Billboards and advertisements still up?

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 12:33pm

I was wondering if anyone knows if shows that still have advertisements up on billboards in timesquare or placed at the turnstiles of various subway stations are still paying for those advertisements spots. Mostly intrigued by the Beetlejuice timesquare billboard still being up.

Updated On: 1/19/21 at 12:33 PM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 12:45pm

I don't really know how the ad industry works, but from anecdotal observation, it seems to me that advertisements usually won't be taken down until someone else buys that ad space. I'm guessing this is why you sometimes see very outdated ads, especially in less trafficked area. In some subway stations in the boroughs, or the MetroNorth stops in the suburbs, it's not uncommon to see advertisements for movies that came out years ago, or Broadway shows that closed years ago. Near where I used to live, there is still (last time I checked) an ad for Secret Life of Pets - the FIRST one, not even the sequel! 

I would imagine that, with Times Square being more empty these days (due to lack of tourism and theatre), advertisers are reluctant to buy expensive ad space in that area. So they just leave up the old ads. 

Updated On: 1/19/21 at 12:45 PM

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 12:51pm

This makes me think of the hilarious story Bruce Vilanch told where he mentioned that it was Mamma Mia that finally took down a sign on the roof of the Winter Garden that was from Carol Channing in "The Vamp" from 1955!

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 1:01pm

As far as I know, I think the Frozen, Mean Girls, and Beetlejuice posters are all still up in the middle of Shubert Alley. I also saw that big Beetlejuice Times Square ad all throughout "New Year's Rockin' Eve" a few weeks ago.

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 1:56pm

JBroadway is correct. The companies that manage the installation of the ad usually don't take it down until there's a new ad to go up. No sense in paying someone to go out twice. The installation/removal of a billboard in Times Square is not an insignificant cost.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 2:22pm

The answer is yes, for the most part. As of last week Wicked still had ads in the 42nd Street subway station.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 2:31pm

Are most billboards and advertisements paid for with a one time payment rather than periodically? I assumed billboards are paid for month to month, rather than like having a contract for certain time for that advertising spot.

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 3:11pm

Call_me_jorge said: "Are most billboards and advertisements paid for with a one time payment rather than periodically? I assumed billboards are paid for month to month, rather than like having a contract for certain time for that advertising spot."

They're contracted for a period of time (not necessarily in 30-day increments), digital billboards can be bought for as little as a day, and in-demand spots can command long minimum runs. For Broadway shows, the billboard company will want that money upfront. They know a show that commits to 90 days may not be around long enough to keep making monthly payments.

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 3:36pm

The rules are different billboards vs. subway station ads as some have pointed out. But for the subway, as JBroadway has said, it is not uncommon for ads to stay up well past their expiration date if there isn't much new ad space being bought. (and sometimes its just random, as a worker may not catch something that should have been taken down). My theater still has a few posters up at various stations from our holiday show...from 2 years ago! haha

 

[Kad]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 3:47pm

By and large, the advertisements in subway stations are a pre-pandemic time warp, advertising shows, movies, exhibits, etc from last winter or spring.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 3:56pm

Fosse76 said: "The answer is yes, for the most part. As of last week Wicked still had ads in the 42nd Street subway station."

As others have said -- the answer is no.  Even if the show is not officially closed. no one is paying to keep pre-existing posters or billboards up.  Unless there is something new to replace the ad space, the owner is not going to pay for the expense of taking the old ads down.

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 4:28pm

There are still CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Revival, HEAD OVER HEELS and even Jesse Tyler Ferguson in FULLY COMMITTED posters in subway stations throughout NYC.

[David10086]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 8:17pm

itsjustmejonhotmailcom said: "Call_me_jorge said: "Are most billboards and advertisements paid for with a one time payment rather than periodically? I assumed billboards are paid for month to month, rather than like having a contract for certain time for that advertising spot."

They're contracted for a period of time (not necessarily in 30-day increments), digital billboards can be bought for as little as a day, and in-demand spots can command long minimum runs.For Broadway shows, the billboard company will want that money upfront. They know a show that commits to 90 days may not be around long enough to keep makingmonthly payments."

The industry standard is that if an advertiser signs off on a period of time (say, six months) and pays up front (rather than monthly) the advertiser will get a bit of a discount - used to be 10% or 15%. I don't know it Times Square is part of 'the industry standard' or not, but I'm betting they make up their own rules. 

 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 8:35pm

Don’t ask me where, but I saw posters from the Little Shop revival (I’m talking the Kerry Butler revival) in Hell’s Kitchen in 2016.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 8:49pm

My favorite poster is On The Town still featured at the Bronxville Metro North stop. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 9:36pm

Sutton Ross said: "My favorite poster is On The Town still featured at the Bronxville Metro North stop."

Proving once again that the Metro-North exists in its own world.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 10:26pm

Wow, all the way back from 1944?!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 11:09pm

Sure, bro. From 1944.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 11:19pm

Come on, it's a JOKE, people. We all know it's probably the 2014 revival. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 11:23pm

It is, but I have to say it's so faded and sad looking it could be 50 years old! 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/21/21 at 11:42am

JSquared2 said: "Fosse76 said: "The answer is yes, for the most part. As of last week Wicked still had ads in the 42nd Street subway station."

As others have said -- the answer is no. Even if the show is not officially closed. no oneis paying to keep pre-existing posters or billboards up. Unless there is something new to replace the ad space, the owner is not going to pay for the expense of taking the old ads down."

I used the subway as an example, since the Times Square stations are usually updated frequently (and by that I mean almost weekly). That aside, you are wrong. A brief walk through Times Square and you will still see billboards advertising Broadway shows.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/21/21 at 12:01pm

Fosse76 said: "JSquared2 said: "Fosse76 said: "The answer is yes, for the most part. As of last week Wicked still had ads in the 42nd Street subway station."

As others have said -- the answer is no. Even if the show is not officially closed. no oneis paying to keep pre-existing posters or billboards up. Unless there is something new to replace the ad space, the owner is not going to pay for the expense of taking the old ads down."

I used the subway as an example, since the Times Square stations are usually updated frequently (and by that I mean almost weekly). That aside, you are wrong. A brief walk through Times Square and you will still see billboards advertising Broadway shows."

You misunderstand the question. No one is saying that the billboards are not still up — however no show is paying to keep them there, and if another advertiser wanted the spot it would be replaced. 

Updated On: 1/22/21 at 12:01 PM

[StardustsChild]

Posted: 1/22/21 at 1:09am

It's been a few months, so it could have changed over, but I used to walk by 4 separate ads for Lesli Margherita in Who's Holiday on my way to work - 3 years, all on the side of bus stops. My coworkers and I had a good laugh when they steamed it this season, as their cornering of the 91st street market suddenly made sense before becoming obsolete again.