PLEASE PLEASE DON’T ASK FOR FREE TICKETS
Exactly like most of my my peers, I must receive at least 3 or 4 requests per week from friends, extended family and business partners for free comp tickets, or backstage visits, or some other special request pertaining to either Broadway or West End show tickets. Please understand that tickets to shows are our product, just like purchasing an Apple TV from Apple. (indeed, a pair of tickets is about the same monetary value to us as 2 Apple TV’s).
Could you imagine asking your friend that works at Apple for 2 free Apple TV’s? No. The same applies to our tickets. It’s always embarrassing to tell your best friends cousins niece NO, and I hate being put in that position. Today “house seats” are purchased and sold at full value – most starting at about $130 per ticket, but sometimes this means $1,000 per ticket for a hot show. (Even then, sometimes even those are difficult to buy due to insider industry wait lists). Long, long gone are the days of buckets of complimentary tickets, filling seats, and freebies.
Today, with most shows hitting 100% occupancy, giving away a free pair of tickets is insanity, and a legal breach of most investor agreements. On the very, very rare occasions I do have free tickets available (typically to a show in rehearsal or previews), I will advise my closest circle of family and friends on WeChat only. Similarly, backstage visits, autographs, meet and greets, free posters etc.. etc.. are rare, and typically limited to press and PR opportunities, close friends of the company or large scale company supported charity events.
HERE’S HOW TO SCORE DISCOUNTED TICKETS:
Recommendations from Playbill. Some great tips from the New York Post…: