tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post1744763304587566653..comments2020-03-13T00:52:51.846-04:00Comments on Psychic Infection: The Canaries in the Coal MineSenorvocehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954141470868364986noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-55388071668414254452013-03-13T22:16:13.229-04:002013-03-13T22:16:13.229-04:00Thanks for asking!
No, there is probably no show t...Thanks for asking!<br />No, there is probably no show that I'd pay $150. But I still go to about one show a week--and most "theatregoers" wont give up going. That's why they're/we're "theatregoers." I knew of the Mormon discount in previews, but thought I could wait. Didnt expect it to become a PHENOM. My loss FOR NOW--but I'll wait, and one day, maybe not soon, there will be discounts. In the meantime, I'll see dozens/hundreds of other shows.<br />--and your response below to compare to sports and opera is a bit off. Opera has been EXORBITANLY high for years, and I think that is a much harder audience to cultivate--its a tough repertory to create new ones to current tastes, or to put a "celeb" into a role, to goose tix sales<br />--as for sports, the Mets/Yankees have had terrible seasons--and most buyers remember the low prices when "they were kids." So while the teams lose, games can be watched at any sports bar, or premium sports channel at home. People will go to the stadiums again when the teams begin winning!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-40901213175094065632013-03-13T17:43:40.605-04:002013-03-13T17:43:40.605-04:00Thank you! I need an editor!Thank you! I need an editor!Senorvocehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09954141470868364986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-91647324098111789542013-03-13T17:42:56.207-04:002013-03-13T17:42:56.207-04:00The point I'm trying to make is that I believe...The point I'm trying to make is that I believe we could be at an important tipping point. Without going over everything again, there is no question that what we are seeing at Yankee Stadium, Met Life Stadium and the Metropolitan Opera is something hitherto unseen. The empty seats and reduction in prices, given the context of an at risk middle class in a country that has endured the economic upheaval of the past five years, may yet have a similar impact on Broadway. You may look at these facts and arrive at different conclusions, but I think that may very well be wishful thinking. <br /><br />I also disagree that Broadway isn't mass entertainment. The impact that it has on the city's economy, and the city's place as a cultural leader of the country fairly well establishes it's mass entertainment bona fides. If it weren't so, why the need for movie and TV stars to move product? Why would there ever be touring productions of Broadway shows? <br /><br />I'm not happy to join the long conga line of Broadway doomsayers. Broadway has survived wars, depressions and creative droughts for decades. The twenty-first century has brought to bear it's own challenges.<br /> <br />What Broadway had in the past, was a component of democratization. In a Broadway theater, the common man could find himself seated next to anyone of any class, be they entertainer, captain of industry, politics, letters, etc. Like America itself, a microcosmic melting pot, enjoying a uniquely singular entertainment. For the reasons I highlight in my post, Broadway risks losing this, and with it its connection to its audience and its relevance. <br /><br /><br />Senorvocehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09954141470868364986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-53189799492477810872013-03-13T15:59:38.154-04:002013-03-13T15:59:38.154-04:00Also, the idea that the best seats are 'imposs...Also, the idea that the best seats are 'impossible' to get is nonsense. Just go to the theatre's website, and be careful to avoid scalpers masquerading as primary sellers, and you can pretty much get anything you want (so long as you're willing to wait a bit on the better attended shows). Also, there are TONS of ways to buy discounted tickets online - the average price of a Broadway theatre ticket sold last year was just over $80, not bad for an experience you can't get anywhere else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-1752863660880268862013-03-13T15:44:40.560-04:002013-03-13T15:44:40.560-04:00Pretty erudite piece... just surprised that its au...Pretty erudite piece... just surprised that its author (or typist) misspelled ITS (at least twice) and CACHET!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-24601416956768416272013-03-13T14:39:20.193-04:002013-03-13T14:39:20.193-04:00There are so many misstatements in this article I&...There are so many misstatements in this article I'm not sure exactly where to begin<br />1) Attendance is up as well as ticket prices. Last year had the highest attendance in years. This is a fact.<br />2) There are 13 shows currently running above cost right at this moment. 2 of those shows are plays.