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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 8:21:40 GMT
I choose to buy theatre tickets rather than going to the pub or the football or on holiday or whatever else the normal people spend their fun money on, but I still don't want to know how much I've spent because I rather fear I could've made a down payment on a house with it all, albeit a thoroughly joyless house because I never indulged my love of theatre and can't work out how to be happy.  |
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Post by tmesis on Nov 7, 2017 8:45:52 GMT
I'm old school - I write everything in a diary in pencil.
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Post by schuttep on Nov 7, 2017 10:57:37 GMT
I have 4 notebooks with everything I've ever seen since I started attending the theatre in 1974. I list name of show, theatre and date. Both are in chronological order.
Several years ago I transferred the data to a spreadsheet so it can be searched e.g. How many times have I seen x show? How many times have I been to y theatre? How many shows have I seen per year? etc.
I still keep both up to date.
For the past 20 years I've averaged around 85-90 shows per year but I fear that's increasing.
While it would be interesting to see how much I've spent on tickets over the years, inflation inhibits comparisons year on year. A £7.50 ticket in 1974 would have been what today is a premium seat!
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Post by andrew on Nov 7, 2017 12:11:46 GMT
I have a spreadsheet with date, show, theatre, seat, price, any special ticket information (discount, day seats etc), whom I saw it with, director and cast.
I actually find the price quite reassuring, every year I average out the spend on tickets and it usually comes out not much over £20/show which I think is reasonable. If you add it up, obviously it becomes a big number, but this is my hobby and it's how I choose to spend it.
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 7, 2017 13:05:50 GMT
I have a spreadsheet.
Which contains sections of West End, Off West End, New York, International and Regional, this has theatre name in the column A, then what shows I have seen in that theatre, in column B onwards. I put future productions in there when they get announced and mark them, I cancel the colour once I see them, not many ever get deleted, when I somehow miss a show.
I have another spreadsheet, which I am working on at the moment, which is done in column A by show name, then subsequent columns are theatre's I have seen that show in, for example I would have 'Our House' in column A then listed New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, Union Theatre and Churchill Theatre, Bromley in later columns.
I also have a word document which I do by year, which has show, venue, stars out of 5 and cost.
I also keep on my IPad Calander any shows I have pre booked, so I can keep track.
I have seen north of 150 shows this year, worrying when you look back and see several shows you don't remember seeing!!!
Obviously when started you didn't have Word Documents and Spreadsheets and if you are young and just starting going to the theatre, you are so lucky, as you can put so much more information down.
Sounds all very geeky.
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Post by kathryn on Nov 7, 2017 14:28:37 GMT
I have a spreadsheet with date, show, theatre, seat, price, any special ticket information (discount, day seats etc), whom I saw it with, director and cast. I actually find the price quite reassuring, every year I average out the spend on tickets and it usually comes out not much over £20/show which I think is reasonable. If you add it up, obviously it becomes a big number, but this is my hobby and it's how I choose to spend it. This is why I keep a note of prices - I work out the per show average over the year, to keep an eye on whether it goes up or down. Interestingly at first it hovered around £30, then as I got better at finding cheap seats it dropped to around £25, some years I have managed to get it down to £20, but recently it has crept back up as I've been to New York more and treated myself to more expensive tickets over here. The actual total spent has climbed steadily upwards, but as long as the average stays around £25 I feel like I'm doing ok. Edit: I kind of feel like an alcoholic proclaiming that I don't really need the booze and I could give it up at any time. 😆 |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 14:39:21 GMT
Just wondering, how do you all keep track of shows that you've seen/future bookings? I have a spreadsheet. Show number of that year, production name, theatre and city, and how many times I've seen that production. Without it, I think I'd forget half of what I've seen! Intrigued if anybody else does the same. Linked to that, how many performances do you see in a year? In terms of future bookings, a little diary which I fit into my coat pocket. Perfect in case I need to make plans with my wife/work.
With regards to past bookings, I'm starting a spreadsheet detailing date, time, theatre, playwright, director, play title and 'notes'. I'm an obsessive programme hoarder and going through all my collection to find out the details.
