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Post by kathryn on Oct 10, 2018 8:32:47 GMT
I find this honesty refreshing. Any organisation has to balance competing aims - that’s just the reality of life - and making people sufficiently aware of what those aims are and how they are trying to balance them helps to manage expectations. Of course some people will be put out, but understanding why something is changing helps people accept it, in my experience - though it won’t stop the grumbling. It’s pretty ballsy that they’re telling regulars to stop being cheap stakes. Yes. :-) Effectively they're telling the people who snap up all the cheap tickets so that they can see a production multiple times (as one of the comments boasted of doing) to stop being so greedy and leave some for other people. They'd much rather those tickets were going to new audience members - who might even be tempted into paying a bit more in future for the better seats, once they've got the bug.
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Post by ellie1981 on Oct 10, 2018 15:17:50 GMT
I can’t tell you the number of people I know who have never been to the theatre (or not been in over a decade) and use the excuse of the ticket prices, but then ignore me when I find great deals for them for under £20. The ticket price excuse is not always the most honest answer from some.
I sometimes do it when people ask why I go to plays and musicals but not opera or ballet. Ticket prices are a small factor for why I’ve never been to the ballet, but if someone offered me a cheap ticket tomorrow I’d probably still turn it down.
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Post by david on Oct 10, 2018 18:26:26 GMT
I definitely agree with what others have posted in that the theatre (both in London and regionally) can be accessible to all budgets if you put in the time and effort to hunt down the bargins. Though I do appreciate that there are people whose financial situation doesn’t allow them to get to the theatre.
For me, people are shocked at the number of tickets I buy in any given year but then I say to them that I get more enjoyment of spending an afternoon or evening at the theatre rather than what others may enjoy such as gambling or going to a nightclub and drinking which do nothing for me.
Watching the likes of Angela Lansbury and Michael Crawford on stage or spending a day watching Angels in Amercia or The Inheritance gives me a lifetime of memories and enjoyment out of life rather than sat at home nursing a hangover. Though I must admit watching some of the recent offerings at the NT made me wish I had been drinking instead.
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Post by Dawnstar on Oct 10, 2018 18:28:45 GMT
Thanks @theatremonkey, though if it's ENO I'd probably say no too, given how ghastly most of their recent productions look to be!
Thinking about it, if the ROH wants to stop people going so regularly then why don't they impose a limit on the number of cheap seats someone can buy? Opera Holland Park does that with their cheap seats: there's a limit of 4 per season/2 per production for each person. I don't recall any public complaints about that. Putting prices up seems as likely to deter new audiences as repeat viewers.
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Post by Jon on Oct 10, 2018 23:37:08 GMT
This is probably an unpopular opinion but I think theatres would rather have new people coming to shows rather than the same old faces again and again. The people who see a show 10-20 times on discounted ticket is less valuable than a person who sees it once or twice at a higher price.
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Post by viserys on Oct 11, 2018 5:53:40 GMT
I'm putting this here, because I don't know where else to put it and don't know if it's worth starting a new thread for. I've been pretty upset by the closing notice of Bat this week and I've noticed the discrepancy there between very well sold weekend performances and badly sold weekday performances. Something I've seen at other shows, too, when poking around the booking sites.
So this morning I suddenly wondered if the whole "playing all week" system might just not work anymore. It stems from a time when people had very little entertainment at home, so had to go out for movies, theatre, music, etc. Today most people have massive entertainment opportunities at home - movies and streaming services on big screens, the internet, computer games and so on.
At the same time work life has become more and more demanding, longer hours, more stress, long commutes, etc. and I guess many just don't feel up for a night at the theatre after a long work day, with the commute still ahead in the late evening, getting up early again next morning, especially when they know they can kick back with some good TV or a game at home instead. I've found that when I catch a mid-week show here at home, I can't fully enjoy it the way I can a weekend performance, because I often have work-related stuff on my mind. I also don't want to get home too late, because I need to be up early next morning. I still do mid-week here, because prices are lower for mid-week performances than for weekends and there's a conveniently early 6.30pm performance once a week. If it cost the same and started the same time (like in London) I know I'd book Fridays or Saturdays instead though.
Long-runners like Wicked, Les Mis, Phantom, etc. probably profit more from tourists that are in London mid-week, while new musicals and plays need to rely more on a local audience and it makes sense to me, that these people would prefer a Friday or Saturday for a nice evening out. I don't know if there's a solution though, I know all the arguments against Sunday performances and I don't know if it's feasible to just cut at least Monday and Tuesday completely or maybe lower prices mid-week/do earlier start times to attract the post-work crowd. Or if I'm totally wrong about this anyway.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Oct 11, 2018 6:24:03 GMT
Thinking about it, if the ROH wants to stop people going so regularly then why don't they impose a limit on the number of cheap seats someone can buy? Opera Holland Park does that with their cheap seats: there's a limit of 4 per season/2 per production for each person. I don't recall any public complaints about that. Putting prices up seems as likely to deter new audiences as repeat viewers. Yes, they could for instance limit the number of tickets for the same production you can book during priority booking, if this is the problem they're trying to solve. The National does something similar by limiting the number of tickets you can book in total for some productions.
