Greedy Producers

[Pantelis the Great]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 3:41pm

This is the time of year, just before the Tonys, that several of the producers, even ones that are doing well at the box office, get greedy. Discounts go from 50% down to 30%, 20%, even zero. In addition, the in person rush tickets and some digital drawings disappear. Don’t get me wrong. It’s their prerogative! But, some of the producers don’t respect those of us that get up real early to travel to their “rush” line. At the minimum, there should be signs on their outer doors stating that there weren’t any rush tickets that day and if true, the remainder of the run. NONE OF US should be subjected to getting up a lot earlier than normal, travelling to Broadway and after waiting hours on line, to be told by a theater staff person that arrived at 9:30am, that there is no more rush.

That happened to me this morning, when I decided to go to the “Three Tall Women” rush line. Unfortunately, I just joined broadwayworld.com, (guess why) and I didn’t have the information available herein on the rush line. Yes, after spending several hours traveling and waiting on line, someone showed up about 9:30am and told us that there weren’t going to be anymore rush tickets for the show.

I’d like a producer, any producer, to disagree with me or debate me. Also, the websights of the shows should be revised to reflect any new rush policy. In my case it wasn’t. In addition, the playbill Broadwayrush websight that gives comprehensive rush information about every show that has a rush policy, should be revised to reflect new rush policies. In my case again, it wasn’t.

Do I appear to be p?s$ed$@f? Yes, I am.

[WayTooBroadway]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 3:46pm

Entitled much? The THREE TALL WOMEN "websight" doesn't indicate rush. BWW has already mentioned no rush on the boards. Do you need someone to personally call you and say "do not rush" when your alarm went off this morning? Be thankful someone told you at 9:30am, not at 10am when the box office opened.

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 4:09pm

Pantelis the Great said: "Yes, after spending several hours traveling and waiting on line, someone showed up about 9:30am and told us that there weren’t going to be anymore rush tickets for the show."

Technically, tonight's show is completely sold out. So, if that is the case, even if they were still having a rush line, they wouldn't necessarily have any tickets available, since every site mentions that rush is dependent on availability.

[Pantelis the Great]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 5:14pm

You are all missing the point. I mentioned that I had just joined BWW a few minutes before I posted. I was looking for a place to vent my frustration not because I didn’t get a rush ticket, but because there was no common curtesy to have signs on their doors like other shows have had.

And, while I wasn’t familiar with the content of the entire website, I found the postings which include several that had issues with the TTW rush. Unfortunately, it was too late for me to take advantage of their content.

Yes, I know that the websites of the shows don’t normally discuss rush. But, what a great place to inform the theater patrons. When I and all my friends that go to theater want “rush” information, we go to playbill’s broadway rush site. Is to much to expect the shows to notify the site?

If you disagree with me on these issues and taking into account your hostile responses, you must work in the theater industry.

[bfreak]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 5:22pm

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 5:23pm

It does suck that they haven't announced that they cancelled their rush. The least they could do is take it off of Telecharge or put a sign in the window of the box office.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 5:24pm

Or maybe you're just wrong.

Broadway isn't a charitable organisation.  The whole idea of discounting works on the notion of mutual benefit.  There is no benefit for a sold-out show to discount.  The producers owe it to their investors (who will support Broadway's future) to earn the most money they can.

Why assume a show will have rush tickets?  You do give the impression of being rather entitled.

 

[JBC3]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 5:26pm

The world does not revolve around your (OP) needs. Get used to it. Updated On: 5/17/18 at 05:26 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 5:33pm

Pantelis the Great said: "When I and all my friends that go to theater want “rush” information, we go to playbill’s broadway rush site. Is to much to expect the shows to notify the site?"

Depends. If they notified the sites to post it there in the first place, then yes. If the sites heard about the policy and posted it on their own, then it is their responsibility to ensure it is updated.

[WayTooBroadway]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 5:35pm

I don't work in the industry. The fact that you're taking time to vent your frustration, maybe you could've taken extra time BEFORE rushing to inform yourself on what the situation was. You already know it's that time of the year. Also, email Playbill and/or Telecharge about the misinformation.

Common "curtesy" does not equally relate to greedy producers. I would be frustrated, too. But don’t get me wrong. It’s their prerogative!  

Updated On: 5/17/18 at 05:35 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 5:39pm

GeorgeandDot said: "It does suck that they haven't announced that they cancelled their rush."

