Some of Jujamcyn on Ticketmaster Now

[A1st]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 11:36am

So I was looking at Something Rotten tickets, and instead of the website directing me to Telecharge like usual it took me to Ticketmaster instead. I thought it was weird since all of the Jujamcyn theaters usually sell tickets through Telecharge. I did some more searching for some other shows, and found that Gentlemans Guide, Book of Mormon, and Jersey Boys are still on Telecharge, while Something Rotten, Kinky Boots and pre-sale for Crucible are now selling through Ticketmaster. Anyone know why?

Updated On: 11/6/15 at 11:36 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 11:49am

They are switching over.   They likely got a better deal from TM, meaning more money in their pockets.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 12:13pm

This was announced somewhere recently, but very subtly. It's not a common occurance for an entire venue company to switch their tickets services such as what is happening here. While the Ticketmaster charges are substantially steeper than Telecharge (I think?) it is indeed a better system. The Telecharge choose-your-own seat feature and their loading speeds are a total mess. 

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 12:21pm

GreasedLightning said: "While the Ticketmaster charges are substantially steeper than Telecharge (I think?) it is indeed a better system. The Telecharge choose-your-own seat feature and their loading speeds are a total mess."

I think the Ticketmaster system is horrible when trying to look across a broad range of dates. I might just be a moron, but there isn't a way to search for, say, the elusive $57 tickets to Hamilton from now until the end of time on Ticketmaster like there would be on Telecharge, right? As far as I can tell, I have to click on each individual performance to see what's available. I'm sure it's much better for limited run events like concerts, but I find it basically impossible to navigate for Broadway shows.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 12:23pm

I agree with you on performance-to-performance availability and range of date searches but the interface and site design when selecting tickets, in my opinion, is cleaner and faster. 

Updated On: 11/6/15 at 12:23 PM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 12:58pm

Before Telecharge's recent "redesign", Telecharge was better. But since Telecharge is now close to un-usable, I wish everyone would switch to Ticketmaster.

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 1:44pm

I went to Something Rotten on Wednesday and one of the box office staff members was learning to use the new system. I asked if he knew why they switched to Ticketmaster and he said no, but, a lot of shows will be doing so in the coming months. Not sure if he just meant Jujamcyn or all shows. I personally prefer Telecharge. While it IS a major pain, I still like it better than Ticketmaster.

[Jonwo]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 2:12pm

I'm surprised Jujamcyn didn't decide to opt for their own ticketing system but perhaps cost was a factor.

The Lyric currently uses Ticketmaster but I imagine once that contract expires, ATG will probably integrate it into their own ticketing system which they have for their UK theatres.

[Hellob]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 2:15pm

Oh great, I just got a $250 tc gc from my dad. I hope it's not worthless anytime soon 

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 2:19pm

^ Telecharge is not going anywhere. The shows using it, though, may change. 

I also much prefer buying from Telecharge, I just find their system intolerable. But whenever family or friends ask where they should buy their tickets, I always suggest Telecharge (over Broadway.com, etc.) 

[yfs]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 2:20pm

Since Shubert owns Telecharge, I doubt they'll be switching. 

 

[JPeterman]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 2:42pm

Customer service with Telecharge is light years better than Ticketmaster. The Telecharge agents have so much experience with Broadway, and they are so much more helpful if something goes wrong. The ticketmaster agents answer calls from everything from Broadway to Dallas Cowboys football tickets to rodeos in Idaho. They have no knowledge of the specific needs of the Broadway ticket buyer, and in my experience, they are in general much "colder" and apathetic. It is also very easy to switch dates for a show with Telecharge if your schedule changes and you can't use your tickets. Good luck with Ticketmaster, they won't help at all. And in my experience, they act like they could care less.

 

I recently drove 30 miles to a Ticketmster Josh Groban concert and got there to find out it was cancelled because he was sick. I didn't receive an email frm Ticketmaster before or after the cancellation, and it has been 2 weeks.  I called Ticketmaster and spent 10 minutes on hold to ask what was going on, and the agent said she did not have any information and did not know if my original tickets were valid for a make up date in the future.

 

I prefer Telecharge so strongly that when I am planning a trip to New York, I book tickets for any show I am interested in that is being sold through Telecharge as soon as the tickets are available. If a show is offering tickets through Ticketmaster, I am much more gun shy and selective ....  I only book  shows I know I really really want to see like American Psycho at the last minute when I know my schedule is rock solid confirmed. In the end, I end up purchasing tickets for about 25% of the shows I am interested in seeing with Ticketmaster, and a much higher percentage with Telecharge.

 

Also, Telecharge allows you to select any available seats from the map even if you are leaving a single seat on its own. With Ticketmaster, if you are trying to buy 2 or 3 or 4 tickets, and by doing that you leave a single seat available, the transaction won't go through.

 

I recently called in to Telecharge because I had China Doll tickets and my plans had changed and I was unable to use the tickets. I was also unable to get back to New York before the show closes ... they called the producers office and/or the box office and simply refunded my money ... no questions asked. Ticketmaster wouldn't even have offered to call the producers or box office.

 

Maybe Ticketmaster offers more exposure to tourists and the general public, and maybe Ticketmaster offered a better rate, as someone suggested.  But at least for me, as a person who has had a lot of experience with both companies by attending about 30-50 Broadway performances per year,  I am sure I will end up attending fewer Jujamcyn shows because of this change.

