Hadestown prices- Page 3

[Rainah]

Posted: 10/2/19 at 3:43pm

I think there's something a bit broken when many shows HAVE to charge high prices just to make the economics work. 

Most shows do not return their investment. Simply put, a show can't survive on $40 tickets. We talk about an average ticket price of $100 as a benchmark for decently healthy shows.

At the same time, capitalization costs seem to be drifting upwards, just as the average ticket price across broadway is drifting upwards. Sometimes to the point of scratching my head and wondering what on earth they spent the money on.

And yet it's story focused, minimalist shows that seem to be doing well right now. Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Hadestown... these are not expensive shows to run. They have no big stars, small casts, and rely on strong story, music, and directing choices to wow the audience.

I do love spectacle, and I would be sad if there were no shows with spectacle out there. But it rather feels like the people in the drivers seats have lost sight of what actually works on broadway.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 10/2/19 at 3:58pm

dwwst12 said: "Again, I don't disagree with you about the "Hottest Ticket" issue. But agree to disagree on how affordable theater is around the country to the average American, and how much it's not even on their radar as a result.

Would you say $160 is a lot for a family of four to see Peter Pan? How many American families are going to shell out for that? I use this as an example because here in Pittsburgh, we recently had the good fortune to have Jenn Colella star in Peter Pan in the CLO Summer Series. It's obviously a family-oriented show, and that's how it was marketed. It was performed at the lovely but cavernous Benedum Center, where 90% of the tours perform. Tickets in the orchestra -- for basically a 90 minute kids show -- were $70-$90. My kids are 3 and 6, and the youngest could theoretically still have a meltdown during the show, so I'm not dropping $300 for the four of us to sit close. The $40 seats we bought were so far away that, if placed in a Broadway theater, would be approximately In The Apartment Building Two Doors Down.

Not-so-shockingly, there were a crap ton of empty seats, and we were able to move down to where we could *kinda* see Jenn's facial features.

I get that maybe this is just what things cost, and that's life, and people just won't see things like this very often. But it's a shame."

But $160 for a family of 4 is not any more than you'd spend to take your family to a Pirates game or a Penguins game or a concert or Kennywood Park or any other major form of live entertainment. It's just what things cost and it's unfair to constantly single theater out as the one form of entertainment that is "unaffordable". And for some families that is a lot of money, so you don't do it every week or even every month. You do it a handful of times a year which makes the experience even more special but it doesn't mean they don't get to experience it at all. And surely there are some solid regional theater companies in the Pittsburgh area that have tickets in the $20's and $30's for professional productions using some if not most/all equity actors. There are tickets on Goldstar for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall doing music from E.T. tomorrow night for $25. There are plenty of opportunities for parents to expose their kids to cultural activities but yeah, if you want to take them to the hottest Broiadway show of the season, you'll pay a lot.

Updated On: 10/2/19 at 03:58 PM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/2/19 at 3:59pm

dwwst12 said: "Again, I don't disagree with you about the "Hottest Ticket" issue. But agree to disagree on how affordable theater is around the country to the average American, and how much it's not even on their radar as a result.

Would you say $160 is a lot for a family of four to see Peter Pan? How many American families are going to shell out for that? I use this as an example because here in Pittsburgh, we recently had the good fortune to have Jenn Colella star in Peter Pan in the CLO Summer Series. It's obviously a family-oriented show, and that's how it was marketed. It was performed at the lovely but cavernous Benedum Center, where 90% of the tours perform. Tickets in the orchestra -- for basically a 90 minute kids show -- were $70-$90. My kids are 3 and 6, and the youngest could theoretically still have a meltdown during the show, so I'm not dropping $300 for the four of us to sit close. The $40 seats we bought were so far away that, if placed in a Broadway theater, would be approximately In The Apartment Building Two Doors Down.

Not-so-shockingly, there were a crap ton of empty seats, and we were able to move down to where we could *kinda* see Jenn's facial features.

I get that maybe this is just what things cost, and that's life, and people just won't see things like this very often. But it's a shame."

 

Just to jump in for a minute, $160 for a family of 4 is pretty reasonable for a night out.  A movie would set you back around $80 (as long as you don't buy anything from the concession stand).  A meal at a sit down restaurant would be close to $100 bucks.  Hell, a decent pair of shoes for an adult costs $100-$200!  It's all about priorities and each person's living budget.  A single person in NYC is typically going to have a whole lot more disposable income than the head of household of a family of 4 in Pittsburgh.  I'm sure the 3 and the 6 year old would have been just as happy at a local HS production of Peter Pan for $5 bucks each. And as you said, you even got to move down at the Benedum so you actually received $300 worth of entertainment.  But yes, live theatre (or any form of entertainment) is a "luxury item".  

