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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2016 17:34:16 GMT
If you just want advance booking access and aren't after the cheap seats, an Amex card will give you access to priority booking for an allocation of seats for most shows (possibly all) in the Olivier and Lytellton. Since many Amex cards are free (eg the BA Amex) this is cheaper than buying membership and the NT still gets a benefit through the corporate sponsorship
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Post by lynette on Sept 7, 2016 17:44:14 GMT
You can do both of those things as a non-member - no bother, but admittedly with a £2 per ticket cost (which they sometimes waive if they're feeling kind). If that helps anyone with any decision-making. Don't know what the hell I'm paying for then. O, yes, supporting theatre...... |
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Post by Jan on Sept 8, 2016 6:00:00 GMT
You can do both of those things as a non-member - no bother, but admittedly with a £2 per ticket cost (which they sometimes waive if they're feeling kind). If that helps anyone with any decision-making. Don't know what the hell I'm paying for then. O, yes, supporting theatre...... This "donation" thing they add to the ticket price is nonsense, and the NT are offenders as sometimes they add on the "donation" automatically when you are booking and you have to delete it. My "donation" is the price of the ticket, that's how I'm "supporting theatre". It's like the shysters at ATG with their absurd "booking fee" and sundry additions. Didn't know having an AMEX card gives a booking advantage. Interesting. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2016 7:31:17 GMT
With most theatres, such a donation supports their Education or Outreach despartments or writer development programme or some other activity, and doesn't fund the theatre presented onstage.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2016 8:10:05 GMT
The NT Amex page is here - www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/amexGenerally a priority booking period between members booking and public booking, with an allocation of seats that weren't on sale to members and in some cases access to other seats too. Eg I got £15 seats for Young Chekhov during the Amex booking period Originally the Amex allocation stayed exclusive to Amex after public booking opened so things like the SRB Lear appeared sold out but could be booked with an Amex card. In think now the Amex allocation is made available for general booking after a few weeks Only catch is you can only pay with an Amex card and can't use NT credit vouchers A similar deal applies for the London Film Festival |
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Post by Jan on Sept 8, 2016 13:06:47 GMT
With most theatres, such a donation supports their Education or Outreach despartments or writer development programme or some other activity, and doesn't fund the theatre presented onstage. Even more reason to delete it from the total then. |
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Post by schuttep on Sept 9, 2016 9:33:18 GMT
I was looking though some of the memberships thinking about Amadeus which I've totally missed so far and Angels, and saw this at the bottom. "All levels of NT membership and patronage comprise a benefits value detailing the actual cost of membership to the charity. These benefits can be purchased separately at this price. Any amounts given over and above this benefits value are given freely as a donation and are eligible for Gift Aid. Priority Membership − Donation £69/Benefits £11. To discuss purchasing benefits separately please contact the Development Office on 020 7452 3850." Does this imply that by phoning up you can just ask for the lower price, without any donation? Top marks to the National for making it clear what happens on ALL theatres' memberships. As has been stated, the donation helps to make the scheme viable in the first place. After all, the higher the donation, the more they can claim back in tax, so they're likely to down-size the value of the actual benefits at the expense of getting more tax back. If everyone just paid for the benefits, I suspect the schemes would start failing, or ticket prices would increase. |
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Post by andrew on Sept 9, 2016 21:04:56 GMT
Now I feel guilty for suggesting it! But the reality is that I wouldn't buy one at the prices they charge. So am I destroying the National Theatre by even asking? Will Rufus be put out onto the street?
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Post by showgirl on Sept 10, 2016 4:23:30 GMT
I still think the point is that it sounds as though the NT hasn't been open and upfront with patrons. Lots of attractions (eg National Trust properties) now list the gift-aided admission cost first - though in their case this adds a relatively small amount - but it's there for everyone to see and to enable them to decide. If I'm not already a member of an organisation I'm happy to consider gift-aiding the cost/making a donation and have done so very recently, but for one thing, that should be my conscious and willing decision, not something I'm manipulated or tricked into, and for another, wouldn't people feel happier about supporting any theatre or other organisation if they felt they had CHOSEN to contribute? Imo perception is critical here.
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Post by Jan on Sept 10, 2016 8:21:49 GMT
I still think the point is that it sounds as though the NT hasn't been open and upfront with patrons. Lots of attractions (eg National Trust properties) now list the gift-aided admission cost first - though in their case this adds a relatively small amount - but it's there for everyone to see and to enable them to decide. If I'm not already a member of an organisation I'm happy to consider gift-aiding the cost/making a donation and have done so very recently, but for one thing, that should be my conscious and willing decision, not something I'm manipulated or tricked into, and for another, wouldn't people feel happier about supporting any theatre or other organisation if they felt they had CHOSEN to contribute? Imo perception is critical here. Actually it is because of a more rigorous application of gift aid rules by HMRC over the past couple of years but the details are too boring to explain. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2016 10:44:40 GMT
If I'm not already a member of an organisation I'm happy to consider gift-aiding the cost You cannot Gift Aid the cost of benefits. You can Gift Aid the donation, if you've paid sufficient UK income tax or capital gains tax in the current tax year. |
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Post by kathryn on Sept 10, 2016 11:04:26 GMT
Thanks for pointing the LFF Amex benefit out, xanderl. I had resigned myself to not seeing anything this year, since public booking is notoriously horrible and I'm not willing to stump up for membership again. I might stand a chance now!!
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Post by showgirl on Sept 10, 2016 16:14:34 GMT
Another black mark for the NT if it turns out that "donors" have missed out on the chance to declare the donation element on their membership on their tax return.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2016 12:35:50 GMT
hello, fringefan
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Post by andrew on Sept 13, 2016 17:19:25 GMT
A quick update, I got in touch with the development office and essentially just came in with a lower offer, which included a donation on top of the benefits price, but less than what they put it up as, to which they were (and I quote) "delighted". Despite what others have said about the Norris tenure I've remained an avid NT fan and this works well for me anyway.
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Post by lynette on Sept 13, 2016 21:19:23 GMT
A quick update, I got in touch with the development office and essentially just came in with a lower offer, which included a donation on top of the benefits price, but less than what they put it up as, to which they were (and I quote) "delighted". Despite what others have said about the Norris tenure I've remained an avid NT fan and this works well for me anyway. Punter power |
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Post by schuttep on Sept 14, 2016 8:30:09 GMT
Another black mark for the NT if it turns out that "donors" have missed out on the chance to declare the donation element on their membership on their tax return. I've claimed all my theatre memberships (donations) on my tax returns. If the theatre is a charity, you should always do it. |
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Post by showgirl on Sept 14, 2016 13:25:45 GMT
Another black mark for the NT if it turns out that "donors" have missed out on the chance to declare the donation element on their membership on their tax return. I've claimed all my theatre memberships (donations) on my tax returns. If the theatre is a charity, you should always do it. Indeed, and I do this with other charitable donations but this is the first time I've heard that there was a separate donation element to the cost. I am mentally composing my email now... |
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Post by Jan on Sept 15, 2016 16:31:33 GMT
I see in their latest brochure they tell us to book early because "prices may change subject to demand". I'd like to hear Rufus Norris defend that particular piece of rampant capitalism. They are effectively touting their own tickets.
Based on much of their output they'd have to adjust the prices down of course.
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Post by Jan on Sept 16, 2016 6:47:50 GMT
That disclaimer has been in all the brochures this year, Jan Brock. They have the systems to dynamic price... so dynamic price they will. The really interesting change for me was the removal of the little seating plans that indicated roughly where the price breaks were. Now that I did find a little sneaky from a subsidised theatre. Interesting. The disclaimer was in the small print so I only noticed it when I looked at their hardcopy brochure. With £65 top price on Friday and Saturday, which is equivalent to unsubsidised West End pricing for plays (without big stars) they have a cheek to threaten to increase that if something is successful. As I say, I'd like Rufus Norris to justify all this. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2016 9:57:05 GMT
The RSC introduced dynamic pricing before the NT followed suit. It's one contribution to achieving their income targets. The mitigation for accessibility is that the same seats are offered at a guaranteed price throughout the early booking period, and there are always other blocks of seats at low prices for everyone, and targeted schemes and discounts for select groups such as young people.
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Post by Jan on Sept 16, 2016 12:46:42 GMT
The RSC introduced dynamic pricing before the NT followed suit. It's one contribution to achieving their income targets. The mitigation for accessibility is that the same seats are offered at a guaranteed price throughout the early booking period, and there are always other blocks of seats at low prices for everyone, and targeted schemes and discounts for select groups such as young people. I bet they never dynamically adjust prices down for unsuccessful shows which would also be mitigation. Which blocks of seats are "always" at low prices ? It's not just the top price seats they are threatening to increase in price. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2016 12:55:17 GMT
I bet they never dynamically adjust prices down for unsuccessful shows which would also be mitigation. From time to time, they directly contact previous bookers with limited offers of very significant discounts for performances of some shows. Which blocks of seats are "always" at low prices ? It's not just the top price seats they are threatening to increase in price. To clarify, I meant that there are always blocks of seats initially on sale at low prices to everyone. |
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Post by rumbledoll on Oct 10, 2016 11:33:37 GMT
Can anyone having a Priority NT membership please confirm:
Are you still allowed to buy ONLY 2 cheapest category seats for each production?
Thanks!
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Post by vdcni on Oct 10, 2016 11:57:54 GMT
I haven't tried to book more recently but as far as I know it's still in effect.
Just tried with Peter Pan and it wouldn't let me buy more than 2.
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