One minute after ticket sales opened this morning, ABT had – according to the City Center website - sold thousands and thousands and thousands of seats including half of the ADA seats – the same ADA seats for every performance! Yeah. Right.
ballet blog with occasional diversions
One minute after ticket sales opened this morning, ABT had – according to the City Center website - sold thousands and thousands and thousands of seats including half of the ADA seats – the same ADA seats for every performance! Yeah. Right.
32 responses to “ABT – Taking the ticket buyer for a fool”
And see I thought you were going to post about the ridiculous price of $135, with no discounts for purchasing multiple days. More expensive than MET season tickets. Not that it stopped me. Sigh.
And see I thought you were going to post about the ridiculous price of $135, with no discounts for purchasing multiple days. More expensive than MET season tickets. Not that it stopped me. Sigh.
Rachel, if you hear any rumors about casting, please let us know.
Yes, the ticket prices are ridiculous.
Rachel, if you hear any rumors about casting, please let us know.
Yes, the ticket prices are ridiculous.
What are ADA seats?
What are ADA seats?
Hi Out Looking In. thanks for reading H.H.
ADA seats are wheelchair seating in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Hi Out Looking In. thanks for reading H.H.
ADA seats are wheelchair seating in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
I would even consider the 120/135 tkt prices. It’s the $16 per tkt handling/facility, service fees that stopped me.
I need a new ballet company- San Francisco, Cuba, Paris, Hamburg, the Danish? I could just divert my donations/expenses. Well, maybe not the Cubans.
I would even consider the 120/135 tkt prices. It’s the $16 per tkt handling/facility, service fees that stopped me.
I need a new ballet company- San Francisco, Cuba, Paris, Hamburg, the Danish? I could just divert my donations/expenses. Well, maybe not the Cubans.
dc, I’m glad you stopped. Why when you buy and print your own tickets do they still charge an $8 “handling” fee when technically from start to finish on the purchase, nobody’s hands touched it? And the facility fee has increased 100%! What next? Ticket transportation fees? Ticket title insurance fees? AWWCGY Fees (Any-Way-We-Can-Get-You fees).
These are all arbitrary amounts so named in order to increase the overall price of the ticket. Why would the facility fee for ABT tickets be $2 while for Uncle Vanya the fee is $3? Why is the “handling” fee for ABT $8 but for Uncle Vanya it’s $10? Why is “service” fee for ABT $8 but it’s only $7 for Uncle Vanya? Is there less service involved in selling a ticket for Uncle Vanya than for ABT? It’s all crap. The City of New York should do us a favor and regulate these fees and require reporting of them and what they are using the amounts for.
The fraudulent part of this whole ticket process is the blacking out of the seats to make them look sold and to create a false sense of demand. Also, the telephone agents will tell you that the blacked out tickets are “sold”, not “unavailable” but “sold” which is a bald-faced lie.
I’m not buying until casting is available. At that time, if they increase the prices of the cheapest tickets, I simply will not go to see ABT this fall. No big deal. There’s plenty going on at NYCB in September and October.
dc, I’m glad you stopped. Why when you buy and print your own tickets do they still charge an $8 “handling” fee when technically from start to finish on the purchase, nobody’s hands touched it? And the facility fee has increased 100%! What next? Ticket transportation fees? Ticket title insurance fees? AWWCGY Fees (Any-Way-We-Can-Get-You fees).
These are all arbitrary amounts so named in order to increase the overall price of the ticket. Why would the facility fee for ABT tickets be $2 while for Uncle Vanya the fee is $3? Why is the “handling” fee for ABT $8 but for Uncle Vanya it’s $10? Why is “service” fee for ABT $8 but it’s only $7 for Uncle Vanya? Is there less service involved in selling a ticket for Uncle Vanya than for ABT? It’s all crap. The City of New York should do us a favor and regulate these fees and require reporting of them and what they are using the amounts for.
The fraudulent part of this whole ticket process is the blacking out of the seats to make them look sold and to create a false sense of demand. Also, the telephone agents will tell you that the blacked out tickets are “sold”, not “unavailable” but “sold” which is a bald-faced lie.
I’m not buying until casting is available. At that time, if they increase the prices of the cheapest tickets, I simply will not go to see ABT this fall. No big deal. There’s plenty going on at NYCB in September and October.
I think all the venues conspire and agree that “If there’s anything we can do to make it more difficult for you, please let us know.”
I think all the venues conspire and agree that “If there’s anything we can do to make it more difficult for you, please let us know.”
Angelica, I think I’ve seen that printed on tickets.
Angelica, I think I’ve seen that printed on tickets.
I don’t want to sound like I’m defending ABT or CC here, but all those extra handling fees have appeared at theaters around the country. I don’t know if the blame lies with the companies or the theaters.
It’s my understanding that CC holds back premium seats in orchestra and grand tier for ABT Friends above certain donation levels. Anything unsold from that group will be released for general sales on September 7, a few days after the box office opens. I assume they are also holding some back for press tickets, especially for premieres and revivals.
