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Post by leeolee on Sept 20, 2018 23:03:21 GMT
Hello,
I'm coming to London for the first time and noticed musical Hamilton that is being played at Victoria Palace Theater. It appears to me that the price is also relatively cheap. For the seat in the row L, seat 15 (1/4 way from the rightmost seat) is 200 pounds ($265). The price in Boston is $660 for the archestra center row U!!! And cheapest ticket is $295 in the right balcony. So, it appears to me tickets for this show in London is at least 2x-3x!!! times cheaper.
I love theater, but I have never had a change to go there in the US. Why are prices so much lower and what do I overlook?? Is row L in Victoria Palace Theater is a good row? Why is it is much cheaper in London then in the US? Does anybody know if the cast good?
I would really appreciate your help.
Thank you,
Lee
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Post by Rukaya on Sept 20, 2018 23:09:13 GMT
Theatre overall in the UK is much cheaper than it is in the US, a £200 ticket sounds cheap to you but that's crazy expensive for us Brits! The London cast of Hamilton are fab, and with L15 being a top price seat, it should offer a fantastic view  |
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Post by Dr Tom on Sept 20, 2018 23:11:22 GMT
Yes, theatre is generally cheaper in the UK than the US. Wages are lower too. It’s all down to the economy.
Tickets for Hamilton are still expensive in UK terms. Also. It’s popular but not in the same way it is in the US.
The UK cast are excellent and that is a prime position seat.
You can theatre much cheaper than Hamilton in the US though, so there’s no reason not to see other shows. I don’t think Hamilton is the best choice for a first ever show either (but I’m sure lots of people have the same view as you which is why it commands the ticket prices it does).
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Post by Seriously on Sept 21, 2018 1:22:50 GMT
$1320 for two people to see a show? I'd rather go on holiday!
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Post by carmella1 on Sept 21, 2018 1:29:29 GMT
I do not think its leeolee's first show just first time in London. Leeolee if you want to see it do so because as you say its more expensive in the US with no foreseeabe lowering of prices. Also put the Today's Tix app on your phone they have great deals as well for London, Boston and Broadway.
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Post by leeolee on Sept 21, 2018 1:47:39 GMT
Thank you everyone. I decided to go then. $1320 for two people to see a show? I'd rather go on holiday! That is exactly the reason why I am not spoiled with going to theatre or musicals here in the US  |
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Post by harrietcraig on Sept 21, 2018 3:08:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2018 6:42:22 GMT
We should also consider the exchange rate, but apart from that, Broadway is still exhorbiantly priced. Is it more expensive because they get Playbills included too?
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Post by firefingers on Sept 21, 2018 7:49:58 GMT
We should also consider the exchange rate, but apart from that, Broadway is still exhorbiantly priced. Is it more expensive because they get Playbills included too? Yes, the pound vs the dollar has dropped a lot in the last 15 years or so. When I was a lad you'd get $400 for $200. When I visited NYC a few years ago it was $300 for £200. Now $260 dollars for £200. Other big factors are far higher wages in the US, and a precedent over what a theatre ticket can cost. The London production is a replication of those elsewhere. No corners cut, no costs intentionally saved. And the cast are great, in fact some of the creatives regard the version running in London to be the current best iteration of Hamilton. |
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Post by viserys on Sept 21, 2018 7:52:37 GMT
The playbill costs about 2 Cents in print costs and considering the amounts of advertising inside shouldn't cost the producers anything. Definitely not an explanation for the exorbitant prices there.
Higher wages all around and crazy real estate prices in Manhattan are probably more important factors. And dumb tourists with their "well we're here just once, let's splash out" attitude willing to fork out the crazy premium prices, which I find British people are far less willing to do.
Possibly because a "weekend in London" is something that's far more easily to do from anywhere on the British isle (or continental Europe) than a weekend in NY for people living somewhere a 3-4 hour flight away in the US. And because Brits generally don't do "hype" the way Americans do.
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Post by Dr Tom on Sept 21, 2018 8:11:52 GMT
One of the interesting things to me is that the excessive prices for Hamilton New York have also carried over to the various US tours. But that's what hype does for you.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Sept 21, 2018 8:14:30 GMT
I think the real question is how can they justify charging upwards of $500 for one seat? We are looking to go in Ft Lauderdale at Christmas and we were offered $2000 seats each. That’s more than our flight itself....
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Post by kathryn on Sept 21, 2018 8:42:26 GMT
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Post by kathryn on Sept 21, 2018 8:59:26 GMT
Thank you everyone. I decided to go then. $1320 for two people to see a show? I'd rather go on holiday! That is exactly the reason why I am not spoiled with going to theatre or musicals here in the US Oh, you're going to have such a great time! And Hamilton is expensive for London - wait till you discover all the amazing shows you can see in London for under $70! Checking out the TKTS booth in Leicester Square is probably the easiest way for a tourist - tickets available from 3 days in advance up until about an hour before show time, some at full price but many at a discount: officiallondontheatre.com/tkts/ |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2018 9:42:01 GMT
Just don’t buy Hamilton tickets from discount ticket retailers such as any box office in Leicester Sq apart from TKTS, LSBO, London Theatre Direct. They’re obviously fake and the theatre only accept the paperless tickets booked through Ticketmaster (which actually involve a lot of paper)
As others have said, Hamilton UK is the exact same production as Broadway at a much lower cost, so I’d say go for it.
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Post by poster J on Sept 21, 2018 10:27:08 GMT
Thank you everyone. I decided to go then. That is exactly the reason why I am not spoiled with going to theatre or musicals here in the US Oh, you're going to have such a great time! And Hamilton is expensive for London - wait till you discover all the amazing shows you can see in London for under $70! Checking out the TKTS booth in Leicester Square is probably the easiest way for a tourist - tickets available from 3 days in advance up until about an hour before show time, some at full price but many at a discount: officiallondontheatre.com/tkts/Or just go directly to the specific theatre box offices where (Hamilton aside) you may well get much better deals than the TKTS booth offers. |
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Post by kathryn on Sept 21, 2018 10:37:51 GMT
Sure - but you kind of already have to know what's on and where it's playing to do that. TKTS makes life easy for a visitor, shows you a range of play and musicals with ticket availability and an idea of the usual full ticket price ranges as well as which shows are discounting.
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Post by joem on Sept 21, 2018 10:51:36 GMT
This sounds like shades of The Sopranos. |
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Post by leeolee on Sept 21, 2018 16:58:50 GMT
Looking at tickets again in Boston for Hamilton I noticed that these are reseller prices. Unfortunately it is what it is. I read some articles and apparently it is a big problem here in the US and theaters, for some reason, don't know how to solve it. I already bought Hamilton tickets. But I will go to TKTS on my first day to see what else they have to offer. What other shows/musicals/ballet would you recommend that I can buy the same or 1-2 days in advance? And I cannot spend as much as Hamilton any more |
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Post by 49thand8th on Sept 21, 2018 17:03:34 GMT
One of the interesting things to me is that the excessive prices for Hamilton New York have also carried over to the various US tours. But that's what hype does for you. This has been happening for years in many cities, even before Hamilton. I've still never seen Kinky Boots because even though I live in NYC, I decided to wait until the tour came to San Francisco the first time because my parents were interested (they live there and I'm from there). The prices were so much more there than in NYC, we decided to do something else, and I just kind of forgot about it. With Hamilton, cities know it's the biggest show to hit their city in years, so they will charge more and might even start charging premiums and/or packages. Although I will say that often tours cost a bit LESS not just because the city is smaller and has a lower cost of living (think: not San Francisco or NYC, but Kansas City, Minneapolis, Sacramento, etc.) but because the theatre is bigger than on Broadway and can offer a wider range of prices. |
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Post by poster J on Sept 21, 2018 19:39:17 GMT
Sure - but you kind of already have to know what's on and where it's playing to do that. TKTS makes life easy for a visitor, shows you a range of play and musicals with ticket availability and an idea of the usual full ticket price ranges as well as which shows are discounting. True - but it isn't difficult to find out what is playing and where, it's just part of researching a trip if you want to find the best deals. |