How many performance do I see a year? 35-50.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 14:43:19 GMT
I don't know why you're fussed about how much you spend on your theatre-going. I mean, as long as it's your own money which you have earned and not money you've stolen from your granny's purse or swindled from tax-dodging schemes, it's YOUR money to do with what you please. Yes, I spend quite a lot on theatre-going and travelling, but I keep telling myself that it's MY money to do with as I choose and personally I rather spend it on tickets, hotels and flights than on going clubbing each weekend and farting money away on drinks and drugs. Or maintaining something expensive like your own boat or a horse, shopping for designer clothes or spending thousands on a Star Wars/Star Trek/whatever collection... I don't smoke, haven't got kids and a wild night of drink for me is 3 bottles for £5 in Tesco or a Wetherspoons meal deal.
I don't need to justify my theatre expenditure but I do like to keep a record because I am adamant that theatre is something I can afford to see so often because I know how to get seats cheaply.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 15:00:12 GMT
Can I just ask, how many times a year do the people who keep track of their ticket costs go to the theatre, and how many times a year do the people who don't keep track of their ticket costs go to the theatre? I for instance refuse to keep track, and average around 160 trips a year. My hypothesis is the more you go, the less likely you are to keep track, not because you're fussed about justifying individual ticket costs, but because you know the total sum is going to be bordering on the obscene, but let's find out!  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 15:08:31 GMT
I don't keep track of how many of the help fit into the cupboard under the stairs. I don't keep track of how many martinis I have per hour.
How do you think keeping track of my theatre trips will go? I don't even have a clue where I am half the time.
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Post by Jon on Nov 7, 2017 15:10:57 GMT
Can I just ask, how many times a year do the people who keep track of their ticket costs go to the theatre, and how many times a year do the people who don't keep track of their ticket costs go to the theatre? I for instance refuse to keep track, and average around 160 trips a year. My hypothesis is the more you go, the less likely you are to keep track, not because you're fussed about justifying individual ticket costs, but because you know the total sum is going to be bordering on the obscene, but let's find out! I don't track my spending because it's usually in the £15-25 range with the odd splurge now and again. I've only done 22 shows this year but that's because I like going to other things like the cinema, galleries etc I mentioned in my other thread but I'm the sort of person who would rather see a range of things than the same shows over and over again. |
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Post by fiyero on Nov 7, 2017 15:41:28 GMT
Mine is a word document with sections for Musicals, Plays, Operas, Dance and other, Amateur then list by show title with venue and number of times (per venue). I don't keep dates and certainly don't keep cost (191 different shows counting amateur separately from professional, though only 2 are in double digits!)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 15:42:55 GMT
Can I just ask, how many times a year do the people who keep track of their ticket costs go to the theatre, and how many times a year do the people who don't keep track of their ticket costs go to the theatre? I for instance refuse to keep track, and average around 160 trips a year. My hypothesis is the more you go, the less likely you are to keep track, not because you're fussed about justifying individual ticket costs, but because you know the total sum is going to be bordering on the obscene, but let's find out! I don't keep a running total as such but I will never buy a £20 seat if a £10 seat offering a decent view is available.
What I do - as many will on here - is keep my ear to the ground regarding forthcoming productions and tickets details and ensure I am amongst the first to buy.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 15:53:57 GMT
I don't know why you're fussed about how much you spend on your theatre-going. I mean, as long as it's your own money which you have earned and not money you've stolen from your granny's purse or swindled from tax-dodging schemes, it's YOUR money to do with what you please. Yes, I spend quite a lot on theatre-going and travelling, but I keep telling myself that it's MY money to do with as I choose and personally I rather spend it on tickets, hotels and flights than on going clubbing each weekend and farting money away on drinks and drugs. Or maintaining something expensive like your own boat or a horse, shopping for designer clothes or spending thousands on a Star Wars/Star Trek/whatever collection... I don't smoke, haven't got kids and a wild night of drink for me is 3 bottles for £5 in Tesco or a Wetherspoons meal deal.
I don't need to justify my theatre expenditure but I do like to keep a record because I am adamant that theatre is something I can afford to see so often because I know how to get seats cheaply.