[Rosette3]

Posted: 10/2/19 at 4:18pm

"There are so many ways to obtain discounted theater tickets (secondary market, rush, lottery, TKTS, TDF). Flexibility and patience will allow the majority of people to experience it. On the secondary market, everything but TKAM could be had for as low as $55 + fees for orchestra level tickets.

If you are patient and play the lotteries, that drives the price down further. Moulin Rouge and DEH are the only online lotteries I haven't won in the past 6 months.I see shows here in NYC decidedely cheaper than when I lived in the midwest and probably on average havepaidjust under $40/ticket.

If you are someone who feels they have to plan ahead, or must see a certain show when they come to NY, you may have to pay a premium for the assurance of getting the ticket and the seating location that you want. But I find theater to be decidedly cheaper than going to a rock concert or a sporting event both of which offer roughly the same length of entertainment.

If one hasto think about dropping $100 for anything the reality is you shouldnt be doing it as that money would be better used elsewhere. But if thats within a persons means, there are plenty of ways to obtain tickets at affordable prices."


Agreed. Once I learned about the options to get discounted tickets (shout out to Broadwayforbrokepeople.com, r/Broadway & BWW) being close-ish, I prefer traveling to NYC vs waiting to see when they come on tour in my city (DC). All things considered even with the extra added cost of transportation, food, lodging I actually break even (if not slightly less) to see shows on Broadway in NYC vs cost to see at Kennedy Center in DC where equivalent tix range $99-$150. I've calculated it and on average spend $100/show ($45ish tix + travel costs) but with trade offs of better seats for a show in a more intimate theater and with OBC.

Specific to Hadestown, I've been monitoring prices and since it is dynamic pricing you can get decent prices tickets IF you are flexible (flexible being key word). For example I looking at weekend of Nov 15 and there are a bunch of Mezz seats at $149 tier. $149 is the lowest I've seen for direct sale/standard admission. Then there's StubHub if you really want play the system & wait last minute for inexpensive seats. For example tonight 7:30PM show, tix currently starting at $62 for balcony seats on StubHub. 

I do question what arrangement the product/theater has with ticketing company and selling to resale platforms. If you look far out enough, certain dates have over 500+ available on StubHub when Kerr Theater is only a 900 seat capacity theater meaning over 50% tickets were flagged to be sold on resale platforms which seem incredibly high ratio. I get they are trying to maximize profits but blocking 50% of your seats on resale (assuming w/ intent to sell above standard admission) is when it starts to feel "wrong" for me.  

[dwwst12]

Posted: 10/2/19 at 4:28pm

You all make really good points.  And it's probably just my own bias and personal priorities.  I recognize this, but sort of stand by my argument at the same time.

Uncle Charlie points out that "It's unfair to constantly single theater out as the one form of entertainment that is "unaffordable."  I have no real defense there, in that it's not "unaffordable" in the context of amusement parks, concerts, and sporting events.  But I can't quit the idea that theater is simply more worthwhile to both the individual patrons, and all of us as a collective.  Again -- an opinion, but it's what I believe.

And Rainah, you're right that something is a little broken. The cost of tickets and the cost of productions *generally* don't seem to add up to a successful moneymaking (read: capitalist) endeavor.  Hence so many  theaters across the country staying afloat with the aforementioned grants/gifts/endowments/tax revenue streams.

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/2/19 at 4:31pm

Rosette3 said: "I do question what arrangement the product/theater has with ticketing company and selling to resale platforms. If you look far out enough, certain dates have over 500+ available on StubHub when Kerr Theater is only a 900 seat capacity theater meaning over 50% tickets were flagged to be sold on resale platforms which seem incredibly high ratio. I get they are trying to maximize profits but blocking 50% of your seats on resale (assuming w/ intent to sell above standard admission) is when it starts to feel "wrong" for me."

I think you're confusing two things. StubHub is typically not where the show would mark up its tickets. They just make them premium on Ticketmaster to sell them above standard admission. StubHub is usually (although conspiracy theories to the contrary abound) where third-party resellers that have purchased a good chunk of the house list their tickets, and the show is no longer involved.

