Lottery Ticket Prices These Days- Page 2

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 12:57am

^for me, my time is everything. But then again, Im an adult with many responsibilities. I certainly take advantage of discounts where I can, and if the price I can get is beyond my budget, oh, well, so I dont get to see it. Disappointing sometimes, but life goes on.

I might not see Moulin Rouge again (saw it 2x in Boston) as their prices seem beyond my willingness.

[leighmiserables]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 2:08am

If I may say — I do think there is a much more interesting discussion here (if no one minds a slight digression), and it is not regarding prices, but rather location of seats.

Multiple above posters mentioned how lottery seats used to be in better locations than they are now, which I have noted to be true (many, in fact, are partial view). So while there is a perfectly reasonable inflation of ticket prices (as dramamama helpfully calculated), I do think there is a fair argument regarding the location of seats.

The original purpose of lottery tickets was to give people good seats at cheaper prices. Now, it seems, that lotteries give people “bad” seats at cheaper prices (please note the quotation marks around bad — I do have found many lottery seats are perfectly fine views, if not very far away from the stage).

I agree that no one is entitled to Broadway, and one shouldn’t feel as though they “deserve” a good seat when they’re only paying $40 or so to begin with.

However, it is, I think, fair to point out that the intention of lotteries has shifted since their conception. Can’t really say I see it as a negative or positive, but it is true.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 6:47am

And what exactly is there to discuss? Things change and thats ok.

[magictodo123]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 8:22am

Remember the lottery prices for Springsteen on Broadway??

I wonder if anyone actually won and paid that price (I think it was $75?) 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 8:32am

^Completely agree.  The dynamic pricing has drastically changed my Broadway theater-going habits.  I used to advance purchase 70% of my Broadway shows because I found value in buying seats early. I’d happily pay full price if I could get an unobstructed orchestra seat from where I could see facial expressions. Most of these seats are now designated as “premium” accompanied by an $350 price tag.  This is just not a value equation that appeals to me and as a result my annual attendance has dropped from approximately 25 to 12-15 shows. 

I have to say though that when I was sitting in my $179 Orch F10 seat (that I researched and hunted months ahead of time) I would feel a little angry when a row of $20 dollar “winners” would walk past me and sit in a better seat. So it makes complete sense to me that producers are now changing the seat location of lottery seats. I would have been happy to pay $179 for that seat but not $350.

And I have not purchased Moulin Rouge tickets either.  

 

 

[rg7759]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 9:04am

What bothers me is the arrogance. I have a 'friend' who despite all my effort and putting money up front would rather see a show without me to avoid the hassle of lottery. I get that money isn't an issue for everyone. But to have no regard for the hours it takes sometimes for the discount. On the other hand. No one's entitled to a ticket that the hard working artists are essentially losing money on. But over $35 to stand in the back can feel insulting.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 9:10am

If it's insulting, don't buy them.  Someone else will and be happy about it.   

The only people LOSING money are the producers, never the actors, musicians or crew.  (I admit, I don't know about the directors/designers/writers - I'm sure it depends on if they get a percentage of the house.)

 

And I'm sorry if offends you that your friend doesn't want the hassle of the lottery/rush.  What 'regard' should they have for your time?   That they aren't willing to wait until you finally win?   

[Marianne2]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 9:11am

I will have to kind of disagree with the lottery seats in the past being better. Maybe if the theater had a lower stage, front row would be ideal and wonderful. But, I saw both Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Shrek from front row lottery and the stage was so high it wasn't a fantastic view for some things. This is the Palace and Broadway theaters I'm talking about.

[rg7759]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 9:30am

dramamama611 said: "If it's insulting, don't buy them. Someone else will and be happy about it.

The only people LOSING money are the producers, never the actors, musicians or crew. (I admit, I don't know about the directors/designers/writers - I'm sure it depends on if they get a percentage of the house.)



And I'm sorry if offends you that your friend doesn't want the hassle of the lottery/rush. What 'regard' should they have for your time? That they aren't willing to wait until you finally win? "

...and eventually the artists if a show were to close early. Too bad you can't see beyond your own opinion. Yes, I suppose in NY I shouldn't even expect a friend to value my time.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 9:58am

Value your time?  I don't understand what you are trying to say - and I want to, really.   

 

A show that offers discounts is doing so because they aren't selling enough tix at regular price - so them offering discounts in any form isn't adding to their problem.

[rg7759]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 10:03am

You think Gary and king lear being on tdf since day one is good news?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 12:20pm

No...of course not: but they're not doing poorly BECAUSE it is discounting, it is discounting because theyre selling poorly.   The discounts don't cause a show to close, they are attempt at filling seats at some cost, so they can continue TO run and maybe give producers their investment back.

[LuPita2]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 1:42pm

But over $35 to stand in the back can feel insulting.

To a Broadway show. The best theater district in the country. Some of the best performers of our lifetime.

It.Can.Feel.Insulting.

Wow, that statement and the entitlement that goes with it just made my head explode. Gross. 

[rg7759]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 1:57pm

You can choose to read into this however you want. It's not commentary on how great the performers are. It's ridicule, in the case of hadestown, that standing is $3 less than rush for example. Or at mockingbird standing is more expensive than rush seats.

[Wick3]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 2:44pm

Back when I was in my early 20s I thought the point of rush/lottery in great seats is so younger folks can see amazing theater in great seats so that someday, when they're older and hopefully make more $$$, they'd pay regular orchestra prices. 

Now that I'm in my 30s, I still try to buy rush/partial-view/SRO tickets first. Why? I just want to be in the room where it happens to see the show. If I absolutely loved the show while sitting in the worst seat in the theater, then I will definitely see the show again and buy full price for the seat where I want to sit. (i.e. For Hedwig, I've purchased front row orch tickets; for DEH bought tix in front row mezz, etc.)  I'll admit it's very rare for me to pay full price orchestra seats but I do pay if and only if I love the show.

I agree that it's up to the producers to determine where rush seats will be and I'm ok with that. I'm just glad that the opportunity is there to do rush/sro. 

Hamilton can easily sell those front two rows lottery seats at $849 apiece yet the producers still choose to set those 40 seats up for the $10 lottery (that's $33,960 compared to $400 each performance!) 

[brdway411]

Posted: 5/17/19 at 1:14am

TDF prices just went up again. Not complaining. Back in the day when I joined ticket prices were around $20 for musicals and $12 to $15 for plays and you had to mail in your request. Used to do the lotto, sro, rush thing a lot. Now it's just as easy to wait for TDF, the price difference isn't that great anymore and with TDF I know I will have a full view seat.

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/17/19 at 5:56pm

rg7759 said: "But over $35 to stand in the back can feel insulting."

For a hit show, you're paying $35 to breathe down the neck of someone who paid 6X more than you did for nearly the same view. It's all how you frame it...