Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Ticket Prices?

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eveharrington
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Topic: Ticket Prices?
Posted: 9/16/06 at 2:39am

One of the groups I work w/ recently took two board meetings to decide we wouldn't be drummed out of town if we raised our ticket prices to TEN (gasp) dollars, yet I've been involved in start-up dinner theater fiascos that sold out two weekends at twenty-five. What would you say is the average ticket price for a volunteer based performance?

"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."

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castMe
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Posted: 9/16/06 at 8:52am

Ticket prices, like minimum wage or the cost of gasoline vary widely in North America. No two cities within the same state, let alone two different states, are alike. Two of the theaters I work with charge $12-$10 (adult/ senior-student) for straight shows and $15-$18 for musicals. One of the larger venues jumps their musical tix up to $18 or $20 as they mount larger productions with a full orchestra. A different summer theater recently hiked their non-musical tickets up to $18 !! WOW! Needless to say, not many people I know attend their shows anymore (the level of talent and production value varies wildly from show to show, too). They depend mostly on out-of-state summer vacationers now.

Its always hard to figure out how much is fair or reasonable, but I've always felt that charging twice the cost of a local movie ticket is pretty much the max. One can always make the case that live performance (going to the ballpark rather than watching on TV---going to a concert vs. buying the CD, etc) is acceptable and much more enjoyable---therefore worth the dough.

Your $10 tickets are a bargain

Investigate. Imagine. Choose.

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Linda S
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Posted: 9/16/06 at 9:38am

Two of the theaters I work in have raised their ticket prices in the last few years. The price of fuel oil here in the chilly northeast played a big part in both decisions. That was especially true for the theater that owns their own building. They raised their ticket prices across the board by $3. so ticket prices are now $16 & $14. There is no diffference in price for a musical or non-musical performance.

The other theater only raised their ticket prices for adult tickets. The price for student and senior tickets stayed at $8.00. The idea was to encourage families to bring their children to the theater. Tickets for a straight show are $10. and tickets for a musical $12. They budget to break even.

On the other hand I just bought tickets for $20 to a musical in neighboring community theater. In contrast I paid $16 for tickets to a professional theater.

Linda

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Gaafa
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Posted: 9/16/06 at 10:36am

The prices average around here are $10/$15 AUD [7.52/ [11.23US].
Although we don?t charge a ticket price, as entry is by donation only.
Which over 3 seasons [30 performances], has worked out on average of 16/seat.
Primarily it is not the price it is sold for, but how much it cost that counts.
However this is probably of little interest?

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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B-M-D
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Posted: 9/21/06 at 1:27pm

At anywhere from $12 to $20 in my neck of the woods it's a bargain compared to any of the professional resident or road companies. After 15 years of no increase in ticket prices we just raised our regular ticket prices to $ 16 for straight plays and $ 19 for musicals and offer a $3 discount for seniors and students.

Heating fuel, electric costs, building security and more recently internet services including our web site have added to the cost of a ticket. Profit margin (if any!) has remained the same and breaking even is good thing (haven't lost money on a show in over 20 years).

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

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MartyW
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Posted: 9/21/06 at 2:12pm

Pretty much the same her in Northwest OHIO....

Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

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suzecue1
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Posted: 9/21/06 at 7:00pm

Pretty much the same for us, $10 (for students and seniors) and $12 (for adults) for straight plays and musicals alike. We are in Northern Illinois, about an hour from Chicago. The venue we use (we rent - don't own our own theatre) seats 310. We are lucky with most stage shows to sell 100 tickets per show. Luckily our musicals normally have full houses. In general (with expences) we break even on straight shows and make a little on musicals. I would suppose most volunteer CT's are seeing the same? We haven't raised our prices in about 10 years.

Sue
*****
So many hats.....so few heads!

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mattyjaco
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Posted: 9/25/06 at 5:04pm

we do $10 adults $8 students/seniors

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VPA1
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Posted: 10/22/06 at 2:33am

Alaska may not be much of a comparision, but at our 172 seat theater, we charge $16/14 for straight plays and $18/20 for musicals. That may vary slightly depending upon the duration of the show and high/low royalties, but this is pretty standard for us.

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terrys
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Joined: 7/24/06
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Posted: 1/19/07 at 5:44am

Here in Collingswood, NJ we have the luxury of having several sites available for shows depending on the size. We have the Ballroom of our Community Center which seats about 100, the Grand Ballroom in our Theatre, which seats about 200 and the actual Theatre with seating for 1,050. Our ticket prices are standard for most shows (shows for children are usually less) - $12 adults; $7 students and seniors. We do offer a discount for groups of 15 or more reserved a week or more in advance. Those ticket prices are $10 adults; $5 students and seniors. Our Senior Citizens usually take advantage of the group rates and enjoy every show.