Updated On: 11/6/15 at 02:42 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 2:45pm

JPeterman said: "Customer service with Telecharge is light years better than Ticketmaster. The Telecharge agents have so much experience with Broadway, and they are so much more helpful if something goes wrong. The ticketmaster agents answer calls from everything from Broadway to Dallas Cowboys football tickets to rodeos in Idaho. They have no knowledge of the specific needs of the Broadway ticket buyer, and in my experience, they are in general much "colder" and apathetic."

 

 

There is a special Broadway line for Ticketmaster, which is listed as the phone number on any show website that uses it, which gets you into a Theater-specific queue, where they are way more knowledgable and helpful. I had them exchange tickets and be very cooperative.

 

If you just go on Ticketmaster.com and use the general Contact Us phone line, then yes, your experience will be as you described.

Updated On: 11/6/15 at 02:45 PM

[JPeterman]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 2:50pm

Yes, thank you for the suggestion, haterobics. I have used that line several times. I agree that some of the people on that special iine are a little better, but others definitely are not. I have gotten very mixed results with their special "Arts and Theater" line ... and they certainly have the same strict policies about no exchanges or refunds as the general line. But thank you, you are right that it is better than the general line, but in my opinion, not even close to Telecharge service.

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 2:54pm

I did have them switch dates for me, as well as upgrade to a better seat at the same show/date for the same price, though, so I don't know whether it is up to the show to let them do that, or just who you happen to get on the phone?

[JPeterman]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 2:58pm

Yes I agree it probably does matter who you get on the phone, it is a lot easier to say I am sorry I can't help you with that, than to say please hold while I spend 10 minutes on the phone tracking down the producer's office to help you switch dates, cancel your original tickets, and purchase new ones.

And maybe you are just more pleasant on the phone than I am, and better at convincing them to help you, lol :o)

[bfreak]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 3:00pm

Quick question. If ticketmaster has a strict no refunds policy how are so many people getting lucky at the cancellation line for Hamilton. I've seen people get like orchestra center row f for only $167 a piece. Just wondering because I think that's the only way I'll get a decent seat for a decent price before next summer. :)

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 3:03pm

Well, I do chat them up, ask how their day is going... heh.

 

bfreak said: "Quick question. If ticketmaster has a strict no refunds policy how are so many people getting lucky at the cancellation line for Hamilton."

 

Could be unclaimed house seats, group sales people with cancellations, producer's friends who rescheduled, etc. Ticketmaster's no refunds policy hardly matters for a show where not attending only means you can sell your ticket for 4X what you paid.

 

 

 

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 3:04pm

My family knows that I love the theatre. Whenever any of them visit town, and want to see a show, I'm their go to for suggestions and how to get tickets. I always urge them to use either Ticketmaster or Telecharge (depending of course on which show uses what) over something like Broadwayworld. I feel that Broadway.com is more of a ticket broker than official source, but that's me.

I find that I have been buying most of my theatre tickets as of late on my phone. I have to say though, I hate the new telecharge website when I'm on my computer. But, their mobile site and app are far worse. Ticketmaster's app on the other hand, very very good and gives me an "experience" very close to their full site.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 3:34pm

"I feel that Broadway.com is more of a ticket broker than official source, but that's me."

That's not just you, that's a fact.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 4:48pm

That is a fact, yes, but for many non-Broadway fans... Broadway.com is a first-stop spot for tickets. I was not relating services there rather than just stressing my preference for the Telecharge service. in general. 

[macnyc]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 5:29pm

I like the fact that you can resell tickets easily on Ticketmaster if you find you can't go to the show. Of course that helps only with a super hit like Hamilton. But at least it's an option.

 

I would like to see Ticketmaster institute a range-of-dates option, as previous posters have said, and also a "view from this seat" functionality, which I haven't seen on TM.

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 5:42pm

macnyc said: "I like the fact that you can resell tickets easily on Ticketmaster if you find you can't go to the show. Of course that helps only with a super hit like Hamilton."

 

Selling to make face value back isn't very hard for most events, as long as you buy good tickets to begin with. If you're buying cheap rear balcony sides, then sure, you'll have more challenge. But a good orchestra aisle is usually not too difficult to move.

[Patty3]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 10:35pm

Not a fan of Ticketmaster - so much easier to search by date range and price on Telecharge. I have a mistrust for TM in general because they always seem to be pushing their secondary ticket market. I also found 5th row seats once for a concert at Susquehanna Bank Center and also let several friends know that their were tickets available in the first several rows. We all purchased tickets and then a few weeks later received an e-mail from TM saying that those tickets were "inadvertantly" put on sale and that they could not fulfill my order and were offering me "comparable" seats in the last few rows. One of the ticket buyers wife worked for the Attorney General of NJ. He asked us to forward all of our correspondance to him. There was an investigation into TM involving Bruce Springsteen concerts at the time. TM didn't honor our seats. I refused the comparable tickets and decided to just stay home. A week before the concert great seats in the first few rows showed up again. This time I purchased 2nd row seats and held my breath until I picked up the seats at the venue. Several other people who got screwed the first time also got better seats. Since then I cringe every time I have to do business with "Ticketbastard".

Updated On: 11/6/15 at 10:35 PM

[Taryn]

Posted: 11/7/15 at 1:25am

neonlightsxo said: ""I feel that Broadway.com is more of a ticket broker than official source, but that's me."

That's not just you, that's a fact. "

Lol right?  Broadway.com is a broker playing entirely on public ignorance and the single most recognizable domain name for Broadway.