I don’t want to sound like I’m defending ABT or CC here, but all those extra handling fees have appeared at theaters around the country. I don’t know if the blame lies with the companies or the theaters.
It’s my understanding that CC holds back premium seats in orchestra and grand tier for ABT Friends above certain donation levels. Anything unsold from that group will be released for general sales on September 7, a few days after the box office opens. I assume they are also holding some back for press tickets, especially for premieres and revivals.
That’s good to know. Thanks.
That’s good to know. Thanks.
Speaking of ABT and tickets……
My boss has a 1/4 share in a box at the Hollywood Bowl. I nearly fell off my chair last week when he gave me, with no expectation of being paid back, 4 tickets (value: $440) for the annual Tchaikovsky Spectacular, with fireworks during the 1812 Overture. This year, the soloist spot instead of the first piano concerto or the violin concerto is:
Swan Lake Act II pas de deux
P. Herrera
C. Stearns
The Nutcracker pas de deux
V. Part
M. Gomes
September 7th can’t come soon enough!
I also got the Dance at the Music Center brochure today and they’re presenting among other things:
* The National Ballet of Canada in Wheeldon’s Alice in Wonderland
* The Joffrey doing Le Sacre du Printemps with either Wheeldon’s After the Rain or Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated — I only know the Stravinsky, thoughts on the other two?
* ABT doing Le Corsaire
Speaking of ABT and tickets……
My boss has a 1/4 share in a box at the Hollywood Bowl. I nearly fell off my chair last week when he gave me, with no expectation of being paid back, 4 tickets (value: $440) for the annual Tchaikovsky Spectacular, with fireworks during the 1812 Overture. This year, the soloist spot instead of the first piano concerto or the violin concerto is:
Swan Lake Act II pas de deux
P. Herrera
C. Stearns
The Nutcracker pas de deux
V. Part
M. Gomes
September 7th can’t come soon enough!
I also got the Dance at the Music Center brochure today and they’re presenting among other things:
* The National Ballet of Canada in Wheeldon’s Alice in Wonderland
* The Joffrey doing Le Sacre du Printemps with either Wheeldon’s After the Rain or Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated — I only know the Stravinsky, thoughts on the other two?
* ABT doing Le Corsaire
You are so lucky to have the opportunity to see the Joffrey’s Le Sacre. It was my introduction to Stravinsky, and it hooked me. The production is brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
The Wheeldon and Forsythe pieces aren’t really my cup of tea; however, many people love them. Here are links to YouTube clips which you may want to view in order to properly prepare yourself:
Forsythe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2AAo_1Iz8g
Wheeldon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VibqEWACdRo
Henry – free tickets to the Tchai Spectacular – lucky you!
You are so lucky to have the opportunity to see the Joffrey’s Le Sacre. It was my introduction to Stravinsky, and it hooked me. The production is brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
The Wheeldon and Forsythe pieces aren’t really my cup of tea; however, many people love them. Here are links to YouTube clips which you may want to view in order to properly prepare yourself:
Forsythe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2AAo_1Iz8g
Wheeldon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VibqEWACdRo
Henry – free tickets to the Tchai Spectacular – lucky you!
Thanks for the links, I’ll watch them tomorrow.
The Bowl box I got tickets for is incredible: dead center, about stage height due to the slope of the seating. It really is a different experience from sitting on those awful hard wooden benches back in the “cheap seats”.
Thanks for the links, I’ll watch them tomorrow.
The Bowl box I got tickets for is incredible: dead center, about stage height due to the slope of the seating. It really is a different experience from sitting on those awful hard wooden benches back in the “cheap seats”.
wheeldon’s alice looks fab tho, i’m dying to see it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5tpisFnrTQ&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLD061F26E90CB6B82
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hud8u5Kp7w
meanwhile i am also miserable about ticket prices for city center & so sad ABT does not appear to be dancing at Bard this year where i can sit in the front row for 50 bucks, no fees & free parking. sigh.
wheeldon’s alice looks fab tho, i’m dying to see it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5tpisFnrTQ&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLD061F26E90CB6B82
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hud8u5Kp7w
meanwhile i am also miserable about ticket prices for city center & so sad ABT does not appear to be dancing at Bard this year where i can sit in the front row for 50 bucks, no fees & free parking. sigh.
Hi Robin! I think Bard is on the schedule – just not yet announced. The Fall season press release said that the revival premiere of Limon’s “Moor” would be on Oct 5 at Bard!
Also, TDF seems to always have a supply of ABT tix at the last minute.
Hi Robin! I think Bard is on the schedule – just not yet announced. The Fall season press release said that the revival premiere of Limon’s “Moor” would be on Oct 5 at Bard!
Also, TDF seems to always have a supply of ABT tix at the last minute.
omg- i hope so!! thanks hag- that news made my day! 🙂
omg- i hope so!! thanks hag- that news made my day! 🙂