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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2017 21:12:07 GMT
Is it me or has there been a drop off in discounts for musicals these days? i seem to get less offers in my inbox (aside a few usual suspects) and tkts seems to have less and less. do they all sell so well these days that discounts arent needed?
Or are there better places to get discounted tickets now?
the discount section of theatremonkey seems quieter these days too
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Post by poster J on Apr 4, 2017 21:22:18 GMT
I think there are less offers (certainly TKTS is generally rubbish compared to what it used to be, for example), but that doesn't mean there aren't discounts if you are prepared to and able to work a bit harder to get them - e.g. by queuing for day tickets or repeatedly entering lotteries. Doesn't work for everyone, but sometimes things do end up only being open to some people because they have the time and availability to queue outside a theatre or be more spontaneous about their plans. It's the same on Broadway, it's nothing new really.
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Post by daniel on Apr 4, 2017 21:26:51 GMT
A shift that I've certainly noticed is with dynamic pricing. There are bargains to be had by booking far in advance (£29 row E circle for Book of Mormon) and literally as last minute as is possible (Premium stalls Aladdin for £17 and top price Half A Sixpence for £12)
I agree though re TKTS, if seems very rare now to see a top price ticket reduced to anything much below £40.
When looking for deals now I tend to flit between @theatremonkey's deal pages, TodayTix and the official website.
The only show that I find TKTS useful for is Les Mis. When they're quiet they'll drop band A down to £45, a deal which the Box Office won't honour if you go direct - I've asked!
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Post by shady23 on Apr 4, 2017 21:56:42 GMT
I would disagree on a lack of offers. I seem to get bombarded with them on a daily basis through my in box. In fact, there's so many I get confused as to which has the best deal as they all seem to be different.
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Post by poster J on Apr 4, 2017 22:00:58 GMT
I would disagree on a lack of offers. I seem to get bombarded with them on a daily basis through my in box. In fact, there's so many I get confused as to which has the best deal as they all seem to be different. Are they proper offers or just adverts for full price without a booking fee? |
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Apr 5, 2017 9:55:49 GMT
A shift that I've certainly noticed is with dynamic pricing. There are bargains to be had by booking far in advance (£29 row E circle for Book of Mormon) and literally as last minute as is possible (Premium stalls Aladdin for £17 and top price Half A Sixpence for £12) I was going to say this too, and Half a Sixpence is a really good example. There were lots of deals around a few months ago for it, but now very few - but you can generally get the same seats for the same prices as were available in those deals, by judicious use of the dynamic pricing on their own website. Still waiting to find quite such bargains as daniel has though  |
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Post by Oleanna on Apr 6, 2017 4:00:42 GMT
When I first started seeing shows in the West End, you'd always be able to get into a show on a cheap ticket (as long as it wasn't a big hit show), but those days seem to be over now.
There don't seem to be any less flops though (or any more hits for that matter)
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 6, 2017 10:11:55 GMT
Something I found interesting when I went to see The Lion King - the person I spoke to at the Box Office told me that they had to stop offering a Student discount when they started running Day Seats. I wonder if that was a Disney decision or an ATG one - Wicked is in an ATG theatre and does both Day Seats and a Student rate, so that makes me think it's the Disney producers that decided they should only offer one of the two.
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Post by Mark on Apr 6, 2017 10:56:58 GMT
I think people are a lot more savvy with ticket buying now, and more and more people are relying on dayseats/lottery so the number of people trying to get the cheap seats makes it all around harder. Gone are a lot of front row dayseats, it now seems to be moving towards what Broadway does with side view stalls (The Girls, 42nd Street, Virginia Woolf) with restrictions.
There are still cheap deals sometimes for under-performing shows. The Go-Between I got a £10 offer in the stalls. I've had the same £10 offer in the past Imagine This about 9 years ago, Love Story 7 years ago, Betty Blue Eyes 6 years ago, The Pajama Game 3 years ago (+ many others). Lastminute.com used to occasionally have some great offers.
Funny, the two adverts directly under this reply box are special offers for The Girls (Save £30, tickets from £29.50) and Stepping Out (Save over 35% Tickets from £12.50). The discounts are there, but you have to be clever.
