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Post by justfran on Jul 14, 2020 12:11:47 GMT
Interesting reading about what other people like to buy/keep as mementos from shows. I don’t collect anything specific in the sense of getting the same item from each show. I like a souvenir brochure from my favourite shows and do like to get a programme if it’s a musical or play that I haven’t seen before (always good to see if there’s any performers I’ve seen in other shows and often handy if there’s a plot summary). I’ve got a few other nice bits of merch such as tote bags from The Lion King, Mary Poppins and Priscilla, sip cup from the on-stage bar at Once, quite a few posters (that I still haven’t got around to framing!), the odd t-shirt when I’ve liked the design, mugs and keyrings. I find that when I see them they make me smile and remember the show.
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Post by ensembleswings on Jul 17, 2020 9:35:28 GMT
I buy a programme for every show I see (unless it’s a repeat visit with the same cast). I did consider stopping for various reasons but I can’t seem to bring myself to do so.
Other than that I have very little in the way of merch: a couple tops, hoodies and mugs which have mainly been gifts from friends/fam. Also have 2 Kinky Boots tote bags which were filled with little merch pieces from their media night and 3rd birthday shows. Recently started buying pins, only have 5 so far but feel like this is the line of merch I’ll continue to buy once I begin seeing shows again.
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Post by Mark on May 26, 2021 9:51:31 GMT
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Post by westendrebecca on Apr 18, 2022 15:45:55 GMT
Any frame recommendations for a 14x22 inch poster? I bought my first poster from Dear Evan Hansen on Saturday and am wanting to frame it! Thank you  |
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Post by Stephen on Apr 18, 2022 16:53:41 GMT
Any frame recommendations for a 14x22 inch poster? I bought my first poster from Dear Evan Hansen on Saturday and am wanting to frame it! Thank you  I frame all of my theatre posters and other things via 'the frame company' on Amazon. They have plenty of sizes and different styles to choose from. Mine are either in dark brown or their Watson frame which is a nice lighter brown. They're actually making a custom 14x22 inch frame for me Music Man poster at the moment (I just messaged them - they are so helpful) One of my frames from them was broken in transit last week and they immediately replaced it. I think they offer a reasonable price (around £15-25) depending on size and save me money (I have around 15 different items framed) If you have prime around half of their sizes and styles are available for next day delivery. I don't work for em just use em a lot! Hope this helps! |
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Post by Stephen on Apr 18, 2022 16:54:37 GMT
Of course if you want something a bit more premium, perhaps with a mount (which I generally dislike) then just visit a local framer. This will obviously be at least double the prices above though.
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Post by og on Apr 18, 2022 16:59:50 GMT
Recommendation for frames.co.uk
Have brought custom frames from there; prices are really competitive and the products are quality.
Dont forget the 15% discount code on the top banner.
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Post by Stephen on Apr 18, 2022 23:40:42 GMT
Does anyone know what TfL do with the thousands of ads on escalators once their time is up? Wonder if they’d give us some?! Really want a poster from To Kill a Mockingbird but strangely they’re not selling them at the theatre.
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Post by Paulw on Apr 19, 2022 14:45:38 GMT
I have just come across this and its been great seeing what other people buy.
I used to do programmes but as others have said its a storage thing and these days you can see the cast and creatives on the shows website most of the time which covers that off! My main thing I do is cast recordings, I have a proper cast recording for every show I have done and up to nearly 100 now and there are some weird and wonderful ones in there.
For poster frames I used to get them from Dress Circle (when they had the shop near The Cambridge) but sadly its no longer there and can't find them with an online store. They were great as they were the correct size and not badly priced!
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Post by interval99 on Apr 19, 2022 14:59:58 GMT
Dresscircle.london will get you their website.
Still have frames for West end and Broadway formats and do still hold a lot of stock of CDs, posters and all the wonderful items you could browse in the much missed shop.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2022 16:48:24 GMT
Does anyone know what TfL do with the thousands of ads on escalators once their time is up? Wonder if they’d give us some?! Really want a poster from To Kill a Mockingbird but strangely they’re not selling them at the theatre. I suspect TfL has too many levels of management for the message to get through to the person who changes the posters without becoming hopelessly garbled. You might end up with anything.
