Tickets services - memberships

[outsideofadog]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 10:44am

I am interested in hearing the experiences of anyone who has been a member of any of the NYC services (Audience Extras, Play-by-Play, etc)and was not allowed to renew membership. This does not pertain to qualifying for membership in any organization (must be member of a union, theater professional, etc.)

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 11:03am

I don't understand what you mean by "was not allowed to renew membership."

Here are some threads about the papering services if that's what you're asking.
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1076195
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1031011
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1066902

[outsideofadog]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 11:15am

These services terminate membership when the rules are not complied with (in the assessment of the service). I am interested in learning if this is common or extremely rare. I see from another thread that one of the services has 'suspended' a member for one day as punishment for some violation.

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 12:00pm

Most of the rules are pretty easy for them to figure out. Like if you don't show up and use your tickets, you can be terminated. If you resell them, you can be terminated, etc. All of which are pretty easy for them to find out (If you have row P, seat 4 and 6, and those appear on StubHub, etc.). I don't know of any vague rules that would be a matter of opinion.

That said, they are also very easy to deal with as far as canceling a reservation if you can't make it, etc., so that doesn't happen.

[TheaterBoy7777]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:04pm

Looking at a few of the sites it seems they also generally revoke memberships due to..Not staying for the whole show, Negatively discussing show at venue or
sharing which shows are available publicly online.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:16pm

To the OP, did you do any of those things mentioned in order to get revoked? Because if you didn't, you can certainly "appeal" the decision.

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:22pm

Not staying? That seems a bit extreme. Why should one stay if one is not enjoying oneself? (Let me preface this by saying I've NEVER left, but I can see reasons why one would leave.)

Updated On: 10/9/14 at 02:22 PM

[Mr. Musical]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:24pm

It's because these services are designed to fill seats. It defeats the purpose if the seat filler leaves in the middle.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:25pm

Because the shows give the tickets to these organizations to fill the seats for that performance. And if the person seeing the show doesn't do that, it's a violation of the purpose of the ticketing service. It's a trade off, really. You can see the show for only $4 or so, but you have to stay until the end, regardless of if you like it or not, to keep that seat filled.

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:26pm

I guess I see it as if someone really can't stay because the show is that bad, then they are entitled to leave at intermission. I've never done it, mostly because I don't yet belong to an organization. I just feel I can be little of enough nuisance if I don't enjoy a show (the worst I'll do is close my eyes and begin to doze off) that I should stay.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:27pm

It's because these services are designed to fill seats. It defeats the purpose if the seat filler leaves in the middle.

^ This. Papering is not a service to let you see shows for free. It is a service to producers so they can fill their houses (to build word of mouth, impress a critic or VIP audience member coming to a particular performance, whatever).

Updated On: 10/9/14 at 02:27 PM

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:29pm

I have refrained from joining to preserve my right to leave. Period.

I'd rather pay an extra 20-30 bucks more per ticket and have the freedom to leave if I so choose. (I almost did a couple times. I might tonight...)

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:30pm

I see what you mean dreaming, but when you agree to the terms and conditions of membership, one of the BIGGEST ones is that you fill that seat for the entire show. There's a whole list of reasons why a show might want/need seats filled for a particular performance, not just to "fill" them.

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:32pm

Well then I reserve the right to say that's more than I can promise. At least I won't commit to something knowing there is a possibility I'll leave if I don't like something. (Or find it offensive-see to me, that's really justifiable. I've yet to see anything that did that, but if that happened, I might leave.)

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:35pm

Oh, absolutely! But most people don't think about that and just want "free" tickets to things and don't realize that when they leave, it is actually often noticed and reported.

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:39pm

At least I'm honest enough to admit that I really want my freedom to come and go as I please.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:40pm

LOL. You make it sound like a prison sentence!

The only show I ever REALLY wanted to leave was WALMARTOPIA, but I stayed because I wanted to keep my membership. But God, I would have given anything to get the hell out of there.

[Pootie2]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 2:44pm

That sort of rule makes sense for those memberships, then, given such cheap ticket prices. Learn something new every day.

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 3:46pm

In some cases, the shows I've seen of late have been like prison sentences. I sure didn't want to be there. (And the show I'm seeing tonight looks like a piece of crap, too.)

[outsideofadog]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 4:27pm

Thank you. No, I did not but they bar you in some cases just because you've voiced a spirited disagreement with policies. Obviously if you sign on for the rules they've set out, you have to abide, but there should be room for discussion and certainly the service should not treat it's members like errant children and impose "punishment". They are businesses after all, and in the theater, filling seats is not a particularly idealistic role. In any event, it's interesting to hear how people fear. They should know that many of these services have a policy that they will return your unused funds should they refuse to let you rejoin, or should you just decide not to renew. However if you don't ask for the money back, some of them at least will not refund it to you on their own.

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 5:04pm

"Obviously if you sign on for the rules they've set out, you have to abide, but..."

There's really no way to finish this sentence in a way in which you're going to win.

[outsideofadog]

Posted: 10/9/14 at 5:09pm

Perhaps I was not clear. If you agree to the rules, you must abide by them and if you are sanctioned for breaking them, there is no reason to complain. However, being sanctioned for subjective reasons, is not really okay, in my view.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 9:42am

I don't think anyone is sanctioned for subjective reasons. Unless you've heard otherwise?

[broadfan327]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 10:36am

To the OP, unless you are more specific about what the problem was, I don't think you are going to get much sympathy. I belong to one of the services, and they have specific rules you are meant to follow, like getting the tickets at a certain time, not leaving the show early, not talking out loud that you received comp tickets, not displaying your free tickets so others can see them, etc. I don't think there are any gray areas in the above rules, but you are probably talking about another rule. Did you cancel too many times, or not show up for the tickets? However, I can't imagine that there are theater police enforcing these rules and reporting you once you are at the show.

Edit: I reread the thread, any private organziation can exclude members from renewing if they want the member. They may feel you are more a hassle to them than you are worth to them if there is going to be disagreements. I had money left over in one service and I never got the money back even after I told them about it when I did not renew. Updated On: 10/10/14 at 10:36 AM

[outsideofadog]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 10:53am

I am not looking for sympathy at all; I had a dismal, and perhaps unusual, experience. I was though interested in seeing how often this happened since many people walk away from these services (by dropping subscriptions or not being allowed to renew) leaving their little pots of money that ultimately add up to a bigger pot for the service, never knowing they can ask to have that money returned. Perhaps this thread has exhausted it's value. I appreciate everyone's response.