Message edited 2/7/2012 12:47:49 PM.
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| Posted 2/7/12 12:46 PM |
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PearlJamChick
No one sings like you anymore.
Member since 7/10 9264 total posts
Name:
Petticoated Swashbuckler
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Re: More Broadway - What do you expect to pay?
Posted by JenniferEver
I would have freaked out over the $850. I just can't afford that!
We have usually been getting very cheap seats in order to see more shows, that's been our philosophy, but after some bad experiences in the rear mezzanine lately I told DH I will NOT sit there again.
From kids RUNNING down the aisles during the second act of How to Succeed to be first in line for Dan Radcliffe's autograph to the guy behind me who took not one by two phone calls during the show, to the lady loudly proclaiming about Billy Elliott "But we know he got in", I have HAD it with the rude and uneducated people back there.
ETA The same genius at Billy Elliott spend the better part of the first act asking her DH (phone call guy) if they were "real people" on the stage and asking him what was going on and what they were singing about. "I know, but is it real people, or is it a movie"
I've seen plenty of rudeness in all sections of the theater...I do see your point in not wanting to sit in the rear mezz but I don't think it's fair to classify people back there as 'uneducated'.
The ushers are there for a reason...if someone's answering their phone or texting, you should bring it to their attention and they'll take care of the situation.
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| Posted 2/7/12 12:59 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: More Broadway - What do you expect to pay?
Posted by PearlJamChick
Posted by JenniferEver
I would have freaked out over the $850. I just can't afford that!
We have usually been getting very cheap seats in order to see more shows, that's been our philosophy, but after some bad experiences in the rear mezzanine lately I told DH I will NOT sit there again.
From kids RUNNING down the aisles during the second act of How to Succeed to be first in line for Dan Radcliffe's autograph to the guy behind me who took not one by two phone calls during the show, to the lady loudly proclaiming about Billy Elliott "But we know he got in", I have HAD it with the rude and uneducated people back there.
ETA The same genius at Billy Elliott spend the better part of the first act asking her DH (phone call guy) if they were "real people" on the stage and asking him what was going on and what they were singing about. "I know, but is it real people, or is it a movie"
I've seen plenty of rudeness in all sections of the theater...I do see your point in not wanting to sit in the rear mezz but I don't think it's fair to classify people back there as 'uneducated'.
The ushers are there for a reason...if someone's answering their phone or texting, you should bring it to their attention and they'll take care of the situation.
I've seen it far worse in the back, and the specific people who are doing these things I would definitely classify them as uneducated. Another problem with sitting way in the back is that in some houses, you're so far from where the ushers are that they don't know what's going on.
I think people in the rear mezz are far more likely to be people who grabbed tickets last minute at TKTS or through some other deal, could be a large school group, etc. They're more likely to be disruptive than the people who have spent over $100 on their seats and picked a show they wanted to see in advance. Just my observation after attending many, many shows.
As someone who has worked house for shows, there definitely are rude morons everywhere. I filled in as an usher for a friend who was running house and I had to keep telling the same people that no, they could not put their feet on the stage, and no they could not move set pieces to get a better view.
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| Posted 2/7/12 2:42 PM |
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LINewbie
Tigger the the Rescue!
Member since 8/08 5647 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: More Broadway - What do you expect to pay?
I think around $100 is a fair price. I too saw Newsies at Papermill and def. think it is worth the price. We are going for my birthday and hopefully will be able to go again before it leaves Broadway.
We almost always use TKTS so we rarely pay full price.
DH bought book of Mormon tickets for him and his parents for Christmas. I almost choked when I saw the price. Waaaaay overpriced. I hope it is worth the cost.  Wouldn't be for me!
Message edited 2/8/2012 11:39:32 AM.
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| Posted 2/8/12 11:38 AM |
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CheSaraSara
LIF Infant
Member since 9/11 269 total posts
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Re: More Broadway - What do you expect to pay?
I do understand that $100 really isnt that expensive in the Broadway realm...but I have to say that I am a little disappointed that there arent any less expensive seats.
My sister & I love Newsies...we wore out our VHS as kids & really wanted to see the Broadway production. Unfortunately, $100/ticket is honestly out of our budget right now. So we will not be seeing it. Hopefully it does well & they extend the run & prices come down.
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| Posted 2/8/12 12:09 PM |
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PearlJamChick
No one sings like you anymore.
Member since 7/10 9264 total posts
Name:
Petticoated Swashbuckler
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Re: More Broadway - What do you expect to pay?
Posted by JenniferEver
Posted by PearlJamChick
Posted by JenniferEver
I would have freaked out over the $850. I just can't afford that!
We have usually been getting very cheap seats in order to see more shows, that's been our philosophy, but after some bad experiences in the rear mezzanine lately I told DH I will NOT sit there again.
From kids RUNNING down the aisles during the second act of How to Succeed to be first in line for Dan Radcliffe's autograph to the guy behind me who took not one by two phone calls during the show, to the lady loudly proclaiming about Billy Elliott "But we know he got in", I have HAD it with the rude and uneducated people back there.
ETA The same genius at Billy Elliott spend the better part of the first act asking her DH (phone call guy) if they were "real people" on the stage and asking him what was going on and what they were singing about. "I know, but is it real people, or is it a movie"
I've seen plenty of rudeness in all sections of the theater...I do see your point in not wanting to sit in the rear mezz but I don't think it's fair to classify people back there as 'uneducated'.
The ushers are there for a reason...if someone's answering their phone or texting, you should bring it to their attention and they'll take care of the situation.
I've seen it far worse in the back, and the specific people who are doing these things I would definitely classify them as uneducated. Another problem with sitting way in the back is that in some houses, you're so far from where the ushers are that they don't know what's going on.
I think people in the rear mezz are far more likely to be people who grabbed tickets last minute at TKTS or through some other deal, could be a large school group, etc. They're more likely to be disruptive than the people who have spent over $100 on their seats and picked a show they wanted to see in advance. Just my observation after attending many, many shows.
As someone who has worked house for shows, there definitely are rude morons everywhere. I filled in as an usher for a friend who was running house and I had to keep telling the same people that no, they could not put their feet on the stage, and no they could not move set pieces to get a better view.
I'm going to clarify a few things that you said, because I don't want people to be misled by your statements and for that to affect their decisions about how they purchase their tickets.
I've worked in Broadway for ten years; specifically on the side of ticket sales for seven of those years, and in the past year have become more involved on the group sales side of things.
First off - for the most part, TKTS offers locations other than rear mezz; in fact, they offer rear mezz less frequently than every other section.
Additionally, generalizing that people in the rear mezz bought tickets last minute or through another deal doesn't mean that they're going to act inappropriately. Most discounts do not apply to rear mezz.
Large school groups are often too large to be placed in rear mezz seats. Most groups do opt for orchestra seats, and many large groups opt for matinee performances.
Ushers are there to help the patrons. If you are in a location that might not be within the sightlines of an usher, get up and tell them what's going on. Yes, that might be disruptive to your show-going experience but you're already being interrupted by people who are acting obnoxiously. I've seen my share of poor behavior in the theatre and it happens in every section, by all sorts of different people. Luckily though, it is a rare occurance. 99% of people attending shows act normal! 
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| Posted 2/8/12 1:01 PM |
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