10 posts
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Post by dynamiccoins on Dec 17, 2022 17:41:13 GMT
Hi,
I'm wondering what happens to the last minute unsold tickets for productions. As an example, I'm after some tickets for A Ghost Story for my partner and looking at the 19.30 performance this evening (its 17.45 now) there are roughly 50 tickets still for sale.
Assuming they are not sold at face, are those tickets put up for sale anywhere or are the seats left empty?
Thanks
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594 posts
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Post by og on Dec 17, 2022 21:59:08 GMT
Some will offer them to resellers, others will use dynamic pricing and reduce on the day. Some you can get a movement walking up in person, others will not budge on face value at any point. It really depends on the production, day of the week, amount of seats available etc.
Saturday night for popular West End play, you might struggle getting a significant discount, but it's well past curtain up now.
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Post by Matt on Dec 17, 2022 23:05:47 GMT
I was at the box office at Jersey Boys in the summer 5 minutes before the matinee started and they wouldn’t reduce the ticket at all, and there were probably 50+ seats left. I could even still do rush and showed them so (but the seats offered weren’t what I wanted) and they still wouldn’t budge.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Dec 18, 2022 8:18:16 GMT
they still wouldn’t budge. Reminds me of les mis. They had plenty of seats left and I showed them the TKTS pricing (£49.50 for decent dress or stalls seats), but they wouldn't reduce their tickets. |
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19,793 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 18, 2022 9:26:21 GMT
I suppose they don’t want to set up an expectation around this because before you knew it there would be lines of people outside box offices at 7pm wanting cheapies.
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2,422 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Dec 18, 2022 11:13:13 GMT
I had the same at Back To The Future a couple of weeks ago. Loads of seats unsold 45 minutes before the show, and they still wanted £80. I get not wanting to set precedents but surely some money for a seat is better than none.
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594 posts
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Post by og on Dec 18, 2022 11:55:13 GMT
Just to balance the conversation, I have had plenty of last minute seats at the BO over the years. Probably 50/50 sale/no-sale.
Definitely found a bit more flexibility in mid-week performances for shows that have been around for a while (excluding the classics). EG Dreamgirls 1 year+ into its run you could get a great deal on v.good seats last minute in person, Phantom however not a chance.
Sometimes better off buying a cheap seat in advance and then if asking there's any movement. Helps to be flying solo in this instance to fill gaps.
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Post by joni89 on Feb 7, 2023 11:52:16 GMT
I wouldn't risk leaving it to the last minute personally, just in case I would get a restricted view seat.
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3,351 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 7, 2023 12:37:17 GMT
It very much depends on the show, but you might actually have more luck 90 minutes or an hour before the start of the performance, rather than when the box office is rushed and there are people about to hear the discounting.
Otherwise, it's sometimes best to book a cheaper seat, then consider your options. Some shows will let you pay for a discounted upgrade, but will not sell you a cheap ticket from scratch. Some shows will have ushers proactively moving people forward into empty seats (or closing levels). You can also ask an usher rather than the box office staff. And some people who are happy to navigate seating plans and can tell what is officially unsold may choose to help to fill the empty gaps just before the show starts. All depends how much you have to have a certain seat, compared to if you're fine sitting in your original one.
None of these are recommendations, of course. I practically always sit in my booked seat. I just wouldn't rely on last minute discounting unless it's a theatre you know the policies for very well.
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5,707 posts
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Post by lynette on Feb 15, 2023 16:36:49 GMT
Do people still do that thing of looking down from the Gods to see empty stalls seat and then move down in a break or after interval? Was a big thing back in the day.
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139 posts
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Post by catcat100 on Feb 15, 2023 17:21:27 GMT
Yes, although will also take a look at the online booking an hour or so before the start to see where any gaps may be.
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Post by cavocado on Feb 15, 2023 20:02:29 GMT
Do people still do that thing of looking down from the Gods to see empty stalls seat and then move down in a break or after interval? Was a big thing back in the day. I did that for Jamie Lloyd's The Seagull. I managed to move from £15 balcony to a great stalls seat, but I still didn't enjoy it! |
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