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Post by Mark on Oct 11, 2018 7:32:40 GMT
I know all the arguments against Sunday performances and I don't know if it's feasible to just cut at least Monday and Tuesday completely or maybe lower prices mid-week/do earlier start times to attract the post-work crowd. Or if I'm totally wrong about this anyway. Most shows do lower prices during the week as standard, and have a much higher percentage of premium seats at the weekends in general. I'd be 100% up for more 7pm starts during the week. I also dislike when a shorter show starts later (7:45/8pm).
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2018 7:46:52 GMT
I know all the arguments against Sunday performances and I don't know if it's feasible to just cut at least Monday and Tuesday completely or maybe lower prices mid-week/do earlier start times to attract the post-work crowd. Or if I'm totally wrong about this anyway. Most shows do lower prices during the week as standard, and have a much higher percentage of premium seats at the weekends in general. I'd be 100% up for more 7pm starts during the week. I also dislike when a shorter show starts later (7:45/8pm). I've wondered how different sales would be were certain shows to replace the Monday evening with a Sunday afternoon performance. The Wicked UK Tour is doing this now and I definitely think theres a potential for a wider scope here.
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Post by Mark on Oct 11, 2018 7:52:54 GMT
Oh definitely. A lot of Sunday shows I've specifically booked for that day because of nothing else being on. Most recently a Eugenius and Six double show day (we had about an hour to blitz from Victoria up to the Arts). And I also saw bank robbery the other week because I'd been saving it for a Sunday where I had nothing else to do.
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Post by Rory on Oct 11, 2018 8:25:39 GMT
I know all the arguments against Sunday performances and I don't know if it's feasible to just cut at least Monday and Tuesday completely or maybe lower prices mid-week/do earlier start times to attract the post-work crowd. Or if I'm totally wrong about this anyway. Most shows do lower prices during the week as standard, and have a much higher percentage of premium seats at the weekends in general. I'd be 100% up for more 7pm starts during the week. I also dislike when a shorter show starts later (7:45/8pm). 7pm starts would be a total nightmare if you've got kids and are trying to get out early.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Oct 11, 2018 8:45:34 GMT
From a selfish perspective, 7:00 starts on a Monday would be perfect.
Monday’s usually have a more appreciative audience and the earlier start ensuries I get home at a reasonable hour.
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Post by david on Oct 11, 2018 9:51:47 GMT
Sunday shows get a thumbs up from me. It’s great for a weekend theatre trip to London. As I normally get a 7.30pm train back up North on the Sunday, having a Sunday matinee is a nice way to end the weekend. This generally involves booking the MCF Sunday matinees. It’s in an ideal location where I can leave my stuff at Euston and then get to the MCF without any hassle. Other Sunday shows I’ve done, particularly the Mischief theatre stuff or some of the fringe pub theatres have been well attended so there is definitely a customer base out there for the Sunday show.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2018 10:08:26 GMT
7pm starts should be adopted as standard at the Old Vic and the Almeida, two theatres that are vaguely notorious for surprising audiences with extremely long running times. I'll never forget the horror radiating off social media when the early previews of The Crucible went on for four hours, nor the relief when Robert Icke productions started being given the earlier curtain time. Give us 7pm start times, then we won't mind so much when Sylvia turns out to be longer than 3 hours, and we'll be DELIGHTED to get home earlier if it turns out you've scheduled a 90 minute play somehow.
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Post by ellie1981 on Oct 11, 2018 12:05:38 GMT
I never understood why shows with short running times choose to start later than 7:30pm. Why not just let everyone be happy and go home early? Fun Home and The Exorcist were like that anyway. The best was Sea Wall at the Old Vic - 7pm start, 7:30pm finish.
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Post by kathryn on Oct 11, 2018 12:09:55 GMT
I guess it must work out better for everyone making the show to have the later start. Us civilians normally just end up with more time to kill between finishing work and the start of the show, so it's not usually better for us.
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Post by RedRose on Oct 11, 2018 12:27:44 GMT
I guess it must work out better for everyone making the show to have the later start. Us civilians normally just end up with more time to kill between finishing work and the start of the show, so it's not usually better for us. I really hate that the short plays at our theatre always start at 20:00. It really doesn't make any sense when the longer shows start at 19:30. I really would prefer all shows would start here at 19:00. As the theatre is close to my work place there is no use to get home before going back into town but it is hard work killing time with a late start.
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Post by clair on Oct 11, 2018 14:43:06 GMT
7pm starts would mean I could only go on a day off as no chance of getting to a theatre in time from work that early! I do agree that a really long show should start then but in general no thanks. Sundays instead of a weeknight also get thumbs down from me as I work Sundays so it would just be another performance I couldn't manage.
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Post by poster J on Oct 11, 2018 17:30:39 GMT
Same for me - 7pm start is a non-runner except on really rare occasions (e.g. a very long play) as I tend to work much later than that. Even getting to a 7.30pm curtain can be a struggle at times!
Sunday shows are fine, but I generally use Sunday as a life admin and chilling day so can rarely be bothered to trek into the West End...
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Nov 29, 2018 6:54:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2018 10:50:12 GMT
Interesting read. The average top end ticket price is £76.94, an increase of 30% [since 2012].
Cumulative inflation rate increase since 2012 has been 12.22% so thats an increase over double that of inflation. A good point is made in that the price increase has come from direct ticket sellers - and therefore possibly a reduction in touts - so money is going back into the theatre industry.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Nov 29, 2018 11:13:30 GMT
Yes, I thought the point about touts was interesting and this hadn't occurred to me - theatres hanging on to tickets so they can sell them to people with more money than sense rather than touts doing it!
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Post by grannyjx6 on Nov 30, 2018 23:35:07 GMT
We were in London for three days last week and managed 5 shows which I had either previously bought on special offer, or got day seats for. The most expensive one was £23.00 and the cheapest £10 (Caroline or Change preview). I went to my local theatre to book a show yesterday and it was nearly £50 for top price seats, going down to about £25. I have learned loads from reading the posts on this forum on how to get the best value for money tickets. Unfortunately my local theatre NEVER discount, so it's take it or leave it. (I usually take it, but ask for theatre vouchers for birthday and Christmas to help offset the cost).
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Post by jojo on Dec 1, 2018 17:45:08 GMT
I can’t tell you the number of people I know who have never been to the theatre (or not been in over a decade) and use the excuse of the ticket prices, but then ignore me when I find great deals for them for under £20. The ticket price excuse is not always the most honest answer from some. I sometimes do it when people ask why I go to plays and musicals but not opera or ballet. Ticket prices are a small factor for why I’ve never been to the ballet, but if someone offered me a cheap ticket tomorrow I’d probably still turn it down. It's just a rote answer for some, based on the assumption that it is expensive, and they really aren't interested enough to find out if they are wrong. Either that, or their only experience is hearing people talking about the most in demand shows, or if they only want the very top price tickets. I keep seeing people complaining about how on earth can a family afford to see the Harry Potter play, as if the only tickets in existence are the premium ones. They might be the only ones left, and the same people will complain when there aren't any available at any price as if a show's creatives should somehow feel guilty about having a hit on their hands. When you consider how much thousands of people pay on a weekly basis to go to the football, theatre is not hugely pricey. The difference is that football is predictable, and most season ticket holders will hang out with the same people each week and they know where to catch the bus for the away matches and so on. Buying theatre tickets is a bigger risk, and travel to London and the peripherals make up a substantial contribution towards the cost of a theatre trip.
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Post by n1david on Dec 4, 2018 16:22:02 GMT
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Post by Jon on Dec 4, 2018 16:49:39 GMT
I would criticise but actually OLS has always been expensive and the £35-40 tickets are essentially the premium seats that other cinemas other and it's only limited to a handful of seats. I'm impressed they're offering cheap seats at the back
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Dec 5, 2018 7:50:39 GMT
Yes, just had a look at a Saturday screening and all the seats in the circle (which are actually the best for view of the screen!) are £10 for the back row or £20 or £23 for seats further forward. Which is pretty much in line with other cinemas in Leicester Square. And the £20/ £23 ones are the "Luxe" seats which are very comfy and have much more room than the average cinema seat (they have the same ones in the Odeon Swiss Cottage and Haymarket)
The stalls seats are "Luxe Recliner" seats which are apparently nicer and roomier than the Luxe seats, and £40 is for the very central seats with ones at the side for £25. So I think is the same as news stories seizing on the highest premium ticket price!
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Post by ellie1981 on Dec 5, 2018 8:10:02 GMT
Odeon’s response stating the price was in line with live events like sports and theatre is however ridiculous. What they should be doing in the press is promoting their Limitless scheme, where the charge for these premium seats is a simple £5 uplift.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2018 8:22:47 GMT
That *is* a ridiculous response. Yeah, maybe that's how much we the audience might budget for a special afternoon or evening out, but part of the reason I'm happier to pay more for theatre and sport than cinema is scarcity. If they were only showing the films once a day because they only had one copy of them and didn't want that to wear out, then that might be a reasonable explanation, but it's not like you only have one set of actors or athletes and therefore by necessity there's only one or two performances/matches/whatevers a day when it comes to cinema. Plus if you miss out at the cinema, you can always get the DVD later, whereas if you miss a play, then that's it, it's gone. What an absurd comparison!
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Post by kathryn on Dec 5, 2018 8:45:41 GMT
As a Limitless holder I got an invite to their ‘dress rehearsal’ day on 20th Dec, so I’m going to try the circle seats out.
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