<br />3) Theater owners are the true power brokers on Broadway, no producer can get a show up unless a theater owner lets them have a theater. That being said, The community is small and theater owners and producers work together all the time to serve each others interests. The league leadership is made up of both parties and also includes other professionals in the business. <br />4) High ticket prices aren't a problem if people are willing to pay them. Obviously many people are willing to do so otherwise it wouldn't be happening and no one would be making any money. This is called capitalism. These are for-profit operations, the goal is to make product and sell it for the highest price point possible. Some shows are succeeding and others fail, like in any business. Broadway has always had a track record of having about 25-30% of the shows recoup their investments. This is a better track record than some industries, especially if you consider that each show is essentially a start-up. Its doubtful the tech industry has that good of a track record with start-ups.<br />5)The idea that only mega-hits are what is selling is totally false. Shows like ONCE, the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, AVENUE Q and NEXT to NORMAL are perfect examples of this. ONCE in particular has been incredibly lucrative even though it is in a small theater and its grosses rarely break a million dollars in a week. Its still running and has no signs of slowing down.<br />7) Broadway isn't "mass entertainment" At least not in the way that sports or hollywood movies are. Our theaters seat less than 2000 people a pop. We don't need to fill a Yankee stadium in order to survive. Despite this Broadway remains the number one tourist draw for New York City, because unlike Major League Baseball, you can't experience it in any other city. <br />8)I'd like to know where the dissatisfied audience members are at the way ticket pricing is handled. I'd argue that variable ticket pricing is something that folks are used to in the 21st century.<br /><br />Are there things Broadway can do better on the customer service side or on the programming side? sure, there's always room for improvement. But to argue that the industry is in any kind of real trouble is a gross misstatement given the fact that shows make more money and play to more people than ever before.<br />Ryan Bogner,lyrics/concepthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12552204645895964333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-84857576609025389192013-03-13T10:14:42.194-04:002013-03-13T10:14:42.194-04:00Book of Mormon had discount offers available. I sa...Book of Mormon had discount offers available. I saw it from the front mezz for $75 during previews. Shows with absolutely no discounts from the first performance are rare, you just have to be quick on the uptake.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-56324469708368695102013-03-13T08:05:49.856-04:002013-03-13T08:05:49.856-04:00Thank you. I used to buy full price tickets as so...Thank you. I used to buy full price tickets as soon as they went on sale, in order to get great seats. The producer had my money months in advance. Now, unless I am willing to pay for premium seats (which I won't), the full price seats are terrible. So I wait until a couple of days before the date I want to go to the theater and almost invariably get good seats at a discount (or at the worst, full price). How does this help the producer's bottom line. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-37377346036258670732013-03-13T07:44:36.700-04:002013-03-13T07:44:36.700-04:00Is there any show that you would pay Book of Mormo...Is there any show that you would pay Book of Mormon's prices to see? <br /><br />I'm worried that soon many more theatergoers will share your assessment that "It's 'just' a show", and opt to find their entertainment elsewhere. Senorvocehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09954141470868364986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-18981889457666957352013-03-13T01:17:21.456-04:002013-03-13T01:17:21.456-04:00I was in whole-hearted agreement until the end and...I was in whole-hearted agreement until the end and the labor section.<br />Does he think unions havent made tix prices go higher? <br />Those producers, and investors--are HOPING for the "killing" for the 80% of the time they lose money. Every Producer on each of the behemoth shows (Wicked/Mormon/Lion King) have all taken their losses (and I'll assume their investors too), keep coming back with, and for, more! If the unions want a piece of the pie--let a percentage of their salaries/raises go to INVESTING in their own productions. You'd see how quickly they'd balk at that suggestion. I don't disagree that tix prices are WAY TOO HIGH--but its always the consumers who vote with their wallet. Tho I can afford a Mormon ticket, I WON'T pay for one. It's "just" a show.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-44662697969927363422013-03-12T23:09:05.551-04:002013-03-12T23:09:05.551-04:00So So So true.
-A Broadway friendSo So So true.<br /><br />-A Broadway friendAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-73266669176609468072013-03-12T21:53:20.839-04:002013-03-12T21:53:20.839-04:00Wow, it's a very articulate assessment on the ...Wow, it's a very articulate assessment on the complexities of Broadway. Well done, sir. RC in Austin, Texas (PattiLuPoneFANatic on Broadway World.com)Romannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-65078979230069548642013-03-11T22:25:06.682-04:002013-03-11T22:25:06.682-04:00Just your friendly neighborhood gunslinger, ma'...Just your friendly neighborhood gunslinger, ma'am.<br /><br />Senorvocehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09954141470868364986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3372906722726842788.post-29395062468596142552013-03-11T22:13:43.820-04:002013-03-11T22:13:43.820-04:00Insightful and well thought out. Who is this maske...Insightful and well thought out. Who is this masked blogger?!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com