Help...break-even points!

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 3:36pm

Hey all...so, I have to do this math project for school, and I'm doing it on Broadway Grosses since all of the statistics are right here on BWW.

I just need to know around how much money these shows have to make in order to break even for the week.

Phantom
Rent
Wicked
The Producers
The Wedding Singer

Help?

Posted: 10/30/06 at 4:12pm

Producers are notoriously reluctant to give out this information. The last thing they want is for anyone to know how much money they are making. Everyone would want raises!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 4:13pm

It's really not your business.

[areyoukiddingme]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 4:32pm

Are you kidding me?
I'm sorry but I have been reading these boards for years and I never post, but I have to this time because I find people's behavior so appalling.

Rathnait62 who do you think you are? Are you a child? Are you a bitter adult? Because I'm doing my best to see where you might be coming from. Mandi is trying to do a school report and she is asking for a little help. If you do not know the answers to her questions, simply do not post. Her question was a harmless one and now you have probably made her feel badly and for no good reason.

I think we should all keep something in mind when we post to message boards anonymously -- IS THIS SOMETHING YOU WOULD SAY TO SOMEONE'S FACE? Even as I write this I think to myself, if we were in a room would I tell Rathnait62 this? I actually think I would because her/his behavior is completely uncalled for. It's really easy to hide behind these screen names and give people a hard time and bully them. Let's please stop doing this...

And certainly if you're going to be this kind of person, don't use a heart for your icon/avatar. It's very misleading : )

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 4:33pm

How is it not my business when every other post in the grosses thread is something like "How is that show staying open?? Its break even is *whatever it happens to be*!!" ?

It always seemed like fairly common knowledge to me.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 4:45pm

Broadway shows are not public companies. It's not any of OUR business is perhaps how it should have been phrased.

[areyoukiddingme]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 2:37am

My point is... WHO CARES?
This person has an interest in the theater. Let's encourage that interest. First of all, it's debatable whose business what is. The fact is, if I really wanted to know what the break-even point for Phantom is, it wouldn't be all that difficult to find out. I bet you it would take me less than an hour. It's not a mystery. If I wanted to find out how much a can of Coke costs to make, I could probably find it in seconds.

Secondly, it's not so insane for someone to ask this question. Movie studios constantly reveal how much they spent on a movie. You can also find this information for television shows. And if I am recalling correctly, there have been Broadway production companies who have been publicly traded so that information is already out there.

Just leave people alone. You have done nothing good by giving Mandi Moo a hard time. You know what I mean? All you did was upset at least two people.

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 6:44am

Dis sho' am good.

[alterego]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 6:58am

Most here would just be making calculated guesses. As was said, these productions are not public companies.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 10:40am

If I upset Mandi, I'm sorry. I'm sure she knows that wasn't my motive, never has been. She's been around long enough to know me.

As for you, areyoukiddingme, you need to read some more threads if what I said is the worst thing you've seen here.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 10:55am

Excuse me, but this IS a matter of public record (of sorts...if not exactly printed on Page Six of the Post).

Any Broadway show which has/or solicits outside investors is required to file a complete offering prospectus with the State Attorney General's office - and such figures are involved.

While not a "public company" in the sense that Broadway shows are not traded on the stock exchange (other than "The Little Prince" which was a departure in this regard), this material is not kept secret as in the old days when things were very willy- nilly when it came to theatrical investment.

It is a fair (and not infrequently asked) question. While producers may not like to reveal figures to the general public, that doesn't mean they don't have to in a legal sense - at least to those seeking to invest. And such figures are widely known within the industry. Doesn't mean that the public necessarily knows how to access such figures however.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 10:57am

And usually when it's asked here, someone points out that it's not our business.

It's just never been me before, so no one has ever cared.

[areyoukiddingme]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 1:17pm

To be fair, Rath, if I'm coming down hard on you it's only because I've seen these kinds of posts too many times. Yours was not terribly mean or anything. It's the buildup of these posts day after day and finally I had to say something. I can tell you weren't trying to be nasty but if I were Mandi your post would have made me feel a little stupid, and for no good reason. That's all I'm trying to point out. There are a lot of people on this board who try to put others down and I just can't stand it. This is a place where people can come together because they share a common passion. What a fantastic thing. I just think it would be great if we could all avoid needlessly negative comments. That's it really. I'm sure I have been harsh in this thread and I apologize if I am going after you so strongly. I'm just tired of it.

Have a good one.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 1:20pm

Thanks, areyoukiddingme. That was a great post - I get where you're coming from.

You have a good one too.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 1:50pm

I also don't feel like asking this question is crossing the line. If we don't know, we don't know. We've all wondered it. We've all looked at the grosses and thought "Wow, I wonderful how much they need to make a week to survive."

I find it strange that it truly is none of our business and is kept private when they announce weekly how much they made, how many seats were left unsold, the average ticket price, and the percent capacity. It just doesn't make sense. If it's private, it's private.

[areyoukiddingme]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 2:24am

Wow Rath. Thanks for the nice post.
Very cool of you.

[NewMusical]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 4:19am

Without that information, its indredibly difficult to know, however I feel we can all be assured that the capitalisation (the total cost before first public performance) has already been met on all of these shows and therefore they are all making money back, as by law of averages the amount they are playing to would far out way the weekly cost of production. However, as we don't know what 'deal' was struck in terms of royalties/ box office split/ producer/angel investors we will never know. Perhaps look into National Alliance For New Producers as they may be able to give you some rough figures or at least advice.

Neeed any help, pvt me! I got a good idea myself!

Best of luck with the project.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 4:38am

I just want to say how refreshing it is to see a potentially-explosive conflict get handled in such an adult manner. I mean it, it's a rare occurrence that a heated exchange will do anything but escalate to a level unbefitting of the people involved. I have no opinion on whether or not a show's finances are anyone's business, but I applaud you both for taking the high road.

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 8:05am

I'm sorry if this question has caused any problems, but I've honestly never seen anyone ask before, but I've seen these numbers thrown around a lot so I thought that it was somewhat common knowledge.

And Rath, if someone telling me that something was none of my business truly offended me, I would have left BWW a long time ago.