I sincerely hope you’d raise your steaks (geddit?!) if you were out with Smith on one of your ‘stray nights’. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 16:05:53 GMT
I don't smoke, haven't got kids and a wild night of drink for me is 3 bottles for £5 in Tesco or a Wetherspoons meal deal.
I don't need to justify my theatre expenditure but I do like to keep a record because I am adamant that theatre is something I can afford to see so often because I know how to get seats cheaply.
I sincerely hope you’d raise your steaks (geddit?!) if you were out with Smith on one of your ‘stray nights’. Ha ha, I'd stretch it to a Harvester! |
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Post by robertb213 on Nov 7, 2017 16:44:34 GMT
I tend to go 40-60 times a year, keeping repeat visits to a minimum if possible. My average over the last 11 years is £31 a show. But that does range from £7 for a local am-dram performance of The Ladykillers, up to £85 for Wicked on Broadway 😁
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 16:50:08 GMT
I have one of the great memories of all time.
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Post by kathryn on Nov 7, 2017 18:41:15 GMT
Can I just ask, how many times a year do the people who keep track of their ticket costs go to the theatre, and how many times a year do the people who don't keep track of their ticket costs go to the theatre? I for instance refuse to keep track, and average around 160 trips a year. My hypothesis is the more you go, the less likely you are to keep track, not because you're fussed about justifying individual ticket costs, but because you know the total sum is going to be bordering on the obscene, but let's find out! For the last 3-4 years it's been about 50-odd times a year. Which is enough for me! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 18:56:41 GMT
For shows I have seen I keep a note book. At the back of it a list in order of all the shows as well as date, theatre and initial thoughts. From the front of the book onwards I write about every show I have seen and give it a review. In my book I also write about things like NT platforms or other stage related things . It's nice to read back on what I thought about for some shows.
booked shows go in my calendar
Shows I want to book for go on my phone notes. Have already a started planning for 2018. I put shows in order of how much I want to see them,
Also keep a bag of programs and tickets
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 19:21:39 GMT
No one's really answering the question I've actually asked though, let's rephrase it a bit...
How many times do you go in a year AND do you keep a record of how much your tickets cost or no?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 19:30:43 GMT
Well. If you're going to get all Margaret Thatcher about it!
No idea but lots. And no.
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 7, 2017 19:36:22 GMT
No one's really answering the question I've actually asked though, let's rephrase it a bit... How many times do you go in a year AND do you keep a record of how much your tickets cost or no? See post 2 page 1 where I've listed my theatregoing numbers & no, I daren't! After reading other peoples' posts I'm wondering if I should start a spreadsheet but I'm not sure if I can face converting a 20 page list into a spreadsheet format. And I guess I'd have to then work out how to integrate my Understudies I've Seen and Seeing The Same People In Different Shows lists. Sticking to Word docs might be easier. |
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Post by robertb213 on Nov 7, 2017 19:54:48 GMT
No one's really answering the question I've actually asked though, let's rephrase it a bit... How many times do you go in a year AND do you keep a record of how much your tickets cost or no? Between 40 and 60 times a year, and yes I keep a track of all visits including the ticket cost 😁 |
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Post by kathryn on Nov 7, 2017 20:26:55 GMT
No one's really answering the question I've actually asked though, let's rephrase it a bit... How many times do you go in a year AND do you keep a record of how much your tickets cost or no? Helllooo? I literally just answered that question. I go about 50-odd times a year and track ticket costs on a spreadsheet. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 21:28:12 GMT
130 last year.
130 this year.
No spreadsheet but I record on each ticket the costs of: 1)Ticket & Fees, 2) Programme, 3) Travel & Accommodation, 4) Food & Drink and 5) Total Cost
I perpetually revise an uncosted, categorised list of the current year's theatre attendances, and use it as the basis of a plan for next year's attendances, with the intention of cutting down. This strategy never seems to be very effective. At the moment, I plan to see 84 shows in five categories next year (4 * 16 plus 1 * 20) which is two more than this year's 82 (4 * 16 plus 1 * 18). I plan not to see the equivalent of this year's further 48 shows in three other categories (3 * 16).
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