There were reports from the DEH cancellation line where a group of people with a stack of cash were just making a line at the box office, buying the max number of tickets with cash (to avoid the limits they can more easily enforce with online sales), and then after the purchase, that person got in the back of the line, and bought the max number again.

There was even a story where Rudin or someone got flowers and a fruit basket at the office from someone they didn't know, and it turned out to be the main reseller who had purchased the majority of Book of Mormon seats during its original run, thanking them, since they had just purchased a house outright with the money they made...

[Rosette3]

Posted: 10/2/19 at 4:55pm

haterobics said: "I think you're confusing two things. StubHub is typically not where the show would mark up its tickets. They just make them premium on Ticketmaster to sell them above standard admission. StubHub is usually (although conspiracy theories to the contrary abound) where third-party resellers that have purchased a good chunk of the house list their tickets, and the show is no longer involved.


There were reports from the DEH cancellation line where a group of people with a stack of cash were just making a line at the box office, buying the max number of tickets with cash (to avoid the limits they can more easily enforce with online sales), and then after the purchase, that person got in the back of the line, and bought the max number again.

There was even a story where Rudin or someone got flowers and a fruit basket at the office from someone they didn't know, and it turned out to be the main reseller who had purchased the majority of Book of Mormon seats during its original run, thanking them, since they had just purchased a house outright with the money they made..."

Gotcha I see what you are saying. 

 

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 10/2/19 at 5:32pm

dwwst12 said: "But I can't quit the idea that theater is simply more worthwhile to both the individual patrons, and all of us as a collective. Again -- an opinion, but it's what I believe."

Ironically, if you truly believe theater is more worthwhile than almost any other form of live entertainment, the fact that it is priced competitively with those other less worthwhile entertainment types means that not only is it not overpriced, it's a downright bargain. LOL.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 10/3/19 at 11:32am

Interesting discussion regarding capitalism and dynamic pricing. I have to say that I used to be one of those "planners" referred to earlier.  I would actually have a lot of fun mapping out my upcoming season and by now have at least 25% of my season purchased. By the end of January the rest of the season was booked. 

The pricing and overall quality has changed so much that I rarely plan ahead now. I have 3 musicals and one concert booked for 2020 so far. That's it.  It has been hard to change habits but luckily I live in NYC so I can wait to see the "hot" show using a discount later in the run.  The bright side is that I am actually branching out to experience other more affordable cultural experiences.  Using the culture pass through my library to book museums and historical society's and the like.  

A friend recently reached out and indicated that she may be in town on December 21st so I just checked Hadestown matinee pricing.  The algorithm has set "standard admission" Mezzanine D26 at $400 yet Mezzanine A2, an aisle seat, mind you, is "premium" at $399.   

It gets even better when you look in the Orchestra where the last and furthest seat in the right corner S22 is "standard admission" of $400 yet M22 (five rows closer to the stage) is "standard admission" at $292 or even better yet C2 on the aisle is $349.  I guess the moral of this story is that I should "grab" that $349 seat and feel good about it based on the other pricing /seat location options.  It's an interesting model that I imagine works very well with the captured audience of tourists. For me, it is not rational so I will not make that purchase. I will take a wild card approach to that Saturday in December and fare better playing the Stubhub boards. 

Updated On: 10/3/19 at 11:32 AM

[inception]

Posted: 10/5/19 at 5:56pm

Yes Melissa25, I find it crazy too.

Today I called in to the Ticketmaster Arts Line & was able to exchange my Friday evening ticket for the Friday matinee. Since June, the same seat jumped $40 but since it was more than 30 days ahead there was no change fee. Found good advice on a Ticketmaster thread on here before I proceeded. Remember you need to call the Arts Line, which can be found on most show websites ticket info page.

I feel sorry for the staff at the call center as they are in Texas & dealing mainly with New Yorkers doing exchanges etc for Broadway shows most working there will never see. The operator I got said they do exchanges while the xall center in West Virginia does sales.

[Rainah]

Posted: 10/6/19 at 9:24am

UncleCharlie said: " 
And surely there are some solid regional theater companies in the Pittsburgh area that have tickets in the $20's and $30's for professionalproductions using some if not most/all equity actors."

Man I want to know where to get these. High school productions in my city are 15-20 and non equity but taking reasonably seriously theatre is $40 across the board.