Did they ever announce they started their rush?

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 5:45pm

Pantelis the Great said: "This is the time of year, just before the Tonys, that several of the producers, even ones that are doing well at the box office, get greedy. Discounts go from 50% down to 30%, 20%, even zero. In addition, the in person rush tickets and some digital drawings disappear. Don’t get me wrong. It’s their prerogative! But, some of the producers don’t respect those of us that get up real early to travel to their “rush” line. At the minimum, there should be signs on their outer doors stating that there weren’t any rush tickets that day and if true, the remainder of the run. NONE OF US should be subjected to getting up a lot earlier than normal, travelling to Broadway and after waiting hours on line, to be told by a theater staff person that arrived at 9:30am, that there is no more rush.

That happened to me this morning, when I decided to go to the “Three Tall Women” rush line. Unfortunately, I just joined broadwayworld.com, (guess why) and I didn’t have the information available herein on the rush line. Yes, after spending several hours traveling and waiting on line, someone showed up about 9:30am and told us that there weren’t going to be anymore rush tickets for the show.

I’d like a producer, any producer, to disagree with me or debate me. Also, the websights of the shows should be revised to reflect any new rush policy. In my case it wasn’t. In addition, the playbill Broadwayrush websight that gives comprehensive rush information about every show that has a rush policy, should be revised to reflect new rush policies. In my case again, it wasn’t.

Do I appear to be p?s$ed$@f? Yes, I am. "

Welcome to Broadway World!  Unfortunately, now all the usual <<edited by BWW staff>> are going to come flying out of the woodwork to rip you a new one. Oh wait. I see it is already happening. Every time someone on here dares to complain in any way about Broadway pricing, they pounce, throwing around words like "entitled". It is a song they sing often, and loudly. There must be a lot of producers on here. Or just rich people. Good for them that they can afford to pay these terrorist full priced ticket prices. Those of us mere mortals who depend on rush and various discounts deserve nothing and should be happy simply playing in the mud outside the theatre.

Updated On: 5/17/18 at 05:45 PM

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 6:00pm

I think even if you're sure a show still is doing a rush it's a good idea to look online to see how many tickets are still on sale same day before heading out. And if you're not sure if there's still a rush, you can always call the box office the day before and ask. 

I get how it was confusing with Three Tall Women; shows issue press releases announcing rush policies, not press releases announcing they've stopped offering rush tickets. This morning I almost went to the Three Tall Women box office to ask about rush tickets because I was already in the area and only didn't because the idea occurred to me after I had swiped my MTA card. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 6:00pm

Pantelis the Great said: "You are all missing the point. I mentioned that I had just joined BWW a few minutes before I posted. I was looking for a place to vent my frustration not because I didn’t get a rush ticket, but because there was no common curtesy to have signs on their doors like other shows have had.

And, while I wasn’t familiar with the content of the entire website, I found the postings which include several that had issues with the TTW rush. Unfortunately, it was too late for me to take advantage of their content.

Yes, I know that the websites of the shows don’t normally discuss rush. But, what a great place to inform the theater patrons. When I and all my friends that go to theater want “rush” information, we go to playbill’s broadway rush site. Is to much to expect the shows to notify the site?

If you disagree with me on these issues and taking into account your hostile responses, you must work in the theater industry.


Let me guess, you're a millennial?

 

 

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 6:05pm

Sorry to hear about your frustrating experience. What show did you end up buying for tonight?

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 6:05pm

haterobics said: "GeorgeandDot said: "It does suck that they haven't announced that they cancelled their rush."

Did they ever announce they started their rush?"

Yes.  That's why I'm kind of siding with the OP.  Last time I checked, Telecharge even says that they have $40 rush tickets.  It would just be courteous to let people know that they no longer offer it.

 

[Huss417]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 6:06pm

@ Matt Rogers.

As someone who has been in two terrorist attacks I find the use of the word in your post offensive.

"Good for them that they can afford to pay these terrorist full priced ticket prices."

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 6:08pm

Huss417 said: "@ Matt Rogers.

As someone who has been in two terrorist attacks I find the use of the word in your post offensive.

"Good for them that they can affordto pay these terrorist full priced ticket prices.""

 

OMFG

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 6:11pm

Huss417 said: "@ Matt Rogers.