Terry
Collingswood Community Theatre

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Author	Message
eveharrington Celebrity Joined: 8/28/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 198	Topic: Ticket Prices? Posted: 9/16/06 at 2:39am
	One of the groups I work w/ recently took two board meetings to decide we wouldn't be drummed out of town if we raised our ticket prices to TEN (gasp) dollars, yet I've been involved in start-up dinner theater fiascos that sold out two weekends at twenty-five. What would you say is the average ticket price for a volunteer based performance?
	"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."

	IP Logged

castMe Celebrity Joined: 11/02/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 206	Posted: 9/16/06 at 8:52am
	Ticket prices, like minimum wage or the cost of gasoline vary widely in North America. No two cities within the same state, let alone two different states, are alike. Two of the theaters I work with charge $12-$10 (adult/ senior-student) for straight shows and $15-$18 for musicals. One of the larger venues jumps their musical tix up to $18 or $20 as they mount larger productions with a full orchestra. A different summer theater recently hiked their non-musical tickets up to $18 !! WOW! Needless to say, not many people I know attend their shows anymore (the level of talent and production value varies wildly from show to show, too). They depend mostly on out-of-state summer vacationers now. Its always hard to figure out how much is fair or reasonable, but I've always felt that charging twice the cost of a local movie ticket is pretty much the max. One can always make the case that live performance (going to the ballpark rather than watching on TV---going to a concert vs. buying the CD, etc) is acceptable and much more enjoyable---therefore worth the dough. Your $10 tickets are a bargain
	Investigate. Imagine. Choose.
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 9/16/06 at 9:38am
	Two of the theaters I work in have raised their ticket prices in the last few years. The price of fuel oil here in the chilly northeast played a big part in both decisions. That was especially true for the theater that owns their own building. They raised their ticket prices across the board by $3. so ticket prices are now $16 & $14. There is no diffference in price for a musical or non-musical performance. The other theater only raised their ticket prices for adult tickets. The price for student and senior tickets stayed at $8.00. The idea was to encourage families to bring their children to the theater. Tickets for a straight show are $10. and tickets for a musical $12. They budget to break even. On the other hand I just bought tickets for $20 to a musical in neighboring community theater. In contrast I paid $16 for tickets to a professional theater. Linda
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Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 9/16/06 at 10:36am
	The prices average around here are $10/$15 AUD [7.52/ [11.23US]. Although we don?t charge a ticket price, as entry is by donation only. Which over 3 seasons [30 performances], has worked out on average of 16/seat. Primarily it is not the price it is sold for, but how much it cost that counts. However this is probably of little interest?
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
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B-M-D Celebrity Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346	Posted: 9/21/06 at 1:27pm
	At anywhere from $12 to $20 in my neck of the woods it's a bargain compared to any of the professional resident or road companies. After 15 years of no increase in ticket prices we just raised our regular ticket prices to $ 16 for straight plays and $ 19 for musicals and offer a $3 discount for seniors and students. Heating fuel, electric costs, building security and more recently internet services including our web site have added to the cost of a ticket. Profit margin (if any!) has remained the same and breaking even is good thing (haven't lost money on a show in over 20 years).
	BD "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
	IP Logged

MartyW Celebrity Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555	Posted: 9/21/06 at 2:12pm
	Pretty much the same her in Northwest OHIO....
	Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.."
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suzecue1 Star Joined: 9/19/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 90	Posted: 9/21/06 at 7:00pm
	Pretty much the same for us, $10 (for students and seniors) and $12 (for adults) for straight plays and musicals alike. We are in Northern Illinois, about an hour from Chicago. The venue we use (we rent - don't own our own theatre) seats 310. We are lucky with most stage shows to sell 100 tickets per show. Luckily our musicals normally have full houses. In general (with expences) we break even on straight shows and make a little on musicals. I would suppose most volunteer CT's are seeing the same? We haven't raised our prices in about 10 years.
	Sue ***** So many hats.....so few heads!
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mattyjaco Player Joined: 5/04/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 9/25/06 at 5:04pm
	we do $10 adults $8 students/seniors
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VPA1 Star Joined: 10/20/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 54	Posted: 10/22/06 at 2:33am
	Alaska may not be much of a comparision, but at our 172 seat theater, we charge $16/14 for straight plays and $18/20 for musicals. That may vary slightly depending upon the duration of the show and high/low royalties, but this is pretty standard for us.
	IP Logged

terrys Walk-On Joined: 7/24/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 1/19/07 at 5:44am
	Here in Collingswood, NJ we have the luxury of having several sites available for shows depending on the size. We have the Ballroom of our Community Center which seats about 100, the Grand Ballroom in our Theatre, which seats about 200 and the actual Theatre with seating for 1,050. Our ticket prices are standard for most shows (shows for children are usually less) - $12 adults; $7 students and seniors. We do offer a discount for groups of 15 or more reserved a week or more in advance. Those ticket prices are $10 adults; $5 students and seniors. Our Senior Citizens usually take advantage of the group rates and enjoy every show.
	Terry Collingswood Community Theatre
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