When I wanted a poster that wasn't on sale — IIRC it was for Thoroughly Modern Millie — I asked at the theatre on the final night and they just took one down for me during the interval.
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Post by TallPaul on Apr 19, 2022 17:00:48 GMT
LEPs they are called, or London Escalator Panels. I'm almost certain the people doing the actual work aren't TfL employee, but contractors, just to make it even more complicated.
The answer is to become best friends with a LEP operative. An ad in the Exchange & Mart should do it. "Poster technician wanted for platonic relationship...and possibly more if we click!"
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 19, 2022 17:34:28 GMT
Exchange and Mart 😆
You kill me 💀
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Post by westendrebecca on Apr 20, 2022 8:02:16 GMT
Thank you everyone for your help, I’ll look into all those places! |
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Post by mrmarmelstein on Mar 19, 2024 15:57:58 GMT
I was passing the Gillian Lynne on Sunday and, although I’m not seeing Standing at the Sky’s Edge there until May, loved it at the National and wanted to pop in to get some merch as I’m fed up of shows running out early in their runs (which happens far too often in my experience). I did the same for Six mid-show later that afternoon and the staff at the Vaudeville couldn’t have been more lovely.
I thought Sky’s Edge started at 2pm so had aimed for 3:30 to get there for the interval, but it actually started at 3, so Act One was only half an hour in. Front of house downstairs radioed up to see if anyone was around, but understandably there was nobody on the counter and they suggested I came back in an hour for the interval. Cue an hour later, I returned and could hear the Act One closing number was halfway through from the lobby. They still wouldn’t let me go up (even though presumably staff were set up and waiting for the audience to come out) and the voice at the other end of the radio said I could only go up in another half hour after the interval had ended.
Appreciate the Gillian Lynne is an unusual layout with the merchandise stall up the escalator, but I was clearly a fan of the show, wanted to spend an indecent amount of money on merch and promised I wouldn’t sneak in for Act Two (the only reason I can think of as to why they wouldn’t let me up). I am also always very polite as I used to work box office and FOH and know exactly what an entitled customer can be like.
I’ll take a chance that there will still be mugs and hoodies when I make it back to London in May, but it did leave a bad taste in my mouth and I hope that I haven’t become one of those self-entitled customers I hate! It felt like someone in FOH was either being lazy or petty, particularly as I’d already hung around the West End for an hour specifically for this purpose, and if I'd just waited another 10 minutes could easily have just walked straight in and up the escalator with the interval crowd.
Anyone else had a similar experience? I’m sure I can’t be the only one wanting to buy merchandise when not specifically attending the show that day, and have never really understood why more box offices don’t sell it during their normal opening hours.
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Post by anthony40 on Mar 20, 2024 10:50:41 GMT
I live in London and regularly go into the foyers of theatres to purchase merchandise.
The problem is that it's not uncommon for official show websites not to have anything listed about merchandise.
Im usually explain up front that I do not have a ticket and do not want to get in to see the show, merely the foyer to purchase merchandise and in most cases the okay with that. Sometimes they can be a little cautious or make you return at a certain time.
On occasion, to show that I am genuine, I have even suggested that someone escorts me.
However I too did experience a problem at the Gillian Lynne theatre when (at the time) Lloyd Webber's Cinderalla was playing. The Gillian Lynne Theatre was one of the few theatres that I have never been in - I have since- so has no idea of the layout of either the theatre, or its foyer area and was told flatly there was no merchandise on sale.
Hard to believe when it's a Lloyd Webber show but as I couldn't get past security and they weren't willing to believe me.
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Post by yokollama on Mar 20, 2024 14:51:15 GMT
Sometimes I'd choose to be spontaneous and turn up on the day. I've yet to be turned away, fortunately. Security may be somewhat iffy at first, but I simply explain I'm here to purchase the merch.
If possible, I'd try to contact the theatre beforehand, however, to ensure I pop by at a suitable time when someone is available.
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