As someone who has been in two terrorist attacks I find the use of the word in your post offensive.

"Good for them that they can affordto pay these terrorist full priced ticket prices.""

Hurray. The word police have arrived. You know exactly what I meant but if you prefer to clutch your pearls and be offended, then so be it.

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 6:44pm

GeorgeandDot said: "haterobics said: "Did they ever announce they started their rush?"

Yes. That's why I'm kind of siding with the OP. Last time I checked, Telecharge even says that they have $40 rush tickets. It would just be courteous to let people know that they no longer offer it."

OK, but I searched for "Three Tall Women Announce Rush Policy" and Google came up with nothing, and didn't see it mentioned on the show site or Telecharge. So, those are all the official channels...

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 6:48pm

You know, I don’t get this board. Bootlegs are frowned on because theatre is supposed to be experienced live.

“Okay, but I can’t afford theatre tickets,” says the bootleg fan.

“There’s rush and lottery and all sorts of discounts you can get!” BWW snaps.

So when someone goes to get a rush ticket to a show they want to see and expresses disappointment that the show in question didn’t have a sign on the door or some sort of way to tell people that they weren’t providing rush anymore, this board jumps down the OP’s throat and screeches about how the OP is entitled for wanting to rush the show in the first place. I love how the goalposts are constantly being moved around here.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 6:55pm

Elfuhbuh said: "You know, I don’t get this board. Bootlegs are frowned on because theatre is supposed to be experienced live.

“Okay, but I can’t afford theatre tickets,” says the bootleg fan.

“There’s rush and lottery and all sorts of discounts you can get!” BWW snaps.

So when someone goes to get a rush ticket to a show they want to see and expresses disappointment that the show in question didn’t have a sign on the door or some sort of way to tell people that they weren’t providing rush anymore, this board jumps down the OP’s throat and screeches about how the OP is entitled for wanting to rush the show in the first place. I love how the goalposts are constantly being moved around here. "

^

^

Thid. Exactly this. Especially when the original poster is a new member. If I was immediately met with snark and insults as OP was met with, I'd have been out of here day one. Now I'm used to it, not that it makes that okay.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 6:55pm

Telecharge had their rush policy listed a week or two ago.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 7:12pm

If you want to complain about Three Tall Women's rush policy, fine, I'm with you. They've been wishy washy about whether they will or won't have rush throughout the run and I even commented in that rush thread several weeks ago that if they are not committed to it, they should just cancel it and stop jerking people around. But your first paragraph and the loooong whiny rant about producers in general is uncalled for just because one show ticked you off. There's little evidence of some coordinated widespread effort to eliminate rush tickets in general or reduce discounts on TKTS. I just spent the past 2 weeks in New York and successfully rushed 6 different shows.And stop whining about getting up early. The producers didn't set your alarm clock and you're potentially getting a $35-40 ticket sitting next to someone who paid $169. So you have to work for it a little. Boo hoo.

And you sure found this board quickly enough when you wanted to complain but couldn't find it 5 or 6 hours sooner to check if there was information from people on the current status of rush for that show? Sorry dude, I'm not buying that.

In any event, if you want to complain about the rush for that show, fine. But your rant about producers in general and how incredibly unfair it is and how you had to get up soooo early, just makes you sound like a tool. Welcome to BroadwayWorld!

[JBC3]

Posted: 5/17/18 at 9:40pm

Matt Rogers said: "Elfuhbuh said: "You know, I don’t get this board. Bootlegs are frowned on because theatre is supposed to be experienced live.

“Okay, but I can’t afford theatre tickets,” says the bootleg fan.

“There’s rush and lottery and all sorts of discounts you can get!” BWW snaps.

So when someone goes to get a rush ticket to a show they want to see and expresses disappointment that the show in question didn’t have a sign on the door or some sort of way to tell people that they weren’t providing rush anymore, this board jumps down the OP’s throat and screeches about how the OP is entitled for wanting to rush the show in the first place. I love how the goalposts are constantly being moved around here. "

^

^

Thid. Exactly this. Especially when the original poster is a new member. If I was immediately met with snark and insults as OP was met with, I'd have been out of here day one. Now I'm used to it, not that it makes that okay."

The OP tone was entitled, whiny, and judgmental about the intention of the producers as if they were perpetuating a fraud. A more balanced message probably would have received a different response.