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Post by poster J on Sept 21, 2018 19:40:12 GMT
What other shows/musicals/ballet would you recommend that I can buy the same or 1-2 days in advance? And I cannot spend as much as Hamilton any more When are you visiting - the answer will depend on what is playing then! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2018 21:35:46 GMT
Looking at tickets again in Boston for Hamilton I noticed that these are reseller prices. Unfortunately it is what it is. I read some articles and apparently it is a big problem here in the US and theaters, for some reason, don't know how to solve it. I already bought Hamilton tickets. But I will go to TKTS on my first day to see what else they have to offer. What other shows/musicals/ballet would you recommend that I can buy the same or 1-2 days in advance? And I cannot spend as much as Hamilton any more The desire isn't there to solve it? If it can be done in London, surely this can be replicated anywhere! |
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Post by Rukaya on Sept 21, 2018 21:59:25 GMT
Hope you have the best time seeing it here! BTW re: Hamilton, I'm guessing you've already booked but in case anyone else from abroad is thinking of booking it here, ONLY buy Hamilton tickets directly from their site, NEVER from anywhere else. There's a high chance you'll be turned away at the doors, or the tickets will be fake anyway, it's not worth the risk. For those visiting from abroad, and tbh those in the UK, if you weren't aware - familiarise yourself with the STAR logo - here is the full list of members www.star.org.uk/all-members/Those with this logo, and listed on this site, are legitimate ticket sellers. Don't see the STAR? Don't buy their tickets |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2018 0:21:41 GMT
It looks like the excess price for US Hamilton seats is mainly going to resellers. Not the company, creatives or theatre. The system for Hamilton in London, where you have to attend with the credit card used to buy the tickets and a photo ID is working. Hardly any reselling is happening.
Even 200 pounds per ticket is silly pricing, imo.
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Post by sherriebythesea on Sept 22, 2018 1:42:39 GMT
I live 3 hours from NY and have seen a total of 2 Broadway plays. I went to London last year and saw probably 12 or more plays. I'm going again next month and have tickets to 22 (does The Inheritance count as 1 or 2) plays so far. And yes, Hamilton is one of them Even tickets to the National tours that come to Providence are more expensive then all but 4 of the London plays I'm seeing. And that's with my senior discount. Getting to NY, spending the weekend and getting tickets to a couple of shows would take up a big chunk of my London budget. Sure I could get cheaper tickets but they would be for plays I don't want to see. ETA: I just double checked and I saw 10 plays last years trip to London. My god, what did I do with all the rest of my evenings??? |
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Post by musicalmarge on Sept 22, 2018 1:46:45 GMT
I’ve said this time and time again 200 for some people is a lot of money, for others it’s another lunch. There are thousands of tourists and local theatre goers, events teams in banks who will happily pay those prices because they can afford them. There are plenty of cheaper seats available. If the seats were always empty as they couldn’t be sold as they were too expensive then the producers have got it all wrong. Sold out shows proves they haven’t. The range of prices equals the range of audience. The 200 pound seats aren’t marked for students or low/middle income bracket. There is primark and there is Prada.
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Post by viserys on Sept 22, 2018 5:08:30 GMT
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Post by sukhavati on Dec 7, 2022 6:01:30 GMT
This sounds like shades of The Sopranos. Throw shade at unions, but strong theatrical unions in America are what ensured when Phantom came back last year, it was the same cast, orchestra, crew, etc, while in London the commercial producers were crying in their lockdown champagne about no government support after they sacked everyone in how many shows? And we all know what the "contractor" classification did to some of Britain's finest actors. I'm sure Anna Jane Casey never wants to see another Hermes package again as long as she lives. The West End should have such powerful unions. |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Dec 7, 2022 8:45:31 GMT
Wages in the US are way higher than their UK counterparts as they all have to pay medical insurance.
As many US work colleagues have said to me over the years- never take the NHS for granted. Healthcare in the US is extortionate.
Also aside from that, many NYC stage crew members have second homes , boats etc. those ticket prices pay for all that!
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