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Post by samjane92 on Apr 6, 2017 16:58:16 GMT
I used to always use LastMinute as the allocate on the day procedure always used to put me in a higher band than purchased, at the risk of not knowing where the seat is. My past few experiences have got my exactly what I would have got at the theatre, with an additional booking fee of course. The other method I used to use was see what upgrades are available on the day at a reduced rate right before the show starts, worked with Motown but didn't at Milton Keynes or 42nd Street despite a fair amount of other seats being available.
As a result I now tend to try and book directly as far in advance as I can for seats I know are good, for example side stalls at Wicked, pillar views at Phantom. Couldn't do it without TheatreMonkey. I occasionally day seat, but the popularity of lotteries means there is less choice so the ones I would go for are busier resulting in a very long day by the time I travel down. I never seem to have much luck with the lotteries either. I am lucky in the fact my age just about gets me entry pass and student rates for certain shows but that won't last forever either.
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Post by westendwendy on Apr 7, 2017 14:42:02 GMT
I go the theatre twice a week and rarely pay full price so I don't think this is true. This is how I afford to do it.
A go to places like Southwark and get their carnet or preview tickets (10 pound a show if you get the PAYE)
B know what theatres close the balcony and buy the cheapest seat knowing you will be upgraded. Pay 15 sit in a 60 quid seat.
C TKTS or Love Theatre offers
D dayseats or just go to the box office at 7pm. Many like Mamma Mia don't have dayseats but they will give you an unofficial last minute discount seat (29.50 instead of 70)
E Today Tix, physical and online lotteries. From standing outside Book of Mormon, the front row Dreamgirls lottery or the Aladdin website draw - this is a luck based way of getting cheap tickets
F Group bookings. I have a group on Facebook and often get ten mates together and book most new shows. Generally we pay 35 instead of 75 for front stalls.
G Comp sites. I have been a member of two ticketing agencies for a few years now. They cost (one is about 75) but I got four premium free tickets to Miss Siagon. Pays back in one trip.
H Fringe - Stratford East, Wimbledon, Bromley, Other Palace, Chocolate Mernier - book ahead and get the cheapest tickets and you will quadruple the amount of theatre you visit.
I Cast seats. Know people in the cast or crew and they get discounts or comps!
J Press invites and comps. Even bloggers can blog free tickets! Trust me!
K The gods. Front row balcony or side balcony seats always have a clear view (you mostly need to book in advance). I always book the ENO at the Collesium and usually pay 12 to 15 pounds.
L book the worse and cheapest seats in the house then at the interval spot empty seats and move down!!!
M standing seats. I haven't done this for years but remember paying five pounds for Starlight Express at the Apollo Victoria back in the day. Of course many theatres still do this.
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Post by callum on Apr 10, 2017 0:55:17 GMT
I go the theatre twice a week and rarely pay full price so I don't think this is true. This is how I afford to do it. A go to places like Southwark and get their carnet or preview tickets (10 pound a show if you get the PAYE) B know what theatres close the balcony and buy the cheapest seat knowing you will be upgraded. Pay 15 sit in a 60 quid seat. C TKTS or Love Theatre offers D dayseats or just go to the box office at 7pm. Many like Mamma Mia don't have dayseats but they will give you an unofficial last minute discount seat (29.50 instead of 70) E Today Tix, physical and online lotteries. From standing outside Book of Mormon, the front row Dreamgirls lottery or the Aladdin website draw - this is a luck based way of getting cheap tickets F Group bookings. I have a group on Facebook and often get ten mates together and boo most new shows. Generally we pay 35 instead of 75 for front stalls. G Comp sites. I have been a member of two ticketing agencies for a few years now. They cost (one is about 75) but I got four premium free tickets to Miss Siagon. Pays back in one trip. H Fringe - Stratford East, Wimbledon, Bromley, Other Palace, Chocolate Mernier - book ahead and get the cheapest tickets and you will quadruple the amount of theatre you visit. I Cast seats. Know people in the cast or crew and they get discounts or comps! J Press invites and comps. Even bloggers can blog free tickets! Trust me! Fabulous post Wendy! Do you, or anyone else, have a tip for catching dynamic pricing? I got an Aladdin box and Glass Menagerie Row BB for £15 but don't seem to get lucky that often. Is there a particular time of day to be looking to pounce on a bargain? Perhaps later at night? |
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